2001 engine problems
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Actually, this type of noise is common to many types of vehicles. Here's what one truck owner had to say:
So your answer is No, piston slap is not specific to 01 Corvettes. I will tell you this: Using a low pressure drop oil filter like the K&N and 0W-30, 0W-40, or 5W-30 synthetic oil will help minimize the "slap" sound, at least to my ears.
had a 2002 silverado 5.3 Z71 bought it brand new, great truck but after 9000 miles it started slapping. It continued to get worse and at 30,000 miles it was slapping almost constantly. It was diagnoised by 5 diff. dealerships as piston slap, but GM wouldnt do a thing but give me a warranty.
When I first noticed it back at the 9000 mile mark i wasnt to concerned cause it would go away after a few seconds and never realy return through out the day. By the 30,000 mile mark it would slap at any start up and when driving you could hear it on deceleration or engine rev.
No other real problems though.
But since everyone was talking about piston slap and what i found on the web at www.pistonslap.com spooked me , I decided to trade it in on a new 04 Ford F-150.
this truck ended up having a new motor put in it at 3000 miles, not a misprint 3000 miles due to cam phaser problems and main baring failure. Ford bought it back in full. Fords service dept and corporate customer service was first rate for me.
But I couldnt live with a new truck that just had to have a new motor put in it plus there were some other issues.
So I decided on a new less expensive 05 Dodge Ram Hemi.
With my new Dodge I ended up back with piston slap, that started right away at 500 miles and a bunch of other loud tapping, and knocking noises. Took it in and was told by Dodge that all Hemis make noises and have piston slap, and worse then any chevy ive heard, but since it started so soon and was getting louder by the week, I didnt trust the dodge drive train quality. My Dodge had way too many other problems also .
So I am back with a brand new 05 silverado Z71 5.3 aluminum block and so happy to be back with GM. 1500 miles and no sounds and after all ive been through with the other 2 trucks even if it develops piston slap ill try and deal with it, cause in my opinion GM is better then the Ford and Dodge. (Just my opinion from my experiences) .
My neighbors 01 Z71 just turned 98000 miles and has had piston slap since around 15000 miles, is still running strong, and my other friend has 130,000 HARD miles on his 01 with med loud piston slap but still runs great, im pretty convinced it wont kill the motor.
I actualy wish I never got rid of my original 02 Z71 I was just getting used to the piston slap. It would have saved me some money too.
When I first noticed it back at the 9000 mile mark i wasnt to concerned cause it would go away after a few seconds and never realy return through out the day. By the 30,000 mile mark it would slap at any start up and when driving you could hear it on deceleration or engine rev.
No other real problems though.
But since everyone was talking about piston slap and what i found on the web at www.pistonslap.com spooked me , I decided to trade it in on a new 04 Ford F-150.
this truck ended up having a new motor put in it at 3000 miles, not a misprint 3000 miles due to cam phaser problems and main baring failure. Ford bought it back in full. Fords service dept and corporate customer service was first rate for me.
But I couldnt live with a new truck that just had to have a new motor put in it plus there were some other issues.
So I decided on a new less expensive 05 Dodge Ram Hemi.
With my new Dodge I ended up back with piston slap, that started right away at 500 miles and a bunch of other loud tapping, and knocking noises. Took it in and was told by Dodge that all Hemis make noises and have piston slap, and worse then any chevy ive heard, but since it started so soon and was getting louder by the week, I didnt trust the dodge drive train quality. My Dodge had way too many other problems also .
So I am back with a brand new 05 silverado Z71 5.3 aluminum block and so happy to be back with GM. 1500 miles and no sounds and after all ive been through with the other 2 trucks even if it develops piston slap ill try and deal with it, cause in my opinion GM is better then the Ford and Dodge. (Just my opinion from my experiences) .
My neighbors 01 Z71 just turned 98000 miles and has had piston slap since around 15000 miles, is still running strong, and my other friend has 130,000 HARD miles on his 01 with med loud piston slap but still runs great, im pretty convinced it wont kill the motor.
I actualy wish I never got rid of my original 02 Z71 I was just getting used to the piston slap. It would have saved me some money too.
Last edited by Dave68; Jun 22, 2011 at 02:57 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 813
Likes: 0
From: N E area of state Kansas
all C5 years (all LS1's) are prone to piston slap. If you look it is even covered in the owners manual as normal. The sound in the vette should go away when the oil gets warm, and will be much more noticeable when it is cold.
the reference you hear to the 2001 engines is oil consumption. The 01 vettes are prone to blow-by in the rings and consuming more oil than is normal. Won't hurt anything, mostly just an annoying pain and you have to make sure and keep some with you. Not all 01's will do this, but it is the only year that is noted as having high oil consumption.
the reference you hear to the 2001 engines is oil consumption. The 01 vettes are prone to blow-by in the rings and consuming more oil than is normal. Won't hurt anything, mostly just an annoying pain and you have to make sure and keep some with you. Not all 01's will do this, but it is the only year that is noted as having high oil consumption.
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all C5 years (all LS1's) are prone to piston slap. If you look it is even covered in the owners manual as normal. The sound in the vette should go away when the oil gets warm, and will be much more noticeable when it is cold.
the reference you hear to the 2001 engines is oil consumption. The 01 vettes are prone to blow-by in the rings and consuming more oil than is normal. Won't hurt anything, mostly just an annoying pain and you have to make sure and keep some with you. Not all 01's will do this, but it is the only year that is noted as having high oil consumption.
the reference you hear to the 2001 engines is oil consumption. The 01 vettes are prone to blow-by in the rings and consuming more oil than is normal. Won't hurt anything, mostly just an annoying pain and you have to make sure and keep some with you. Not all 01's will do this, but it is the only year that is noted as having high oil consumption.
And as a side note, my '00 6-speed had the oil consumption issue - rings were replaced under warranty and had no further problems.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
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From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
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The clearances between the pistons and their respective cylinder walls, do not receive any pressurized lubrication from the oil pump.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 418
Likes: 1
From: South Florida fl
Thanks to all of you for the information. I am not a mechanic but, I wonder why if GM knew about this why couldn't they solve the problem in one or two years? I'm a c1-c2 guy but the c5's are beautiful cars! I may still go for a 2002. Joe 
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