I have a 2001 Chevy Silverado, 4X4, 5.3L and when I start it, it ticks really bad for like 5 seconds until the oil pressure climbs and hits its peak. No engine noises once pressure is built up tho. I know these motors are known for a bit of cold knock, but this one is WAY worse than my 2000 5.3 on the coldest of mornings. Think the oil pump is dying? If so, is it located in the timing cover kind of like the GM 3800 motors?

Since no one else has said it; I will.
Search this forum for Piston Slap.
My 2002 has had it since it's 6 mos old. I just turned 101,000 miles on it and it's not gotten worse since it appeared @ 6 months old.

I think all these engines do that. I have a 2000 5.3 with the same sounds. Dealer told me not to worry about it.

Mine does it too for just a few seconds...it's just the way it's made. The only way to fix it would be to rig up a pre-oiler for the engine...or you could just live with it.

My does it also!

Mine does it too. 2001 2wd 5.3

Is everyone sure it is piston knock? It sounds like lifters or rocker arms. I was thinking of putting some good roller rockers on.

Mine does it too. 2001 2wd 5.3

Is everyone sure it is piston knock? It sounds like lifters or rocker arms. I was thinking of putting some good roller rockers on.
It sounds like lifters to me also!

I hear a ticking sound (like when you start your stove in the kitchen) when it has rained for a while or is raining.. and the sound does not go away until it is dry ( I mean the weather). It is comming from the passenger side of the engine near the fuel rail.. but I can not pin point it. any thoughts? is this the same thing you guys are hearing?

Mine makes that noise too. Goes away after about 5-6 seconds. I put a bit of Duralube in and it seemed to make it better but after about 20000kms it comes back again.

I hear a ticking sound when it has rained for a while or is raining.. and the sound does not go away until it is dry.

That is a classic sign that your spark plug wires are bad. If you want to test them, take a mist sprayer bottle (not 409 bottle etc, something that mists fine) and at night with truck idling (on a dry night) mist the spark plug wires with pure water, you will hear a "tick tick tick" or something similar if your wires are bad.

**HINT: DO NOT get cheap wires, get the AC/Delco wires, they can be had for about $60-$75.

I do not think what you are experienceing is the knock we are referring to. I wish my problem was just plug wires :(

Thanks I will try that.. I just replaced the wires on it about 1 year ago too

I have the same "tic", since new.

Stops after about 30 sec once started.

Still there after 90,000 mi. normal operation.

my 02 does it as well. not so much in the summer as it does this time of year all the way until spring. really cold mornings it sounds like a freeking diesel. if have had my mechanic try different filters and oil, he just says it is a GM thing.

Mine will sound like a diesel too in cold mornings.. once the oil lubs the engine, it goes away. about 30-60 secs

My 2003 makes the sound as well. Over the summer it would occasionaly tick at about 2 second intervals, now at every other start I get multiple tick's per second for the duration of the drive. Comes from the direction of the steering wheel.

My 2000 5.3 banged away on cold startup for about 20-30 seconds but I recently switched from 10/30 Mobile 1 to 5/30 Mobile 1 and the sound is gone. Go figure.

Is it knocking or ticking? Knocking is usually piston or crank noise. Ticking usually is lifter noise...bleeding down when parked, or possibly an exhaust leak at the manifold when cold

Mine still does it. 181,000 miles

My buddy has a brand new '06 and his does it. Junk.

My (2001 LS) started ticking/clacking during cold start @ around 15k. Concerned, I researched it more on the piston slap forums. Dealer and GM told me it was normal, I told them if I wanted the sound of a diesel I would have purchase one. GM one upped me and gave me in writing a 5 year or 75K warranty on the engine. I'm at 77K and still going strong, tick and all. I guess I showed them. :rolleyes:

mine seems to vary when it does it . It was 20 degrees tonight and it has been sitting for 4 days and it did not knock (tick ) but but last week when I drove it every day it was loud for about 15 seconds . I thought it might be the check valve in the oil filter not holding the oil to the top of the heads all the time . I started using puralator PUREONE recently. no difference though . Rob