AU N EGL

Yes #7.

Larry T

SLIM.. Keep up posted after you get the "beast" out of the shop and back home as to the "rest of the story". Happy Holidays...

mr-z

My dealer works the same way to. What do you do or say.

bernrex

Just another reason why resale value of first MY cars will not be so great.

Cobra4B

Didn't you allready have an '06 Z06 go bang?

And for all you ****ing winers about parts on the windshield... geeze... guess were I put most of my parts doing my valve spring swap... and guess what... it's fine.

outnumbered

Do you have a idea on what the percentage would be? In other words, was it or is it as bad of a problem as some may think the Ls7 is?

Dan

AU N EGL

Dan I think it is quite rare that this happens to 'stock' non-track driven LS7s.

If ppl are going to start to track( road HPDEs) then things change slightly.

The LS6 needs to have an extra quart min for track days. a accu-sump with oil cooler is the best way to go. T1 cars have these.

On the LS2, C6 Z51, still needs an additonal quart of oil added. The oil cooler, trans cooler too, are good, but if someone still does lots of HPDEs larger coolers are needed, or just dont track mid June to mid Sept do to the heat out side. But that kills most of the season

the LS7 has the dry sump. Actully it is more of a damp sump. a single stage oil pick up. This is OK for moderate track use, however, on the high speed sweepers with High G-forces the oil is still pushed to the out side wall of the block. Possible, repeat possible oil starvation problems again. Unfortunitly it seems to be the #7 cyclinder that has the least oil flow no matter what. Farthest away from pick up ?? could be. Least or smallest Oil passages?? Dont think so as the LS2 and LS7 oil passages where redesigned from the the C5R block and evoloution of the LS6 blocks.

It seams it is the right hand high speed sweeping corners ( high G corners), pushing the oil to the left side of the block causing the #7, back rear of the block to loose oiling. It only takes a moment.

Most road course are clock wise directions.

I am not fully sure if this is the cause, but from reading many posts on differnt forums and talking to lots of mechanics and ppl who have lost an LSx block, it may be.
This is a problem but not a big problem in the overall skeem of things and very very few LSx motors have this problem.

Rember GM Performance Divison took a LS6 and spoun that motor at redline 6500+ rpms for several hundred hours without problems.

Would a 2 stage oil pick up for the LS7s dry sump help? Maybe.

Something else I think ppl should do, but are just reluctant to do or cheep, is change their oil and get the oil analysed.

I change my oil ever 500 miles, yes 500 not 5000. That is every TWO weekends on the track, plus I send oil samples to two diffent labs for analyses. I also use 15-w50 M1 ( thick oil) that can take high heat.

I mention to occational track guys to change the oil before your third track weekend. the drivng in betwwen does not hurt, but the high temps, high rpms and high G corners is a lot on the LSx and harder on the oil.

When I change my oil, accu-sump so it takes 10 1/2 quarts, I let it all drain out, remove filter, then lift the rear of the car slightly, a bit more comes out. Pour old oil into 5 qt M1 containers to measure the amount of oil that came out.

Then I pour a full quart though the block. the first 1/2 qt is a black as the old oil,( cleans out sludge) then it turns golden brown like new oil should look.

Put oil in the filter ( I use the AC Delco), put in the plug, fill with oil. Crank over the motor, let the oil circulate, then add what is needed.

Normally of the 10 1/2 qts 9 1/4 to 9 3/4 comes out. the last little big is in the lines and oil cooler. SO I put in what came out. put the wheels back on ( no lifr jack stands here) take it for a drive, check the oil levels add as needed, Record in the log book, what came out ane what went in.

Every other oil change I send two samples away. Lots can be learned from oil sampling.

HTH a bit

Happy Motoring
Tom

abb1426

Sorry for your misfortune, But I was curious how often (if at all) do you abuse your car?

Blue Demon

Actually the parts are probably safer on the windshield than on the floor where they would most likely be kicked around and walked on!

bernrex

Just curious why you change every 500 miles. What are you seeing on oil analysis which caused you to change so frequently ?

Pat07c6z

Ditto on that question. Annual changes should be plenty in his case.

outnumbered

Thanks Tom.

As always you are a wealth of knowledge and information. Your theory I will call it sure sounds reasonable.

I change my oil between track events. I have been using the specified 5w30. As mentioned many times on the forum I have seen 18 psi at idle after a session.

Would it be okay to run the 15w50 in the ls7 on the track with warm temperatures?

Also will it increase oil pressures at any time

Is there anything that can be done to prevent this possible problem and maintain a warranty?

The only thing that concerns me is where are these motors failing. It seems the Ls7's are breaking on the street.

Thanks again for you reply and appreciate your willingness to share with us.

Dan

AU N EGL

When I change the oil I reset the DIC to 100%. After the first track weekend the DIC is down to 70% about 250 miles. After the second weekend the DIC is down to 30%. about 500 miles total. Mid summer the second is down to 7-5% remaining.

Just normal ware and tear on the a high performance use engine.

The engine ware I see is what the average corvette engine sees in 3-4000 miles.

The engine will get pulled this Jan. New one going in. Some time in 2007, when I have the time I will take this one apart and look closer.

The LSx engines can take a lot of hard use and abuse. Changing the oil helps them it last. But with out clean oil and proper oiling / lubrication, no engine can last very long when running constant 3000+ rpms.

IMHO dont try to go as long as possible between oil changes.

RichieRichZ06

100%. Some people must think there are silk lined bags just sitting there waiting for their parts to go in . I always put my parts and tools there as well and guess what.............No scratches ever!

Pat07c6z

+-1% of most every engine built has failures. The LS-7 revs higher and has 11:1 compression. I'm not surprised at all about the few rare issues.

outnumbered

I have about 1200-1500 track miles so far. Total of 6700 miles. I don't run as hard as many, I am sure. So far if anything, the engine runs better than
new.

I change the oil and filter frequently. To me it is cheap insurance.

I have also changed the diff fluid twice. No problems there either.

Foosh

Yep.

AU N EGL

Dan I would run 10-w30 in the LS7 or get some Redline 40wt.


Just because ppl on the street are having some #7 failure does not mean they are not doing 'spirited' driving. I would not be suppreised that some high speed sweeping right handers cause oil starvation and the #7 went even on the street / country twisties.


Once a year oil change?? That is pure lazyness. More dammage is done by NOT driving the cars and letting them sit and seals dry out.

outnumbered

sent pm

hcvone

My 07' Escalade with 897 miles on it broke an intake valve and it took out the piston, rod and bent the crank, they replaced my engine, and ordered me a new Escalade which I got last week.