99 5.7 Vortec-lifter/piston slap/wrist pin/rod or what?

[@johnhoward2000yt]

I have this same noise in a 2000 5.7 Vortec (92K miles) and it also goes away when the engine warms up. I have also found that the noise is louder if the engine has not run for a few days. While it won't fix the cause, to minimize the symptoms make sure the thermostat is working correctly and not stuck open which will increase the time to warm up.

[@e-racer4673]

I’m sure yours is a wristpin rattle, all LS engines in the year model had wristpin noise. They sound like a sewing machine in the mornings when you start them up and after they warm up it just about completely goes away.

[@e-racer4673]

If it does not have a miss with it at idle, then it’s just a wristpin noise that those engines make when they are cold but if it has a miss at idle on one or more cylinders, it won’t be a dead miss It will just be a slight miss, then it’s probably the Cam and the lifters and eventually you will need to put a cam and lifter set in it.

[@allanbrogdon5317]

You can change bearings and oil pump without removing the engine.You have to remove the belt and center timing chain for slack.

[@diecastchris]

To be honest with you from a mechanic of 20 years.. that sounds like wrist pin slop or slap. As the engine heats up the metal expands which tightens up the distance between the wrist pin and the Piston which the noise will go away. But when it's cold there's too much clearance between the wrist pin in the piston. Just my opinion...

[@frylockgaming8201]

so if it is piston slap you drive it dont you have to worry about the rod dropping out of the cylinder wall and putting a hole through the block if the wrist pin is failing ?

[@luistovar923]

I have this same noise in a chevy tahoe 98 5.7 Vortec

[@wolvenar]

Sounds like wrist pin/piston slop. Notorious in that engine with high mileage, or overheat damage.

[@adamalbright7285]

Piston rings as it warms the aluminum piston expands and it goes away if lifter or rod it stays but it dont sound like just pistons

[@VikingDudee]

My 99 GMC Suburban has piston slap when its cold, worse in the winter months as it will go until my temp gauge moves, then it sounds like a lifter tick and then goes away, Summer it just does it for a few seconds, mines also a 5.7 219K miles on it, never had an issue with it, its just annoying and sounds like it wants to throw a rod, mine always has 60 - 70 oil pressure, just above 40 when its idle and fully warmed up. I did switch to 10w30 to thicken the oil up some, not sure if it really helped though. I do have a low mile 98 5.7 I bought, so if she blows which I don't think it will, I drop it in.

[@mikee5075]

I have same sound after oil cooler line blew out replaced it with shit oil to get it home n it's been making that noise. I e changed new oil and filter n still makes it but it was louder

[@RomainSch999]

Any update on that engine noise?

[@PermianPanther]

Check the idler pulley

[@YouLikeToast]

if it softens when warmed up I would guess it's pitston slap

[@32Mark_]

Do you remember what you figured out the problem was ?

[@jaychristensen4600]

Lately Im leaning towards the lifters as the source. With a little more convincing I may be changing lifters, cam and timing chain/gears. Then post and update. Comments on your thoughts are very welcome.

[@boostwhipped24]

Jay Christensen did you figure this out

[@jasonmiller2726]

I have a 2000 gmc Jimmy that I had replaced lifters, push rods, and rockers, timing chain, distributer with electronical,and I have the exact same noise.I would have to say it is in the bottom end! If you have done anything else to your suburban, please comment. I'm going to be rebuilding a simular engine this summer

[@1958Cadillac-v2g]

Such low mileage! I have 348.000 miles on my 94 Trans Am, lt1 engine. Bought it new. Runs and sounds great. 3000 mile oil changes its whole life. It sounds like rod knock to me. Vehicle is nice though.

[@636Steph314]

main rod bearing. sounds exactly what mine sounded like except mine was WAY louder. gets faster with rpm..

[@636Steph314]

never mind, i didn't watch till end before comment lol. rod would not go away it just gets louder and louder.

