LSA Valvetrain Tick

[Tomtom87]

Hello everyone,

I have a ticking noise at idle that seems to be valvetrain related ( not blower, was just recently replaced). When the motor revvs up the ticking noise seems to go away.

Ill try to get a video up, just want to make sure its not a bad lifter or anything like that. I would assume a bad lifter would just continually tick at all rpms regardless.

13 ZL1 bone stock.

Thanks

[CamaroDreams76]

Mileage would be important i think. LS based motors have a noisy top end. The lifters are loud and the injectors are too. Sounds like a sewing machine.

[Robmnrd]

Originally Posted by CamaroDreams76

Mileage would be important i think. LS based motors have a noisy top end. The lifters are loud and the injectors are too. Sounds like a sewing machine.

Was going to say something similar.

We are unfortunately not blessed with a quiet valvetrain, but if it sounds like (as he said) a sewing machine you're actually doing just fine lol.

If you're hearing one "slow", unilateral, specific-to-one-cylinder noise, then maybe be concerned. But if it's just the generalized ticking/tapping of an LS, it's nothing to worry about.


Oh and if you ever mod and add headers, all bets are off. You'll be certain your lifters are all bad, rockers coming off, etc. hahaha

[Tomtom87]

28k miles bone stock. Heres a video of idle for a reference. Also here is a pic of my oil pressure at idle fully warmed up. I am aware of the slight rattle of the blower btw.

https://youtube.com/shorts/J8OyFjpjNDs?feature=share

Thanks for any and all input. Im pretty new to the platform so not exactly sure whats normal

[Vicster]

Originally Posted by Tomtom87

28k miles bone stock. Heres a video of idle for a reference. Also here is a pic of my oil pressure at idle fully warmed up. I am aware of the slight rattle of the blower btw.

https://youtube.com/shorts/J8OyFjpjNDs?feature=share

Thanks for any and all input. Im pretty new to the platform so not exactly sure whats normal

WoW, I have not seen a stock LSA in a long time! Your oil pressure is fine.

You could try unsticking the lifters and clean the engine internals with Marvel Mystery Oil.

I add 1/2 quart of Marvel Mystery Oil 500 miles prior to changing my engine oil. Use high quality engine oil (such as Castrol Edge or Mobil One Extended) and oil filter (such as Napa / Wix or Mobil One filter).

[Tomtom87]

Thanks! Ya the car sat for a while and oil was just recently changed. I feel that now that im putting miles on, its starting to quiet down a bit. Glad this is easing my concern lol

[hunter1660]

It just needs the carbon blown out of it.

[Tomtom87]

Originally Posted by hunter1660

It just needs the carbon blown out of it.

Haha the old italian tune up. Im just gonna keep driving her for the remainder of the season and put my worries aside!

[silversleeper]

I haven't listened to mine with the hood up for months but if I recall it was louder than I expected just like yours. I don't hear anything concerning.

[Robmnrd]

Originally Posted by Tomtom87

Thanks! Ya the car sat for a while and oil was just recently changed. I feel that now that im putting miles on, its starting to quiet down a bit. Glad this is easing my concern lol

Ah yeah, do another quick oil change after running her up/down pretty good a handful of times.

Nothing concerning in your video r/t your valvetrain, based on what I heard.

[Bigdumogre]

Just wait till you cam the car lol. Mine always had a tick but after building it, damn thing sounds like a typewriter and I like it

[CamaroDreams76]

Sounds normal to me.

[Robmnrd]

Originally Posted by Bigdumogre

Just wait till you cam the car lol. Mine always had a tick but after building it, damn thing sounds like a typewriter and I like it

Yeah and headers lol.

[morepowerjoe]

Yeah that's a slight lifter tick. That's the reason I'm rebuilding mine now. I found out that something wasn't quite right because all the intake valves kissed all the pistons and I drove it like this for over a year (still ran damn good). I don't know if it was from over revving the engine or excessive lifter preload or what. I changed the oil pump three times and the lifters twice hopping to solve it. So then I decided to tear into it and found out what it was the darn valves hitting the pistons or 8 bent valves none the less it was a valve train tick kinda just like yours. But I suspect that yours just needs some cleaning out like the other guys were saying. I think I would give that mystery oil a try like Vicster said