97 Lumina 3.1 Ticks when 1st cranked

I have a 97 Lumina LS with the 3.1 L engine of 114,000 miles. In past 2 weeks it has starting ticking (sounds like under both Head covers) when 1st cranked. After Temp. guage gets between cold & half-way mark, it quits ticking & runs like new. No oil loss, clean exhaust also. Still using same 5w30 oil as always used, Havoline, and change every 3,000 miles.
Have tried STP, seemed to stop for a few days but started again today. See no bubbles on dipstick that may indicate coolant in oil. Use Dex-Cool as recommended.

Any suggestions/solutions.
Thanks,
Bill

might just be 114,000 miles i have a buick century with a 3.3 it ticks like that could be the oil sending unit just isnt getting the oil there fast enough remember all your il is in the tank when you start your car

My '97 has always sounded like that. Ever since it was new. I have 118,000 on it now, it still runs great, oil control is good. It usually will start making noise just as it idles down after a cold start. Then the noise slowly quiets as it warms up. It is more noticeable in cold weather. Pretty much every one of these I've ever seen does that, so more than others, but the sound is always there.

I've found if I slowly raise the RPM's to about 2500 and slowly back down to idle, it quiets down considerably faster. If it was something beating itself to death like it sounds like, it would have failed long ago.

My neighbor has a brand new Trailblazer, I noticed it sounds like a can fulla rocks when it's cold too.

PS at that mileage I'd be using 10W30, I have ever since the warrantee was up. Your manual says either is fine.

If it really bugs you, try some Lucas oil stabilizer in it.

might just be 114,000 miles i have a buick century with a 3.3 it ticks like that could be the oil sending unit just isnt getting the oil there fast enough remember all your il is in the tank when you start your car

I thought the oil sending unit only sends a signal to the dah idiot light not actually sends oil from the pan.

Thanks.......Bill

My '97 has always sounded like that. Ever since it was new. I have 118,000 on it now, it still runs great, oil control is good. It usually will start making noise just as it idles down after a cold start. Then the noise slowly quiets as it warms up. It is more noticeable in cold weather. Pretty much every one of these I've ever seen does that, so more than others, but the sound is always there.

I've found if I slowly raise the RPM's to about 2500 and slowly back down to idle, it quiets down considerably faster. If it was something beating itself to death like it sounds like, it would have failed long ago.

My neighbor has a brand new Trailblazer, I noticed it sounds like a can fulla rocks when it's cold too.

I had a 90 3.1 with 220,00 and it never made this noise. This 97 didn't make a noise all winter but since its warmer, it is now. Sure has me puzzled as it runs so quite after warm-up.
Thanks..........Bill

PS at that mileage I'd be using 10W30, I have ever since the warrantee was up. Your manual says either is fine.

If it really bugs you, try some Lucas oil stabilizer in it.

I saw that in the manual to but I've always had such good luck with the 5w30 in my 90 with 220,00, and my 94 350 now with 109,00. May give it and the Lucas atry though.

Thanks............Bill

Have you changed the oil lately, did you do it or did you take to an oil change place. If you took it to an oil change place, it's possible, they didn't put the same oil in you were used to using. Or it could be the oil pump is just getting weak. I am in the middle of changing the lifters on my son's car, back in January, he got 1/2 way back to school and the car started making a LOT of lifter noise, and was missing terirbly. Fortunately he had the sense to pull over and call. I ran a spare car up to him let him go on his way and I towed the car home. After using a trick posted on this forum of using a little Kerosone in the oil, the car ran better, then the intake gasket started leaking. Changed that and the noisy lifters came back. Oil presure is OK not just great, so I bought new lifters and will change them. BTW the car has 135k on it, so I do kinda expect some parts to start wearing out. If this doesn't fix the problem, then I'll have the oil pump changed. The car owes me nothing, 4 years and 45k, with no other problems, so a few hundred here will make it last another 3-4 years.

Have you changed the oil lately, did you do it or did you take to an oil change place. If you took it to an oil change place, it's possible, they didn't put the same oil in you were used to using. Or it could be the oil pump is just getting weak. I am in the middle of changing the lifters on my son's car, back in January, he got 1/2 way back to school and the car started making a LOT of lifter noise, and was missing terirbly. Fortunately he had the sense to pull over and call. I ran a spare car up to him let him go on his way and I towed the car home. After using a trick posted on this forum of using a little Kerosone in the oil, the car ran better, then the intake gasket started leaking. Changed that and the noisy lifters came back. Oil presure is OK not just great, so I bought new lifters and will change them. BTW the car has 135k on it, so I do kinda expect some parts to start wearing out. If this doesn't fix the problem, then I'll have the oil pump changed. The car owes me nothing, 4 years and 45k, with no other problems, so a few hundred here will make it last another 3-4 years.

