Yet another Yukon with engine tick and low oil pressure

[Geotrash]

Video of the sound/tick/knock

Sounds normal to me. Maybe a bit of lifter clatter, but nothing to worry about.

Here's mine 25K ago after the cam swap. Sounded very similar prior to any cam work:

 

[Dustin Jackson]

Sounds fine

 

[donjetman]

Thanks for looking up the specs, really appreciate it! Well I’m at 8-9 psi at 600 rpm in drive, driving around 70mph oil pressure sits at 38-40 psi - from the minimum oil specs you provided I’m within range.

Yeah might as well have the sensor changed when the oil pump is going to be changed.

I just searched and there are some companies round here who do oil sample analysis - I’ll get in contact with them and see what it is about - would be good to get an indication of what the ticking/knocking sound is likely causing. Thanks for the suggestion.

Here's a video for ya:

 

[YukonDK]

Thank you all! Nice with the videos.

 

[YukonDK]

Took a look at the oil dipstick today. It looks like I have metal shavings on the tip of it and the oil also has small black spots. Will reach out to oil analysis company on Monday and see if they can help.

 

[Geotrash]

Took a look at the oil dipstick today. It looks like I have metal shavings on the tip of it and the oil also has small black spots. Will reach out to oil analysis company on Monday and see if they can help.

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The dipstick can't give you a big enough sample to say. That could've been from anything, including manufacture of the dipstick itself. I agree with your inclination to have oil analysis done, and I would cut apart the oil filter and inspect the element for metal shavings also. The rule of thumb for visual analysis of the filter media is if the actual metal material (not carbon) from the filter is enough to cover your pinky nail, it's time for concern. I use a magnet to collect ferrous metal from the filter media. In general, aluminum wear creates gray dust and tiny blocky chunks, and steel wear generates tiny slivers. Anything big enough to read a part number on is obviously a problem.

That said, are you still getting the rather loud knock at cold startup that you posted in your first video? I just gave that another listen and it seemed pretty loud for piston slap. The 6.2's especially get some good piston slap at cold start but neither of mine have ever been quite that loud.

 

[YukonDK]

The dipstick can't give you a big enough sample to say. That could've been from anything, including manufacture of the dipstick itself. I agree with your inclination to have oil analysis done, and I would cut apart the oil filter and inspect the element for metal shavings also. The rule of thumb for visual analysis of the filter media is if the actual metal material (not carbon) from the filter is enough to cover your pinky nail, it's time for concern. I use a magnet to collect ferrous metal from the filter media. In general, aluminum wear creates gray dust and tiny blocky chunks, and steel wear generates tiny slivers. Anything big enough to read a part number on is obviously a problem.

That said, are you still getting the rather loud knock at cold startup that you posted in your first video? I just gave that another listen and it seemed pretty loud for piston slap. The 6.2's especially get some good piston slap at cold start but neither of mine have ever been quite that loud.

Thanks for the input, appreciate it. Yeah it seems like oil analysis is the way to go, didn’t have to time to call them today, got off from work to late. It will probably give me an answer, so far I have probably just been trying to convince myself that it was not that bad since the engine 110k miles, but the engine is probably on borrowed time.

Yes it’s still very loud on a cold start. The below video is after the o ring change and a morning where it was 41 Fahrenheit.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

That doesn't sound great.

 

[Geotrash]

Thanks for the input, appreciate it. Yeah it seems like oil analysis is the way to go, didn’t have to time to call them today, got off from work to late. It will probably give me an answer, so far I have probably just been trying to convince myself that it was not that bad since the engine 110k miles, but the engine is probably on borrowed time.

Yes it’s still very loud on a cold start. The below video is after the o ring change and a morning where it was 41 Fahrenheit.

Sounds like it's at crankshaft rotation frequency also, which is a good clue that it's not valvetrain related. I wish you luck and we will be here when you have more info.

