[Z06] Early Z06 oil problems.....
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: COLUMBIA STATION OHIO
Early Z06 oil problems.....
Can anyone give me details on this? I just bought my second '01 Z06 which has only 7000 miles on it. The build date was 12/20/00. Is this car considered one of the early ones that had that problem? Also...Mallet changed the cam and heads (ported and polished). Would that correct the original problem, or is it bottom end related? Thanks. Dave.
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I believe the concern was with the piston rings flutter. Continual driving at 4000 rpm and above would consume more oil than normal. The Mallet work would not address this but I don't think it was a major concern. 1/2 to 1 extra quarts of oil between changes.
http://www.idavette.net/hib/02ls6/page5.htm
http://www.idavette.net/hib/02ls6/page5.htm
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Right Corner Pocket of Illinois
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: COLUMBIA STATION OHIO
Very helpful info.....thanks. I was under the impression that the problem was corrected near the end of the '01 model year, but that seems to be inaccurate. I guess I won't worry about it until I experience it. I had a '99 FRC/LS1 with 39,000 miles and another '01 LS6, but never experienced unusual oil consumption in either vehicle. Thanks. Dave.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: LaPine Oregon
'01 oil "problem " corrected ...............
In Mid - April '01 there was a change to the LS1/LS6 piston which carried over to MY02. To address the limited number of complaints about 'cold piston kock', there was a small reduction in psiton to bore clearance and the new pistons , having psitons coated with polymer, anti friction material, introduced.
Recall the ring correction was to increase tension on the ring pack ( from 9 to 13 pound ring tension). Reducing piston to bore tolerance would , in my opinion, contribute to less high rpm ring flutter , which was one source of oil consumption ( the other being the possible intake valley baffle seal).
Though, historically all LS1/ LS6 engines are prone to oil consumption, to one degree or another , the manual transmission cars are more likely because of the higher rpms and more aggressive driving habits connected with those vehicles.
I have a 2000 FRC and '01 Z06 ( build date June 18th '01) but neither of my cars have an oil consumption issue that shows itself betweeen 3000 mile oil chnages. Note that both cars have oil catch tanks installed. Also neither car ( the red FRC is the wife's ) is 'abused' or raced.
Recall the ring correction was to increase tension on the ring pack ( from 9 to 13 pound ring tension). Reducing piston to bore tolerance would , in my opinion, contribute to less high rpm ring flutter , which was one source of oil consumption ( the other being the possible intake valley baffle seal).
Though, historically all LS1/ LS6 engines are prone to oil consumption, to one degree or another , the manual transmission cars are more likely because of the higher rpms and more aggressive driving habits connected with those vehicles.
I have a 2000 FRC and '01 Z06 ( build date June 18th '01) but neither of my cars have an oil consumption issue that shows itself betweeen 3000 mile oil chnages. Note that both cars have oil catch tanks installed. Also neither car ( the red FRC is the wife's ) is 'abused' or raced.
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From: Raleigh
Mine was built in 11/00 and has never had any work done to it. Still bone stock with 78k miles on it and no issues with oil burning at all and the original owner said he never had issues either.
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From: Oak Harbor WA
Personally, I believe it is more dependent on your driving habits than any other one factor. If the engine was built with the 9lb oil rings then you will have an oil burner if you drive it in a spirited manner for any length of time.
Run around the city never seeking 4th gear and down shifting the car keeping the RPM's up around 3K or higher (blip the throttle to match revs). Drive down the freeway for about 30 miles in 3rd or 4th gear only.
The above is an extreme example but if your car burns oil this will make it do it quick. Easy check is the back bumper, it will be coated with little specks of oil. The dipstick will only confirm the obvious.
My car first ate the camshaft and a couple lifters. That was repaired under GMPP, then it ate the whole engine a few thousand miles later which again was replaced under GMPP. Why? Because it went through 6+ quarts of oil in 5K miles and I had to prove it was an oil eater with a long history of oil consumption.
I would go through .5 qts of oil doing a single day of autocross driving which is not high speed driving as I rarely top 2nd gear at most all events.
If you drive your vette like a low budget grocery getter it'll likely never use oil. If you rev it like a sports car, then you'll know the answer in short time.
Run around the city never seeking 4th gear and down shifting the car keeping the RPM's up around 3K or higher (blip the throttle to match revs). Drive down the freeway for about 30 miles in 3rd or 4th gear only.
The above is an extreme example but if your car burns oil this will make it do it quick. Easy check is the back bumper, it will be coated with little specks of oil. The dipstick will only confirm the obvious.
My car first ate the camshaft and a couple lifters. That was repaired under GMPP, then it ate the whole engine a few thousand miles later which again was replaced under GMPP. Why? Because it went through 6+ quarts of oil in 5K miles and I had to prove it was an oil eater with a long history of oil consumption.
I would go through .5 qts of oil doing a single day of autocross driving which is not high speed driving as I rarely top 2nd gear at most all events.
If you drive your vette like a low budget grocery getter it'll likely never use oil. If you rev it like a sports car, then you'll know the answer in short time.
