2014 Corvette Engine Damage
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 750
Likes: 297
From: Central MO
Second vette has been great, but with all of these horror stories popping up sounding like my first car I'm starting to get nervous 
Especially since I just had the oil changed a few hundred miles ago! I don't want to go through that again! 
Especially since I just had the oil changed a few hundred miles ago! I don't want to go through that again!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: TN
Wow. 3 posters in this thread already with engines down with bearing damage.
Not sure what is going on with this issue. Hopefully is isolated and general to the whole fleet. A bit disturbing.
OP, DCBE and Frank - sorry you guys have to go through this. Any concrete info you learn on cause, please post it.
Not sure what is going on with this issue. Hopefully is isolated and general to the whole fleet. A bit disturbing.
OP, DCBE and Frank - sorry you guys have to go through this. Any concrete info you learn on cause, please post it.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: TN
Glad to hear they took care of you. Glad to hear your new one is well. I hope I get the same help. I really loved my car.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: TN
Lemon laws don't mandate a new car for one failure. There are conditions attached about repeat failures, repeated attempts at repair, etc. One failure and repair won't invoke the lemon law.
You can. There's a thread here that was started a few days ago about this and Chevrolet Customer Service posted a reply stating unequivocally that the four free oil changes in the first two years can be done at any time, regardless of what the DIC says. See post #26 in this thread: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...l-changes.html
You can. There's a thread here that was started a few days ago about this and Chevrolet Customer Service posted a reply stating unequivocally that the four free oil changes in the first two years can be done at any time, regardless of what the DIC says. See post #26 in this thread: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...l-changes.html
Pro
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 602
Likes: 58
From: Detroit area and Nashville area What day is it? Between MI & TN
I wonder what the split is between 2014 v 2015. Base v Z51.
When I read all the e-diff issues with the 2014, I almost didn't order a Z51 but in the end ordered a 2015 Z51. Now, with all the engine issues, hummmm. I stopped my 2014 order and waited for a 2015, I hope going forward with a vette at all will not be a mistake.
BMW (335's) had a lot of issues and I went through some of that. For my first vette, I just want it to be a great experience.
Best of luck to those that are having issue.
When I read all the e-diff issues with the 2014, I almost didn't order a Z51 but in the end ordered a 2015 Z51. Now, with all the engine issues, hummmm. I stopped my 2014 order and waited for a 2015, I hope going forward with a vette at all will not be a mistake.
BMW (335's) had a lot of issues and I went through some of that. For my first vette, I just want it to be a great experience.
Best of luck to those that are having issue.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 49,226
Likes: 3,897
From: Best Island in the U.S.
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '17
I understand your frustration, but why would it "never be right again?" It's not rocket science to rebuild or replace an engine. No carmaker, GM included, will simply replace entire cars due to warranty repairs because the owner doesn't want a repaired car. That's not even a reasonable request IMO.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,600
Likes: 305
From: Carmel Indiana
This thread and others on internal engine damage is really making me rethink ordering a C7. Right now I have a C5 and a hot rod. The rod is for sale and when it goes, we were planning on trading the C5 and ordering with my families GM discount. I've been lurking on C7 site for few months now to get a read on issues, likes, dislikes
Now. . .I'm thinking maybe waiting till '16 model year, by then, hopefully, the reason for these engine issues, vert top up/down problems, paint, etc will be corrected. Granted this a very small sampling of issues vs the thousands of C7's with no problems, but jesh. . .these threads by you guys are scaring me.
Now. . .I'm thinking maybe waiting till '16 model year, by then, hopefully, the reason for these engine issues, vert top up/down problems, paint, etc will be corrected. Granted this a very small sampling of issues vs the thousands of C7's with no problems, but jesh. . .these threads by you guys are scaring me.
Last edited by jdsaengine; Sep 12, 2014 at 11:09 AM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,940
Likes: 42
From: shavertown Pa.
All the dealer installs is the intake and external pieces not involved in the failure, if it's a Z51 they will probably give him the oilier also.
If the insurance company totals the car he could get a car, but I wouldn't count on that happening.
Advanced
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 95
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From: Heath Texas
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
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From: Fulshear, TX
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Retired to Mississsippi.
My bet is they are going to give him a complete engine, they usually are heads to oil pan.
All the dealer installs is the intake and external pieces not involved in the failure, if it's a Z51 they will probably give him the oilier also.
If the insurance company totals the car he could get a car, but I wouldn't count on that happening.
All the dealer installs is the intake and external pieces not involved in the failure, if it's a Z51 they will probably give him the oilier also.
If the insurance company totals the car he could get a car, but I wouldn't count on that happening.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 629
Likes: 65
From: Freedom PA
I'm bringing over this information that I posted yesterday in the Tech/Performance section. I feel it is relevant to this thread as well.