 

[j91z28d1]

Sounds like it's at crankshaft rotation frequency also, which is a good clue that it's not valvetrain related. I wish you luck and we will be here when you have more info.

it's the craziest thing.. it doesn't sound like valve train to me either, but I've never heard anything knock like that when cold and go away. any time I've been around bottom end stuff, like main or rod bearings they all get much worse than hot.. can almost sound OK when still cold on thick oil.


possible it's a stater rubbing the flywheel? or balances that's completely come part? I'm so confused by this truck.. cold, 40psi oil pressure and it knocks, gets warm, drops to 11 psi and gets quiet.

I got nothing.

one of my first engines I build as a kid, I added a windage tray and didn't get a clearanced enough a rod hit it. that's the closest thing I can remember hearing to this.

 

[Geotrash]

it's the craziest thing.. it doesn't sound like valve train to me either, but I've never heard anything knock like that when cold and go away. any time I've been around bottom end stuff, like main or rod bearings they all get much worse than hot.. can almost sound OK when still cold on thick oil.


possible it's a stater rubbing the flywheel? or balances that's completely come part? I'm so confused by this truck.. cold, 40psi oil pressure and it knocks, gets warm, drops to 11 psi and gets quiet.

I got nothing.

one of my first engines I build as a kid, I added a windage tray and didn't get a clearanced enough a rod hit it. that's the closest thing I can remember hearing to this.

I know! That’s the thing that makes me think it’s possibly extreme piston slap. Because that goes away when the engine gets warm, too. It’s the damnedest thing.

 

[j91z28d1]

could this be loose fly wheel or converter bolts

 

[YukonDK]

it's the craziest thing.. it doesn't sound like valve train to me either, but I've never heard anything knock like that when cold and go away. any time I've been around bottom end stuff, like main or rod bearings they all get much worse than hot.. can almost sound OK when still cold on thick oil.


possible it's a stater rubbing the flywheel? or balances that's completely come part? I'm so confused by this truck.. cold, 40psi oil pressure and it knocks, gets warm, drops to 11 psi and gets quiet.

I got nothing.

one of my first engines I build as a kid, I added a windage tray and didn't get a clearanced enough a rod hit it. that's the closest thing I can remember hearing to this.

I promise when this gets figured out I will update with the solution. However I might begin to look for a used engine which could get shipped from the States. Better find some options

 

[YukonDK]

Just checking in. I’ve had the Yukon for a year now. Still my daily driver and nothing has changed tick/knock, oil pressure wise.

I have put 8000 miles on it, since I got it. I hope to get a lot more (knock on wood).

Never got the oil analysis done, prices were steep.

Took it on a road trip out of my country last weekend, 13 hours of driving, driving on the highway oil pressure never dropped below 35 psi.

Had an oil change done two weeks ago, the oil was checked with a magnet for metal shavings, but there was none. Oil looked good.

Without to much inspection, mechanic told me that most likely it’s worn bearings as oil pressure drops when the engine is warm at idle. But at the same they couldn’t tell when the engine was gonna quit.

I have noticed that during summer time the tick/knock goes away quicker than winter time and is less audible when the engine is warm.

 

[Geotrash]

Just checking in. I’ve had the Yukon for a year now. Still my daily driver and nothing has changed tick/knock, oil pressure wise.

I have put 8000 miles on it, since I got it. I hope to get a lot more (knock on wood).

Never got the oil analysis done, prices were steep.

Took it on a road trip out of my country last weekend, 13 hours of driving, driving on the highway oil pressure never dropped below 35 psi.

Had an oil change done two weeks ago, the oil was checked with a magnet for metal shavings, but there was none. Oil looked good.

Without to much inspection, mechanic told me that most likely it’s worn bearings as oil pressure drops when the engine is warm at idle. But at the same they couldn’t tell when the engine was gonna quit.

I have noticed that during summer time the tick/knock goes away quicker than winter time and is less audible when the engine is warm.

Keep driving it. That's what I would do. The oil pressure on these is supposed to drop at idle. Both of mine drop to just above the 1/4 line at hot idle.

 

[YukonDK]

Keep driving it. That's what I would do. The oil pressure on these is supposed to drop at idle. Both of mine drop to just above the 1/4 line at hot idle.

I will. Besides the low oil pressure thing, it’s an amazing vehicle and I enjoy every single ride.