I have a 1997 Camaro Z28 with a LT1 with 177,000 miles on OEM engine and have run Mobil 1 exclusively. I have a squeak that seems to be coming from the middle of the engine. I have replaced the water pump, and removed the serpentine belt while running the motor to eliminate other accessories like the alternator, a/c compressor, etc. and the squeak persists. The squeak is a rythmic intermittent squeak definitely tied to engine rpm. It continues whether in park or when driving, seems worse once the engine is warmed up. Oil pressure, looking a internal dash guage, seems to be fine. I had noticed a bit of a tapping noise in the past prior to the squeak. It is definitely getting worse. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

Im no expert but it sounds like a bearing

 

My best guess would be the gear for the water pump drive shaft. I'm sure after 177,000 miles, it probally needs replaced.

 

My engine was doing the same thing and it was the harmonic balancer.
It was spining within the hub and when there was a load such as the ac...it was worse....at fist it was intermitent then it got worse and when it went out it was bad. So I would check that first. Pull your belt off again and check it to see if the rubber bushing inside is bad.

 

The crankshaft balancer was a good idea, but, I had the problem and replaced it with a new one at 150,000 miles. This squeak is definitely in the engine. I have removed the serpentine belt and the squeak persists. My ASE mechanic friend tells me, the he thinks it is a bad hydraulic lifter on #3 or #5 piston. His recommendation was to first try an oil change and put in a quart of lucas oil treatment with 4 quarts of oil. Warmed the engine up good and the squeak is still there, but he thought it might take a bit for it to work into the lifter. I also checked the oil that I drained and found no metal shavings or particles in the oil.

 

I dunno man. Some times the oil pressure will fall with a spun bearing. Just from my experience if the squeak is loud enough to hear and your oil is good. Chances are its not a bearing. The way the motor is set up there could be harmonics coming from any where. When do you hear the squeaks

 

Oh yea the lucas is a personal preference some like it some don't. I would continue with normal oil. My motor has 183k on it and I have always run AC delco oil filter with castrol 10/40. My car runs just about as hard as it ever has.

 

Turns out that my squeak in the motor was a bad lifter and worn camshaft on the #5 cylinder. I have included a link to a photo. Put in a new Comp cam, lifters, rockerarms, timing chain and gears, etc. and it runs great.

 

Here is the link: http://home.comcast.net/~j.bruno.coon/camarocam.html

Didn't seem to post right.