Topic: 05 GM 3.4L engine lifter noise

[Hardrock]

About a month ago a lifter started to tick on statup. All that I could get my dealer to do was change the oil again, but they finally told me that they flushed the engine when they. The noise did stop, but I'm kind of skepitical as to it actually fixing the problem. Any thoughts on this procedure would be appreciated.

[articsteve]

How many miles?

You need to keep a very close eye on the oil and the coolant because of the famous 3.4 manifold leak ending with and including 2005 models

[Hardrock]

It has just turned over 34000 mi.

[vdk]

that's pretty early on isn't it?

[Squishy]

I don't know about the newer engines, but a cold-start ticking noise was normal in the older 3.4s.  They just had large tolerances for the piston/cylinder wall.

[articsteve]

I don't know about the newer engines, but a cold-start ticking noise was normal in the older 3.4s.  They just had large tolerances for the piston/cylinder wall.

Piston slap is not uncommon in american engines.  It's more of an annoyance than anything.  As long as it stops after a few minutes.

that's pretty early on isn't it?

50K kms.  Probably not the problem.  Many ppl still are unaware of the issue.  Just giving the OP a heads up.

but they finally told me that they flushed the engine when they. The noise did stop,

The oil could be thinner now than it was.

[Hardrock]

Guess that I'll just have to wait and see what comes out of it after awhile. They said that it could have just been some foreign particle stuck in it.?

[barrie1]

Yes it could have had some foreign particles stuck in the roller on it but i would suggest in the future at oil change time put a bottle of EOS into the engine with the oil. EOS is a special lube avaliable at most GM dealers for around $6.00 to $7.00 for the large size which covers V6's and V8's as well. EOS stand for Engine Oil Supplement, it likes to gather in the top end it seems and give extra lubrication to the rockers and upper moving parts. Also leaves a coating on the entire engine which helps when starting on a cold morning. Less friction for cold starting. I would also remove the Dexcool from the engine as soon as possible as well and go to a green type anti-freeze with distilled water. This will probably save you money in years to come as the headgaskets won't be affected by it at all. 

[maritime_storm]

If I remeber correctly the gaskets GM uses changed in 2003, I'm yet to a '03 or newer in the shop for intake gaskets.

[Squishy]

Also check the oil filter - is it a GM filter?  Some aftermarket filters have a small leak around the anti-drainback valve which causes a startup ticking sound for several seconds as oil pressure builds up.

[barrie1]

Yes they have repaired the problem on the gaskets I believe as well and you are probably correct in roughly the time period they did as well. Just a habit I suggest to people now as I have seen a no. of the older ones go myself. I do prefer the Low-Tox brand of anti-freeze myself mixed with distilled water as you will never get any buildup of the normal residue in the rad from it as well as never poison any of yours or your neahbours pets also. Its totally compatible with Aluminum Engines also.  I buy it from Canadian Tire as its the only place I have ever seen it sold. Around $18.00 per large jug. 

[Honda Owner]

that's pretty early on isn't it?

Nope, right on schedule. Four years, or 60,000 km and the repairs start.

Don't bother with snake oil, you are wasting your money. If it is really a lifter tick, live with it. It could also be piston slap. The engine is made in China and crated complete. They are not the highest tolerance things ever made.

[Greg B.]

that's pretty early on isn't it?

Nope, right on schedule. Four years, or 60,000 km and the repairs start.

Unlike Hondas which, as HO will tell you, never need any repair of any sort.

Don't bother with snake oil, you are wasting your money. If it is really a lifter tick, live with it. It could also be piston slap. The engine is made in China and crated complete. They are not the highest tolerance things ever made.

Are the Honda Fits that are made in China any different, HO?

[Honda Owner]

Unlike Hondas which, as HO will tell you, never need any repair of any sort.

All cars need repairs, Greg. Take your meds, you are getting obsessive.

[Leviathan]

Unlike Hondas which, as HO will tell you, never need any repair of any sort.

All cars need repairs, Greg. Take your meds, you are getting obsessive.

Are you two monkeyes going to be throwing feces at each other in every thread?

[Seafoam]

Unlike Hondas which, as HO will tell you, never need any repair of any sort.

All cars need repairs, Greg. Take your meds, you are getting obsessive.

Are you two monkeyes going to be throwing feces at each other in every thread?

It seems so. sigh. They have infected  almost every thread in the canadian driver article and review section.One is no better than the other as far as i'm concerned.
It is somewhat entertaining though.

[articsteve]

Nope, right on schedule. Four years, or 60,000 km and the repairs start.

Don't bother with snake oil, you are wasting your money. If it is really a lifter tick, live with it. It could also be piston slap. The engine is made in China and crated complete. They are not the highest tolerance things ever made.
 

It's accurate.  If it is lifter tick then the only economical resolution is to live with it.

Engine slap is quite common in domestic motors.  It goes away as the piston temperature and the piston cylinder temps become closer to each other.

Some GM motors installed in USA vehicles are Chinese and Chinese machinery is lower tier.  GM standards in quality are lower than the Japanese.  Hence GM is functionally BANKRUPT as a result.

Why beat on this guy for responding with the facts.  It's better than being blunt: it's a sh*t box, what were you expecting?
 

[barrie1]

Again more comments from a person who has absolutely No GM knowledge at all. If you are referring to the EOS as snake oil I suggest you do your research alot better before you comment about products you obviously have never used or really know very little if anything about. Its a upper cylinder lubricant that really does work well in the lifters areas as well as leaving a nice coating on all the moving parts for cold morning startups. It does work extremely well. 

[Honda Owner]

If you are referring to the EOS as snake oil I suggest you do your research alot [sic]better before you comment about products you obviously have never used or really know very little if anything about

No Barrie, I swear by Snake Oil. I made a cash spiff on every can I sold so I really didn't give a flyin' you know what if it worked or not.

[Greg B.]

Engine slap is quite common in domestic motors.  It goes away as the piston temperature and the piston cylinder temps become closer to each other.

Of course, in certain Toyota engines, piston slap is never an issue since they are so sludged up that there is nothing moving at all.