Getting back into vettes-- Had a bunch earlier in life--- Looking at Z06's. of course 2001's are priced better than latter ones I assume both for the HP levels and the oil comsumption issues.... Assuming that I want to buy a 2001 that is out of warranty AND has not been reringed AND I later I find that it ultimately needs to be reringed -- Does anyone have an idea of how much this can cost if its out of my pocket. Any other thoughts on buying 2001 v other years--- Thanks

 

just buy an extended warranty....i was able to buy one for my 01 this summer when i bought it. I am having oil consumption and im going to bring it in the spring. Too late for a consumption test now...i can wait. I wouldnt know how much it would be out right though

 

He can't buy an extended warranty if the car is not currently under warranty and for that matter if the car does have a current warranty it needs to have at least 3 months left in the coverage to extend it. I know b/c I just did this.

I'd imagine getting it re-ringed out of pocket would be very expensive, so I would not buy an 01 Z06 that is not under warranty and has not already been re-ringed, UNLESS you can verify that the car doesn't have oil burning issues, b/c not all of them do.

It's not worth it to buy one and than have to have it re-ringed out of pocket, unless the car is exactly what you want, and at a great price. Otherwise you'd probably be better off stepping up to an 02. With the amount of money it will cost to have it re-ringed it won't be much more above that to just buy an 02.

 

You could buy a new short block from LPE for $2 g's. LS6. OR try the warranty thing which would cost you nothing.

 

I would hold out for an 02 unless you are going to mod the car.

 

DPG, have you tried the trick of running through natural oil to help try to seat the rings. Some have done this instead of running Mobil 1 and had good luck with it. They run the natural around 3500 to 5000k miles worth. Just food for thought.

Personally I think the 01's get a bit of a bad wrap. There were many that had the issue fixed after the problem came to light. The early ones were the only ones that suffered from the consumption problem. Mine for instance has no issues and a few others I know with 01's don't have any issues.

Hope this helps in some way.

 

Just buy this one and don't worry about it...

GUSTO

 

Thanks for the advice-- probably will go with 2002--- BUT--- always a but, If I understood one reply the oil problem only occurs in early 2001's is there a build date after which I would be "safe" Thanks BULL

 

While I personally agree that the oil consumption issue is a little overblown, I disagree that it was limited to "early ones". This problem actually extended into the 02 model year and I felt my 02 had the same type of problem, but only when I drove it at high rpm low load conditions.

Here is some info from a GM TSB on the issue to give you a little background of the issue and what may cause it (high rpm low load usage - which is likely why only some cars see high oil consumption; it is a driver style issue as much as a ring issue):

1999-2002: Service Bulletin: Higher Than Expected Oil Consumption
Subject: Higher Than Expected Oil Consumption (Replace Rings and Engine Valley Cover)
Source: Chevrolet Dealer Technical Service Bulletin
Number: 01-06-01-023A

Models: 1999-2001 Chevrolet Camaro, 1999-2002 Chevrolet Corvette, 1999-2001 Pontiac Firebird, with 5.7L Engine (VINs G, S -- RPOs LS1, LS6)

This bulletin is being revised to add model years for the Corvette, information on the LS6 engine and parts information. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 01-06-01-023 (Section 6 - Engine).

Condition
Some owners may comment on higher than expected oil consumption. When checked, the oil consumption could be in the range of 400-600 miles per quart (700-1000 km/L).

On the LS6 engine only, the technician may find oil behind the engine throttle plate and in the intake manifold.

Cause
The cause for this condition may be an interaction between the piston rings and the cylinder bore in vehicles that are operated at higher RPMs -- typically manual transmission vehicles driven in a manner where the engine is frequently or consistently operating at greater than 3200 RPM.

On the LS6 engine only, the engine has a unique aluminum valley cover that has composite oil separating baffles and PCV plumbing incorporated. In some cases, the PCV baffle may not be properly sealed to the valley cover, causing oil to enter the PCV system.

Correction
On the LS6 engine only, replace the engine valley cover if oil is found behind the throttle body or in the intake manifold before replacing the piston ring. Refer to Engine Valley Cover Replacement in the Engine Mechanical - 5.7L subsection of the Corvette Service Manual.

