Please educate me on piston slap
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,795
Likes: 2
From: Noblesville Indiana
CI 7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05
Please educate me on piston slap
Since I've taken my car (2000) out from hibernation this spring, I've noticed a lot of problems that I didn't have last fall. I had to jump my 1 1/2 year old Red Top to get it going. Now the fobs don't work, my Hurst rattles, and I THINK I might have piston slap. So, in regards to the last problem, I have a few questions - a "search" turned up three totally unrelated threads. I've seen several threads on this topic before but never read them since I didn't have the problem. What exactly does it sound like? What causes it? Does it hurt anything?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
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From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
From what I have read and heard they all have it.
Supposedly different brands of oil can subdue the sound somewhat.
ALso letting it warm up to normal Operating temp is supposed to work too.
Harm done? I don't know.
Sorry I don't have more information for you. I'm still learning things here of the CF.
Maybe Patches will chime in.
About the rest, think about it, if you were awakened after a long winter nap, you too may be cranky.
Supposedly different brands of oil can subdue the sound somewhat.
ALso letting it warm up to normal Operating temp is supposed to work too.
Harm done? I don't know.
Sorry I don't have more information for you. I'm still learning things here of the CF.
Maybe Patches will chime in.
About the rest, think about it, if you were awakened after a long winter nap, you too may be cranky.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,208
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From: Rochester MN
CI 5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
NCM Ambassador
There's a lot of info at http://pistonslap.com/ including a sound clip so you can compare what you're hearing to what piston slap souns like.
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,783
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From: Coral Springs Fl
A friend of mine toasted his C5 when he put twin turbo's on. They found out afterword that it was because of the piston slap. According to Chevy sources, they mainly only have the problem on 2002 year LS1 motors. I have talked to many people about this problem and mostly find that it is nothing to worry about unless you do forced induction.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Gathered from previous threads:
All of the C5's have at least some piston slap when cold, because of the tolerances necessary to allow for heat expansion. The 97-01 cars were most noticable, 02-04 had a Teflon coating on the pistons that didn't eliminate the slap but instead cushioned it so you didn't hear the noise.
There is a normal amount of slap that does not effect anything, of course it can also be an indication of problems.
FWIW, my 01 sounds like a diesel engine for the first couple of minutes on a cold morning but the noise goes away as it warms up. It still runs great after 56,000 miles and oil analysis every year shows excellent wear.
All of the C5's have at least some piston slap when cold, because of the tolerances necessary to allow for heat expansion. The 97-01 cars were most noticable, 02-04 had a Teflon coating on the pistons that didn't eliminate the slap but instead cushioned it so you didn't hear the noise.
There is a normal amount of slap that does not effect anything, of course it can also be an indication of problems.
FWIW, my 01 sounds like a diesel engine for the first couple of minutes on a cold morning but the noise goes away as it warms up. It still runs great after 56,000 miles and oil analysis every year shows excellent wear.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,795
Likes: 2
From: Noblesville Indiana
CI 7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05
Originally Posted by ptdrummer54
There's a lot of info at http://pistonslap.com/ including a sound clip so you can compare what you're hearing to what piston slap souns like.
I listened to the sound clip and that's what mine sounds like, although not as bad.Thanks for all the help guys.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Gearhead Jim
Gathered from previous threads:
All of the C5's have at least some piston slap when cold, because of the tolerances necessary to allow for heat expansion. The 97-01 cars were most noticable, 02-04 had a Teflon coating on the pistons that didn't eliminate the slap but instead cushioned it so you didn't hear the noise.
There is a normal amount of slap that does not effect anything, of course it can also be an indication of problems.
FWIW, my 01 sounds like a diesel engine for the first couple of minutes on a cold morning but the noise goes away as it warms up. It still runs great after 56,000 miles and oil analysis every year shows excellent wear.
All of the C5's have at least some piston slap when cold, because of the tolerances necessary to allow for heat expansion. The 97-01 cars were most noticable, 02-04 had a Teflon coating on the pistons that didn't eliminate the slap but instead cushioned it so you didn't hear the noise.
There is a normal amount of slap that does not effect anything, of course it can also be an indication of problems.
FWIW, my 01 sounds like a diesel engine for the first couple of minutes on a cold morning but the noise goes away as it warms up. It still runs great after 56,000 miles and oil analysis every year shows excellent wear.
When I crank mine I keep it under 2000rpm till the oil temp gets over 100 deg by then it’s quieted down.
$.02 entered
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: The Beautiful Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
My '02 with just over 40,000 miles makes the "slapping" within 30 seconds of the engine being on. I used to let it warm up for several minutes before driving off, but now, when the oil pressure is up, I'm gone. The noise goes away before I've driven a block from my house.
I do drive very moderately until oil temp comes up to 150+, however.
My biggest problem with the "slap" is the embarrasment when people standing around hear it. My dealer "gave" me a free GM 100,000 mile warranty on the engine after hearing me complain about it. They assured me that it would cause no damage.
We'll see.
I do drive very moderately until oil temp comes up to 150+, however.
My biggest problem with the "slap" is the embarrasment when people standing around hear it. My dealer "gave" me a free GM 100,000 mile warranty on the engine after hearing me complain about it. They assured me that it would cause no damage.
We'll see.