Normal Engine Noise? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

AER86 · 03-05-2021, 05:27 PM

Hi All,

I have absolutely no point of reference for what’s normal with these engines, iv lived with coyote engines but have no experience with LS engines, so would really appreciate it if I could get some feedback from people about if my engine sounds normal, valve train noise in particular.

Mine does tick at idle which I had read it shouldn’t, so I asked my girlfriend to slowly rev it to see if the noise increased.

Also is it normal for the engine to be limited to 4K revs when in neutral, I read that this is normal on automatics, but couldn’t find the info on the stick shift.

https://youtu.be/casbbFPCyH8

Thanks in advance for any help!

69L48Z27 · 03-05-2021, 06:00 PM

Fixed the link
https://youtu.be/casbbFPCyH8

Can’t really hear it but on the way down, RPM, I didn’t like that noise.

mikeman · 03-05-2021, 06:29 PM

Could be an impending dropped valve issue coming up. I'd get it looked at ASAP.

AER86 · 03-05-2021, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeman

Could be an impending dropped valve issue coming up. I'd get it looked at ASAP.

I take it yours doesn’t sound like mine then? Less noisy ?

BLK95-Z · 03-05-2021, 08:35 PM

Hard to say. I would cut the oil filter open and look for trash.

AER86 · 03-05-2021, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLK95-Z

Hard to say. I would cut the oil filter open and look for trash.

It just had an oil change before I picked it up from the dealer, so not really an option unfortunately

ariZona28 · 03-05-2021, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AER86

It just had an oil change before I picked it up from the dealer, so not really an option unfortunately

Well, it's an option just maybe a $15 filter and a quart of oil option. Really hard to tell from your video clip/sound. My LS7 sounds like a sewing machine around 3-4K RPM. I've read that this is normal so I continue to enjoy. Run it with the fuel rail covers off and the rain tray out and you'll really hear it. Check your oil level per the manuals instruction and make sure the dealer didn't make a mistake in the fill procedures. Dry sump system takes special attention. And you might want to search/scroll through the V8 engine section of this forum. I think guys mentioned valve train noise a while back.

mikeman · 03-05-2021, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AER86

I take it yours doesn’t sound like mine then? Less noisy ?

No Z currently. Since the LS7 has been known to suffer from dropped valves, a noisy valvetrain is usually the first indication of the problem brewing before that happens.

Since that would pretty much destroy the engine, I'd probably get it checked out just for peace of mind. And, since you're in there, you might as well do the valvetrain upgrade so you never have to worry about it. Just my $.02.

But... and this is a big but (lol!), you need to make sure they filled the oil properly like Arizona mentioned. So, you should probably do it yourself or have it redone by another trusted place to ensure that is not a factor with the noisy valvetrain. This is why I like to do all the maintenance on my cars myself.

AER86 · 03-06-2021, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariZona28

Well, it's an option just maybe a $15 filter and a quart of oil option. Really hard to tell from your video clip/sound. My LS7 sounds like a sewing machine around 3-4K RPM. I've read that this is normal so I continue to enjoy. Run it with the fuel rail covers off and the rain tray out and you'll really hear it. Check your oil level per the manuals instruction and make sure the dealer didn't make a mistake in the fill procedures. Dry sump system takes special attention. And you might want to search/scroll through the V8 engine section of this forum. I think guys mentioned valve train noise a while back.

I meant I didn’t think it was an option as the oil change was done so recently I didn’t think it would show anything in the filter.
Will check the oil levels as you suggest and maybe you re right might be worth redoing it myself anyway to have piece of mind it was done right.
You re right there does seem to be lots of posts about valvetrain noise but that’s my problem I have literally no idea with these engines what’s normal and what’s not. A local dealer has a z06 so perhaps I can go ask to listen to that running for comparison.

AustexaSS · 03-06-2021, 09:06 AM

I don’t hear anything I would consider alarming from the brief video clip you posted. Yes, when stationary you can only rev to 4K rpm.

HoodCheck · 03-06-2021, 01:54 PM

Sounds like any LS engine

I don't hear much of any difference between yours and either Z I've owned.

AER86 · 03-07-2021, 06:54 PM

Thanks for the feedback guys, will keep an eye on it as I continue to learn about the car and it’s quirks!

pzero · 03-10-2021, 10:40 AM

Congrats on your new Z. Sounds normal to me. Chevy LS is known to tick a little since it's a push rods. Ford coyote is a whole different set up and has different sound since it's a DOHC. Check oil level and take it to a dealer for second opinion. Besides 2014 & 2015 Z/28 LS7 dropped valves are very rare. It was mostly on Z06 previous Z LS7 engines. Good luck and enjoy the ride.

