Ticking noise

[305ss]

I'm hearing a ticking noise from the engine on cold starts kind of like a lifter tick but only for a few seconds and then it's gone. 2010 L99 77k miles is this something I should be concerned about? Oil change not due till 80k thanks

[zr1chris]

From what I have read It's a common issue with early models. Mine does this as well when it sits for a few days. I wouldn't worry about it.

[InFiD3ViL]

Normal sounds from the LS engine.

[MrChrisLS3]

Valve train noise is the nature of the beast on these, and really, any pushrod engine. This is especially true on cold start up. Oil is fed up through the crankcase to the lifters and from the lifters through the pushrods to the rockers. At cold start, the lifters get pumped up and the rockers are only protected by the film of oil from the last run. Not to mention that all these parts have not yet expanded from engine heat.

I'm yet to hear a pushrod engine that didn't have some valve train noise.

Now, if the sound is new, and/or pronounced to a specific cylinder, then yes, there would be cause for alarm.

[myold88]

I have an early build '10 SS L99 and I have never heard a sound from my lifters even
though it was a problem when 5th Gen was released. I believe the trick is to change
the oil often. After 8 years and 46,000 miles I'm on my 12th oil/filter change.
You have nothing to worry about, but change your oil and change it often imo.

[ron123]

Originally Posted by 305ss

I'm hearing a ticking noise from the engine on cold starts kind of like a lifter tick but only for a few seconds and then it's gone. 2010 L99 77k miles is this something I should be concerned about? Oil change not due till 80k thanks

From your specs looks like the car is approaching 5,000 miles since last oil change?
As the engine gets to mid-life the oil will get contaminated and maybe thinned out faster. You could try an oil change and see if that helps build up pressure faster in the lifters at cold start.

Once in a while I get lifter noises on cold start, almost since new, and after an ol change it seems to quite back down again.
You can isolate the noise location by holding a heater hose or tube up to your ear like a stethescope.

As posted in another thread, Mobil Synthetic 5W-30 is $25 for five quarts at Walmart - plus Mobil1 Site has a $12 rebate. A DIY oil change will only cost about $26 plus filter. (I contacted Mobil1 customer service to verify the rebate is good for Walmart purchase even though it is not a listed seller on Mobil1 site).
Ron

[partlowr]

Add an extra third to half quart of oil, that cured my tick

[bigbass30]

I have 10k miles on my 2011. I always get the tick on cold starts

[myold88]

Originally Posted by bigbass30

I have 10k miles on my 2011. I always get the tick on cold starts

Only 10,000 miles in 6 yeas but how many times have you changed your oil?
I hope for your sake at least 6.

[christianchevell]

small lifter ticking/typewriter sound are normal for a ls engine due to the high lift of the cam and its roller lifters. On cold starts of course it louder, yet with a l99 the worry would be for me the aging of the l99 AFM lifters which are weaker and have failed on the car due to the AFM design with the lifters collapsing due to some oil starvation to not pump them up to inactivate the 4 cylinders. This is done with their little solenoids on the valley pan which is specific to the l99 engine and not the ls3 and when ditching AFM lifters its needed to change to the ls3 valley cover.

AT the age of the car...it could go until rebuild without a problem with those lifters, or they could fail with the probability being the longer you go using AFMN the more likely IMO.....

The more complex design of those specific lifters also attributes to their weakness. Those changing out their l99 to a non AFM using cam replace all the lifters and valley cover usually as good insurance with a ls3 conversion of even making it still VVT its the time to ditch the AFM parts form what I read over time on here IMO.

The more preload the louder the ticking form the lifters on ls engines and some like more for high revs when the engines hot and its expanded the metals and the preload has thus changed. Mine is quieter after running and definitely louder than stock especially with no dust cover and headers but I have to live with it for now rather than just revise the preload the tuner gave me. I wish it was more in the .040-.060 range for a ls engine but I am most likely hitting it harder at .070+ for a ls7 range. My first Camaro was a l99, after studying the set up and the only place making the new VVT cams and phasers and such back then being Mast back then I rad what it entailed to ditch AFM and the new parts and determined before I would do that I would rather do stick as I wanted before that because.... No need for a new converter, no need to pull heads, new lifters and such..... And well I had a cat that loved the convertible top to sleep on SOB.... and it was triple black....

I would just keep a ear on the sound, and its good you notice the sound of the engine as I constantly monitor mine by ear and the gauges, and if you notice its getting weird I would have parts in hand to ditch the AFM at least as its not without its problems in design. Good Luck

[hunter1660]

There is a TSB on faulty lifters that do exactly as you mentioned. All the oil changes in the world won't cure a mechanical fault. Mine were replaced under warranty as were others with the defective lifters. Unfortunately I think your warranty period is over. The sucky part is the heads have to come off to do a replacement.

[Rock-It Man]

Not normal. The brief initial lifter tick is due to defective AFM lifters that bleed down. There was a TBS on this.

Got my AFM lifters replaced under warranty and it solved the problem. In your case, the warranty is long gone so you will pay $3,000 plus to get the work done.

I don't know what the consequences are of ignoring the problem, but it can't be good for your valve train.

[305ss]

Update: I almost always do my own oil changes but my last oil change was done at a Dodge dealership where I bought the car and get free oil changes after doing a little digging I found out they used Pennzoil syn blend. I don't know if this had anything to do with the ticking issue but I changed the oil on Friday and used Mobile One and a Mobile​ one filter and for right now problem solved. Thanks for all the help I actually learned some things.

[myold88]

Originally Posted by 305ss

Update: I almost always do my own oil changes but my last oil change was done at a Dodge dealership where I bought the car and get free oil changes after doing a little digging I found out they used Pennzoil syn blend. I don't know if this had anything to do with the ticking issue but I changed the oil on Friday and used Mobile One and a Mobile​ one filter and for right now problem solved. Thanks for all the help I actually learned some things.

Way to go ! I change my oil every August regardless of the mileage which is
always low between changes. The last thing you want to do is replace the
lifters at this point. That slight ticking you heard will do no harm anyway imo.