Took my 01 in for some last minute warranty work and had them check an engine knock noise when cold. Engine has 9,000 miles on it. Got the car back and the dealers notes on the engine knock complaint was that it was "piston slap" and listed a telephone number to contact GM to get an extended warranty. Called GM today and representative checked the records and could find no record of any service bulletins on this so he contacted the dealer for additional information. He called me back and said that he would have to research the matter further and call me in two days. He additionally asked some questions like "Who services your car?" I told him that I did. Also wanted to know how many GM cars that I have ever owned.

Has anyone gone thru this? What was the outcome? Did you get a warranty extension and for how long? Not sure if I smell a rat or not!!! :confused:

 

You may want to check out Corvetteactioncenter.com for bulletins. My engine too makes a little noise on a cold start but I believe it might be more Valve train related. There is a bulletin on that as well. GM has been having Piston Slap problems in 4.8 5.3 and 6.0 engines. Don't know about the LS1 LS6 though. Let me ask you a question, since you have an 01 with similar mileage.....how much oil has your car been using? I used 1 qt in 1600 miles which seems a bit much compaired to other vehicals I have owned. I know these engines tend to use oil more than a so called "standard" engine. Just like to know what everybody else has been seeing.

 

2000 mi per quart on my 2001 A4
:skep:

 

Last I heard, there was no warranty coverage for this and that piston slap was normal for an aluminum block due to the varible tolerances caused by heat.


But what do I know? :lol:

 

Well, took mine out a little while ago here and its down to about 38 degrees here, and no other noises than the usual. Sounded fine, Manifold whistles thats about it. From what I've been reading it seems all the fuss is about the new engines 4.8 ,5.3,6.0 etc. Mostly in the trucks and SUV's. There is a little noise sometimes on start from warm which according to the GM bulletin is a possible cut "O" ring in the oil pump but it goes away in a few seconds. The oil consumption is something I'll keep a close eye on since there is a bulletin on that. Seems they are (GM) re-ringing some engines with high oil consumption. But if anyone is interested, Pistonslap.com is a web site dedicated to this subject. I think that if it was a real common problem with the LS1 or LS6 it would all over the forum.


[Modified by Tsab, 11:36 PM 11/26/2003]

 

Occassionally I'll hear a little slap on cold startup. I mentioned it to the dealer and was told this was normal.

On a related topic, my car uses no oil. :) The only time I ever put oil in it is after I take it to the dealer for an oil change. Seems they just don't want to fill it to the full mark. They've done this to me twice. :skep:

 

My '01 sometimes has a little piston slap on cold start-up. My wife's '00 has noticable slap on almost all cold start-ups. I have test driven several C5 used cars in the 20,000 mile range and many of them had very noticable slap. My guess is GM is not jumping in to fix this quickly because a lot of them are doing it. I don't know enough if it spells doom down the road or is just an annoying noise.

On the oil consumption, my '01 6-spd used a quart every 800 miles and I had it re-ringed under warranty. Too soon to tell what my currrent usage is but there has been a lot written on this forum and the '01's in particular do have an oil consumption problem and GM has a service bulletin out on it. They have re-ringed a lot of LS1's!

 

My Vette is a seasonal car.....stored during winter. For the first two years, I went 3000 miles between oil changes and never found a low oil level. This last season however, I was surprised to find that after 1500 miles, I was a quart low. Added a quart and 1500 miles later, the dipstick still shows close to full. Not sure why, I had that earlier high oil comsumption but it appears reasonable now.

 

My 2001 had a serious piston slap problem (it really sounded like lifters). When I took it to the dealer the first time I had to leave it overnight so they could listen to it cold. The next day they told me nothing was wrong. After two months I took it back with the same problem. the service manager told me it was a new piston design and the problem also existed in Chevy trucks with 350 engine. He told me to use a fuel additive every 3000 miles to quiet it down. That worked partially over a short term. I called Corvette customer service, and they told me the same thing. I guess you live with it.
I now have a 2003 with 850 miles on it and haven't noticed it. It only has 850 miles because I've been in Peru for the last 13 weeks
I did have an oil consumption problem with the 2001. At 2000 miles I got a low oil level warning. It was over 2 quarts low. I kept my eye on it and after a few oil changes the consumption went to what I considered NORMAL. Keep a quart or two with you.
Happy Thanksgiving......They don't celebrate it here.....I'm working....Kinda

:flag :sad: :sad:

 

Anybody else have a conversation with GM Customer Service over the piston slap problem?

