2002 1500 hd Big Problem

[not_nuf_time]

Hi, well I need some input. First all I have a 2002 Chev 1500 HD with the 6.0 liter engine 109,000 miles. Any one who has one of these knows they tick for about the first 20 seconds you start them.

For the last two weeks it has been ticking louder and for about 2-4 minutes till it really warms up. So I took it in to a Chev dealer to see whats wrong. They tested it in the morning(when cold start) and said I had a loose piston. That basically my engine is trashed(in time it will go out). $3500.00 for a used engine relacement. Any one out there have any knowledge or mechanics expierance that can give me an idea if they are right on the diagnosis, or do you think it would be the lifters. PS. once truck warms it runs like always, no ticking sound or lose of power. Also the chev mechanics didn't remove valve covers or anything to see if it could be lifters but just listened to the engine. Thanks in advance for your input.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Piston slap is normal and will gets more noticeable and takes longer to go away as the temps get colder. Piston slap is annoying but is not terminal and has sort of become normal. It is more noticeable under acceleration when the vehicle is cold and is more of a hollow knocking noise

lifter noise is a definite tick and there is no mistaking the sound it makes. Half a can of seafoam in the oil will usually take care of this (have yet for it not to work on a GM with hydraulic lifters. Lifter tick is also not necessarily terminal.

The other noises that are terminal usually don't go away when the vehicle warms up. Rod knock and bad wrist pins come to mind.

I would run it until the noise doesn't go away. It maybe a week, Maybe years.

[jwhjr]

If you do a search on Piston Slap or CSK (Cold Start Knock) you'll read more information than you'd ever care to about it. Thankfully (knock on wood), my 04 5.3 with 92K on it isn't "normal" so far and hasn't had it.

[Dozer]

My 00 with a 5.3 and 158,000 on it has been doning it for the last 60,000. Seems like more of them do it then dont.

[Black_Bay]

I had that happen on a Ford I had a few years ago. Make sure that when changing oil that you use a good quality filter with a anti drainback valve in it. Some are much better than others.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Not abnormal.

It's not me, but if it were I'd drive it until it blows. As stated, could be a week and could be never.

[Outfitter17]

my '01 6.0 chevy work truck has been ticking at startup for the last 80,000 miles and after it warms up it goes away and everything is back to normal. It could take 20-30 seconds in the summer and 2-3 minutes in the winter, but it goes away with no issues. The truck has 149,000 on it now and I plan to run it till the wheels fall off.

[jeffreyd]

throw some stp or lucas treatment in it with a non drain back filter. it wont go away but will help. good luck

[chanfish]

have had the same problem (cold start knock)with my 5.3 yukon. researched everything and found out this is common. my brother has a suburban and his was starting to do it as well. his mechanic told him to stop getting holiday gas...he did and it went away. i had been buying holiday gas for years so i switched and it is much quieter almost gone now..i tried the gas treatment but that didnt work. mine had been knocking for years without any noted damage so like airjer said just go with it and save the money...almost sounded like a diesel some mornings.. but it goes away but man it is a bothersome sound..

[sparkyaber]

Does anyone else see a huge problem here?? These jerk-weeds want to soak him for 3500 dollars, when it seems to be a common problem!

I would be irate. Time to find a new dealer/mechanic! What a scam.

Good luck, and defiantly get a second opinion.

[Scott K]

It depends, did he go in and say what do I need to do to get this noise to go away, or did he go in and say should I be concerned about the noise?

If I was the Tech that got this invoice, I would tell him to live with it, until it gets worse, but if you want it fixed, here is a price for a new engine, and a used engine. I don't want to pass any judgment about this shop, as we havent actually heard the noise, only a written description of the noise. It may actually be worse then what he is describing as well.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Does anyone else see a huge problem here?? These jerk-weeds want to soak him for 3500 dollars, when it seems to be a common problem!

I would be irate. Time to find a new dealer/mechanic! What a scam.

Good luck, and defiantly get a second opinion.

Not only what 4WS said but we don't know what noise he is hearing, what noise the shop heard, or anything from the original poster to help clarify the questions we had on his original post!

Lets not jump to conclusion based on what we don't know!

[not_nuf_time]

In all fairness to the tech and service manager, they both said that they'ld would not do anything right now if it was theirs. I did a little checking on net and found the one site that has the sound of the piston slapping that Airjer mentioned and that is the sound I'm having and thesame symptom that many others of you have mentioned. My only concern that it has changed in the last two weeks to last longer and louder, but like said it may be from the cold weather. I was just trying to find out if it was turning into a major problem with my engine. To all who've replied, thanks my mind is eased a bit, cept every time I head out of town wondering if she'll make the round trip. Thanks again.

[Jeremy airjer W]

My honda prelude had 225k on it when I sold it. It was still on the road for at least another 3 years that I know about. Had piston slap the hole time I owned it.

My Tacoma had it as well, only in the winter. Its still on the road with almost 200k.

[Black_Bay]

Here's my theory on piston slap. BTW I'm not an engineer but I have a good set of tools. In an effort to raise fuel efficiency manufacturers are using lighter and thinner pistons to reduce rotating mass. The thinner pistons heat up and expand at normal operating temps. If there wasn't the looser tolerances the pistons would seize as they heated up.

[Jeremy airjer W]

That is how I understand it as well.

[crothmeier]

my wife called me on her way home from work yesterday saying the truck was making a tick or slap kind of noise. i asked her if she let it warm up, she said no, i said well once its warm let me know if it still doing it. Truck warmed up, sound went away.

Im assuming piston slap. 97 chev 5.7L

[Snowking]

well, i have a 00 5.3 that has 270,000 miles on it. its been making the piston slap noise for about 170,000 miles.

[OnAFly]

Thermal expansion is a function of overall length. If they are smaller, they expand less overall.

[sparkyaber]

Sorry I blew up guys, I was under the impression that they were leaning on him to replace the motor as it sits.

[WingDing2]

My Chev Silvarado 2003 6.0 liter has 110,000 and not even a tick....yet.

[NIBOWMAN]

GM has had a TSM(technical service bulletin)out about the knock or lifer click at start up for the v8 gas engines. The say in the TSM that there is an o-ring on the oil pick up tube in the oil pan which will crack, allowing the oil pump to suck air along with the oil, this will oxygenate the oil and reduce the oil film on the wear surfaces of the moving parts in the engine, primarily the lifters and rockers. GM says that there is an updated pick up tube assembly and I believe they only show about 2.5 hours book time to replace. My wifes 02 6.0 Denali has had a tick at start up for about 15k miles now and it hasn't gotten worse or better. I am just going to live with it.