[Z06] LS7 bit the dust on the track the other day
04-12-2018, 10:26 AM
#21
Melting Slicks
Not to detract from the main thread here but do you mind briefly sharing what year your car was? As a fellow Mosport visitor, I'm wondering if it had the smaller dry sump or larger one.
And to the OP, thanks for sharing - that video/sound is tough to swallow but maybe it will help save someone else's engine by encouraging them to check/fix theirs. Best of luck with the rebuild, and put me down for a +1 on pull off track/off line as soon as safely possible - coolant and oil on the track can lead to an even bigger disaster in no time at all.
And to the OP, thanks for sharing - that video/sound is tough to swallow but maybe it will help save someone else's engine by encouraging them to check/fix theirs. Best of luck with the rebuild, and put me down for a +1 on pull off track/off line as soon as safely possible - coolant and oil on the track can lead to an even bigger disaster in no time at all.
Sorry to hear about this OP.
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anth115 (04-12-2018)
04-12-2018, 04:15 PM
#22
Team Owner
I was accelerating in third gear approaching redline when I heard a sound that sounded like driving over gravel coming from the front of the car followed by lots of smoke from coolant.
The thing that is bothering me is this:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tle-noise.html
I had been hearing that noise for several months. I checked the cats, I checked all around the wheel well where I heard the noise coming from, I checked the mufflers and the xpipe. Everything was totally fine, so now I am thinking that thise noise was actually an early warning from my valves/engine that was about to go.
Has anybody experienced a noise like that prior to their engine grenading?
Here is a video of the actual incident, is this the common valve problem with LS7s or is this something else?
https://www.facebook.com/FreaknBigPa...9870110263243/
The thing that is bothering me is this:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tle-noise.html
I had been hearing that noise for several months. I checked the cats, I checked all around the wheel well where I heard the noise coming from, I checked the mufflers and the xpipe. Everything was totally fine, so now I am thinking that thise noise was actually an early warning from my valves/engine that was about to go.
Has anybody experienced a noise like that prior to their engine grenading?
Here is a video of the actual incident, is this the common valve problem with LS7s or is this something else?
https://www.facebook.com/FreaknBigPa...9870110263243/
Been there and done that going over 120mph. Luckily no one next to me and flat off track area.
Oh...........and no noise or warnings my engine was about to blow !
DH
04-13-2018, 03:02 AM
#23
Burning Brakes
I had no idea about the issue with the heads at that time, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out where ~2qts of oil would have gone in short order.
The long left-handers of T2 and T4 are killers. Mine wasn't the first, and likely not the last to suffer that fate.
I'm getting the heads done in my (new-to-me) '11 Z06, and will hope for better luck when I get back out to the track. Hopefully the larger oil reservoir helps. I'm considering the Aviaid parts again, although won't be running on Hoosiers anytime soon.
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anth115 (04-13-2018)
04-13-2018, 07:24 AM
#24
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Jun 2005
Location: Rochester NY
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2018 C6 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10, '17
The AVIAID pan baffle and tank insert help with scavenging and deaeration/stabilization of the oil within the system. But the biggest improvement is with adding capacity. A Z06 that is tracked hard (especially on Hoosiers) NEEDS the added capacity. I've done all 3 to my 2007 and have no issues with oil pressure or starvation on the track.
04-13-2018, 07:43 PM
#28
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Oct 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
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I was accelerating in third gear approaching redline when I heard a sound that sounded like driving over gravel coming from the front of the car followed by lots of smoke from coolant.
The thing that is bothering me is this:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tle-noise.html
I had been hearing that noise for several months. I checked the cats, I checked all around the wheel well where I heard the noise coming from, I checked the mufflers and the xpipe. Everything was totally fine, so now I am thinking that thise noise was actually an early warning from my valves/engine that was about to go.
Has anybody experienced a noise like that prior to their engine grenading?
Here is a video of the actual incident, is this the common valve problem with LS7s or is this something else?
https://www.facebook.com/FreaknBigPa...9870110263243/
The thing that is bothering me is this:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tle-noise.html
I had been hearing that noise for several months. I checked the cats, I checked all around the wheel well where I heard the noise coming from, I checked the mufflers and the xpipe. Everything was totally fine, so now I am thinking that thise noise was actually an early warning from my valves/engine that was about to go.
Has anybody experienced a noise like that prior to their engine grenading?
Here is a video of the actual incident, is this the common valve problem with LS7s or is this something else?
https://www.facebook.com/FreaknBigPa...9870110263243/
Here is what the head and cylinder looked like after it was taken apart by the dealer.
