Ticking in LS3

[8driann]

Hello, I am new to this site but I would always find my answers here when searching on google. I have a 2012 Camaro SS 45th Anniversary with the LS3 that I just purchased with 126,xxx miles. The oil was reading low so I put 20-50 and it also had a ticking noise that was pretty much only audible approximately between 1500-3000 rpms. So I replaced the lifters with ls7 lifters because that's what i read online and when i took them out, a few had scarring and pits in them. The day after, it kept making the same noise. So i went back into the engine and took out the lifters to inspect them and two of them I could push the spring down. I then decided to take the cam out and about three of the lobes had flat spots and one of them had pits in it. So I bought a new set of texas speed ls7 lifters as well as a stock cam, installed them, and about 40 minutes later, I could hear it again. Now this time it wasn't loud, it had quieted down about 50%. I am now thinking of getting a new set of rocker arms, but I would love to hear someone's opinion or maybe someone that is going through the exact same thing. Also, my oil pressure is around 18-20 idle and around 30-32 cruising once its fully warmed up with the 20w-50 oil. Thanks in advanced.

[dru21281]

20w50 In a LS3 Camaro w/stock tolerances? OEM specs 5W30...

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[ariZona28]

You've got a 126,000 mile performance car. God knows how the previous owners drove it. You mentioned the oil level was low, how low was it? Some audible ticking is normal (so I've read elsewhere in this forum) in the 2000-4000 RPM range but it should not sound like worn components. More like an old good quality sewing machine or a nice '60s Small Block Chevy with solid lifters. You may have several worn components. My LS7s oil press at idle is 28-30psi after a good therapy session. I run Mobil 1 5w-30. Definitely use the proper weight oil as previously mentioned.

[GONIF]

For starters change the oil pump ,and see if the ticking go's away . The O ring on the oil pump is old and could be your problem ,but as long as your in there install a new Melling oil pump . With those miles the oil pump is not going to be working to well as it is. The oil your using is too heavy . I like 0/40 Mobile one European formula ,lots of ZDDP and good stuff at a fair price .
This is most likely your problem https://www.amazon.com/Fel-Pro-72401.../dp/B0049839P2
but change the pump ,it comes with one .

[InFiD3ViL]

I would not be running such a heavy oil on a stock bottom end LS3. The tolerances on these engines are pretty tight and you are likely doing more harm than good.

As said above, maybe an oil pump or O-ring issue, possibly cam bearings/other bearing issues, lifter bores. Your idle pressure seems a bit low to me and I assume it's only going to drop lower on a lighter weight oil (5w30)...which definitely points to issues elsewhere. I doubt your causative issues are in the valvetrain.

I think you are treating the symptoms and not the cause.

[pyroguy]

Have you pulled the pan or at minimum cut open the oil filter to see if there's any metal in it? Having multiple flat lobes on a cam seems like you may have something worse going on. What did the heads look like when you had them off?

[8driann]

Originally Posted by pyroguy

Have you pulled the pan or at minimum cut open the oil filter to see if there's any metal in it? Having multiple flat lobes on a cam seems like you may have something worse going on. What did the heads look like when you had them off?

Yes I have seen metal shavings in the oil, and I think that came with from the pits in the cam and the lifters. I have now changed the cam to a different stock cam, new ls7 lifters, new melling pushrods and new melling rocker arms. I did install headers and the ticking has significantly gone down. But now, its a bit of a ticking noise but more of like a sound involving air, if that makes sense. I have installed long tube headers (not tuned yet so I havent drove it) and people have on different threads have said that because the headers are too thin, you can actiually hear the valves closing, although my mechanic says its the valve itself that has wear. Also, I will be changing over to 10w-40 synthetic oil. I will try to film a youtube video and provide a link. Also, do I have to quote everyone that I want to reply to or does everyone that has already commented on this get the a notification even if im not replying to them directly? Sorry I m new to this forum. Thanks for all the help in advanced.

[8driann]

Originally Posted by InFiD3ViL

I would not be running such a heavy oil on a stock bottom end LS3. The tolerances on these engines are pretty tight and you are likely doing more harm than good.

As said above, maybe an oil pump or O-ring issue, possibly cam bearings/other bearing issues, lifter bores. Your idle pressure seems a bit low to me and I assume it's only going to drop lower on a lighter weight oil (5w30)...which definitely points to issues elsewhere. I doubt your causative issues are in the valvetrain.