 

I don't think I have piston slap, but I haven't started my car in anything colder than like 40 degrees. The ls6 valve-train is just plain nosiy for me, and I'm used to it. Also, piston slap won't hurt anything and should go away once the aluminum engine heats up and the tolerences become "normal". I have heard about them giving 100k warranties on the trucks. My service rep told me to pursue that w/ my oil consumption issue. I'll be on the phone w/ GM next week doing my best to get a free 100k warranty.

 

hey piston slap brothers. I have a 2000 ls1 C5, with 12300 miles. Ive had piston slap for a year. took it to one deal and he first didnt hear it, and I told him to live it over night and start it. and guess what tap tap tap. That dealer said it was a normal noise during start up. I took it to a better dealership know for corvettes, and they started it up in the morning and tap tap tap slaping away. they also said it was normal till the car warms up. I hated the answer because for a $45000.00 dollar car, it shouldnt make that sound. well about 6 months later the warranty expired, the car still slaps. Not real bad, but enough to **** me off. I Email about 10 GM executives ( found it from the GM stocks holders ) and told them how pissed I was with cars noise.
here's the bottom line call CHAD BAILEY in the Cheverlot executive office 1800-222-1020. They gave me a free 3 year up to 60000 miles warranty on the engine to prove they stand behind there motor. Id rather they have just fixed the tap tap tap, but it's a very little peace of mind

 

This TSB may or may not be relavent:

Engine Knock or Lifter Noise (Replace O-Ring) #02-06-01-038 - (12/02/2002)

2001-2002 Chevrolet Camaro

2001-2003 Chevrolet Corvette

2001-2002 Pontiac Firebird

2002-2003 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade EXT

2000-2003 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe

2001-2003 Chevrolet Silverado

2002-2003 Chevrolet Avalanche

2000-2003 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL

2001-2003 GMC Sierra

with 4.8L, 5.3L, 5.7L or 6.0L V8 Engine (VINs V, T, Z, G, S, N, U -- RPOs LR4, LM7, L59, LS1, LS6, LQ9, LQ4)

Condition
Some customers may comment on an engine tick noise. The distinguishing characteristic of this condition is that it likely will have been present since new, and is typically noticed within the first 161-322 km (100-200 mi). The noise may often be diagnosed as a collapsed lifter. Additionally, the noise may be present at cold start and appear to diminish and then return as the engine warms to operating temperature. This noise is different from other noises that may begin to occur at 3219-4828 km (2000-3000 mi).

Cause
The O-ring seal between the oil pump screen and the oil pump may be cut, causing aeration of the oil.

Correction
Inspect the O-ring seal and replace as necessary. Use the applicable part number listed below. Refer to the Engine Mechanical sub-section of the appropriate Service Manual.

 

Phil,
Not sure why you are so concerned about it?? All the LS1s/LS6s do it. Some more than others. It is a characteristic noise of the engine and doesn't mean anything. It is very easy to hear when you pull a car up onto an open trailer and then walk around the trailer with the car idling. It happens with cold starts in temps as high as 80 degrees.
Bill

 

I have been driving my 01 coupe a little more than usual this past weekend and don't really notice any "slap" per say just the usual noise. I heard a truck with the piston slap and it sounds almost like a diesel engine at first. An extreme case most likely. So, with that said, it will be going in for the oil pump "o" ring thing. I'm also going to switch to the 10/30 Mobil 1 or Castrol Syntec. It never gets down to 0 degrees F around here and if it did I wouldn't be driving the Vet in that weather. I'll try a little heavyer oil and see what the oil consumption does. Its a qt about every 1600 right now still too early to tell since I have only driven it 1600 mi. :chevy

 

theres also a TSB for the oil consumption issues that replaces the piston rings.

Also, another possible cold start knock issue is heavy carbon buildup in the chamber can cause pre-detonation, especially during cold startup. I have seen the decarb process solve this problem.

 

Tell that to someone you're trying to sell the car to! :mad :cuss

 

Besides that, it's embarassing to have a 50K automobile with 350 H.P. sound like a diesel when starting it up in the company parking garage in the afternoon.

:leaving: :leaving: :leaving: :leaving: :leaving:

 

I have 14,000 miles on my '01. Zero oil consumption and no piston slap. :seeya

 

http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/...4_20031114.htm