4.3 Vortec top end knock
#1
01-06-2019, 01:50 PM
4.3 Vortec top end knock
I have a 98 blazer that I just did a lower intake job on. After finally getting it to run, it has a top end knock. Not exactly a ping but fairly loud. It starts to go away around 3k rpm or very quite and on deceleration. I can’t for the life of me find out what’s happening. Truck runs perfect. No miss and nothing leaking. All started after I did the lower intake gasket. Could it be a bad lifter or something stuck in the pushrod bore.
#2
01-06-2019, 02:09 PM
Does the sound eventually go away? Is it louder at certain times like when the engine is cold vs warm? How many miles on the motor? Those questions to me would determine if its a lifter problem or not.
If it comes and goes or lessens with the engine warm or cold, I would say probably a lifter. If so, drain a quart of oil out of the engine and add a quart of automatic transmission fluid to it and run the engine for 500 miles or so as it acts as a detergent to clean out any debris stuck inside the lifter.
If it comes and goes or lessens with the engine warm or cold, I would say probably a lifter. If so, drain a quart of oil out of the engine and add a quart of automatic transmission fluid to it and run the engine for 500 miles or so as it acts as a detergent to clean out any debris stuck inside the lifter.
#3
01-06-2019, 04:54 PM
Motor was rebuilt less than 20k ago. It does seems louder when it is cold and as i drive it more. About 15 minutes. It gets a little quieter but never fully away
#4
01-07-2019, 06:57 PM
Has the sound been there since the last 20k? Did it just recently start? What kind of oil are you using?
#5
01-07-2019, 07:52 PM
Just started after I replaced the lower intake manifold gasket. Ran beautifully beforehand. I was using 5w40 Castrol full synthetic as I always have since I built the motor.
#6
01-08-2019, 09:54 AM
Any update?
Have you found out which side the sound is coming from? Front or back? Top of engine or deeper in the engine? Put your hand on the valve covers as you rev the engine to see if theres any vibration or feeling of something unusual.
Is it a ticking or more of a knock?
From your posts, I would guess a lifter. Did you replace the lifters when the engine was rebuilt? Did you mess with any of the valve train when you had the valve covers off? Are you sure its an internal engine sound? Not trying to be a wise guy, just asking questions so you can do a process of elimination and pinpoint the general area of where the sound is coming from.
Have you found out which side the sound is coming from? Front or back? Top of engine or deeper in the engine? Put your hand on the valve covers as you rev the engine to see if theres any vibration or feeling of something unusual.
Is it a ticking or more of a knock?
From your posts, I would guess a lifter. Did you replace the lifters when the engine was rebuilt? Did you mess with any of the valve train when you had the valve covers off? Are you sure its an internal engine sound? Not trying to be a wise guy, just asking questions so you can do a process of elimination and pinpoint the general area of where the sound is coming from.
#7
01-08-2019, 11:52 AM
Driving it home last night and it kept bogging down and dying at stop lights. Sounds like it’s more from the drivers side. Definitely top end. I rebuilt the motor because of rod knock and replaced everything on the motor except crank and cam. Decked heads and block. Bored it out just to be safe. The only thing I did when the valve covers were off was I checked to see if any rocker nuts came loose which they didn’t but I feel as tho I may have snugged them up to much. But it’s definitely internal. I appreciate everyone’s input. Just want my truck back on the road again. Thursday I plan on taking valve covers off and running the engine to see if I can see anything going on there.
#9
01-08-2019, 01:19 PM
Yeah well I found it wasn’t the lower intake gasket anyways. It was the top rad hose that would drip down the intake manifold. Stupid me. And I was thinking vacuum leak or something with a valve but idk. I’ll give an update Thursday as to what it was caused by