2000-2006 piston slap ? 5.3L

Woodblocker55 · Nov 29, 2020

How many miles does this start ? Or is it the newer ones that have this issue . Also a busted exhaust manifold bolts can mimic this also..interesting but artical didn't say witch years have this issue when cold .

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Matthew Jeschke · Nov 29, 2020

There is also lifter noise issue. I fixed my lifter noise by pouring solvent on them and then changing oil. It didnt completely remove it... It does a LITTLE at startup while pump builds pressure in system.

I don't think you can do anything about piston slap. I have two LS 3rd gen.. 1999 (or 1997 w corvette) to 2006? One is a 99 Vette second is a 2001 tahoe.

No piston slap issues in either. However I think that might be the years with issue. Maybe that is why theh went to full float pistons and rods. I think is caused by piston wanting to torque into side of cylinder as rod changes directions.

Not sure you can fix w/o tearing down motor.... MAYBE if is sludge on wrist pin a good engine flush but would be tricky to get flush detergent on the wrist pin.

Also from what I have heard it doesn't cause much damage if any despite is not ideal.

Disclaimer, I know enough to be dangerous haha

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Woodblocker55 · Nov 29, 2020

Matthew Jeschke said:
There is also lifter noise issue. I fixed my lifter noise by pouring solvent on them and then changing oil. It didnt completely remove it... It does a LITTLE at startup while pump builds pressure in system.

I don't think you can do anything about piston slap. I have two LS 3rd gen.. 1999 (or 1997 w corvette) to 2006? One is a 99 Vette second is a 2001 tahoe.

No piston slap issues in either. However I think that might be the years with issue. Maybe that is why theh went to full float pistons and rods. I think is caused by piston wanting to torque into side of cylinder as rod changes directions.

Not sure you can fix w/o tearing down motor.... MAYBE if is sludge on wrist pin a good engine flush but would be tricky to get flush detergent on the wrist pin.

Also from what I have heard it doesn't cause much damage if any despite is not ideal.

Disclaimer, I know enough to be dangerous haha

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Great post . Yes mine has a click.on cold start up .. but it's the exhaust manifold bolts busted off ..I put one of them clamps on back corner to push in on exhaust manifold it still does leak when it's cold .. but after warm it's all sealed up lol .. I'm sure it's the exhaust manifold because soon as I put the clamp on it changed it all how it made the noise . So piston slap must be the 2007-2014 models .
Maybe lol .

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afpj · Nov 29, 2020

Piston slap and broken manifold bolts have different noises. Broken manifold bolt sound is a higher pitched ticking sound compared to the piston slap.

At least for me, I think the piston slap started around 150k, and I have about 203k now. I'd been using valvoline maxlife blend since about 90k, but switched to rotella full synthetic at about 190k, and it doesn't seem to slap as much. YMMV.

2002 Yukon, 4x4, sle.

Matthew Jeschke · Nov 29, 2020

the exhaust is reasonibly easy to remove. You could fix that for about 30$.

Not exactly sure how to remove the broken bolt if snapped off in head. Otherwise you can use an easy out.

It can still be removed with little creativity and or youtube searching if is in head.

Then use the doorman exhaust mainfold bolts (or studs pick what you like).

I have experience and could probably get manifolds off in well under 30 minutes. I am confident you could fix that... just be careful to mot torque too much when putting back on as heads are aluminum. I also use a thread cleaning kit to be doubly safe.

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OR VietVet · Nov 29, 2020

If it is a back manifold bolt that is broken you have to either have the head off for access or you need a good 90 degree drill head and a great bit to drill in the center and get the easy out in there. If you remove the inner fender well and maybe even some other components, you can get a straight drill in there.

Sam Harris · Nov 30, 2020

Matthew Jeschke said:
the exhaust is reasonibly easy to remove. You could fix that for about 30$.

Not exactly sure how to remove the broken bolt if snapped off in head. Otherwise you can use an easy out.

It can still be removed with little creativity and or youtube searching if is in head.

Then use the doorman exhaust mainfold bolts (or studs pick what you like).

I have experience and could probably get manifolds off in well under 30 minutes. I am confident you could fix that... just be careful to mot torque too much when putting back on as heads are aluminum. I also use a thread cleaning kit to be doubly safe.

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Highly recommend ARP bolts for the manifold / headers. They’ll never break in the head.

Woodblocker55 · Nov 30, 2020

afpj said:
Piston slap and broken manifold bolts have different noises. Broken manifold bolt sound is a higher pitched ticking sound compared to the piston slap.

At least for me, I think the piston slap started around 150k, and I have about 203k now. I'd been using valvoline maxlife blend since about 90k, but switched to rotella full synthetic at about 190k, and it doesn't seem to slap as much. YMMV.

2002 Yukon, 4x4, sle.

Here last time I changed oil I use conventional oil because that's what the guy that owned it used. Havoline 5w 30 now I can't even find convectional oil.. do I just use straight to synthetic it has 185,000 miles on it... or should I use a synthetic blend? Or just keep finding havoline 5w30.. 2006 yukon xl 5.3L flex.. I can't make out if I hear any pistons slap but it might be getting a lot of noise from the busted exhaust manifold bolts. lol but all working perfect pulled tow dolly 4600 lbs pulled like it wasn't even back there . 4:10s HD does work nice kept it in 3rd tranny ran about 160f whole time . Dolly had electric brakes .

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OR VietVet · Nov 30, 2020

Any good/name brand 5w-30 conventional oil should be fine. When I was using that oil I used Valvoline or the NAPA brand which is Valvoline oil.

29tomt · Nov 30, 2020

PNW VietVet said:
Any good/name brand 5w-30 conventional oil should be fine. When I was using that oil I used Valvoline or the NAPA brand which is Valvoline oil.

My 2003 Tahoe has 203K on the clock. Does not burn a drop of oil between changes. I use what ever is on sale at Walmart when they do the change. I change it either 6 months or 3000-3500 miles depending on how much driven. It has a minor tick when started in cold weather but that goes away after it begins to warm up.

2000-2006 piston slap ? 5.3L

Woodblocker55

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Matthew Jeschke

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Woodblocker55

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afpj

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Matthew Jeschke

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OR VietVet

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Sam Harris

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