Originally Posted by rabrooks

Your engine builder is absolutely correct. That cooler can't be properly cleaned to a point where everyone is confident that it's clean enough after a failure that creates metal floating around. So now it falls back on GM as the dealer did what GM recommends. I would ask for the information that states what GM recommends. If the dealer did that verbatim, its actually on GM. But you won't get anywhere chasing that monkey. I believe, cleaning the sump requires removing it and actually disassembling it. If it wasn't disassembled, its on the dealer.

Originally Posted by 1Hotrodz

Looking at the photo of the metal fragments, it looks like like copper or bronze. with that said, like someone else said could be valve guide material or.... if they are tri-metal engine bearings then you may have burned out the engine bearings, I mean like completely gone. The copper on the bearing is down about two layers just before you get to the steel. I would be suspect of the oil pump/pumps especially the scavenger pump which sends the oil from the sump to the holding tank. Also, if the filter got clogged and was running thru the bypass of the filter ( sending unfiltered oil thru the engine ) this would wipe out the bearings too. But you said you lost oil pressure so not a likely cause just a contributer to the failure.

When you did check the oil was it real foamy? Maybe you are sucking air thru the sump pick-up.

Originally Posted by steve J06

came across your thread today, and from the pictures in post 19 it looked like bearing failure to me. But then reading about the previous engine failure, now I'd have to agree with incomplete wash of the oil lines/system. I do a bit of work on the side (not my main job) and it reminds me of the situation when an automatic trans burns up - the friction material gets everywhere and the only way to ensure clean oil is to start with a new cooler and new lines. It is virtually impossible to clean all the particulates out of a heat exchanger. It seems the situation is similar here. Next time, use new components or as suggested above, have everything disassembled and visually verified. good luck!

Originally Posted by zo6style

In fact, I found a GM service document which states that upon replacing a LS7 or LS9 YOU MUST REPLACE 1- OIL COOLER, BOTH OIL COOLER LINES 3 - OIL TANK LINES....Why do you think they state "Must Replace"?

Originally Posted by hdrider1

So did you confront the dealer with the new found GM service document and does he now take ownership of the problem -- or what's his current excuse? Seems that you're in a better negotiating position now.

Originally Posted by Pete@ChampionMotors

What is all that debris in there?

Originally Posted by 1Hotrodz

So GM will replace the motor and oil cooler and lines? GM sucks, why couldn't they replace the oil components the first time. At least you found the problem. GM would never own up to that mistake unless you shoved it under their noses. What a PITA. I wouldn't let their techs drill an a**hole in a hobby horse! I guess you can tell I have all the confidence in the world when it comes to GM.

Originally Posted by AORoads

I've not read all three pages but over 5 mos. to get this resolved! BTW, how did you determine that they didn't completely follow procedure by not replacing oil cooler and oil lines? Was it omitted from the list of new parts on the eventual bill you got?