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I hope this is okay to ask this but does the C7 Z06 suffer any issues like the C6 Z06 with its engine problems etc?
Different engines of course, but I'm trying to decide what my upgrade will be to from my current Corvette so I'm trying to factor issues and I know very little about the C7.
I ran my 08 C6Z hard on track from 2009 through mid 2011 before I dropped a valve while on track. I knew 7 other people that had the same problem. One of them had the same problem occur on two different track cars. However, the LS7 engine problem is not as huge as the rumors make it out to be. There were several hundred failures but there were many thousands of preventative repairs attempting to avoid a future engine failure of indeterminate cause. Even now 9 years after the C6 ended production people are still selling repairs to the heads although nobody knows for sure whether the recommended repairs resolve the problem or not in other words fixing something that hasn't broken yet. Nobody can say for sure whether the actual failures occurred due to bad valves, bad machining, or some other issue.
The C7 LT4 hasn't had several hundred failures like the LS7 had. I have been beating on mine since I got it 6 years ago. It has ~5000 track miles on it and it runs hard and long. Sort of like every other Corvette I took to the track. Beat the hell out of it for 20 minutes at a time, come into the pits/garage hop out of the car check the oil and forget about it until you are ready to go back on track again. As the old Timex ad used to say, Takes a Licking and Keeps on Ticking. I have been tracking Corvettes since 1992 starting with an 86, then a 97 followed by an 03Z, the 08Z, and the 15Z I have now. I have never changed a spark plug on any of them and the only failure I had was when the LS7 dropped a valve and GM replaced the engine under warranty. Even that isn't too bad considering 6 years of heavy track use and only one failure.
I hope this is okay to ask this but does the C7 Z06 suffer any issues like the C6 Z06 with its engine problems etc?
Different engines of course, but I'm trying to decide what my upgrade will be to from my current Corvette so I'm trying to factor issues and I know very little about the C7.
Thanks in advance.
No. I have 25k miles on a 2017 with no problems in anything.
Zero issue with my '19 Z06 during the last 2 years, but I also had no real issues (only replaced the stereo head) with my '09 Z06 either. I really can't think of anything that's been an ongoing consistent issue with the C7 Z's. Get one, maintain it well and have fun! Even in stock form, they're a fun beast!!
I ran my 08 C6Z hard on track from 2009 through mid 2011 before I dropped a valve while on track. I knew 7 other people that had the same problem. One of them had the same problem occur on two different track cars. However, the LS7 engine problem is not as huge as the rumors make it out to be. There were several hundred failures but there were many thousands of preventative repairs attempting to avoid a future engine failure of indeterminate cause. Even now 9 years after the C6 ended production people are still selling repairs to the heads although nobody knows for sure whether the recommended repairs resolve the problem or not in other words fixing something that hasn't broken yet. Nobody can say for sure whether the actual failures occurred due to bad valves, bad machining, or some other issue.
The C7 LT4 hasn't had several hundred failures like the LS7 had. I have been beating on mine since I got it 6 years ago. It has ~5000 track miles on it and it runs hard and long. Sort of like every other Corvette I took to the track. Beat the hell out of it for 20 minutes at a time, come into the pits/garage hop out of the car check the oil and forget about it until you are ready to go back on track again. As the old Timex ad used to say, Takes a Licking and Keeps on Ticking. I have been tracking Corvettes since 1992 starting with an 86, then a 97 followed by an 03Z, the 08Z, and the 15Z I have now. I have never changed a spark plug on any of them and the only failure I had was when the LS7 dropped a valve and GM replaced the engine under warranty. Even that isn't too bad considering 6 years of heavy track use and only one failure.
Bill
Last edited by Bill Dearborn; Jan 11, 2022 at 12:30 AM.
I ran my 08 C6Z hard on track from 2009 through mid 2011 before I dropped a valve while on track. I knew 7 other people that had the same problem. One of them had the same problem occur on two different track cars. However, the LS7 engine problem is not as huge as the rumors make it out to be. There were several hundred failures but there were many thousands of preventative repairs attempting to avoid a future engine failure of indeterminate cause. Even now 9 years after the C6 ended production people are still selling repairs to the heads although nobody knows for sure whether the recommended repairs resolve the problem or not in other words fixing something that hasn't broken yet. Nobody can say for sure whether the actual failures occurred due to bad valves, bad machining, or some other issue.
The C7 LT4 hasn't had several hundred failures like the LS7 had. I have been beating on mine since I got it 6 years ago. It has ~5000 track miles on it and it runs hard and long. Sort of like every other Corvette I took to the track. Beat the hell out of it for 20 minutes at a time, come into the pits/garage hop out of the car check the oil and forget about it until you are ready to go back on track again. As the old Timex ad used to say, Takes a Licking and Keeps on Ticking. I have been tracking Corvettes since 1992 starting with an 86, then a 97 followed by an 03Z, the 08Z, and the 15Z I have now. I have never changed a spark plug on any of them and the only failure I had was when the LS7 dropped a valve and GM replaced the engine under warranty. Even that isn't too bad considering 6 years of heavy track use and only one failure.
Bill
excellent testimony on the reliability of the LT4. Oughta be a Chevy commercial.
While GM certainly has had its problems with quality, the LS engine is really shown itself to be a superstar ( well other than the drop valve thingy lol )
You do not see many people dropping coyote motors or hellcat motors into old pick up trucks and muscle cars. Most choose the LS and it’s for a reason. Probably similar reasoning as to why you see so many T buckets with small block Chevy‘s in them lol.
