noise question HELP! please

Ok... This is my 1st post. My mother has a 2002 TB LS I6 with little over 20K on it. It was used. The problem is it has a heartbeat, sounds like a diesel. I asked her and she uses middle grade gas, has the oil changed every 3000 miles.
Why does it sound like a diesel??? :confused:

I don't think but is it comon for it to do that? Will mine do that too? :(

1. Is the sound from the exhaust or from the engine compartment?

2. Why is she using middle grade... 87 works fine.

3. That noise is the Chevrolet Heartbeat of America... just kidding... welcome!

1. Is the sound from the exhaust or from the engine compartment?

2. Why is she using middle grade... 87 works fine.

3. That noise is the Chevrolet Heartbeat of America... just kidding... welcome!


1. The sound is coming from engine compartment.

2. She is set in her ways always did and always will.

3. That's what I told her and she hit me (love tap I know it was)... thank you. I've been reading the post for a few months now... since I got my TB.

Actually I think it's a normal noise. Mine also sounds like a Diesel, but you can barely hear it. I test drove two TBs when I was looking, and both of them sounded the same. I have an 02 TB LT, 40k. Just bought it a month ago

Same here. Our 2002 has always had an engine rap (sounds a bit like a lifter) which is worse when cold and pretty much disappears above 1500 rpm. Sound familiar? It's upsetting as hell because it sounds like I don't maintain it or something. Chevy has admitted it's bad piston skirts but won't do anything about it except to extend the warranty in case of direct resulting damage (unlikely).

I have a 2002 LT, and it too sounds like a diesel when I first start it, but that sound goes away within five minutes once it gets warmed up, and then it's very quiet!

Same here. Our 2002 has always had an engine rap (sounds a bit like a lifter) which is worse when cold and pretty much disappears above 1500 rpm. Sound familiar? It's upsetting as hell because it sounds like I don't maintain it or something. Chevy has admitted it's bad piston skirts but won't do anything about it except to extend the warranty in case of direct resulting damage (unlikely).

GM replaced the piston/rods in my '02 last November. They will extend the warranty or if you are not satified with the knock at idle, they will replace. Mine was out of the factory warranty and only had 16,000 miles on it. It sounded like a diesel at idle and real I was embarassed with it being new. Contact GM customer service if your local Chevy dealer won't do anything.