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True. I wondered about the "cold" reading but the manual said let it sit for a couple of hours before checking. My check was when the car was completely cold. Perhaps it is different for dry sumps as opposed to wet sump engines. I'd rather not go through warranty service if I can help it. This place wasn't Carmax.
There should have another section. Dry sump needs to be checked about 5-10 minutes after the car is shut down and the oil has reached operating temp , otherwise it will read low about a quart or so low and screw things up
Last edited by Jmhornz71; Jan 3, 2019 at 02:53 PM.
" dry sump" means when engine is running there is very little oil in sump or pan. Oil is pumped to a storage tank. The oil needs to have time to drain back to pan. Situation sucks but a guaranteed used engine could be worthwhile option. There are several available online.
.... The oil needs to have time to drain back to pan. ....
Hmm, just so there is no confusion about the oil level check for a Dry Sump. You are NOT waiting for the oil to drain back to the pan- just the opposite! With the oil hot, after shutting off the engine you wait 5 minutes for the oil to drain down from baffels in the external Dry Sump Tank. But no more than 10 minutes or excess oil will drain back to the oil pan and you’ll get a false low reading. Therefore you have a 5 minute window.
For fun, I checked the oil level before starting the car after it sat for ~a day. It was below the tip of the dip stick or 5 inches below the minimum dip stick mark ~>5 quarts low. It probably drains back though the oil/air scavenge pump gears. No problem as there is oil left for starting and it quickly flows back from the pan to the tank. Some folks report hearing it flow back.
Surprised it doesn't happen more often, or we just don't hear about it on the Forum, with the amount of used C7's out there bought at dealers.
I tuned my 07 when it was nearly brand new and never had an issue, the second owner has not any issues. I think that the catastrophic failure of driveline components on these cars is fairly rare. I don't think that it happens often...tune or no tune.
Last edited by jimmie jam; Jan 4, 2019 at 10:08 AM.
Opinions here are welcome but the only benefit the forum can provide this poor fella is the name and number of a good attorney, unless the original dealership helps him out with this. If his story is straight he should at least buy an hour with an experienced attorney who could give him the lowdown on his chances in court. I don't know one but if some one knows a great attorney experienced in this particular field of law, perhaps he or she could provide the name and number
Opinions here are welcome but the only benefit the forum can provide this poor fella is the name and number of a good attorney, unless the original dealership helps him out with this. If his story is straight he should at least buy an hour with an experienced attorney who could give him the lowdown on his chances in court. I don't know one but if some one knows a great attorney experienced in this particular field of law, perhaps he or she could provide the name and number
Not sure I even buy the whole "engine was tuned" excuse here. I think GM may be full of it.
As most know, there were a bunch of catastrophic C7 engine failures in the early model years. GM replaced many motors under warranty and then even began requiring a 500 mile first oil change in the dry sump motors because of this. (Of course they reduced their powertrain warranty from 5 year/100,000 miles to 4 year/ 60,000 miles as well.)
I wonder if this engine would have failed, just like many others did in 2014 and 2015, and should absolutely be replaced under warranty, regardless of any tune (if there even was one). Not liking GM here.
May need an attorney, all the previous service records, and an honest Corvette mechanic to get to the bottom of this one.
Not sure I even buy the whole "engine was tuned" excuse here. I think GM may be full of it.
As most know, there were a bunch of catastrophic C7 engine failures in the early model years. GM replaced many motors under warranty and then even began requiring a 500 mile first oil change in the dry sump motors because of this. (Of course they reduced their powertrain warranty from 5 year/100,000 miles to 4 year/ 60,000 miles as well.)
I wonder if this engine would have failed, just like many others did in 2014 and 2015, and should absolutely be replaced under warranty, regardless of any tune (if there even was one). Not liking GM here.
May need an attorney, all the previous service records, and an honest Corvette mechanic to get to the bottom of this one.
Perhaps you could explain how you assure you are getting an "honest" Corvette mechanic and how you know the one the OP is using is not? The fact the car has been "tuned" is not rocket science work to discover and the dealer has no incentive to claim it has if it has not. Factually the incentive goes the other way for the dealer because if the problem was warranty they would be paid to fix it. Good luck fighting GM on a tuned car. They can't afford to not challenge it, will spend whatever is necessary to enforce it, and very few people have the resources to even play in that game!
Speculation on whether the engine might have blown regardless of a tune doesn't really matter here, whether or not you "like" GM. The rule is, if it has been tuned, there is no warranty. End of story. The only real issue here is whether this can be pinned on the selling dealer. He will say, of course, that he had no reason to believe the car had been tuned and did not check, therefore he can't be held liable. But as Jallen informs us, if it can be successfully argued that he SHOULD have known and/or checked, then OP may have a case. Is it considered "standard operating procedure" for a dealer to check for a tune before placing a car for sale? I can't imagine that your average used car dealer would even know it was a warranty issue, much less how to check for a tune. How could they be expected to keep up in warranty details for every brand they sell? Not likely you could nail "Joe's Used Cars" here. But for Chevy dealers that sell Corvettes, maybe so.
Not sure I even buy the whole "engine was tuned" excuse here. I think GM may be full of it.
As most know, there were a bunch of catastrophic C7 engine failures in the early model years. GM replaced many motors under warranty and then even began requiring a 500 mile first oil change in the dry sump motors because of this. (Of course they reduced their powertrain warranty from 5 year/100,000 miles to 4 year/ 60,000 miles as well.)
I wonder if this engine would have failed, just like many others did in 2014 and 2015, and should absolutely be replaced under warranty, regardless of any tune (if there even was one). Not liking GM here.
May need an attorney, all the previous service records, and an honest Corvette mechanic to get to the bottom of this one.
I was one of those statistics, 2015 C7 LT1 34,000 miles oil changed religiously. Popped a valve spring while going 70 mph down the highway , valve drops into motor and the ensuing carnage that followed was ugly . The first thing my Corvette Mechanic had to do was verify the tune file and send it to GM ....... $14,000 in parts and I don't know how much in labor , I have a new motor ......so I can say I know how this guy feels as I was sitting on pins and needles waiting for GM to deny the claim for some BS reason and I was going to have to buy a motor . I would be going after the selling dealer ....
There should have another section. Dry sump needs to be checked about 5-10 minutes after the car is shut down and the oil has reached operating temp , otherwise it will read low about a quart or so low and screw things up
Not just a quart, over 5 quarts if you wait long enough! See my post #43. for what happens.
It also notes, for fun, I checked the oil level before starting the car after it sat for ~a day. It was below the tip of the dip stick or 5 inches below the minimum dip stick MIN mark ~>5 quarts low. It probably drains back though the oil/air scavenge pump gears to the pan. No problem as there is oil left for starting and it quickly flows back from the pan to the tank. Some folks report hearing it flow back.