I think you are treating the symptoms and not the cause.

I will change over to 10w-40 and look into getting a new oil pump. When I pulled the cam out, the cam journals (i think thats what they are called) seemed fine.

[8driann]

Originally Posted by GONIF

For starters change the oil pump ,and see if the ticking go's away . The O ring on the oil pump is old and could be your problem ,but as long as your in there install a new Melling oil pump . With those miles the oil pump is not going to be working to well as it is. The oil your using is too heavy . I like 0/40 Mobile one European formula ,lots of ZDDP and good stuff at a fair price .
This is most likely your problem https://www.amazon.com/Fel-Pro-72401.../dp/B0049839P2
but change the pump ,it comes with one .

My mechanic recommended going down to 10w-40 full synthetic since after all we did replace the lifters, cam, pushrods, and rocker arms and the sound got significantly quieter but it sounds different (as explained on my reply to the guy with the blue camaro) What do you think about the 10w-40? Also, I will be looking into that oil pump, thanks.

[8driann]

Originally Posted by ariZona28

You've got a 126,000 mile performance car. God knows how the previous owners drove it. You mentioned the oil level was low, how low was it? Some audible ticking is normal (so I've read elsewhere in this forum) in the 2000-4000 RPM range but it should not sound like worn components. More like an old good quality sewing machine or a nice '60s Small Block Chevy with solid lifters. You may have several worn components. My LS7s oil press at idle is 28-30psi after a good therapy session. I run Mobil 1 5w-30. Definitely use the proper weight oil as previously mentioned.

my mechanic recommended 10w-40 full synthetic now that we replaced cam, lifters, pushrods, and rocker arms and the valve train is mostly new. As I explained in my reply to the guy with the blue camaro, the ticking sounds different (I also have headers with out a tune yet) and quieter. with the 20w-50, my oil pressure is around 18-22 warm idle and around 30-32 cruising.

[frankwjr]

my stock ported and shimmed oil pump has 30psi at idle w/5w/30...over 3k goes up 10psi per 1k rpm....


also don't see where you replaced valve springs...weak spring will tear up a cam lobe right quick...


good luck!


PEACE

[pyroguy]

Originally Posted by 8driann

Also, do I have to quote everyone that I want to reply to or does everyone that has already commented on this get the a notification even if im not replying to them directly? Sorry I m new to this forum. Thanks for all the help in advanced.

No worries about being new and figuring out the forum. There's different settings where people may get notified every time there's a new reply, only once if there's a new reply on a thread since they visited last, or a summary at the end of the day on who commented on what.

Originally Posted by 8driann

my mechanic recommended 10w-40 full synthetic now that we replaced cam, lifters, pushrods, and rocker arms and the valve train is mostly new. As I explained in my reply to the guy with the blue camaro, the ticking sounds different (I also have headers with out a tune yet) and quieter. with the 20w-50, my oil pressure is around 18-22 warm idle and around 30-32 cruising.

10W-40 is still a rather thick, especially with a stock cam and valve springs. After I did my cam swap to a more aggressive cam with stronger valve springs, my tuner recommended 10W-30 synthetic blend. He said I could still run the factory 5W-30, but with the stronger springs he recommended the heavier weight. Still not 10W-40 or 10W-50. That oil pressure is still disturbingly low. When you pulled the heads off to access the lifters did anything look odd or off? Perhaps something with the cylinders, valves, or piston heads?

[Yellow 1]

Sounds like it's time to open her up...

[8driann]

Originally Posted by pyroguy

No worries about being new and figuring out the forum. There's different settings where people may get notified every time there's a new reply, only once if there's a new reply on a thread since they visited last, or a summary at the end of the day on who commented on what.



10W-40 is still a rather thick, especially with a stock cam and valve springs. After I did my cam swap to a more aggressive cam with stronger valve springs, my tuner recommended 10W-30 synthetic blend. He said I could still run the factory 5W-30, but with the stronger springs he recommended the heavier weight. Still not 10W-40 or 10W-50. That oil pressure is still disturbingly low. When you pulled the heads off to access the lifters did anything look odd or off? Perhaps something with the cylinders, valves, or piston heads?

nothing out of the ordinary. The only thing was a small tiny scratch somewhere on the driver side head, other than that everything else seemed normal. But the one thing I didnt remove was the oil pump. I might just get a better oil pump because people have said it could be the oil pump itslef or the o ring. So I wont take any chances and I will most likely buy a new oil pump.