A new set of piston rings is currently available through GMSPO. The new rings are part of a complete piston ring kit. Install only the number 2 compression ring and the oil expander ring from the piston ring kit. All other rings in the piston ring kit should be discarded. The original number 1 compression ring and the oil ring rails should be re-used in their original positions on the piston. All pistons should be used in the same cylinder bore.

Important
Do not dress or hone the cylinder bore. Nothing should be done to change the bore finish for this condition. Changing the bore finish may aggravate the condition.

Refer to the Unit Repair Manual for appropriate ring removal and replacement procedure.

The number 1 compression ring and the upper and lower oil expander rails are re-used because they are already broken in for the bore that they are in. The new number 2 compression ring is made with a very sharp edge that will break in quickly.

Changing only the piston rings noted, with no change in driving style, should change oil consumption to an acceptable level. Changes in driving style that reduce the amount of time spent at higher RPMs will also positively affect oil consumption.

In addition to the standard size piston ring kit listed below, a 0.25 mm oversized piston ring kit is available. The oversized piston ring kit should only be used in those rare instances where the cylinder bore size has been machined larger to accommodate the 0.25 mm oversized piston rings.

Parts Information

Part Number
Description
Qty

12568002
Valley Cover
1

88984247
Ring Kit, Piston
8

Warranty Information

For vehicles repaired under warranty, use:

Labor Operation
Description
Labor Time

J0250
Manifold or Gasket Intake - Replace Manifold
Use Published Labor Operation Time

J1307
Piston, Rod and/or Rings -- Replace, Both Banks
Use Published Labor Time

 

Don't be afraid of '01's
When I first got the Z, I put 800 or so miles on the car and headed for AZ to see my daughter and check out how the car fit my fat *** for highway cruising!! 1800 mi road trip @ 2K or 85 mph and the car used a quart!
While I was here and my little girl was having 'boyfriend' problems (are they still boyfriend when they are in their late 20's) so I let her take the Z on a road trip to my sisters in Pima, AZ.
Mileage about 150 ea way but lots of mountain two lane, up the mountain three lane 'spank the slow people', two lane downhill 'coast behind the camper' times!
She got back and it was damn near a quart low!!
Specks all over the butt and I'm pissed!!

I ask her to take me to my Dad's house in my car to see how she is driving this thing?? She loves the exhaust sound, and since it get's quiet at low RPM, she keeps it at 2.5-3K all the time!!
This is Nov '01 and no one was aware of the 'problem' yet!!

Later on. Heard about it, watched it and since it was a daily, couldn't press for the rering!!

I have had the problem, but after +33K it is no longer an issue, without a rering!

Went to a dyno day last weekend and they pulled 7K and I was doing video 10' behind the car and clean as can be!!
I guess they just take TOO long to breakin!!

Ran a Corvette cruise from Payson to Phoenix the weekend before that and never saw 6th but lots of triple digits!! Loaded and unloaded 3-4K constants for 100+ miles and 1/2 tank of gas and didn't use a drop!!

Ken

 

Ken, did you switch oils? That doesn't sound right that with age and more miles the oil burning issues would just magically dissapear unless the problem was addressed in some way. Sounds impossible in fact

 

I race the hell out of my 01 and do not appear to have much of an oil burning issue.

 

TTT for you.. good luck with this!

 

Be patient and wait for an '02 to '04 to come along. You'll be glad you did. And '01 Z06, 385hp. '02 to '04, 405hp!

 

I have an early 01 that burns about a quart of oil inbetween each 3000 mile change. Its not a big deal to me. I love my 01 and I am just now starting to mod it out.

Just to give you an idea, if you mod the car yourself (which I do) you can have much more power for the price of an 02. Only sacrifice is basically HUD.

You can get a low milage 01 for two or three thousand less than an 02 easily.

02+ =345rwhp to 365rwhp
01 =330rwhp-345rwhp.

01 + $2-3K (equal to a stock price of an 02) =headers,cam,tune = 400rwhp to 420+rwhp.

So an 01 with mods totaling the cost of a stock 02 should net you about 40 to 50 more rwhp than the 02 -04s.

This is not a dis on the 02+, if I could have afforded it, I would have bought it.

 

Big over looked Fact!

good part of the oil problem is the inferior Mobil-1 oil.
it's volitilty is poor and burns easy compared to most

 

so what do you recommend to be used???

 

I think Syntec is supposed to be a little better.

 

I have great luck with Castrol Syntec!

 

what weight?