5.3 Lifter Tick. Why Can This Happen and How to Fix the Problem?

If you are experiencing any 5.3 lifter ticking noise, there is no reason to be surprised or shocked. Unfortunately, it is not a rare problem and happens quite often with 5.3 models, especially with older cars or vehicles with large mileage. The 5.3 lifter ticks can vary depending on the seriousness of the problem and the noise can last for only a few minutes to being full-time while the motor is running.

Key features and my opinion about the engine

• Production years:2014-2020
• Average lifespan of L83:260,000-290,000 miles
• Fuel supply type:direct injection
• Power range:355-376 hp
• Fuel efficiency:bad
• Engine block material:aluminum
• Engine reliability score:high
• The most common problems:oil consumption, cooling system problems, head gasket failure, spark plugs fail prematurely.

The Purpose of a Lifter

The 5.3L V8 is an advanced engine with a great balance of power, torque, and efficiency. There are many moving components and parts working harmoniously together to maintain the performance and durability of the engine. The valve lifter is one of those crucial components that is needed to work at an optimal state as it connects the engine's valves with the camshaft.

To keep it simple, the lifter helps operate the valves in the engine by transferring the camshaft's rotational motion into vertical motion. There is a separate lifter for each valve in an engine that opens and closes the engine valves. Hence, the intake of the fuel and air going into the combustion chamber is also controlled by the lifter.

Vehicles equipped with Active Fuel Management (AFM) or Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM) are able to deactivate cylinders when they are not needed while driving at a slower pace. The lifters will collapse so the camshaft will not be able to open that valve for the cylinder that will not be used.

So the lifters along with other components have to continuously keep working to open and close certain selected valves in order to reduce fuel consumption.

Why Does the 5.3 Lifter Tick?

The 5.3 lifter in the vehicle is a mechanical component that enables the engine to physically open and close the valve during thermal expansion. As a result, there can be several reasons that can cause the 5.3 lifter tick in your vehicle. The seriousness of the issue can be detected by the type of ticking noise the lifter is making and also by the duration of the ticking noise.

Although your lifter ticking is not always a critical or major issue, the engine in your vehicle might get seriously damaged if the problem is not taken care of on time. Whether you need a replacement or just better maintenance, getting to the bottom of the culprit is the first step to finding the proper solution. Below are some of the most common causes that are responsible for making your 5.3 lifter tick.

• Lifter is Worn

Whether you have a 5.3 Vortec or 5.3 LS lifter tick, worn lifters are one of the most common reasons for this issue. If your 5.3L engine is making a loud ticking noise after a couple of hours of your vehicle sitting, it is safe to assume that your lifters are worn. Unless you want the problem to develop into a much more severe issue, it is better to get it diagnosed immediately and solve the problem at hand.

If you have a 5.3 Vortec lifter tick, you will have to take off the engine heads and remove the lifters in order to diagnose the issue. With a 5.3 LS lifter tick, the easiest way to diagnose this problem is to take a look at the engine oil. Just a simple check of the oil and oil level will let you know if the lifter in your vehicle is worn out or if there is a different cause for the ticking, such as a leak.

• Oil leaks from Lifter

Oil leaks from lifters are another common reason that can often cause your 5.3 lifters to make a ticking noise. When the engine is running, a valve lifter will usually fill up with oil, but the oil will trickle down and cause noise if there is a leak. When you start up the engine, the lifter will rattle with the noise carrying on for hours and the best solution may be to replace the affected lifters with the leak.

• Oil Issues

Not having enough oil, the oil being too dirty or too old are all possible reasons for your 5.3 lifters to tick. One of the easiest and cost-friendly ways to make this problem go away is to change the oil. Since changing the oil in most cases works, it is recommended to try this first before taking apart the engine.

• Engines Equipped With AFM

The 5.3 lifter tick along with the misfiring of the engine can also be caused due to the engine being equipped with Active Fuel Management (AFM) for better fuel consumption. Active Fuel Management (AFM) was developed by GM engineers in 2005, which shuts off half of the cylinders while running low or in cruise situations.

With so many mechanisms internally working to turn the cylinders on and off over and over, it is only natural that problems will eventually occur as parts begin to wear or malfunction.  

It is very common for the lifter with an active fuel management system to mechanically collapse or get stuck in the wrong position all of the time. Most mechanics recommend turning off the active fuel management (AFM) in your vehicle in order to avoid unnecessary failures with your 5.3 lifters. GM did develop Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM) by 2019, a smarter version of AFM, with a more improved displacement design.        

Symptoms of 5.3 Lifter Tick

The most obvious symptom of a lifter tick is of course the ticking sounds coming from your engine. The rhythm of the ticking noise can vary and may or may not differ with the engine revs or RPM. However, it is more commonly reported that the ticking sound tends to get louder and quicker with higher RPMs in most cases.

The lifter tick noise can go away once your vehicle heats up or vice versa, cools down. However, that doesn't mean that the lifter tick issue is not serious or that the problem can be ignored. Depending on the actual cause of the lifter tick, the noise can appear only during certain conditions or functions of the vehicle and go away at other times.

Besides the obvious, there are other signs that can indicate that your 5.3 engine has a lifter tick. There are various sensors in your vehicle that will detect if certain moving parts are not working properly as per their intended purpose. Therefore, when certain faults such as a lifter tick occur, the "Check Engine" sign may start illuminating in order to warn you that there is a problem.

The engine in your vehicle misfiring is also a common symptom of a lifter tick. As the lifters in your vehicle open and shut the engine valves, a faulty lifter will affect the engine's combustion process. So when there is an issue related to the mixture as well as the burning of fuel and air, it will cause the engine in your vehicle to misfire.

Conclusion

Most car experts say that if you pay close attention and listen to your vehicle, it will speak to you and let you know if there is a problem. If your 5.3 engine has a lifter tick, you will be easily able to hear the ticking noise from the time you start your car, while driving, or even after your vehicle sits for a while.

Thankfully, fixing a lifter tick is not that difficult and can be solved with a simple oil change in some cases, if dealt with at an early stage.

The most important part is to figure out the exact reason why your 5.3 lifters are making the ticking noise and fix it as soon as possible. Unless the lifters are worn-out or actually faulty and need to be replaced, just flushing out the current oil in the engine and replacing it with new oil that is compatible and recommended for your 5.3 engine can be enough to get the job done.

However, ignoring any irregular noises coming from your vehicle will eventually lead to more catastrophic damages and repair bills that could have been easily avoided.