Hello all,

First of all, let me say that I'm a complete moron when it comes to auto diagnosis/repair... so please forgive anything I say that isn't 100% technically correct.

Recently, our 2013 Suburban 1500 all of a sudden started making a loud tapping noise, which our mechanic (who I trust) diagnosed as a valve lifter issue. He basically said, "the design on this particular year of the engine was 'not so good' in this area... there's a small hole that can get gummed up especially if you don't get the oil changed regularly." He tried doing an oil flush, fresh oil & filter, and an oil additive to try to clean the gunk out of the hole, but after letting it run for a while and driving it around, it didn't resolve the tapping noise.

He says that at this point, due to the "not so good design", the only real option is to replace the engine. He basically said that it's very difficult and expensive to replace just the affected parts, and given the high mileage (about 120K miles), he wouldn't recommend "putting new against old", and that it would be better to replace the whole engine. He said it would be in the ballpark of $6,500 to do that.

So... what do you fine people think? Is replacing the engine the best course of action?

Thanks,
Darren

 

You may trust your mechanic but get a second opinion anyway. 120K isn't that high with many Chevrolet trucks running great with much higher mileage than that.

 

So what did you decide to do? I have a 2008 suburban with the same issue. Fraser engines will do an re manufactured engine for $4800 installed. I am considering this.

 

He wanted to replace it with a remanufactured Jasper engine, but after reading lots of negative reviews about Jasper, I asked him to do an Chevy remanufactured engine (he says they resolved this bad lifter design in the one he used). It was a few hundred dollars more than the Jasper.

Wish I had a better answer for you.

 

Are you happy with the outcome? Are you glad you did. A replacement engine ?