Ticking?

i have a 02 w/ the 5.3l. just today i started hearing a ticking noise when at idle. i dont hear it at acceleration. its not very loud. it doesnt seem to have any set speed or rhythem to it just a random yet constant tick. and it doesnt stop once warmed up. oil change w/ in last 300 miles used valvoline 10-30 and it is not low on oil. any one else have this?? what is it?

Sounds like something's up with the valvetrain. First and most likely thought is a collapsed or partially-collapsed lifter. If the little disc check valve in one of the hydraulic lifters gets crud lodged in it, it can't maintain internal oil pressure needed to prevent slop (or lash) in that valve assembly. But when you rev the engine, more oil is circulated and overcomes the lifter's leakage rate, restoring the zero lash.

Other thoughts are a sticking valve or weak valve spring, but in these cases, the ticking typically happens at higher revs since the valve/spring can't respond fast enough to keep up with the lifter. So i'm gonna lay me bet on the first one.

I'd first try a good engine cleaning like Seafoam to try and dissolve the gunk/crud that's stuck in there. Then, unless you want to hunt down the offending lifter and fix it by removing the valve, you can abate it by adding some oil treatment additive like Lucas Oil, Restore, or the like. You're already using 10W-30 so a more viscous oil like 10W-40 is possible, but that's a stretch...you don't mention your odo miles, but higher numbers can lend itself to more wear. '02 should be in the 105k-130k miles range...a bump up to high-mileage and semi-synthetic or full synthetic might help too.

Hope this helps!

it has 101,000 miles. it just started and it doesnt sound like a lifter because there is no rhythem to it. its just a spuratic tick.

pour can of seafoam into the cranckcase, drive on it for about 500 miles, change oil.

get out, she's gonna blow!

get out, she's gonna blow!

don't be a child, seafoam is completely safe to drive on. i have anywhere from 500 to 2000 miles with it in on my cars. read instructions on the can.

calm down, i was talking about the ticking... like a bomb going tick tick tick

so dont be a d-bag

P.S. it is interesting that you immediatedly assume that I am attacking Seafoam, a product in which I openly neither know anything about nor use. So who are you trying to convince that it is a good product? Don't be so defensive about things, I am not attacking a product you love, I simply saw a thread title that said "ticking" and it made me think of the explosive reference. You seem a little uptight, maybe you should drink some seafoam, walk around for 5 to 20 minutes and change your oil.

I'm just sayin, might feel better.

calm down, i was talking about the ticking... like a bomb going tick tick tick

so dont be a d-bag

P.S. it is interesting that you immediatedly assume that I am attacking Seafoam, a product in which I openly neither know anything about nor use. So who are you trying to convince that it is a good product? Don't be so defensive about things, I am not attacking a product you love, I simply saw a thread title that said "ticking" and it made me think of the explosive reference. You seem a little uptight, maybe you should drink some seafoam, walk around for 5 to 20 minutes and change your oil.

I'm just sayin, might feel better.

that's cool. we'll both agree that your post could be treated both ways, as derogatory to seafoam - and as a funny joke. so yes, if it was a joke, i do take my remark about "being a child" back and apologize. of course, calling me dushbag is not warranted either, but even that i do find funny.:rofl::rofl::rofl:
peace. seafoam is a great product, helped many with all kinds of problems, personally used for years on all kinds of vehicles.
sorry, can't fill your 2nd request, i do not drink, smoke, lie, and eat meat. helps me to stay philosophical on things that are not worth anger. i have been through craigslist automotive forum school, that'll hone peaceful mindset in anyone.
have a great day.

i have a 02 w/ the 5.3l. just today i started hearing a ticking noise when at idle. i dont hear it at acceleration. its not very loud. it doesnt seem to have any set speed or rhythem to it just a random yet constant tick. and it doesnt stop once warmed up. oil change w/ in last 300 miles used valvoline 10-30 and it is not low on oil. any one else have this?? what is it?

any nosie you need to use something to locate the area of origination.. I use a hose and one end next to my ear the other to probe for source of noise...

could be water pump..

hose, hah...
i like that. i used wooden stick before, but hose should be better sound transmitter...
thanks for the tip.

that's cool. we'll both agree that your post could be treated both ways, as derogatory to seafoam - and as a funny joke. so yes, if it was a joke, i do take my remark about "being a child" back and apologize. of course, calling me dushbag is not warranted either, but even that i do find funny.:rofl::rofl::rofl:
peace. seafoam is a great product, helped many with all kinds of problems, personally used for years on all kinds of vehicles.
sorry, can't fill your 2nd request, i do not drink, smoke, lie, and eat meat. helps me to stay philosophical on things that are not worth anger. i have been through craigslist automotive forum school, that'll hone peaceful mindset in anyone.
have a great day.

Hey, I am not holding any hard feelings towards you, just felt I was being attacked for something I did not intend. I also understand your POV as people have been slamming seafoam in some recent posts and you are probably tired of that. But, I did not intend it to be a slam on seafoam. So, anyway, see you around

hose, hah...
i like that. i used wooden stick before, but hose should be better sound transmitter...
thanks for the tip.

nope, a stick works better, but it is not good when you get it in moving parts, a hose just flaps around, a stick tries to take you ear with it.

its deffinatly from inside the motor. the only thing i can think of is it started right after i started running some stp fuel system cleaner through it. i know that stuff made with most jet fuel (says so right on the bottle) maybe its from the higher combustion? i dont know run a couple tanks through and see if it goes away. then try some sea foam and if all else fails get it fixed throught the warrenty i guess

interestingly enough, out of all cleaners out there, STP is the only other one i use regularly. it is made by g'ol Studebaker-Packard, very old company, and i have tendency to stick to firms that have been around for long time.
sounds like you "unglued" something.
does the tick go away when engine warms up? GM pushrod engines have "morning sickness", when lifters are not yet quite filled with oil and rockers have more slack than on hot engine.
btw, you did NOT run stp through cranckcase, did you? it's, vs seafoam, strictly fuel treatment. so, it cleans only fuel tank/lines/pump/injectors/anything fuel is going through. not much tick to made by those. pump is all the way back under your buttocks.
injectors? those are, basically, check valves, with solenoids, that close/open letting fuel in. that'll make shy ticking noise. i'd say - get mechanic stetoscope and pinpoint tick.

no i dumped it in the gas tank. stp is the only fuel treatment i will use as well and have never had any problems with it. im just trying to figure out if its related or coincidence. im going to run another full tank through then if no change take it in and have them do the work on it.

and no this doesnt go away as it warms up. i have always had some knocking first thing in the morning but this continues no matter how long i run it for. doesnt get better or worse just keeps ticking.

ok, so it's not lifters, so running seafoam through cranckcase should not do much.
ticking is a very specific type of noise. it's more solenoid type related.
i have had things that happen coincidentally to or consecutively to.
i'd still recommend pinpointing source of noise. it might have been injector/-s.
i am well aware of how annoying such noise can be, but if runs well - turn the music up. or they will take you for a ride at repair shop.

i have a warrenty so they can go on whatever rides they chose aslong as the ticking goes away haha. appreciate all the feedback. thank you

then good luck and god speed. don't let them talk you into any un-warranted ideas.