Chevy Intake gasket - rods and rockers - and more... Whats causing my TICK???

Question

Ok basically I posted a question awhile back about a ticking noise...

When I bought the car there was a slight ticking noise when I accelerated. After a few more weeks went by the noise got louder and was also noticeable when idling. Not really sure I asked around and one guy was pretty sure it was a rod or a rocker. So since I had to change the intake gasket anyways it seemed like a good time to check those too.

But now I have a new problem....

Now 2 or the rods have a brownish mark going around them after I cleaned them up - Im thinking from rubbing??? Could this be whats making the noise? Because it doesnt seem like much. One could also be very slightly warped - Im going to replace those two anyways. But doesnt seem like much and the noise was pretty d**n loud before I started work.

Also the noise isnt as bad when the egnine gets hot - so someone else was saying that could be from the intake gasket since it expands when its hot and thats why it isnt as loud. But guy #1 says there no way that sound could be coming from just the gasket.

What else could it be - besides something deeper in the engine that I have no clue about.

Thanks in advance.

01 Chevy Malibu 3100

Answer 1

Make sure that the lifters are not sticking. check for sticking valves. also get some of the mystery oil at the suto parts store and out that in it will help or you can use some lucas oil.

Answer 2

The Chevy 3.1, 3.4L engines are known "tick" monsters.  The ticking is caused by excessive backlash between the rocker arm and valve stem.  The only way to cure it is to replace the rocker arms and valves.  But as long as its not a knocking noise like a rod knock or main bearing, you have nothing to worry about as it will not cause any permanent damage.  

Answer 3

Check your exhaust system. You may have a cracked manifold, header pipe, or just a bad gasket.

Answer 4

the noise is coming from the lifters. some of them are not pumping up and the push rods are hitting on the rockers.

Answer 5

You would be surprised at how many people mistake an exhaust leak at the manifold for lifters ticking.  

Answer 6

without seeing what your seeing it might be hard to tell , I definitely would replace those push rods

the ticking also MIGHT be

fuel injectors, chev inline 6s from the late nineties had a terrible time with loud fuel injectors ticking

take a good look at your rocker arms too

good luck

Answer 7

possibly a lifter but be careful on the 3100 as the intake and exhaust pushrods are different lenths . don' t get them mixed up  

Answer 8

When I rebuilt a 3100, I forgot to soak the lifters and rods in oil before install. What you are hearing a your lifters building. If you have it apart, soak them and your rods in engine oil before re-install. Note that thicker oil like 10W30 or 15W40 will require longer for lifters to build than thinner oil, like 5W20. Its a good idea to replace them if they have a lot of miles on them. I would do them all instead of just one or two, along with new valve springs and retainers.