Piston Slap
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From: Franklin MA
Piston Slap
I have an 02 convert bought it last Dec with 19,000 mi. When I start the engine I hear a rythmic tap noise from the engine, it seems to quiet as it warms but never entirely goes away. I was told it is piston slap and that it is just an annoyance, not anything wrong with the engine. What are the causes.
Last edited by scarinjo; Jan 16, 2006 at 01:44 PM. Reason: Missing word
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From: Supporting the Corvette Community at Abel Chevrolet in Rio Vista, CA 707-374-6317 Ext.123
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by steveblonde
Cause: Made by GM
Solution: Get a loud exhuast to drown out the noise
P.S.
they all seem to do it
Solution: Get a loud exhuast to drown out the noise
P.S.
they all seem to do it
You can also turn the stereo up to make it disappear!!!
Uber Waxer
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From: Hanover MD
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St. Jude Donor '08-'10
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From: Supporting the Corvette Community at Abel Chevrolet in Rio Vista, CA 707-374-6317 Ext.123
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by EVIL_C5
Pro
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From: Sandy Eggo, California
My advice is to learn to live with it. I've been down that entire road with GM on this issue and they admit that there is a problem with piston slap in the LS-1 engine, but they refuse to do anything about it. I've had my vehicle into the dealership numerous times and the local dealership service manager himself diagnosed the problem as piston slap in the # 1 cylinder. I got him to put that in writing, but the GM area representative refused to authorize any repairs. I had some very heated arguments with the GM area representative, but to no avail. I've filed claims with the GM Customer Assistance Center, and with the Better Business Bureau. I took my case and all my documents and written statements to BBB's Binding Arbitration and lost my case. The arbitrator's finding was that GM build the vehicle, so they must be the experts on the engine and their determination to "ignore the problem" must be the correct one. Before Binding Arbitration, you must sign forms that state that if you lose the arbitration hearing, you must drop your case and not pursue the matter any further. I signed the forms, and lost! They wore me down and I gave up. A lot of BS from GM if you ask me.
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Verdad Gallardo
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From: Washington County, South UTAH
Originally Posted by RichieRichZ06
That web site is a bunch of s***. I have worked for a dealer for 5 years and we have NEVER replaced a genIII motor for wearing out. The only couple that we have done is for overheating or forgetting to put oil in it during an oil change. It does not decrease your resale value and it is a normal condition. These motors just tend to make more noise. The Cadillac northstars do the same thing, but we have seen those with 200k on them and going strong. Idiots that start these websites just give more people a stupid reason to whine about something else in their life.
They create an engine with an alluminum block, short-skirt pistons, that puts out 350-405 horsepower, while getting 29MPG: why would you EXPECT it to sound like old iron technology!
A lot of this nonsense is driven by profitable class action lawsuits! Lawers rack up billable hours, chasing gosts!
PS: Do not take this as disparging ALL lawers.
God Bless America!
Last edited by Mikeceli; Jan 16, 2006 at 05:11 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
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From: Hells Sister City Phoenix AZ
St. Jude Donor '03
I've got it but with almost 50k on the motor and still running strong I'm not letting a GM mechanic near it. Guaranteed it would be worse when I got it back.
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
Yep, piston slap would be my guess and I've never heard of it causing anything to go wrong. My '97 has it and I've got 59,000 on the clock. Now if your low on oil and the sound of piston's slapping and lifters tapping is what you hear........forget everything I've said.
Paul
Paul
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From: Brick NJ
Originally Posted by RichieRichZ06
That web site is a bunch of s***. I have worked for a dealer for 5 years and we have NEVER replaced a genIII motor for wearing out. The only couple that we have done is for overheating or forgetting to put oil in it during an oil change. It does not decrease your resale value and it is a normal condition. These motors just tend to make more noise. The Cadillac northstars do the same thing, but we have seen those with 200k on them and going strong. Idiots that start these websites just give more people a stupid reason to whine about something else in their life.
Uber Waxer
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From: Hanover MD
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St. Jude Donor '08-'10
Originally Posted by RichieRichZ06
That web site is a bunch of s***. I have worked for a dealer for 5 years and we have NEVER replaced a genIII motor for wearing out. The only couple that we have done is for overheating or forgetting to put oil in it during an oil change. It does not decrease your resale value and it is a normal condition. These motors just tend to make more noise. The Cadillac northstars do the same thing, but we have seen those with 200k on them and going strong. Idiots that start these websites just give more people a stupid reason to whine about something else in their life.
i agree to a point, i have head some that sound really bad, but i myself am on my 5th and 6th gen 3 powered gm vehicle and have never had piston slap or oil usage. if i did have one of the ones that made alot of noise, i wouldnt want to just take it from the dealer, i would probably lash out as well.
all i was doing was pointing out some of the research i had done a while back on the subject.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Mayfield kentucky
Originally Posted by RichieRichZ06
That web site is a bunch of s***. I have worked for a dealer for 5 years and we have NEVER replaced a genIII motor for wearing out. The only couple that we have done is for overheating or forgetting to put oil in it during an oil change. It does not decrease your resale value and it is a normal condition. These motors just tend to make more noise. The Cadillac northstars do the same thing, but we have seen those with 200k on them and going strong. Idiots that start these websites just give more people a stupid reason to whine about something else in their life.
Same goes here 10 years with Gm and never replaced one because of piston slap
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 287
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From: Toronto Ontario
Originally Posted by scarinjo
I have an 02 convert bought it last Dec with 19,000 mi. When I start the engine I hear a rythmic tap noise from the engine, it seems to quiet as it warms but never entirely goes away. I was told it is piston slap and that it is just an annoyance, not anything wrong with the engine. What are the causes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,298
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From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Originally Posted by vettecop1125
My 2000 does the same thing. Some on here say it's nothing to worry about and some say it can lead to some serious and expensive damage.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Newark, DE
St. Jude Donor '06
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 363
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From: Eureka CA
Originally Posted by RichieRichZ06
That web site is a bunch of s***. I have worked for a dealer for 5 years and we have NEVER replaced a genIII motor for wearing out. The only couple that we have done is for overheating or forgetting to put oil in it during an oil change. It does not decrease your resale value and it is a normal condition. These motors just tend to make more noise. The Cadillac northstars do the same thing, but we have seen those with 200k on them and going strong. Idiots that start these websites just give more people a stupid reason to whine about something else in their life.
Sorry, I, for one, disagree! Piston slap definitely DOES decrease resale value. Who wants to buy a car that sounds like a diesel truck on start-up? I will never be convinced that piston slap is a "normal condition". I have owned plenty of cars and my 2000 Chev. Silverado was the first and only engine that exhibited "piston slap". Why is that???
