soulsea

"We have discussed the Z06 cooling robustness in this space before and are very concerned about what some customers are experiencing."

Some?

The site is inundated with people's Z06's going into limp mode on just about any track and we're barely into May.

So yes, some relative to all the Z06s sold, but the majority of the folks that take the 'most track capable Vette evva' to a track have this overheating issue ... wait to see what happens in July and August.

Track days are not cheap ... there is the track booking fee, the travel expenses, the wear and tear on other parts, HPDE insurance. Sometimes you can be committed to $1000 to $1500 to enjoy a day at the track. I assure you none of us appreciate going through this expense only to have to park the car after a couple of laps just because no one looked at weather.com to see what average temps are across the US during the summer when most tracks are open.

That said I am encouraged that a solution is in the works ... I hope it comes sooner rather than later before those of us who make use of this vehicle in what should be its natural habitat get fed up and move on.

Thank you for addressing the issue.

truth.b

Shrike6,

I didn't know timing is started to be pulled at 196*, so far I haven't felt the engine loose its luster in hot driving experiences around 230*+. I always thought the best temp for and engine during and hard driving was around 220*F to ensure that any water vapor in the oil is boiled off.


So now I have a question does the C6 & C7 both start pulling timing at 196*, if so is it more noticeable on the C7 due to it loosing a greater amount of HP/TRQ for every few degrees reduced? i.e. a few degree of 460HP / 650HP feels worse than a few degrees at 436HP.

Cyclone09Z06

Lawdogg, You are correct in the fact that owners are not taking their cars in with an overheat issue and because of this GM (not the engineering team, corporate customer service) is saying they have not heard of the issue. How do I know this?, because this is what I was told the first time I took my car in.

I have posted how important it is for owners to start taking their cars in and to show the proof by supplying the PDR data. My car has been to the dealership three times and I am heading to Sebring in about ten minutes. On Monday my car will be back at the dealership with the issue and all data.

joe1111

The answer from Tadge/GM is a non-answer IMHO. The Z06 owners I know do NOT have front plates on and they track in 70-90 degree weather. And all of them across the board see the overheating issues...it is not the 1%.

Tadge/GM - please no more marketing BS. Please be candid about the issue and then fix the issue. This will go a long way with the C7 community.

Sooo in the meantime when doing a NASA, Hooked on Driving, Trackmasters event (which I do with the original poster of this question to Tadge), when people inevitably come up to me and ask about buying a Z06 for the track, I will sadly continue to tell them to hold off on buying it and to look elsewhere...GTR, 911 Turbo, R8, Camaro ZL1, etc. I hate to do this...I truly love Corvette...

Twiggs

Now what does a comment like that slove except to purposefully insult someone's work who takes time to answer questions yhat he is not obligated to. I know I'm not the average Corvette owner (25) but the childish bratt attituds around here with the C7Z, the Viper and all manner of other things is disheartening to say the least. Why can't more of you folks take the advice you probably tell your children, if you don't have something nice (or constructive in this case) to say, shut the F#£k up.

RC000E

I think the answer was even worse than I anticipated. I'm out for sure...this is just a pure lack of acknowledgement of what's clearly been happening. Of course there isn't a report of many cars overheating...many owners don't track the cars. I've seen a number of Z06's on the street to date, and not one driver was under 70, I guarantee it. These guys aren't tracking these cars.

I stated this before...the car was built with the "bandwidth" mentality around typical use, and they figured they'd put out a bunch of marketing about track this and track that, keep racing TUDOR/WEC and having Corvette corrals, buying positive media attention, etc. creating this "ultimate track car" belief. It's the small percentage (likely less than 10%) who will actually use this car and attempt to extract its ability...and if they are the only people barking then it's simple enough to say "we haven't seen a problem in a majority of the cars made and sold".

This Z06 is a truly exceptional car, but this CTS-V motor will be its demise among hardcore Z06 followers.

red2012

Wrong. When I buy someones product, (especially a 100K product) and have trouble with it that person IS obligated to give me answers. That's called customer service and trust! He is the face of the product and it should start with him.

Shrike6

I feel it's time I gave some balance to my posts about the weaknesses of the Corvettes since I got my first 2006. Now, my 2006 and 2011 GS are great cars to drive, and lots of bang for the buck. But, as we know, there have been many design faults with both the C6 and C7 generations. Some were fixed over the years, some not. Tadge and his team have done a good job, under the limitations imposed on them by GM and suppliers. The fact that tradeoffs had to be made for cost, and other reasons is not technically their fault. Choices in where to spend money, what amenities to add, etc. all impacted their design.
The fact is that, even with the beautiful new aluminum frame and othe weight saving parts, the C7 came in heavier than the C6. Continuing problems with paint quality, electronics and cooling did not start with the C7.
When Tadge answers our questions regarding these things, he cannot tell us all he really knows. To be totally frank and accurate in detailing what is going on at GM would quickly cost him his job. After listening to GM engineers, talking to a few privately at events, and following the responses Tadge has made, I know just how to interpert his answers.
Whatever he says in response is filtered through the GM legal department, who won't let any admission of faults creep in to the public arena. When he toes the corporate line, and disappoints us with his answers, he knows it and he knows we know it. If he is the good engineer and steward of the Corvette, he will quietly get to work on whatever he possibly can, under the GM corporate radar. But we must not kid ourselves. At the end of the day, what he and his team can do is not under their sole control.
Money talks loudest in every corporation. I hope my evaluation of him and his team's good intentions is correct. I like to think the Corvette's future is protected and assured by engineers who can get the job done right, even when corporate is throwing up obstacles.

