I am looking at buying an 01 Z06. Did they all have the oil consumption problems, or was it just a few? I checked this cars carfax, and there was no mention of the repair. If I buy it, and it needs to be re-ringed, is that still something GM will do for free since it was an ongoing problem?

 

No, GM is not gonna fix it at their expense. The car is well past it's warranty period.

However, the urban legend of the "2001 oil burners" is pretty much that. Those that had it (like I did) knew it, my engine could eat a quart of oil in under 200 miles at an HPDE. But most Z06 owners did not experience as severe a case. GM basically said that if you could show that the engine burns MORE than a quart in LESS THAN 1000 miles, they would cover it under warranty. EVERY Corvette engiine burns some oil, these are basically aluminum race engines .... so don't expect to drive the car 10,000 miles and not add a drop of oil.

Look at the rear fascia of the car ... if it seems covered with little spots of soot and the tail pipes look heavily soot blackened, I'd ask more questions ... but most 2001 Corvettes are fine.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

I bought a used 01 C5, and it burned a quart every 1000-1200 miles regardless of how I drove it (6 speed). I ended up getting it repaired under warranty and it stopped burning oil ....It also seemed to run better performance wise. I would NOT buy a 01 Z that did not have proof of the repair unless I really knew the seller, and could trust his/her word that it didn't have the oil usage problem......
Good luck

 

Overstated internet urban myth.

 

81 k miles on my 01. Engine has never been opened. It does get some film on the back of it after some time but I go between oil changes without having to top it off. I read up on it before I bought it and decided it was a non issue and so far it has been.

 

Urban myth unless you had one that used oil, I did, so its no myth to me. (and I drive pretty much like a normal sane person, so it wasn't the blame of my driving style)

 

That why he said "overstated".

I have an 01 Z and it doesn't use anymore oil than the other LS1 cars I've owned.

 

Approximately 15% of '01 Z06's had ring issues.

 

GM will do a leak down test to determine if there is a problem. Cost is about 150.00 and no lies or worries if it passes. There aint no urban legend, some of those 2001's ate some oil. Pay for the test.

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...il+consumption

Please check the archive on this subject. Please read my responce in the above thread.

PeteZ06 ; can you please reference your source in regards to your statement "approximately 15% OF '01 ZO6's had ring issues" ? I have not been able to gather any specifics from either the GM Dealers Association or Gm corporate and GM Power Train. Only references I have seen were from John Juriga , Asst Chief Engineer for Gen 3 engines, who stated that GM changed rings in a dozen customer complaint cars, and that the issue was an issue dealing with a very some % of Corvette owners. Thanks

 

 

How does a cylinder leak down test result show if a LS6 is using oil? The oil consumption issue is from high rpm ring flutter not when static. GM states that is issue does not effect performance . When complaint customers engines were disassembled and checked for tolerances , NO wear was discovered. This is not a wear issue .The fix is a simple second ring oil scraper design and 4 pound increase in ring tension.

The test that GM used to determine oil use was to simply monitor the oil level against the mileage.

GM shared their test results indicating that there was no apparent performance LOSS from the retro fix. Increased friction being a contributor to power loss. No performance gain with the ring fix. GM engineers were just happy there was no HP LOSS. I f you do not have an oil loss issue then there is no advantage to run out and get the revised ring.

"overstated urban myth". Every myth has some foundation in truth. No one at GM engineering said that there was no oil issue, just that it was not at anywhere near the levels that envoke conspiracy theories or exaggerated misinformation from media and internet, ect. GM addmitts that it did not give enough testing of the LSx engines at this light load / hi RPM , but has not had issue with this area in past engine designs.

(resource: publication of the '02 Z06 press conference at Irwindale Speedway w/ Dave Hill , Corvette Chief Engineer and John Juriga, Asst Chief Engineer of Gen 3 engines)

 

Myth? I know for a fact it isn't a myth. My engine had to be replaced it was so bad. But at least I got a new engine out of the extended warranty. Went through 6-8qts in one 3K mile period.

Keep the RPM's above 4K while on the test drive. If the bumper is covered with oil spots then it has an issue, else it might not be a bad one to have.

Even my replacement engine will use a bit of oil during an HPDE, but nothing as bad as that original engine.

 

mine burns zero oil, never any on the bumper and that is after 3k miles. oil level always stays the same. i dont push my car hard though. mainly below 4krpms, unless i feel crazy on the highway late at night and want to do a short speed blast. but thats rare.

 

There are more C6 Z06's blowng motors than there was C5 Z's burning oil

 

A loose engine is a fast engine

 

The same could be said for a woman.

 

Mine uses a quart about every 12,000 miles. In other words, I don't notice is between oil changes.

 

Goody , As I stated myths are usually based on some fact. No one here or at GM ever said that some LSx engines did not comsume more oil than tolerance specified , just that the entire issue was blown out of proportion to the 5 of engines that exibited the problem. And then much of those engines oil consumption was from drivers aggressive style ( which is not wrong for such a supercar but was unforseen and thus not tested by GM engineers to the extent that it showed its head as a production problem, GM admitts to the mistake on their part and thus redesign a new ring and retro'd the LSx engines that customers had issue with) Case closed. Thank you for your attention.