Failed lifter or something else?

[Mayuri Krab]

Hi guys

Just today when driving to my parent's house (45km) i noticed car was making a very loud whinying noise when I arrived, seem to be coming from the passenger top side of the engine (near the water pump and alternator), inside the cabinet it sounded like I had the fan/AC on max (was off)

Drove it around like that for about 100km as I had other stuff to do and later on when I parked it up I notice that it was also making this rattling sound, sounds like a loose rock/metal piece flying around (Sound appears to be coming from the top side passenger side), I didn't notice this sound before hand.

Failed lifters? My 25 year old RB25det randomly makes a similar noise but only once in a blue moon and for a few seconds.

Sounds alot pronounced with the engine cover off

Car is a 16 VF SSV redline with about 62k kms, car appears to drive fine.

Before I take it back to the stealer, who recently replaced my injectors (warranty till November) i thought I might ask here for some advice 1st

Cheers

 

[Pablito]

I had a VY LS1 with stuffed lifters and it didn't sound anything like that. It was a very distinct continual ticking sound. Increased with the revs.

Doesn't sound good. Glad you've still got warranty.

Hows the harmonic balancer look?

 

[NO HOON]

Not too sure if this is the issue (hard to tell without actually opening the engine up, but maybe it could be due to this recall not being done:

https://forums.justcommodores.com.au/threads/warning-ls3-recall-about-to-happen.268361/

I'm assuming yours have already been done, considering you said you've been to the dealership regarding injectors already, i would assume you've had these replaced. But maybe not.

Edit: From what i've researched, it may have been only 2017 LS3's, even though the original thread stated ALL LS3 engines. So yours may not have needed it done.

 

[Voodoo_SV6]

My lifter/cam issue sounded nothing like that either. Mine also was a definite ticking noise. but there's something not pretty happening there, like metal on metal that shouldn't be

 

[stooge]

I would pull out the longass screw driver and put it to my ear and probe around the engine to try and locate the source of the noise.

Sometimes it can be as simple as a pulley bearing that is shagged.

 

[Smashfist]

Sometimes it can be as simple as a pulley bearing that is shagged.

Easy way to tell, pull the belts and run it. I've heard a lot of different presentations for failed lifters, some are loud clatter type noises and some are metallic chirps similar to a drive belt noise.

 

[Mayuri Krab]

Turned out to be a idler bearing (lower one), fixed under warranty.

 

[TTubrag]

Turned out to be a idler bearing (lower one), fixed under warranty.

Thanks for the follow-up with diagnosis & solution Mayuri. Helps other members identify failing idler pulley bearings in the future.

 

[SS Flo Rida]

Hi guys

Just today when driving to my parent's house (45km) i noticed car was making a very loud whinying noise when I arrived, seem to be coming from the passenger top side of the engine (near the water pump and alternator), inside the cabinet it sounded like I had the fan/AC on max (was off)

Drove it around like that for about 100km as I had other stuff to do and later on when I parked it up I notice that it was also making this rattling sound, sounds like a loose rock/metal piece flying around (Sound appears to be coming from the top side passenger side), I didn't notice this sound before hand.

Failed lifters? My 25 year old RB25det randomly makes a similar noise but only once in a blue moon and for a few seconds.

Sounds alot pronounced with the engine cover off

Car is a 16 VF SSV redline with about 62k kms, car appears to drive fine.

Before I take it back to the stealer, who recently replaced my injectors (warranty till November) i thought I might ask here for some advice 1st

Cheers

My LS3 vf series 2 had a lifter fail a few weeks ago. The roller that contacts the cam lobe seized and scrubbed the lobe. I had to replace the cam, lifters and did the valve springs while I was at it. Here’s a video of it with a failed lifter before it was fixed. The noise came and went for a few hundred kms before it became constant and loud.

 

[Suami]

My LS3 vf series 2 had a lifter fail a few weeks ago. The roller that contacts the cam lobe seized and scrubbed the lobe. I had to replace the cam, lifters and did the valve springs while I was at it. Here’s a video of it with a failed lifter before it was fixed. The noise came and went for a few hundred kms before it became constant and loud.

Damn...mine sounds similar only not as “metally” as yours; mine currently has a distinct “tic tic tic tic”.....only 8500 kms on the clock....shits me to tears