When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Tahoe & SuburbanThe power, space, and brutal towing ability make the Tahoe and its longer sibling, the Suburban, arguably the best full size SUV's on the market today.
or anyone reading this post that needs a possible quick fix. I know this was years ago, but wanted to know if your issue ever got resolved? I have an 08 Yukon XL 5.3L 4X4 same motor as your Tahoe and mines was doing the same noise as described. This may sound weird but via a good friend who's also a mechanic, I was instructed to add lucas to the oil and to start running 93 V-Shell powered fuel and walla, that ticking/pinging noise really almost disappeared. They tried to tell me the same thing about the lifters and fuel injectors at the GMC off I-20 over there in Arlington TX, but before I went to have them perform the work I was told to try that. Today as I type this I am now approaching 200k miles this noise was started when I was at 80k. I couldn't believe that trick worked after dealing with years of ticking. These full-sized GM SUV's of this year model are beautiful but those 5.3L flexfuel engines that were able to go into V4 mode were super problematic. My friend told me due to that useless AFM system and the lifters not staying lubricated enough it was causing noises from those engines and sometimes oil consumption. AGAIN, I'm no mechanic, but this definitely helped me out. It was too embarrassing pulling up in a 50k SUV that's this nice making a ticking/pinging noise. plan on trading it in soon as it's about time but that noise never returned as loudly as it was years ago. Hope this helps out the next fellow GM person experiencing this issue out there.
Follow up from user The Phantom:
Thanks, Navi08/Burban07 I totally agree that the Higher octane makes the engine ticking/pinging "sound" better. I've noticed with the AFM kicked in, the truck runs much better in the 4 cyl. mode with the higher octane. Some people have complained of the AFM causing a chatter noise which I did notice using 87 octane. Not noticeable with premium. I also have increased my mpg by 1 mpg which is not much using higher octane. I am only convinced of this due to my own experiences after you recommended. I will not try to convince anyone else of this because if your not trying it yourself, then there's no point in arguing it. Also all vehicles and situations are different. I had a tuner and tuned it for premium gas. This may be where I gained the 1 MPG, but the AFM chatter ticking noise was gone when I put premium in before I tuned it. You saved me about a thousand and some change as I was also convinced I needed a lifter job. Thanks again!!! FYI you will need to run about two tanks to possibly start to notice the difference.
Last edited by Navi08/Burban07; May 26, 2021 at 6:04 AM.
Wednesday August 30, 2006
Well we didn't have to wait too long before the noise reappeared. That's why I was reluctant yesterday to get too happy about the positive results of the repairs. Upon arriving at work this morning (about 20 miles from home) the noise was back and just as loud. My wifes coworkers knew it was her when she pulled into the parking lot. She drove it again at lunch time with the same results. This time they will tare into the engine because they have tried everything else. I'm wondering now when they go in and replace all the lifters and the noise still remains what's next? I guess we will have to cross that bridge went we get to it. Oh yeah, the exit lighting quit again but the A/C seems to be working fine for now. One fix out of three is not a very good batting average, you think? We will be leaving it at the dealership this afternoon. More to come.
The reason they aren’t hearing your problem is simply because it only happens during acceleration under a load not at idle also the noise goes away when using cruise control so let your dealership know this and maybe they will figure it out cause I’m experiencing this after replacing TPS and cleaning throttle body good luck