Ed
I'm way more concerned about the thrust bearing failures that we're seeing.
The new 180 degree thrust bearing on number 3 main is a big concern for me.
Does anyone have insight as to why they made the switch from a 360 degree bearing that has been the industry standard for 100 years: with a history of very few failures for 100,000 mile engines .
This new bearing looks like a conventional main thrust bearing, but only has the thrust flanges on the half that is in the block. the #3 main bearing that resides in the cap does not have a flange to resist the thrust. This reduces the thrust bearing surface by 50%.
Any for & aft movement of the crankshaft will place stress on the connecting rods that can result in broken rods that will poke a hole in the block, similar to the few blown engines that have been reported here.
This reduced thrust surface absorption area can also account for the engine replacements due to improper installation of the torque tube causing damage to the thrust bearing.
I'm looking for a reasonable explanation for the switch to this 180 degree bearing style. All I can come up with is reduced friction to free up horsepower, but it's coming with a reliability price tag.
I want to add that the stress I mentioned on the connecting rods also applies to the pistons. This can result in scuffed piston skirts, and a probability of scored cylinder walls.
It is just my opinion, but I feel this foreign metal being claimed as coming from defective oil filters is in reality pieces from the damaged Thrust bearing.
I really hope this has been resolved before my car comes in. I thought the early problems had been fixed, but now as more miles are put on this pops up.
Again: just my opinion, but in no way would I feel the problem was fixed by replacing bearings if they are replaced with a similar design.
I know that I keep saying, "My opinion," but this is a forum to present ones ideas for discussion. Disagree with me if you do, but lets not allow it to go down the wrong path. No name calling please; just a rational discussion. I see too much of that here.
Ed
Ed
I'm way more concerned about the thrust bearing failures that we're seeing.
The new 180 degree thrust bearing on number 3 main is a big concern for me.
Does anyone have insight as to why they made the switch from a 360 degree bearing that has been the industry standard for 100 years: with a history of very few failures for 100,000 mile engines .
This new bearing looks like a conventional main thrust bearing, but only has the thrust flanges on the half that is in the block. the #3 main bearing that resides in the cap does not have a flange to resist the thrust. This reduces the thrust bearing surface by 50%.
Any for & aft movement of the crankshaft will place stress on the connecting rods that can result in broken rods that will poke a hole in the block, similar to the few blown engines that have been reported here.
This reduced thrust surface absorption area can also account for the engine replacements due to improper installation of the torque tube causing damage to the thrust bearing.
I'm looking for a reasonable explanation for the switch to this 180 degree bearing style. All I can come up with is reduced friction to free up horsepower, but it's coming with a reliability price tag.
I want to add that the stress I mentioned on the connecting rods also applies to the pistons. This can result in scuffed piston skirts, and a probability of scored cylinder walls.
It is just my opinion, but I feel this foreign metal being claimed as coming from defective oil filters is in reality pieces from the damaged Thrust bearing.
I really hope this has been resolved before my car comes in. I thought the early problems had been fixed, but now as more miles are put on this pops up.
Again: just my opinion, but in no way would I feel the problem was fixed by replacing bearings if they are replaced with a similar design.
I know that I keep saying, "My opinion," but this is a forum to present ones ideas for discussion. Disagree with me if you do, but lets not allow it to go down the wrong path. No name calling please; just a rational discussion. I see too much of that here.
Ed
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 49,226
Likes: 3,897
From: Best Island in the U.S.
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '17
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 988
Likes: 81
From: Danville California
It will be curious to see what the 'real' fault is. 2014 saw ~40,000 C7's built, and unfortunately for some, there have been serious problems. I guess it's not unrealistic to expect some issues, however they may be. I have friends with other brands of cars (MBZ, BMW) who have had serious issues and have the manufacturers buy back the cars, so it happens.
OP, I see you have a Z51 meaning dry sump, and the Car & Driver test car also had dry sump. My C7 is also Z51, but no issues so far, and had my first oil change about 2 weeks ago at 4300 miles. I just wonder if all the issues are related to the filters on the dry sump engines. GM has built other dry sump engines so they are not new to this. But I also wonder if the oil filters at the center of these issues were manufactured all in one batch, and therefore all have defects. With so many Z51's out there, and so few major problems (I hope), one would think getting to the root cause should be pretty straightforward.
OP, I see you have a Z51 meaning dry sump, and the Car & Driver test car also had dry sump. My C7 is also Z51, but no issues so far, and had my first oil change about 2 weeks ago at 4300 miles. I just wonder if all the issues are related to the filters on the dry sump engines. GM has built other dry sump engines so they are not new to this. But I also wonder if the oil filters at the center of these issues were manufactured all in one batch, and therefore all have defects. With so many Z51's out there, and so few major problems (I hope), one would think getting to the root cause should be pretty straightforward.
