We all love the LS platform. It is reliable, makes great power, and is swapped into everything from classic trucks to drift cars for a reason. But even the biggest fans have to admit it often comes with a very specific, annoying soundtrack: the dreaded lifter tick. While people joke about it being a standard feature of the Chevy V8, that tapping noise can actually be a warning sign of a much bigger mechanical issue. Hot Shot’s Secret has introduced a new remedy called Tick Fix + Protect to help silence the noise and save your valvetrain before it requires a teardown.
The root cause of this noise, especially in modern engines, is often tied to efficiency systems like Active Fuel Management or Displacement on Demand. These systems shut down cylinders to save fuel, which effectively reduces oil flow to those specific lifters. When the lifters sit inactive, they become prone to collecting varnish. Over time, this sticky buildup prevents the lifter from pumping up properly when it needs to fire again. That is where the lifter tick comes from. Ignoring it isn’t a great plan, as a stuck lifter can eventually wipe out a camshaft lobe and effectively ruin the engine.
Tick Fix is an oil enhancer formulated with Hot Shot’s FR3 nanotechnology and a specific detergent package. It attacks the problem directly by cleaning the varnish off the hydraulic lifters, allowing them to function correctly again. Tests show it can reduce engine wear by up to 30% compared to untreated synthetic oil. It is also fully compliant with GM’s latest dexos1 Gen 3 specifications, so it won’t negatively impact modern oil chemistries.
Using it is incredibly simple. You don’t need to perform a complicated flush or take the car to a shop. During your next scheduled oil change, you just swap out one quart of your standard motor oil for one quart of the additive. It works in any 4- to 8-quart system. While it often resolves the issue after the first treatment, using it at every change ensures the lifter tick stays gone. It is cheap insurance to keep your engine running smoothly and quiet for the long haul.
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