RC000E

Amen...all truth right there.

I see a scramble for new market share happening. They want Porsche buyers...it's made them change their routine and their approach. I personally just think that trying to do too much and having it come up short isn't as good as doing a little less, but absolutely killing it.

In the end, I've always been of the belief that while Corvette may have taken this scrutiny over interior quality and what not, that the DRIVING aspect of the car should've always been the priority. In the end, the old fellas don't want to pay 100k for cheap leather, even if it truly gets them a more capable car. Yet again though...playing to the wrong demographics long term, in my opinion...but fact is, GM bean counters make the final decision on what's important.

I think this chase for Porsche is an uphill battle, and taking the muscle car approach is the wrong way to do it. Stiffer steering, refined chassis, wind tunnel/airflow management by design...these are all good things. It's when I see the injection of trucks and Cadillacs that things get flimsy...but I understand this is what Corvette must do to likely exist at all.

In the end, Porsche is a brand built about driving experience/racing, and GM isn't...they will never be. They can outsell Porsche all day, and that's fine...Mcdonalds is outselling In and Out Burger...but I'll go to In and Out all day for quality, while Mcdonalds cashes in...but their stock is falling in a changing market due to decisions that steered the ship long term..that's a fact.

In the end it's about execution and I feel like we are seeing a strange ideology shift that may lead to a Corvette that is no more, or is some evolution of its former self that finds itself nothing more than a 2 seat Cadillac....an XLR that finally sells.

Josh B.

Sounds oddly similar to the LS7 valve guide issue... GM denies the existence of a problem. When that defense becomes weak, "2008-2009 only" is the cause, or with C7 cooling, the "plate frame is completely to blame, other owners don't report any problem, so we can conclude, logically, that there is no problem. Yeah, except when it's not even installed and engines are still boiling over.

It's hard to have integrity when you are caught between corporate liability and corporate profits, eh?

Nevadagame

In the hope that someone from GM is reading this, I would like to first identify myself as a 50 year long customer. I have bought 4 new Cadillacs, 7 new Chevrolet models, including 3 corvettes, one new Buick. My last new GM car was a 2014 C7 Z51 which I recently sold after overheating twice driving uphill in bumper to bumper traffic on Boulder Canyon road...altitude 7500 feet climbing to 9500 to drive the peak to peak hi way. I have a 2016 ZO6 ordered which, now that I am aware of the scope of the overheating issue and the apparent non answers or solutions...I am about to cancel. I own a 520hp Porsche Panamera turbo, a 611 hp Bentley Continential GT, a Mercedes E class, and NONE of them budge the temp gauge in the same situation...no quality modern car overheats in everyday to weather traffic. This is nuts, All of my life, I've defended GM, they are (we're) my home team. No more, enough is enough. I say this with sadness... I can afford to but whatever I want, and I just don't want the corvette anymore.

b4i4getit

The simple solution would be if you are going to track your car in a hot environment DON'T BUY A Z06. Maybe these issues will be resolved with the C8 Z06 since there seems to be a hint that they will design for above 30 degrees C in future models to accomodate this need.

RC000E

Nevadagame...your issue truly sounds like an issue of an air pocket in the coolant system, not whats being discussed here (well...tadge attempts to steer it that way...granted). Take it to the dealer and have them bleed the system properly.

bub

Global warming perhaps....

-vet

Nevadagame said he sold his overheating C7 already. It's a problem for someone else now.
In the days before the internet all these problems would have been swept under the rug. Most customers would be none the wiser....

redline06

it seems that the hot running vette has been a problem ever since the c4. gm has not seem too concerned as they blame it on everything else. I myself have install larger radi and duel fans ,160* tsat and even in 80* weather it runs 200* plus in traffic. on the hwy it cools down but should an engine run at 200* plus as it starts to breakdown oils etc. its just not right as no other performance car seems to have this problem.

beepster

truth.b

Serious Request:

Can you point me to a source that explains how today's synthetic oil's begin to breakdown above 200*F.

crimlwC6

Buy a bigger radiator. If you want to track the car in hot weather or not have to do cool down laps, you buy a bigger radiator and probably a stand alone oil cooler. Your warranty can't be voided for installing a bigger radiator.

Nate@VanBortelChevy

How many minutes go by before these Z06 owners are getting the high temp message?

I don't know of any production car that can take more than 35 to 40 min of continuous track time before oil temps reach a dangerous level.