Future engine work, Lifters . . .
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Race Director
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From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Future engine work, Lifters . . .
There is a really good chance I'll need to replace the lifter in my LS2 what would be the best replacement. I understand that there isn't any for the LS2, but that LS7 lifters, OEM part is the clear choice for a replacement. Is that true ?
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From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
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Do I need to change the camshaft at the same time I put in new lifters ? and do I want to put in a new oil pump at the same time the heads come off and go back on ?
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killain ...
For as few miles you have on your C6, it seems from reading many of the posts that you have made here, you have had a lot of problems with this particular C6
For as few miles you have on your C6, it seems from reading many of the posts that you have made here, you have had a lot of problems with this particular C6
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Your Vette is only being driven +/- 1500 miles per year. That could be part of the problem. I know what I would do with it, but it sounds like you're most likely looking to keep it stock. In that case, I would do cam and lifters (stock LS7 replacement lifters are fine for your app.). Your oil pump is probably fine. I would take a close look at everything as you take it apart. Rebuild/replace as necessary. I'd probably replace the water pump, thermostat, and clean the radiator inside and out while it's apart.
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Problem LS
Well I'd like to disagree with you, but you are 100% correct. When the valves started to make a racket earlier this year, I changed the oil and filter and it seemed like the issue was gone, but it came back within 2 weeks. And I thought when I bought it that since it had so few miles, and it's carfax and another history companies confirmed it does in fact have only 21K miles but it has had 3 different owners. It's history doesn't have anything other than service work done it was serviced 6 time in it's 14 years, and it wasn't used all that much. I had the HB changed just after I bought it, than earlier this summer I found out the hard way the torque-tube assembly was shot and I had that replaced. It has passed state inspection without a problem/s and after the changed the oil, I sent a2 samples to Blackstone labs to have the oil analyzed, and the report came back and they said the engine is in very good shape. Very little contaminates and very little metals, so I'm a little disappointed in having one thing after another each time I want to use it. Not too sure of what is the best idea moving forward. I had a C5 before this, with slightly less mileage, and it never demonstrated anything other than a little 'Piston-Slap' on really cold mornings. Not real sure what is ahead on the horizons,
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Bad lifters ???????
Thank you !
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There are 2 top contenders here, Luqui-moly 95030 500ml or Lubegard 95030 engine flush ? Anyone ever use either ????
Ok, I decided to use both. Not too sure of how, (I've never used this kind of product before, but Here goes !
Ok, I decided to use both. Not too sure of how, (I've never used this kind of product before, but Here goes !
Last edited by killain; Dec 11, 2021 at 10:38 AM.
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Low oil level is a HUGE issue with LS engine lifter failures.
This! The gm oem lifters are inferior garbage. Soooo many have failed on multiple platforms. Compare a set of gm spec'd lifters to Johnson lifters side-by-side, for quality and you'll see how gm "should" have designed them.
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From: South Florida
That’s really unfortunate, and extremely rare on a car with that low mileage. Having 3 owners with that mileage isn’t really alarming, if I had to take a guess it may have been run low on oil a few times. If I were in your situation I would take it to a reputable LS shop that just works on these cars. If you go into shops telling you have bad lifters right off the getgo people may try to persuade you into doing things to the car that don’t really need to be done. Best of luck and let us know how it plays out
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St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
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I think considering everyone's consensus is to use the Luqui-Moly engine flush and see where that takes me. Thank you all for your advice. 
One thing has me at a question, should you pour this in with the engine cold and then run till it's totally warmed up, or warm the engine first, then add the engine flush and run for the allotted 15-20 minutes ? 
One thing has me at a question, should you pour this in with the engine cold and then run till it's totally warmed up, or warm the engine first, then add the engine flush and run for the allotted 15-20 minutes ?
Last edited by killain; Dec 12, 2021 at 11:28 AM.
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My guess is that if you pull one of your valve covers off, you will find no evidence of any sludge at all ... My bet would be that adding some 'cleaners' to your oil won't do a damned thing at all to make your 21,000 total miles lifters quieter.
