TICKING FIXED !!!!!

[KEVIN GARRETT]

i was finally able to remedy the infamous GM lifter tick. i had the oil pump replaced with the melling high pressure high flow pump and new pickup tube and oring. i did use the stock pressure spring with the pump as it is not a race application. once installed my pressure went from 18-20 at idle to 40-42 and also increased with driving. the lifter ticking is now gone and it sounds like a new truck. the repair was expensive but to me it was worth it to have that horrible sound fixed and the proper pressure in the motor now.

 

[alacran]

If you don't mind me asking, how much in parts?

 

[clandr1]

i was finally able to remedy the infamous GM lifter tick. i had the oil pump replaced with the melling high pressure high flow pump and new pickup tube and oring. i did use the stock pressure spring with the pump as it is not a race application. once installed my pressure went from 18-20 at idle to 40-42 and also increased with driving. the lifter ticking is now gone and it sounds like a new truck. the repair was expensive but to me it was worth it to have that horrible sound fixed and the proper pressure in the motor now.

What year is your truck, which motor does it have, and how many miles are on it?

 

[SLCHOE]

i was finally able to remedy the infamous GM lifter tick. i had the oil pump replaced with the melling high pressure high flow pump and new pickup tube and oring. i did use the stock pressure spring with the pump as it is not a race application. once installed my pressure went from 18-20 at idle to 40-42 and also increased with driving. the lifter ticking is now gone and it sounds like a new truck. the repair was expensive but to me it was worth it to have that horrible sound fixed and the proper pressure in the motor now.

More of a "band-aid" than a "fix". Yes your ticking will quiet down on the top end with the added oil flow but that will not change the excessive bearing clearances you have in the bottom end causing the low oil pressure with the stock pump. That wear is still there and is still a major problem. With that much clearnce around the crank/rod bearings, it's only a matter of time before you get a bottom end knock and low oil pressures again. Sorry to say that, but it's what it really is.

 

[KEVIN GARRETT]

If you don't mind me asking, how much in parts?

pump and gasket sets about 300

 

[KEVIN GARRETT]

More of a "band-aid" than a "fix". Yes your ticking will quiet down on the top end with the added oil flow but that will not change the excessive bearing clearances you have in the bottom end causing the low oil pressure with the stock pump. That wear is still there and is still a major problem. With that much clearnce around the crank/rod bearings, it's only a matter of time before you get a bottom end knock and low oil pressures again. Sorry to say that, but it's what it really is.

no there is no bottom end knock. if you research the problem it is the oring on the OE pump there have been bulletins on this problem since i worked at GM. if they had the problems you speak of then why would we all own one knowing that they bearings are no good? and yes the problem is fixed this was not a band aid.

 

[KEVIN GARRETT]

What year is your truck, which motor does it have, and how many miles are on it?

i have a 2006 ls with the 5.3

 

[clandr1]

Mileage?

 

[KEVIN GARRETT]

Mileage?

SORRY 170k

 

[SLCHOE]

More of a "band-aid" than a "fix". Yes your ticking will quiet down on the top end with the added oil flow but that will not change the excessive bearing clearances you have in the bottom end causing the low oil pressure with the stock pump. That wear is still there and is still a major problem. With that much clearnce around the crank/rod bearings, it's only a matter of time before you get a bottom end knock and low oil pressures again. Sorry to say that, but it's what it really is.

no there is no bottom end knock. if you research the problem it is the oring on the OE pump there have been bulletins on this problem since i worked at GM. if they had the problems you speak of then why would we all own one knowing that they bearings are no good? and yes the problem is fixed this was not a band aid.

Then what are you asking us for?

Besides, adding a higher pressure oil pump WILL MASK low oil pressure issues and I don't care how long you worked at GM. Maybe get one of your colleagues to put out a TSB regarding the issue since you've found the remedy, finally.

 

[Champloo]

Had the same issue on my 2006 Tahoe with a 5.3. I purchased it from my Dad about a year ago. After talking to him (he had it for about 230k and the lifter tick occurred around 40k) I got a better picture of what was happening. It would happen during the colder months in the morning upon startup then oil circulation (suspected) would properly lubricate "faulty" lifters. I did the same research and read the TSB from chevy as well as talking to a dealership. The dealer wanted to do about a $3000 dollar repair by replacing lifters and camshaft. Seeing as that is most of the cost of an engine and the engine has been running for more than a decade with this issue I opted against that. I watched about a dozen youtube videos and saw a bunch of hokey fixes that didn't seem to help anything in any permanent sense. After doing the second oil change my oil pressure completely dropped and the tick got even worse (further verifying at least to my specific issue the thoughts about oil pressure effecting the lifter tick). My dad had used conventional oil for the entire life of the vehicle and I decided to try out full synthetic. I gather due to the difference between the conventional and synthetic oils and it being the second oil change that it changed the inner characteristics of the "gunk" build up on a high mileage engine. Once again this is conjecture from me that I have only my modest mechanical knowledge to base off of. I work with industrial process equipment and so its not a direct knowledge that I have but what I have experienced with "similar" process equipment. So to continue the narrative I had lost oil pressure and the sound was significantly worse. I knew it was necessary for a fix to occur immediately. I opted for the pickup tube o-ring and high flow high volume oil pump from melling. I accomplished about 90% of the repair down to the removal of the oil pump but was unable to remove the oil pan with out dropping the front diff. I had my mechanic buddy finish the repair after having a similar disagreement about bearing clearances and that a oil pump won't increase the oil pressure per se. I listened to his point and I understand what he was talking about the wear of metals over a life of an engine and the clearances increasing but as it was a cheap fix to possibly extend of the life of the engine I went with it. Low and behold after the repair (I opted for the higher pressure springs not the stock) the pressure sat comfortably around 50-55 psi at idle and 60 plus on the highway. Previously the pressure gauge would hardly budge whether it was at idle or full throttle. I conferred with my dad and he confirmed the same issue of the oil gauge but assumed it was "normal". So just to chime in that it can fix the noise and potential damage that can occur from the lifter tick (I have seen some engines stripped down with the tick and saw the possible damage that can occur on the camshaft). I can definitely agree that if the engine has increased clearances or lower engine knock that its a ticking bomb regardless of the repair but for the case of the lifter tick it can eliminate that (I have had the fix for over six months and not a peep or abnormal operation from the engine). But the conclusion that I reached for my specific issue was that it was worth the money because it was that or a new engine. So for the sake of practicality Im inclined to give this repair a nod. Glad someone else has done this too!!