12oclockshadow · 03-15-2021, 12:51 PM

Noises sound normal to me. They all are a little noisy

03-05-2021, 05:27 PM	#1
AER86 Drives: 2014 Z28 Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Ontario Posts: 19	Normal Engine Noise? Hi All, I have absolutely no point of reference for what’s normal with these engines, iv lived with coyote engines but have no experience with LS engines, so would really appreciate it if I could get some feedback from people about if my engine sounds normal, valve train noise in particular. Mine does tick at idle which I had read it shouldn’t, so I asked my girlfriend to slowly rev it to see if the noise increased. Also is it normal for the engine to be limited to 4K revs when in neutral, I read that this is normal on automatics, but couldn’t find the info on the stick shift. https://youtu.be/casbbFPCyH8 Thanks in advance for any help! Last edited by AER86; 03-05-2021 at 06:06 PM.

03-05-2021, 08:35 PM	#5
BLK95-Z Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Kentucky Posts: 43	Hard to say. I would cut the oil filter open and look for trash. __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS - Built by Fast Track Performance 427 lsx - callies billet ccw - oliver rods - wiseco pistons - BTR cam - 1/2" studs - TFS 245's - Holley hi-ram Custom twin turbo kit w/billet Precision 7675's - PW46 wastegate's - JGS bov's - 6" thick intercooler RPM freshened Rossler billet th400 - 2.10 gearset - PTC converter ZL1 diff & axles - Driveshaft shop aluminum DS Injector Dynamics 2000cc - cable drive pump - e85 fuel Weld v-series 17x4.5 front - 15x10 w/MT et street 315/60-15 Stock ecu & all factory options retained 1288 rwhp - 2016 LS Fest dyno challenge winner 8.97 @ 159

03-10-2021, 10:40 AM	#13
pzero Drives: 2015 Camaro Z/28 #968 Silver Ice M Join Date: May 2019 Location: Houston Posts: 365	Congrats on your new Z. Sounds normal to me. Chevy LS is known to tick a little since it's a push rods. Ford coyote is a whole different set up and has different sound since it's a DOHC. Check oil level and take it to a dealer for second opinion. Besides 2014 & 2015 Z/28 LS7 dropped valves are very rare. It was mostly on Z06 previous Z LS7 engines. Good luck and enjoy the ride. __________________ Current Cars: 2008 Honda CRV 2.0L 2015 Chevy Z/28 7.0L 2016 Chevy Tahoe 5.3L Past Cars: 1976 Chevy Malibu Classic 5.7L 1985 Chevy 2DR 4x4 Blazer 5.7L 1989 Chevy IROC-Z 5.7L 1995 Chevy 2DR 4x4 Tahoe 5.7L 2005 Chevy 4DR Tahoe 5.3L

03-15-2021, 12:51 PM	#14
12oclockshadow Drives: 2012 ZL1 M6 Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Conroe, Tx Posts: 221 View My Garage	Noises sound normal to me. They all are a little noisy __________________ FBO. Cammed. Flex fuel.801whp/741wtq on e85

03-05-2021, 06:00 PM	#2
69L48Z27 Drives: 2015 Z/28; 1969 Camaro SS Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: York, PA Posts: 805	Fixed the link https://youtu.be/casbbFPCyH8 Can’t really hear it but on the way down, RPM, I didn’t like that noise.

03-05-2021, 06:29 PM	#3
mikeman Banned Drives: 2015 Camaro Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: My Garage Posts: 1,125	Could be an impending dropped valve issue coming up. I'd get it looked at ASAP.

03-06-2021, 09:06 AM	#10
AustexaSS Build Date - Dec 08, 2014 Drives: 2015 Z/28, #1007, Black A/C Stereo Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 197	I don’t hear anything I would consider alarming from the brief video clip you posted. Yes, when stationary you can only rev to 4K rpm.

03-06-2021, 01:54 PM	#11
HoodCheck Drives: 2018 ZLE (M6/hyper blue) Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Lithia, FL Posts: 762	Sounds like any LS engine I don't hear much of any difference between yours and either Z I've owned.

03-07-2021, 06:54 PM	#12
AER86 Drives: 2014 Z28 Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Ontario Posts: 19	Thanks for the feedback guys, will keep an eye on it as I continue to learn about the car and it’s quirks!