jjcook
Maryland
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Joined: 05/09/2003
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Do the 8.1 engines have noisy valve trains ?
2013 GMC 2500 crew cab Denali , 6.0 , 4:10
2003 Cardinal 29WBLE
16K dual pivot Husky Slider
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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Have you had this engine since 2003 and just now hearing this sound for the first time? Is the mileage much over 100K?
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Dave H M
IL
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Joined: 08/11/2006
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Likes to tow wrote:I've had engine tics through the years and always found them by taking a 3 or 4 foot section of water hose, putting one end next to may ear and then taking the other end and slowly moving it all over the engine until the tic suddenly gets louder. This has worked numerous times.
When I bought my first new car, a 1976 Ford Elite, I had an engine tic. The dealership ended up pulling the heads and supposedly fixing bad valve lifters. All of this under warranty. When I got the car back after two weeks the noise was exactly the same. A few days later while I was home I took a piece of water hose laying on the garage floor and just used it as a stethascope (spelling) and found my noise. A small metal tube coming up from the intake manifold and going into some type of a disc shaped object near the rear of the carburetor had actually cracked and pulled up out of the disc shaped can. I pushed it back down and the noise went away!!!
Another time I had a bearing squeal coming from somewhere and found it using the water hose method, a bad bearing on the distributor shaft.
Noises can be hard to trace but don't always involve massive internal engine problems. Intake or exhaust areas are prime suspects.
Good luck
In my old days I noticed that Harbor Freight markets a real economical engine stethascope. I don't use a piece of broom handle any more.
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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Joined: 02/25/2005
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I think some were known to have piston slap when cold which is annoying but doesn't seem to hurt anything.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4, 6 speed Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
H0NDA eu2000i
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Carvin Marvin
Livingston, Texas, USA
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Joined: 10/16/2004
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You may want to check the exhaust pipe donut gaskets on each side. I had to repace mine at 40K miles the pipes were very loose. The valve train at 74k miles is not noisy.
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Likes to tow
Huntington WV
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Joined: 01/13/2006
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I've had engine tics through the years and always found them by taking a 3 or 4 foot section of water hose, putting one end next to may ear and then taking the other end and slowly moving it all over the engine until the tic suddenly gets louder. This has worked numerous times.
When I bought my first new car, a 1976 Ford Elite, I had an engine tic. The dealership ended up pulling the heads and supposedly fixing bad valve lifters. All of this under warranty. When I got the car back after two weeks the noise was exactly the same. A few days later while I was home I took a piece of water hose laying on the garage floor and just used it as a stethascope (spelling) and found my noise. A small metal tube coming up from the intake manifold and going into some type of a disc shaped object near the rear of the carburetor had actually cracked and pulled up out of the disc shaped can. I pushed it back down and the noise went away!!!
Another time I had a bearing squeal coming from somewhere and found it using the water hose method, a bad bearing on the distributor shaft.
Noises can be hard to trace but don't always involve massive internal engine problems. Intake or exhaust areas are prime suspects.
Good luck
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jblz51
Otto, MO, USA
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Joined: 05/12/2004
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My Tahoe with the 5.3L has the startup tick, my wifes Equinox with the 3.5L does also. I have been told that it is due to GM's use of hydraulic valve lifters. They take a buildup of oil pressure to work and will tick until then.
Josh
2001 Chevy Tahoe
1991 Jayco Eagle 220
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Lov2hittheroad
Ca
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Joined: 04/25/2012
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Had a 2003 with a cold tic at start up. I found that the cure for the noise was to add 2 quarts of lucas motor treatment at oil changes. I believe in doing my own changes(give me a chance to look things over while under there) and it would cover the cost of the Lucas. Would always use Valovine oil and a NAPA(racor) Gold filter. Made for a sweet purring Baby after that. It will take a 100 miles or so to mix in after a oil change. Very quick motor when unhooked from the rig. A good work horse engine but a gas sucker. Got me and the Wife out of trouble one time when we where chased in a Drug infested part of town checking out a childhood area.
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weathershak
Not sure, I need to look out the window
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Joined: 12/11/2006
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jjcook wrote:Do the 8.1 engines have noisy valve trains ?
Mine has the well known piston slap. I have another 2002 vehicle with 150,000 miles on it that has it also. Im not worried about it. There are thousands out there. It should be noticable for about 5 minutes after a cold startup. After that it should be nice and quiet. I did have issues with exhaust manifold leaks that required replacing gaskets. That noise never went away and got worse when under load. A great engine otherwise.
Full timing it since July 2012 My pics
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scott1
CO
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Joined: 05/24/2004
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Just traded off a 2004 with the 8.1 no engine tick but did have an exhaust leak when cold. Think it relates to what Carvin said. It had around 165k on it.
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