Z06 Engine Problem
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 18
From: Thompsons Station Tennessee
Z06 Engine Problem
Looking for input. I sold my 2002 Z06 yesterday 2-5-09The car had 11,573 miles on it and ran like a top. he called me in a panic today stating that He started on a trip and had gone about 100 miles when He slowed down for construction. he clams that when He got through the construction zone he sped up in third gear and the engine made a horrible noise and He then stopped.
The car was taken to a dealer and they said that the plugs had disintegrated and there was metal in the cylinders. Prior to that they ran injector cleaner through the engine. They said that a teardown was the only option.
My thoughts are he over revved the engine or He got a bad load of gas.
Again when He left with the car it was running beautifully. I don't buy carbon build up in 11,573 miles either. I drove the car to Michigan and back last July 1,300 miles and if there was any carbon it should have been burned off.
What do you gearheads think?
The car was taken to a dealer and they said that the plugs had disintegrated and there was metal in the cylinders. Prior to that they ran injector cleaner through the engine. They said that a teardown was the only option.
My thoughts are he over revved the engine or He got a bad load of gas.
Again when He left with the car it was running beautifully. I don't buy carbon build up in 11,573 miles either. I drove the car to Michigan and back last July 1,300 miles and if there was any carbon it should have been burned off.
What do you gearheads think?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,326
Likes: 140
From: Weatherford, TX
I would say sorry for your loss, but unless a warranty was provided the car is his responsibility now. It doesn't matter what story he gives like his grandma was driving. When he rolled away it became his baby. Maybe you can point him the forum, to find a vendor for a stroker upgrade.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 1
From: LEBANON PA.
Hi There:
My educated guess is water in the gas tank. How did the dealer know that metal was on top of the cylinder? Did the dealer use a borescope to look in through the spark plug hole? Thats the only way I know to determine that metal is on top of the cylinder, other than removing the heads. In realilty its his problem not yours. Carbon build up at 11k possible but unlikely.
robsc501
My educated guess is water in the gas tank. How did the dealer know that metal was on top of the cylinder? Did the dealer use a borescope to look in through the spark plug hole? Thats the only way I know to determine that metal is on top of the cylinder, other than removing the heads. In realilty its his problem not yours. Carbon build up at 11k possible but unlikely.
robsc501
Last edited by robsc501; Feb 6, 2009 at 08:57 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
The plugs don't just disentrigate by themselves. Something had to happen to cause it. If it was all of the plugs, most likely you are correct with the contaminated gas idea. I wouldn't know if water in there would have done that, but its plausible...maybe diesal? If it was just one cylinder, then maybe a valve spring broke?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 18
From: Thompsons Station Tennessee
Thank you all! The first thing I asked is did he get gas. The answer was yes as as luck would have it or something else, He said that He filled it with Shell premium which is whet I told Him previously that I used. This car did not just decide to die with 11,573 miles on it, something is fishy! Thats my opinion. I did have a problem as He described, engine bucking, smoking, clatter, it was an 84 Vette and the problem was the Computer.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 18
From: Thompsons Station Tennessee
Thank you all! The first thing I asked is did he get gas. The answer was yes as as luck would have it or something else, He said that He filled it with Shell premium which is whet I told Him previously that I used. This car did not just decide to die with 11,573 miles on it, something is fishy! Thats my opinion. I did have a problem as He described, engine bucking, smoking, clatter, it was an 84 Vette and the problem was the Computer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,364
Likes: 6
From: Rocky Mount Virginia
Whoever tears down the motor will see what the deal is. My guess: He went thru the construction site, nailed it in third, fourth & fifth and accidently went into fourth instead of sixth.
Or went from third full throttle into second instead of fourth.
Or went from third full throttle into second instead of fourth.
Last edited by VinnyT; Feb 7, 2009 at 09:43 AM.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 756
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From: Oakton Virginia
Reminds me of a similar situation that I went through. I had a contractor doing some work on the outside of my house. He noticed my old Dakota sitting off to the side and wanted to know if I would sell it to him. I said sure (I had recently purchased a newer truck). We deduct the price of the vehicle from what I owed him on the house. He drives off and I don't hear from him again until a week later when he calls and says the truck quit running as he's rolling down the highway. He somehow thinks I'm going to help him diagnose/fix the truck... WTF? Anyway, I did feel bad because it crapped out shortly after I sold it to him but what was I supposed to do? I think he thought I had some inside information as to why it died. After 2 or 3 calls, I told him to check the ignition module and then never heard back from him.
Bottom line, I felt bad but it was no longer my vehicle.
Bottom line, I felt bad but it was no longer my vehicle.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,573
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From: allentown nj
what does he expect you to do for him???Sounds like driver error to me if it were a pre-existing problem no way its going on a 100 mile drive with no problems 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 18
From: Thompsons Station Tennessee
Diesel
I feel bad for the guy that I sold the Z06 to but I think He created his own problems. Nuff said!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 922
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From: cobourg ont
Sounds like diesel to me. Happened to my wife 38 years ago on my 69 Z28 ( opps ) Totally ruined my 302. Burned holes in pistons and burnt all the valves. I know how you feel. I sold a 70 Chevelle SS 396 back in 74 & the guy totaled it before he got home 4 miles away.
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that if the car was sold with no warranty, then he's out of luck. No telling what he was doing with the car, but as long as you knew of no issues when you sold it, it's just a bad break on his part.
Race Director
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From: SE Pennsylvania
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Oldtimer
The plugs don't just disentrigate by themselves. Something had to happen to cause it. If it was all of the plugs, most likely you are correct with the contaminated gas idea. I wouldn't know if water in there would have done that, but its plausible...maybe diesal? If it was just one cylinder, then maybe a valve spring broke?
I thought I'd heard it all, but . . .
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Once the car is sold, it is not your responsibility anymore. There are a lot of mechanical/electrical parts and anything can go wrong at anytime. Unless the car is under warranty and you transferred the warranty to him before the car is sold, there is absolutely nothing you can do and it is not your problem.
I know it would feel really bad to sell someone something and it dies on them, but there is nothing much you could do.
I know it would feel really bad to sell someone something and it dies on them, but there is nothing much you could do.