 

[SLCHOE]

Had the same issue on my 2006 Tahoe with a 5.3. I purchased it from my Dad about a year ago. After talking to him (he had it for about 230k and the lifter tick occurred around 40k) I got a better picture of what was happening. It would happen during the colder months in the morning upon startup then oil circulation (suspected) would properly lubricate "faulty" lifters. I did the same research and read the TSB from chevy as well as talking to a dealership. The dealer wanted to do about a $3000 dollar repair by replacing lifters and camshaft. Seeing as that is most of the cost of an engine and the engine has been running for more than a decade with this issue I opted against that. I watched about a dozen youtube videos and saw a bunch of hokey fixes that didn't seem to help anything in any permanent sense. After doing the second oil change my oil pressure completely dropped and the tick got even worse (further verifying at least to my specific issue the thoughts about oil pressure effecting the lifter tick). My dad had used conventional oil for the entire life of the vehicle and I decided to try out full synthetic. I gather due to the difference between the conventional and synthetic oils and it being the second oil change that it changed the inner characteristics of the "gunk" build up on a high mileage engine. Once again this is conjecture from me that I have only my modest mechanical knowledge to base off of. I work with industrial process equipment and so its not a direct knowledge that I have but what I have experienced with "similar" process equipment. So to continue the narrative I had lost oil pressure and the sound was significantly worse. I knew it was necessary for a fix to occur immediately. I opted for the pickup tube o-ring and high flow high volume oil pump from melling. I accomplished about 90% of the repair down to the removal of the oil pump but was unable to remove the oil pan with out dropping the front diff. I had my mechanic buddy finish the repair after having a similar disagreement about bearing clearances and that a oil pump won't increase the oil pressure per se. I listened to his point and I understand what he was talking about the wear of metals over a life of an engine and the clearances increasing but as it was a cheap fix to possibly extend of the life of the engine I went with it. Low and behold after the repair (I opted for the higher pressure springs not the stock) the pressure sat comfortably around 50-55 psi at idle and 60 plus on the highway. Previously the pressure gauge would hardly budge whether it was at idle or full throttle. I conferred with my dad and he confirmed the same issue of the oil gauge but assumed it was "normal". So just to chime in that it can fix the noise and potential damage that can occur from the lifter tick (I have seen some engines stripped down with the tick and saw the possible damage that can occur on the camshaft). I can definitely agree that if the engine has increased clearances or lower engine knock that its a ticking bomb regardless of the repair but for the case of the lifter tick it can eliminate that (I have had the fix for over six months and not a peep or abnormal operation from the engine). But the conclusion that I reached for my specific issue was that it was worth the money because it was that or a new engine. So for the sake of practicality Im inclined to give this repair a nod. Glad someone else has done this too!!

Thanks for sharing your first-hand experience. Congrats on extending the life of your engine. However, I could never consider this a repair. It sounds like you understand why. I hope it gets you by but with those excessive clearances, cold-starts are going to wreak havoc on your already worn bearings. Without that initial pressure there, the bearings will be in-effect "dry" until the pressure builds up enough to protect them. With every cold start this means more wear, meaning an even greater bearing clearance. It's only a matter of time honestly before the bottom end starts to knock. Good luck to you.

 

[Ccdenali]

I have a 2003 Denali and im just guessing that the tick y'all are refering to is real obnoxious and being heard at idling and while driving?. I've had a friend tell me that it's a lifter and he gave me a few bits of advice. But his advice is not that reliable. So just out of curiosity would just replacing the pump to an oem pump help/fix the problem? Also maybe going up in weight on the oil?

 

[Champloo]

I have a 2003 Denali and im just guessing that the tick y'all are refering to is real obnoxious and being heard at idling and while driving?. I've had a friend tell me that it's a lifter and he gave me a few bits of advice. But his advice is not that reliable. So just out of curiosity would just replacing the pump to an oem pump help/fix the problem? Also maybe going up in weight on the oil?

Yeah it's hard to say this solution will fix it. But in my situation upgrading to a high pressure high flow melling oil pump did eliminate the sound along with a oil pickup tube o-ring. Every situation can be different and have different causes so troubleshooting is a must.

 

[KEVIN GARRETT]

ccdenali yes every situation is different, i spent months trying EVERY cheap fix i could find on the web. once i exhausted all of those i decided to bite the bullet and do the high flow pump with the new oring and that was what did it for me. some people have had luck with simply flushing the engine and switching to a higher weight oil or even just using an additive.