Hello all, I have a problem with my 2002 chevy blazer ZR2 Vortec 4.3 litre engine. It seems to be only at start up for about 30 seconds and then goes away? When it is warmed up it doesn't make any noise. It's driving me crazy. I gave changed the oil three times in a week and substituted 1qt of oil for a quart of marvel mystery oil. The noise went away for about three days and it started again? So i changed it again thinking it maybe a lifter sticking. I tried a can of Seafoam as suggested by a friend. Same thing happened again the noise went away and came back 3 to 4 days later. Any help will be appreciated. thanks Scott in CT

 

I use Trans. Fluid my self when I have a lifter problem
But you cant leave it in

I use 1 quart Then I start it up and let it warm up then I jump it up on the Highway and run it hard for 1 exit then 1 exit back
then I dump the oil and use new oil and filter

Why Trans fluid
Trans fluid is a oil but it is a cleansing oil it will clean out the little ports and holes and stuff it will also help pump up them lifters

But it also swells up the seals because there not made for trans fluid that is why you cant leave it

That is just what I do

some people use to use kerosene (bad Idea) that will put extra unwanted miles on your bearings

Good luck

 

Lower intake manifold gaskets like to leak coolant on these things. If they leak internally, (very common) the coolant will dilute the oil and cause lifter noise on cold start ups. At first it's only for a second or two, usually on only one, sometimes two lifters but as more coolant gets into the oil it affects more lifters and the ticking lasts progressively longer during warm up. A cooling system pressure test, both hot and cold, will determine if there's a leak. If you need to keep adding coolant, and can't find a leak, this just might be the problem.

Piston slap is also fairly common on the 4.3L and it has pretty much the same symptoms except the noise is a deeper tone, lower in the engine. Sounds almost like a bad rod bearing but not as harsh, and only does it when increasing RPM, unlike lifters that tick all the time.

 

i agree with captain hook, gm's are notorious for piston slap, once they get up to operating temp it goes away hope you figure out the issue