[@juanvillarreal6688]

Have a issue with my 98. Where it will go away at 25- and only makes a sort of knock but only when idle

[@jjmccloud]

Main and rod bearing are 2 different bearings lol

[@Skywood91]

I have the same issue with my truck, it’s loud like yours on startup but then goes away after 5-10 minutes of driving.. did you do any lifter work before you sold it? And do the other people still have the truck?

[@jjmccloud]

Exhaust leak on the manifold makes the noise and can sound like a ticking

[@alisaleh2509]

90% of the time on gm engines is lifter as i see from video noise getting louder with higher rpm as you accelrate its diffenetly a lifter noise do engine flush and use 5 quart Mobil 1/ 5w30 and 1quart lucas oil stabilizer since you saying 60psi oil pressure its surely lifter if it was a rod bearing the engine oil pressure will be a lot lower than 60 psi ...

[@sergiomalacarabenavides26]

Demaciado carbon en el motor,,hazle un lavado interno al motor, cambias aceite y filtro y agregale 2 lts. De diesel al tanque de gasolina y conduce 40 km y se le quita el ruido,,checa tu egr y el solenoide devla egr...saludos

[@maryadams6415]

Look for exhaust leak at manifolds.

[@JZX834L]

100% this is piston slap. Cylinders and pistons and possibly wrist pins have worn out.

[@dustychevy1693]

I know this truck is sold but it is the lifters. My 2001 5.3 does the same thing for years

[@computerscientist5953]

mine started like 4 months ago, do you think it is safe to drive for another 1-2 years?

[@dustychevy1693]

If it is just the lifters then it is in my opinion ok due to my experience. For example, I just took my 5.3 with lifters on a 750 mile trip and have not had any problems with the lifters.

[@dustychevy1693]

Also my truck is not as loud as this and only does it on cold winter days

[@computerscientist5953]

Dusty A mine does this from time to time when cold, but when the engine is warmed up it almost disappears

[@dustychevy1693]

I would say to keep the oil up and take care of it. Those Vortecs are nice engines if taken care of.

[@luistovar923]

what was the problem?

[@jackpepperdine8756]

Main bearing noise

[@watchthisusa]

Blaaa Blaaa Blaaa.

[@phannagan1able]

Yep piston slap.

[@TheWolverine-rm2kr]

It's just pretending to be a diesel

[@zTrig4]

I have the same problem as this guy and everytime I start my truck I look at my cousin and I’m like wanna be deseil right there 😂

[@coryt5955]

Sounds jist like mine.. and has 340k km on it

[@MartinNOR89]

Did you ever figure out what the problem was? Mine is doing this too. Have been knocking for many years..

[@Skywood91]

MartinNOR89 how many years??

[@orryrogers5348]

Would you consider selling it??

[@jaychristensen4600]

Orry Rogers Orry, Sorry-its already sold. My neighbor called needing a car so I loaned it to her and she wound up buying it. Shes been driving it for some time now says it runs great. She says she can still hear the noise but her husband says he never hears it and hes the one that usually drives it. They came by the other day pulling a trailer and I couldn't hear anything on it. Hope your doing well.

[@danielray508]

Vortec ....Cracked head ..

[@dustychevy1693]

To my last comment my truck is not that bad

[@Lifesrad8]

Rod knock

[@pain779]

that's a rod for sure bearing is damaged. heard far to many of them .

[@jtmartin8445]

thats not a rod a rod will get way louder thats the piston skirt ... a piston will not knock in most cases it will it will have a ringing kinda sound to the knock ...... or it could be the flywheel or tourque converter like my 92 but it sounded a lil different or it could be a lifter

[@jaychristensen4600]

My neighbor bout this and wasn't concerned about the noise, hauls motorcycles every weekend 50 miles out of town. Still runs great but the noise is still there when cold. If it was a rod, he would have been walking by now.

[@jaychristensen4600]

Rods will get worse as the engine warms up, This will go away after full temp. Also, if it was a rod, wouldn't last long.

[@nathanhoernis161]

definitely not a rod

[@computerscientist5953]

it is a lifter, pretty normal for gm engines

[@Soggysalad1]

And uh