2001 Silverado Lifter ticking with cold

[Sgtduckyboy]

Lets also not forget how these are notorious for eventually experiencing a failed lifter. I had the same problem, but mine was more related to 'freshness' of oil. Seriously, with fresh oil, no ticking from the 'valve/lifter' area. After a couple thousand miles, it would start to tick, especially at startup and moreso in the cold winter. Then if i was using the 'change oil' feature of the car to dictate when to change the oil, which is close to 6000 miles, the valves would do a fulll on rattle after 4000 miles under heavy acceleration, of which, I got NONE with fresh oil. I use only full syn or semi syn types and it didnt matter which brand i used, same result. so now i change every 3000. But, the saturday after thanksgiving, I had a lifter fail, from the passenger side. It finally failed. It was always on that side that it made the more predominant 'ticking'. and as a result, i had to replace the cam. If I was any of you with an older LS1 gen3 engine, whenever you can find the time and/or money, get your lifters replaced. its cheaper and fairly easy to do yourself. but if it fails, now you have to change the cam as it is probably going to wear out the lobe as it did on mine, about 2mm was worn off. then you have to open the timing cover, remove water pump, oil pump and timing gears, and you might as well replace those while they are there.

 

[isp5190]

I had a 96 Silverado with the 5.7 vortex with the same problem. I was using full synthetic oil, switched to a blend and the problem went away and never came back.
my brother in-law has a shop and said he has seen a few engines using the full syn would cause the lifter noise.

 

[Bobby Hill]

I got a 01 Tahoe LT 5.3 last month from a used car dealer. I was in a bind because my wife just wrecked my truck and hers was in the shop. I had to work. The first thing I did was change the oil and put on a good filter. Ran it for 1k miles and the oil was filthy. So I changed it again and ran another 1k and it was getting pretty dark. I took it to a shop and had them do an engine flush and good oil and filter. While they were at it I had them do the t-case, brakes, front/rear differential. Since then there has been no lifter tick. Only 600 miles since service. I live in the mountains of western Maryland and I start it and let it get up to temp before I drive off on these 8 degree mornings. I also put the trans in neutral for a minute before I drive off. Old Dodge trick. It saves wear on the transmission.

 

[PG01]

I also put the trans in neutral for a minute before I drive off. Old Dodge trick. It saves wear on the transmission.[/QUOTE]

Ha, i used to start it neutral...83 and 89 w250....

 

[Bobby Hill]

I also put the trans in neutral for a minute before I drive off. Old Dodge trick. It saves wear on the transmission.

Ha, i used to start it neutral...83 and 89 w250....[/QUOTE]

It's something I picked up from Prince George's County Apparatus Maintenance. Back in the 80's when all the police cars and Fire Department Sedans were Dodge's they were going through transmissions at an extremely high rate. When they had everyone start idling in neutral for a minute before the first run of the day it cut way back on the number of transmissions they had to replace.

 

[PG01]

Ha, i used to start it neutral...83 and 89 w250....

It's something I picked up from Prince George's County Apparatus Maintenance. Back in the 80's when all the police cars and Fire Department Sedans were Dodge's they were going through transmissions at an extremely high rate. When they had everyone start idling in neutral for a minute before the first run of the day it cut way back on the number of transmissions they had to replace.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, it was something to do with the pump and pressures...I seriously did the same to those trucks whenever i started, drove them... i do find my self putting my tahoe, past and present, in neutral first sometimes and its prob because of that... funny

 

[TahoYukon Forum]

piston slap possibly

From what I had found, it might be from the pistons in newer powerplants have shorter pistons and that the manufacturer coated them with Teflon and it wears off after about 150k miles (depending on fluid changes and type used). I believe mine started making that sound at about 200k though.
I have the very same issue in my 03 TAHOE 5.3 with over 260k and still runs like a top. My shop that I have been going to for over 20 years said it is normal and just drive and take care of her. Records show Castrol blend always used at recommended intervals but I mix my own blend of 50/50 Castrol since I got used.
I really hope it's isn't a lifter though, good luck bud.

Benign piston slap possibly?