The head of the exhaust valve was found in the intake manifold and cylinder number 1 had a cracked cylinder wall in a couple of places. Coolant went through the complete engine by flowing through the intake manifold. This happened with just under 24K miles on the car
and 3.5 years after the In Service Date. GM covered the replacement under the 5 year/100K Powertrain warranty.
I personally knew of 8 other on track engine failures. One actually was repaired by replacing the head as the block and piston weren't damaged. The others either acted like mine or worse grenaded with parts sticking out of the block with oil all over the track. One incident occurred right at the turn in point for a fairly high
speed turn and oiled the track so badly 6 other cars following the Vette were caught in the oil and spun off the turn. One BMW hit the tire wall and was totaled.
What is interesting is after I got the car home from the track about 4 hours later and had it in the garage I hit the starter and it started and ran on 7 cylinders. However, there was a lot of banging as the piston hit the intake valve buried into the intake port sideways.
Bill
04-13-2018, 09:58 PM
#29
Le Mans Master
Yet another that hurt to watch Bill.
04-21-2018, 08:12 AM
#30
Heel & Toe
Bill- I met you at VIR with BMW, and Thx for the ride. My sliver ‘07 Z has almost 40K miles, internals are untouched. I bought it from Tom B, who had several NCCC TT records in it and a C6 ZR1, so the guy tracked it a lot. What should I do with a car I’ve owned barely a year, if no history of problems, but driven hard? Can I figure I’m out of the woods, or can a valve train issue still be lurking? I’ve searched the forum, but there are so many different opinions, it’s hard to know what to do.
John
John
04-21-2018, 11:43 AM
#31
John,
You are not out of the woods! Get the heads done asap. Mine was an 09 and went at 37XXX miles. I seriously regret not doing it - I thought that since my car was completely stock I wouldn't have any problems but nope.
You are not out of the woods! Get the heads done asap. Mine was an 09 and went at 37XXX miles. I seriously regret not doing it - I thought that since my car was completely stock I wouldn't have any problems but nope.
04-21-2018, 01:10 PM
#32
Le Mans Master
Bill- I met you at VIR with BMW, and Thx for the ride. My sliver ‘07 Z has almost 40K miles, internals are untouched. I bought it from Tom B, who had several NCCC TT records in it and a C6 ZR1, so the guy tracked it a lot. What should I do with a car I’ve owned barely a year, if no history of problems, but driven hard? Can I figure I’m out of the woods, or can a valve train issue still be lurking? I’ve searched the forum, but there are so many different opinions, it’s hard to know what to do.
John
John
Last edited by Dan_the_C5_Man; 04-21-2018 at 01:10 PM.
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Les (04-21-2018)
04-21-2018, 01:20 PM
#33
Drifting
Bill- I met you at VIR with BMW, and Thx for the ride. My sliver ‘07 Z has almost 40K miles, internals are untouched. I bought it from Tom B, who had several NCCC TT records in it and a C6 ZR1, so the guy tracked it a lot. What should I do with a car I’ve owned barely a year, if no history of problems, but driven hard? Can I figure I’m out of the woods, or can a valve train issue still be lurking? I’ve searched the forum, but there are so many different opinions, it’s hard to know what to do.
John
John
04-21-2018, 01:59 PM
#34
Bill- I met you at VIR with BMW, and Thx for the ride. My sliver ‘07 Z has almost 40K miles, internals are untouched. I bought it from Tom B, who had several NCCC TT records in it and a C6 ZR1, so the guy tracked it a lot. What should I do with a car I’ve owned barely a year, if no history of problems, but driven hard? Can I figure I’m out of the woods, or can a valve train issue still be lurking? I’ve searched the forum, but there are so many different opinions, it’s hard to know what to do.
John
John
of this until I checked my cylinder heads.
04-21-2018, 08:53 PM
#35
I have been a member of this forum for a long time and honestly, these threads have been popping up a whole lot more lately. Some of you members are in massive denial of the issue and some are not. Hopefully this thread instills the fear in some of you to believe the reality of this issue.
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Matt Zed (10-03-2021)
04-22-2018, 03:44 PM
#36
Racer
Awww man that really sucks OP. I'm sorry to hear. Only thing I'd add to this thread is that it can be difficult to pinpoint where exactly noises are coming from. It might sound like the rear but could be the front and vice versa. Anyhow I hope things get sorted out for you with minimal stress.
04-23-2018, 12:20 AM
#37
Burning Brakes
My 07 with 10k miles had 3 intakes and 1 exhaust guide past the service limit. I'm sure it would have been much worse in another 30k miles. Just got tired of worrying about it.