Post DoD delete ticking

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rachealae

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My 13 Tahoe was ticking so bad, took it to get an AFM delete and it was a bent pushrod. The shop I went to is experienced in this and they did the full delete + tune this past September. It was making a squealing noise which I knew was my idler pulley, but then I started hearing a faint tick. I replaced the tensioner, pulley and the belt and I can still hear a faint tick that accelerates/decelerates with speed. I don’t know if it’s normal, something with my belt/pulley or if I’m more conscious of sounds after I fixed the truck and something is wrong. What are the possibilities of the failure after a delete?
 

Geotrash

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My 13 Tahoe was ticking so bad, took it to get an AFM delete and it was a bent pushrod. The shop I went to is experienced in this and they did the full delete + tune this past September. It was making a squealing noise which I knew was my idler pulley, but then I started hearing a faint tick. I replaced the tensioner, pulley and the belt and I can still hear a faint tick that accelerates/decelerates with speed. I don’t know if it’s normal, something with my belt/pulley or if I’m more conscious of sounds after I fixed the truck and something is wrong. What are the possibilities of the failure after a delete?
Which lifters did they use? Some of them will bleed off oil pressure at lower RPMs and tick but there's nothing wrong. If you can, record a video with your phone and upload it to YouTube with public permissions, then link it back here.
 
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rachealae

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Which lifters did they use? Some of them will bleed off oil pressure at lower RPMs and tick but there's nothing wrong. If you can, record a video with your phone and upload it to YouTube with public permissions, then link it back here.
I will link a video in the comments below. Here is a picture of my invoice, sorry for the quality but I believe it says the lifters they used. 85227FE3-E7AB-4EF0-9A27-4D29333BBAE6.jpeg
 
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rachealae

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To see if it isn't belt or pulley/tensioner related you could run the motor without the belt to see if that helps.

A video of the problem would help and maybe an idea of where the sound is coming from.

Here is a link of the sound, you can only hear it if my phone is inside the wheel well. Not above the engine.
 

Geotrash

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I will link a video in the comments below. Here is a picture of my invoice, sorry for the quality but I believe it says the lifters they used. View attachment 396635
Very helpful. That's a stock replacement cam and standard GM non-AFM lifters. That should produce a quiet valvetrain. Will review the video and offer more after that.

Update: That tick could well be:
1/ A light lifter tick
2/ An exhaust manifold leak (they are often indistinguishable)
3/ A loose spark plug
4/ An arcing plug wire

It's frequency is at half crank rotation speed, which is the key to the above. You might try to use a mechanic's stethoscope to see if you can pinpoint it.
 
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rachealae

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Very helpful. That's a stock replacement cam and standard GM non-AFM lifters. That should produce a quiet valvetrain. Will review the video and offer more after that.
thanks. I attached it to the previous comment to Dustin. I checked all my manifold bolts a few weeks ago and they’re all there as well.
 

Dustin Jackson

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I've listened to the video, I hear the sound you are talking about and I don't think there is anything to worry about. My tahoe makes a similar sound sometimes and it could be the lifters bleeding a little oil at low rpm or possibly an exhaust manifold leak.

Maybe take another video from different parts of the motor while revving the engine but I don't think there is a problem here.
 
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rachealae

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Very helpful. That's a stock replacement cam and standard GM non-AFM lifters. That should produce a quiet valvetrain. Will review the video and offer more after that.

Update: That tick could well be:
1/ A light lifter tick
2/ An exhaust manifold leak (they are often indistinguishable)
3/ A loose spark plug
4/ An arcing plug wire

Its frequency is at half crank rotation speed, which is the key to the above. You might try to use a mechanic's stethoscope to see if you can pinpoint it.
thank you, I have people telling me I’m crazy and that I’m hearing things but I know my truck. I’m hoping it’s anything but the lifter as I JUST fixed them.

This may or may not be related, but sometimes I get a lot of smoke coming from the exhaust and sometimes I don’t. It’s random. I also had significant coolant loss (I would fill the reservoir every few weeks from empty) prior to the delete and it has gotten a lot better, but the reservoir still loses a little now (maybe about 1/2 qt every few months).
 

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