I have a 5.3L with 77k miles on the clock that has a random clicking or tapping sound. It developed about 2 weeks ago while driving down the interstate under light load and it comes and goes randomly. It sounds like a bad lifter but it won't do it all of the time. I checked my rockers and pushrods and they look good and none of them were bent. Do you guys think that I need new lifters or try some other things first? How worried should I be.

 

A Friends Truck Of Mine Made That Kind Of Noise...but It Was Coming From The Alternator....the Noise Will Come And Go Once In A While...we Changed The Alternator Today And It Stopped....might Wanna Check It Out

BTW-MY FRIENDS TRUCK IS A 06 CHEVY

 

The tapping noise is deffinitely coming from the engine and it sounds like lifter tapping. The only time it does it loudly is on startup and after I do a hard pull but it goes away after some normal driving. How worried should I be? Should I go ahead and install some new lifters or just keep driving it?

 

if its only when u first start it or when its cold it might just be piston slap...heres a couple threads started a couple days ago

https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...d.php?t=424100

https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...d.php?t=424094

or as if you said when its under a load like going up a hill it might be pinging or slight knocking...before I got my newer PCM and tune my truck used to do it a lot...

 

It's deffinitely not piston slap or detination. I'm 99% sure that it's some lifters going bad.

 

What octane fuel are you using??? You might want to try a higer octane and the lifter tick might go away. I see your truck is modded so give it a try since it doesn't hurt and it is only a few more cents a gallon.

 

well then go ahead and change'em out if your sure that is what it is.

 

+1...why are you 99% sure...I dont see why in the past 2 weeks it just appeared...maybe you got a bad batch of gas or something...just a thought

 

I am using 93 octane and spraying a ton of meth on high boost.

 

If it was detination it would not do it at idle and change with the engine's speed. I am on my second or third tank of gas since it started and I always run 93 octane.

I can here the noise through the valve cover with a stethascope and it sounds like a lifter so I'm pretty sure that's what it is. The thing that I'm wondering is if it is only doing occaisionally should I be that worried?