My poor 5.0 with 142000 miles has begun developing a pretty nasy knock in the last couple of months. Is there a way to easily differentiate between lifter and bearing knock, I think it's a lifter but I'm not to sure. How long before this knock will make the engine go tango uniform? The noise is loud enough at idle I can hear it easily inside the cab, so I'm growing a little concerned...



ChopsMcgraw

 

Ok I am not sure I understand..... If it is knocking, it will sound solid but dull. Imagine a brass hammer beating on the crank. Solid but dull. Lifters will be much more high pitched like ticking. Now don't get me wrong that ticking can get loud, but ticking is different than knocking. So what do you think? Ticking or Knocking?
Let us know. Later, Hippie.

 

Ok, more of a tick I suppose. I'm used to them rotary motors, and they tend to make different noises. I'm kind of curious as to how serious the problem can get, If I'M going to have to pull a head in my dorm lot in the next couple of months.



ChopsMcgraw

 

If it is just ticking, I would change the oil. Maybe put in a thicker oil than you are using now. What oil is in it now? There are also oil additives that will help. But hey, at least it isn't a rod Knocking. lol. I know that doesn't help, sorry. Hippie.

 

I'm running 20w-50 right now, changed it about a week ago. I'm just hoping it won't take a dump on a road trip...


ChopsMcgraw

 

Well 20-50 is what I was going to recomend. Is it getting worse in a hurry or has been coming on for a while?

 

It's pretty much a progressive thing, I think it just finally got noisy enough for me to notice it.




ChopsMcgraw

 

if it's ticking you may have a lifter that's not pumping up.Try and run a little marvel mystery oil in it.The old timers claim it will free up a stuck lifter.

Billy

 

I know I'm coming in from left field on this one, but, when you get a chance, you may also want to check around the exhaust manifolds for a crack. A cracked manifold doesn't technically qualify as a knock or a tick, but it seems a lot of the mid '80's and later 302's had a problem with them cracking. It may be worth a look around that area just to be sure.

 

One way to tell the difference between a bearing knock and any type of valvetrain noise (including an exhaust leak) is that any valvetrain noise is half of engine speed. In other words, a bearing knock would be a lot faster than a lifter tap.

 

I got a ticking from a loose spark plug.

Perhaps 20W50 is too thick. How is the knock with 5w30? That is what I always run. Also Rislone is a penetrating oil/cleanser. I put 1qt in every oil change.


INLINE SIX POWER!
300 Cubic Inches of Low RPM Truck Torque! And twin-I-beams too!
"Drive a stick young man! There'll be time for automatics when you're old and unable."

 

I got the same problem kinda, only the loud tocking goes away or lessens with engine use. after a few minutes of driving it's barely noticeable. Also, if it was only a lifter would you be able to hear it in a lower tone from underneath the truck? almost sounds like I can hear it from the oil pan (scary), but it might just be resonating in the exhaust pipe. I don't think I can really hear it from the drivers side underneath, only the passesngers side. Same engine/miliage as Chops there. Thanks all.