i just bought a 96 Sunfire 2.2L. it has 280,000 on it. the car hasnt ran in a few years do to a bad fuel pump. when i started it there was a cloud of thick smoke from the exhaust, i thought for sure my engine was gone. but after it warmed up, it smoked very little, no blue smoke AT ALL. But when its cold, and i start it, it sounds like a diesel engine, mostly from the alternator side. Its not a tick, more like a faint knock. but when it warms up, its not that bad, and when i give it gas, i dont really hear the noise anymore. Should i be worried. i put in some new oil and thick oil treatment, and its a little better. Any guess'?
Piston slap maybe?
Don't run thicker oil than what you're supposed to. It's a trick the old timers used before the days of multi weight oils. The thicker the oil, the fewer places it can get to, and the longer it will take to get there, leaving your engine unprotected.
2002 Cavalier 2200 5spd
Sounds like a more advanced version of the same symptom I have with my 97 Cav 2.2. I think some of these engines just develop a tick/knock as they loosen up with age and wear.
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My brother's 98 GP 3100 sounds like that to but his is do to a lob in the camshaft that is messed up. Found this out when we replace the intake gasket.
Timing chain slap?? just a guess, but a known high milage problem...
John Benham wrote:Timing chain slap?? just a guess, but a known high milage problem...
I thought of this too, but in my case just like the OPs, the noise improves as the engine warms up. I doubt the chain or tensioner would seem much improvement with temp. I've written my case off as piston slap. It seems to be a GM thing if my father's 1990 Lumina 3.1 was any indication.
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i would pull of the timing chain cover because mine did that and i replaced it and it fixed it. the tentioner was gone at 130000. you could be on your second. it seems to go every 130000+. and thats were my sound came from. hurry before it does more damage.