Yes I change oil every 3000 miles or less. Read original post. I beginniing to think I have a blown intake or head gasket as I have to add anti-freeze, about a 1/2 pint everyweek. No moisture shows on dipstick but there is foamy susbtance on oil fill cap. Got me puzzled why not showing in pan but on top end.
Thanks for writing...................Bill

I have the same noise come from my 99 Lumina with the 3.1 & only 38,000 miles. I read that going with a higher octane fuel would help help & I have found that to be true.. I have also found that a can of octane boost with the "cheap stuff" does just the same as well. Oh & gotta love Lucas stabilizer.. I swear by that stuff!!

I have the same noise come from my 99 Lumina with the 3.1 & only 38,000 miles. I read that going with a higher octane fuel would help help & I have found that to be true.. I have also found that a can of octane boost with the "cheap stuff" does just the same as well. Oh & gotta love Lucas stabilizer.. I swear by that stuff!!

I've tried all you swuggested,no help, so really think blown gasket thus diluting oil so no good lube.

Thanks anyway,
Bill

Sounds like intake gasket to me. Had same problem, had funny looking brown stuff on the oil cap. Eventually the car started leaking AF from around the intake, under the throttle body.

Sounds like intake gasket to me. Had same problem, had funny looking brown stuff on the oil cap. Eventually the car started leaking AF from around the intake, under the throttle body.

What is involved in replacing gasket?

Thanks,
Bill

If you havn't worked on these kind of cars before, I recommend you get a Chiltons or similar book. It has the basics on changing the gasket and rebuilding the engine.
From my experience, twice in 6 months, taking my sons 3.1l apart, first for the intake gasket and then for lifters, the job can be a PIA, if you don't approach it methodically. I learned an old trick from a police mechanic years ago to use cardboard as a template for bolts and parts being removed. Draw a picture on the cardboard, then punch holes in it to put the bolts and such. Another thing I have used recently on both the Lumina and an engine rebuild on my Tahoe, was to take digital pictures as I went along, so I could put the parts back where they came from. Worked great especially for all the hoses and vacume lines.

If you havn't worked on these kind of cars before, I recommend you get a Chiltons or similar book. It has the basics on changing the gasket and rebuilding the engine.
From my experience, twice in 6 months, taking my sons 3.1l apart, first for the intake gasket and then for lifters, the job can be a PIA, if you don't approach it methodically. I learned an old trick from a police mechanic years ago to use cardboard as a template for bolts and parts being removed. Draw a picture on the cardboard, then punch holes in it to put the bolts and such. Another thing I have used recently on both the Lumina and an engine rebuild on my Tahoe, was to take digital pictures as I went along, so I could put the parts back where they came from. Worked great especially for all the hoses and vacume lines.

Excellent advice here. I do that same kinda thing, I use a big piece of styrofoam, and stick bolts and pushrods and stuff like that in their relative positions so I don't mix them up.

I also like to have those little colored dot stickers that you get in the school/office supply aisle for tagging files, I put them on stuff like vacuum lines or plug wires, with a matching color one where it goes, to keep from transposing them. Little details that save you a bunch of head scratching later.

I know I always used to think I could remember where everything went, then six hours and eight beers later yer tryin' to figure out why it won't start and there's fuel running out of the brake booster and cruise control servo :lol2: :icon16: :grinyes: :sly:

I've head many customers comming to me and telling the same thing. ALL of them have been satisfied by running a can of seafoam in the crankcase. PROBLEM SOLVED. by using low/poor quality oil, and stp additives, the oil jackets become slightly plugged, seafoam runs through and burns out any obstructing particles and keeps the oil flowing smoothly.

If you havn't worked on these kind of cars before, I recommend you get a Chiltons or similar book. It has the basics on changing the gasket and rebuilding the engine.
From my experience, twice in 6 months, taking my sons 3.1l apart, first for the intake gasket and then for lifters, the job can be a PIA, if you don't approach it methodically. I learned an old trick from a police mechanic years ago to use cardboard as a template for bolts and parts being removed. Draw a picture on the cardboard, then punch holes in it to put the bolts and such. Another thing I have used recently on both the Lumina and an engine rebuild on my Tahoe, was to take digital pictures as I went along, so I could put the parts back where they came from. Worked great especially for all the hoses and vacume lines.

Thanks, I got a Hayes manual & it shows usinga carboard box to put pushrods in respective holes. I liked the post following yours of using styrofoam and colored stickers.

Thanks all for suggestions.....................Bill

I've head many customers comming to me and telling the same thing. ALL of them have been satisfied by running a can of seafoam in the crankcase. PROBLEM SOLVED. by using low/poor quality oil, and stp additives, the oil jackets become slightly plugged, seafoam runs through and burns out any obstructing particles and keeps the oil flowing smoothly.

I only put STP in it the one time after it started ticking. Have always used Havoline oil in my vehicles and got over 100 k on 2 and 220 k on one of them. I to think it may be clogged oil ports. Is seafoam the brand name or does it have other name? Should I change oil then add it?
Run itwithseafoam forhow long?
Thank.....................Bill