Ticking Noise in my '92 is it lifters or injectors?

[markone]

Hi everyone:

This may have been asked before but I searched the forum and could not find a specific reference to a '92. Mine has 11k on it and I notice that there is a distinct "ticking" noise (if it was a pre '90's small block I would swear it was a lifter) after it is running for a while at oper temp. It appears to be less pronounced when cold. Is there a documented problem with noisy injectors on the '92's? I was planning on running some Marvel Mystery oil in with the regular oil to clean out the lifters. If anyone has any definitve information it would be appreciated.

Thanks,

markone

 

[Ken]

Most likely it's the injectors you hear. It's normal to hear the clicking as the solenoid opens and closes the injector.

 

[lone73]

Nervous tick

I had the same tick sound on my '96 at about 40K miles. It was very prononced in the hot summer months (110 deg plus !!) and would go away for the most part in winter. I switched over to 10w-30 mobile 1 for the summer months and no more prob's.
good luck with it
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[Tuna]

I don't notice any 'ticking' noises in my 92 (before or after the engine mods).

The 92 is prone to fuel line hammer but that is a cold engine issue and it goes away after a few minutes warmup.

In 93 and later C4's, GM change the fuel line mounts to better isolate the fuel lines from the body. This helped cure the fuel line hammer I hear in the winter. The fuel line mounts might also allow a 'ticking' noise from the injectors into the cockpit. I have never had that issue though.

 

[Justardnck]

I have the same noise at 144K miles and I thought it was a lifter but I had several folks tell me that my injectors were abnormally loud. I woulkd have sworn the noise was a lifter.

 

[G Winter]

I have had a ticking noise in my 90 since I got it. I thought it was in the trans or throwout bearing. While under the hood with the engine running a few days ago I noticed the belt tensioner bouncing now and then. The ticking noise is the bearing in the pulley. That will be the first thing to take care of in the spring.

 

[Ken]

If you haven't already done so, start the engine and listen with a mechanic's stethoscope or a piece of vacuum line to the injectors as they open and close. You'll hear a definite clicking on every cycle. Some are noisier than others.

 

[redc4corvette]

At the worst #2#4 lifter shot ,try some justice brothers engine tune up in the oil.

 

[markone]

Why #2 #4 lifters shot?

markone

 

[Hib Halverson]

Hi everyone:

This may have been asked before but I searched the forum and could not find a specific reference to a '92. Mine has 11k on it and I notice that there is a distinct "ticking" noise (if it was a pre '90's small block I would swear it was a lifter) after it is running for a while at oper temp. It appears to be less pronounced when cold. Is there a documented problem with noisy injectors on the '92's? I was planning on running some Marvel Mystery oil in with the regular oil to clean out the lifters. If anyone has any definitve information it would be appreciated.

Thanks,

markone

The key issue here is: how loud is this ticking?

We'll assume that it's not excessively loud.

It is normal that the ticking would get slightly louder when the engine is at operating temperature.

The 1992 LT1 has a slightly more aggressive camshaft profile than do 93-96 LT1s. The difference makes little or no difference from a performance standpoint but it does cause 92 LT1s to make a little more valve train noise so, with 92s, a little more valve train ticking or clicking is normal. The change in camshaft profile was made to reduce the loudness of this clicking.

Secondly, injectors, even when working correctly, emit a little clicking noise of their own.

Lastly, from about 94 on back, C4s have a noise problem with fuel-line-hammer, however, that noise is characteristicly different than valve train noise. If you have fuel-line-hammer, it sounds like someone flicking the top of a coffee can with their finger nail....kind of a thunk, thunk, thunk, rather than a tick or click. Fuel line hammer is not easiily eliminated.

DO NOT put "Marvel Mistery Oil" or "Justice Bros. Engine Tune-Up" or any other similar additive in your engine oil. They contain oil thinning solvents which should only be used as a last resort in a very-high-mileage engine with obvious levels of sludge and dirty oil. A 92 with 11,000 miles on it will not be in that condition. Anything that thins oil is the LAST additive you want to put in an engine which already has 5W30 oil.

The best thing you can do is switch from 5W30 synthetic oil to a 10W30 synthetic and learn to like the little bit of ticking your 92 LT1 valve train makes. Also know that your 92 makes about 3-5hp more than 93-96 because of the more aggressive camshaft.

Now....if this ticking clicking is very loud then we have a completely different thread.

 

[redc4corvette]

#2and #4 are the last two lifters to receive oil in the engine.

 

[markone]

Hib:

Thanks for the informative note. I was going to use the Marvel Mystery oil to clean out a sticky lifter (if that was the problem). I would not have left it in the engine long and would have only added a small amount. I like your solution better though, I will try the 10W-30, I wanted to change the oil anyway...thanks!

markone