Stuck Lifter?

Ok guys, I've been searching and reading and just want to get a final concensus.

I recently acquired a 2001 5.3 ECSB with 81,xxx miles for next to nothing because it had a motor knock. It was suggested that the old man probably didn't change the oil like he should've. When I got the battery charged and started, it sounded like a broken rocker or bent pushrod. So I pulled the valve covers and started it without them and watched everything while it was running. Everything looked good. I have a friend whose dad is a mechanic and he stopped by and watched everything and then suggested that it was probably a lifter. After reading all the searches on "lifters," that appears to be what my problem is.

Possible solutions? I've read that the Rislone Engine Treatment will possibly fix this. Others suggested a Lucas Treatment. I even heard that a cup of diesel in the oil for about 15 mins will fix it. I want to try all of the easy fixes before I pull the heads. I have no plans for it to be an all out performance truck, just looking to be a replacement for the 256,xxx mile 4.3/5-speed DD.

So, does it sound like a stuck lifter and are there any other "quick fixes" you can think of? Sorry for the long post.

EDIT: It is also throwing a DTC for misfires on # 2 and #7. Is this consistent with bad/stuck lifters?

i have developed a stuck lifter recently. on cold start up it ticks like crazy. once vehicle warms up its quiet as can be. Lucas didnt help the stuck part of it

trying running about half a quart extra of oil...i used to get that alot in my stock 6.0 motor and it would come and go...made noise when cold and sometimes when warm

This is a constant ticking. It doesn't come and go with temperature.

i have that problem, found the perfect solution too, bought a 200 dollar 6.0L and sent it to the machine shop. for now i just ignore the ticking, but its certainly there

I happened to be at a GM dealership last week and saw the cause of what you may be having issues with. I saw a GM factory cam where the lobe disintegrated and sunk down about .050" and the roller of the lifter was pitted.

good point greg, i heard of several late chevy's with flattened cam lobes. i wonder if thats what caused mine

Well, the local parts house didn't have Rislone, but I did get some Gunk Motor Flush. Put it in, ran the truck for 6-7mins, then changed the oil and filter. The oil looked like really thin mud, kind of a light brown color and the oil plug had some stuff on the magnet, but there was what looked like grease on it as well. Maybe it is just really gunked up inside from lack of maintenence. It is still ticking, perhaps not as bad(maybe my imagination). But think I'll run that oil for a little while then repeat the process.

If a cam lobe has went flat, would all the pushrods and rockers still be cycling? I asked the mechanic about this when he came and watched it run without the valve covers on, and he didn't think it was a cam lobe.

The cam doesn't go entirely flat, it gets a groove worn in it.

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Originally Posted by 69chvelle

Well, the local parts house didn't have Rislone, but I did get some Gunk Motor Flush. Put it in, ran the truck for 6-7mins, then changed the oil and filter. The oil looked like really thin mud, kind of a light brown color and the oil plug had some stuff on the magnet, but there was what looked like grease on it as well. Maybe it is just really gunked up inside from lack of maintenence. It is still ticking, perhaps not as bad(maybe my imagination). But think I'll run that oil for a little while then repeat the process.

If a cam lobe has went flat, would all the pushrods and rockers still be cycling? I asked the mechanic about this when he came and watched it run without the valve covers on, and he didn't think it was a cam lobe.

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The "grease" on the plug are metal filings, which is normal. Get a filter magnet if it bothers you.

The pre-03 lifters are an inferior design, they are prone to rattling and once they start they don't stop. My oil looks clean enough that it may have well have just have come right out of the bottle, as I change it frequently, run seafoam in the oil before changes, and it never gets too hot because its winter in Fairbanks.

Early genIII lifters don't stick, they fail. Its generally benign mines rattled for the better part of 60,000 miles and she's pushing 122,000.

I'd be more worried about light brown oil, you've probably got coolant getting in somewhere.


That's my take on it.