I ran my 08 C6Z hard on track from 2009 through mid 2011 before I dropped a valve while on track. I knew 7 other people that had the same problem. One of them had the same problem occur on two different track cars. However, the LS7 engine problem is not as huge as the rumors make it out to be. There were several hundred failures but there were many thousands of preventative repairs attempting to avoid a future engine failure of indeterminate cause. Even now 9 years after the C6 ended production people are still selling repairs to the heads although nobody knows for sure whether the recommended repairs resolve the problem or not in other words fixing something that hasn't broken yet. Nobody can say for sure whether the actual failures occurred due to bad valves, bad machining, or some other issue.
The C7 LT4 hasn't had several hundred failures like the LS7 had. I have been beating on mine since I got it 6 years ago. It has ~5000 track miles on it and it runs hard and long. Sort of like every other Corvette I took to the track. Beat the hell out of it for 20 minutes at a time, come into the pits/garage hop out of the car check the oil and forget about it until you are ready to go back on track again. As the old Timex ad used to say, Takes a Licking and Keeps on Ticking. I have been tracking Corvettes since 1992 starting with an 86, then a 97 followed by an 03Z, the 08Z, and the 15Z I have now. I have never changed a spark plug on any of them and the only failure I had was when the LS7 dropped a valve and GM replaced the engine under warranty. Even that isn't too bad considering 6 years of heavy track use and only one failure.
Bill
My thoughts exactly on the C6 and C7 Z's, IMO the C6 issue was overblown and the C7 is like a rock
Very reliable ... 2017 with 25K miles as my daily driver ... I did overheat at Talladega yet I drove it haard and knew it would happen based on the known overheat issue for tracked Z06 !!!
My experience with regard to reliability has not been favorable:
Torque tube failed and that damaged the clutch and flywheel.
Less than 100 miles later a lifter failed. The car is in the shop now getting them all replaced. The failure also destroyed camshaft.
I couldn’t use my warranty because I changed the fluids myself (not that an oil change has anything to do with a torque tube, but that’s why it was voided).
unfortunately being in CA I had to go back with all OEM parts. Idk if I should cut my losses and sell it to avoid another big expense or just keep it and hope for the best. My confidence is shot and my wallet is significantly lighter.
I know you have to pay to play. I was OK with that as far as a purchase price and consumables (which are also expensive) but if I continue to have major failures like this I may be done with Corvettes for good. Sad, because up to this point I thought this car would be in my family for generations.
what do you guys think? Did I just have bad luck or should I move on? I feel like these failures are far more common than what gets posted here.
to the OP; 6 months ago I would have said no issues go get a corvette it’s been awesome. Today, I would say only do this if you are ok with potential of very costly repairs. Hopefully some of this will be taken care of in the class action lawsuits, but I think it’s unlikely.
My experience with regard to reliability has not been favorable:
Torque tube failed and that damaged the clutch and flywheel.
Less than 100 miles later a lifter failed. The car is in the shop now getting them all replaced. The failure also destroyed camshaft.
I couldn’t use my warranty because I changed the fluids myself (not that an oil change has anything to do with a torque tube, but that’s why it was voided).
unfortunately being in CA I had to go back with all OEM parts. Idk if I should cut my losses and sell it to avoid another big expense or just keep it and hope for the best. My confidence is shot and my wallet is significantly lighter.
I know you have to pay to play. I was OK with that as far as a purchase price and consumables (which are also expensive) but if I continue to have major failures like this I may be done with Corvettes for good. Sad, because up to this point I thought this car would be in my family for generations.
what do you guys think? Did I just have bad luck or should I move on? I feel like these failures are far more common than what gets posted here.
to the OP; 6 months ago I would have said no issues go get a corvette it’s been awesome. Today, I would say only do this if you are ok with potential of very costly repairs. Hopefully some of this will be taken care of in the class action lawsuits, but I think it’s unlikely.
I'm so sorry you have had such bad luck:
1) The AFM/DOD system is a known point of failure (IMHO doesn't make it right to sell cars that way). Use a range device or have it tuned out to buy yourself time. If you do one of those two things you can have a pretty long motor life maybe even beyond what most owners expect to put on the car. The AFM lifters are the point of failure and they ALL will fail eventually.
2) Torque tube failures are not uncommon but yours seems to be very early and not typical of most owner's experience. I know it sucks to be you, but it is generally totally repairable and most owners don't tend to experience it until higher mileage and run hard.
1) The AFM/DOD system is a known point of failure (IMHO doesn't make it right to sell cars that way). Use a range device or have it tuned out to buy yourself time. If you do one of those two things you can have a pretty long motor life maybe even beyond what most owners expect to put on the car. The AFM lifters are the point of failure and they ALL will fail eventually.
2) Torque tube failures are not uncommon but yours seems to be very early and not typical of most owner's experience. I know it sucks to be you, but it is generally totally repairable and most owners don't tend to experience it until higher mileage and run hard.
It’s a bit prejudice to state all AFM lifters will fail unless tyou assume infinite mileage and time under which all things mechanical will fail.
It’s a bit prejudice to state all AFM lifters will fail unless you assume infinite mileage and time under which all things mechanical will fail.
No it's not.
The lifters will fail given enough cycles. It's an inherently flawed design.
If you have an M7 car, this time period will be longer. If you run your car hard and don't engage AFM often, this period will be longer. If you have an A8 and run in manual mode you'll buy more time. If you run a range device, you'll buy more time. If you delete the AFM via a tune you'll buy more time.
iI you wash and wax your car and never drive it 10k miles before you die, then yes, the failure will never happen.
The FACT is the technology is shitty and the lifters absolutely will fail eventually if the system is cycled enough times. I guess you could say the same of any mechanical component but the AFM lifters are a special case that fails earlier than just normal wear and tear of mechanical components.
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Reliability?
