2000 Silverado 5.3 exhuast tick

[jimbo5858]

OK I searched the internet and the records here but can not confirm my issue. So any help from the family is appreciated.

When I accelerate, cold or warm (cold I have the typical valve knock or what not so not that) while driving I will get a fast ticking sound. It can only be heard in drivers seat not passenger side.

It is a random sound that comes and goes no reasoning apparently on weather, oil, oil filter, etc. Just decides when to do it to drive me nuts when it wants to!

If you get under the truck on the driver side you can hear the “tick” sometimes while idling (warmed up) where the exhaust manifold meets the Y pipe.

Could this be a manifold leak? All bolt heads are accounted for but maybe they cracked behind the head?

Could it be injectors? I found that injectors on this truck make that ticking sound. If so do I need to replace and if so do I replace them all?

Sorry for long email. Just at the end of my road of research the last few months and can’t figure it out. Also I brought it to a shop and they could not confirm really either.

[IwannaSS]

my truck does pretty much the same noise. though i have not crawled under and listened for it yet. perhaps someone will chime in

[quad700]

Look for leaks around exhaust manifold,broken manifold studs/bolts.This is a common problem on higher mileage vehicles

[Gorp]

Are you sure it's coming from the engine/exhaust?
I have the same truck and about a year ago was getting a rattle at low RPM and certain higher frequencies. It sounded like a heat shield.
I finally pinpointed the noise coming from the steel fuel lines coming up on the frame just below the firewall.
I cut some rubber hose to fit over where it was buzzing and all is well.

[jimbo5858]

That is a good idea. I checked it out and not it's not that for sure. All lines fine nothing shaking or rattling. But I like the idea of putting the hose on it, I will do that just cause to make it better then stock! The sound though is for sure tick. I thought it was a bad lifter but my mech and friend who is very knowledgeable on Chevy Pushrods V8’s said nope (naturally he can't figure out the tick sound either!).

I had it looked at again for exhaust around the manifold and found nothing. Also no leak underneath. Did the hand test on the down pipe and y-pipe and flanges with no leak found. Also all bolt heads are there. I could just remove them, scrap down the block and manifold, and re-attach with new seals and updated bigger bolt heads (per that GM Spec that went out a few years back).

I wonder if ths sound could be old injector(s)? Does this make sense? Has anyone ever had injectors that constantly have a "tick sound" and when you accelerate it is moderately louder (hence more fuel being pumped through).

Any ideas or am I just beating a dead horse here. Thanks again to all that have chimed in. All been good ideas I have not yet thought about.

Honestly I'm to the point where I just want to dump the exhaust after the magnaflow under the cab and make ALL sounds go away LOL!