08 Suburban engine tick

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08 Suburban engine tick

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08 Suburban engine tick - 3/6/2008 6:24:33 AM

treefrogjeff

Posts: 5
Joined: 2/5/2008
Status: offline

I have an 08 with 2300 miles on it (5.3 Vortec). Initially there was no ticking even in cold weather. Over the past 2 weeks, each morning on cold start there is a "valve/lifter" tick from the same area in the engine. I can idle for 10 minutes and it will not go away. However, if I drive a mile or so, it goes completely away. If it sits for a couple of hours, the tick returns.

The car is garage kept and the temperature never dips below 45 so it is not sitting in an overly cold environment. It is sitting on a flat surface.

I have spoken with two dealerships and was given the "Its cold and Vortecs do that" explanation. I have also read about similar problems here in the forum and talked with friends that have similar problems. On the flip side, I have also talked with a GM tech in Michigan that has had three Burbs over the years and has never had this occur (it is COLD and his Burbs are outside all night).

Ive also read a bulletin that describes "carbon buildup" that has to burn off even in new engines (But if that were the case, why does it seem that that tick is localized to one valve?? Shouldnt all the valves tick at some point??)

Another explanation is the possibility of a sparkplug that needs warming to "spark" correctly. Maybe.

Anyway, the Burb goes in this evening to the dealership for a once over. Im dropping it off for an overnight so they can start it in the morning and listen to the 10 minute tap dance.

Ill update this post tomorrow once I get word on........The Phantom Tick.

Signed,

"So glad I dropped $46000 for a timebomb."

Post #: 1

RE: 08 Suburban engine tick - 3/6/2008 12:00:49 PM

EuroGoldLS

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From: Princeton, NC, USA
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Vortecs do that. All of them. All of the valves are ticking. It goes away when the engine warms up to running temp. Its just a characteristic. The only time you have problems is when you hear it pinging or knocking.

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RE: 08 Suburban engine tick - 3/7/2008 4:40:38 AM

treefrogjeff

Posts: 5
Joined: 2/5/2008
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Hi Euro,

I have heard that from several people but apparently it does not occur to "all" Vortecs. As I mentioned, I have a close friend in Michigan that works for GM and has had three Suburbans and a Silverado over the past 7 years. He leaves them outside at night and he reports that none of them ever produced an engine tick on cold starts.

When I told him my problem, he laughed and asked "just how cold does it get in Kentucky?"

Id add this: when I got up this AM and started my Suburban, there was no tick. The temperature here is no different than yesterday or the day before as my garage is climate controlled to 45-50.

Im at least getting it documented at the dealer so if something strange happens later......

Thanks for the input and I'll let you know what the dealer says. I was going to drop it off this AM but we have snow coming in so its going in Monday.

J

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RE: 08 Suburban engine tick - 3/8/2008 3:59:28 AM

nnucci

Posts: 2
Joined: 3/6/2008
Status: offline

I have an '07 suburban with the same issue when it was new. I live in Maryland and my truck is garage kept as well, but I was hearing the tick in all weather conditions, summer or winter. I have about 13,000 miles on it now and the tick has all but gone away. It seems to have become less frequent as time went on and I rarely hear it now. The dealer gave me the same explanation when I took it in for this issue. All seems to be good now.

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RE: 08 Suburban engine tick - 3/12/2008 12:38:57 PM

treefrogjeff

Posts: 5
Joined: 2/5/2008
Status: offline

The local dealers verdict is in. Vortecs under a certain age (usually 12-15K miles) have the occasional valve tick on cold start-up. This explanation does agree with the reply above. Im just not sure how with all factors being equal, why there is a tick one morning and not the next.

I guess Ill take their word for it. At least its documented.

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RE: 08 Suburban engine tick - 4/15/2008 7:31:03 PM

edward301

Posts: 17
Joined: 4/13/2008
Status: offline

Some engines will have valve tic, some will not. Most engines have high valve lift for
more horsepower, and this will cause ticking at times depending on grade of oil, how
cold it is, how much oil has drained down to the pan, and valve tolerence (spacing ).
Also valve tappet adjustment will cause some ticking. Most of the time this goes away
as parts wear in, which now days can be 10k miles.

My wifes 2000 sub did this some, and we never worried about it. When we traded it in
at 100k for a new sub, still ticked some, but never had problems.

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RE: 08 Suburban engine tick - 4/17/2008 3:32:41 PM

00ramair

Posts: 2
Joined: 4/12/2008
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Could be what happened with the 02 TA's and Camaro's which is piston slap on # 8........

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