funz06

Over the past 2-3 years I have seen comments on various threads either implying or flat out saying there are serious issues with the LS7 engine; however, when reading the threads a little closer it seemed that the problems were mostly with cars that were either modified and or subject to racing. Otherwise, for the LS7's not modified or that weren't tracked, the number of issues appeared to fall well within the "normal" range for most vehicles. Yet, almost every time I go on the forum I read a thread where someone notes how the LS7 has problems. I know from talking to to fellow ZO6 owners at various shows over the years and also with repair folks............nobody had any issues, or even knew of folks with issues, but this clearly was a small and unscientific sample. Does anyone have independent, reliable data on this topic? Can any forum dealer repair shops weigh in to help set the record straight---are the LS7 cars you see for major repairs modified; tracked cars; or cars from normal use? Thanks.

Steve_R

What you're seeing is that people with problems post about them. Those with LS7s with no motor problems don't start threads saying they don't have problems. My guess is that it's a very small proportion of those motors that have those issues, but that's what we hear about.

phileaglesfan

Vette Lags is not modified and the engine starved itself of oil at around 12k miles. Since there are a lot more LS3s we should be hearing about them fail more instead of rarely.

budgreen3564

I'm on my second LS7. No issues either car.

veni vidi vert

I had 74,000 miles on my '08 Z before I did new heads, valves, guides, etc. I had 3 track days on the stock engine.

FWIW, No issues.

Jim Barker

Thanks to the forum I know to look for needle bearings on magnetic drain plugs and HB issues. I better get a magnetic drain plug for my '12. It is lacking and I suspect synthetic blend instead of Mobil 1.

Vette Lag

The second engine just died at 1700 miles later. The engineering department at the design center is involved. Not good in my opinion.

z06clif

It seems the cars were beat up and quit. You cant just change one thing. if one mod is made them the whole engine must be upgraded. WE must all remember that these are Chevys and they are designed to go to certain level and that's it. Go further without the expenditure and its OOPS. Just my take on the whole "the sky is falling" scenario

Clif

funz06

Steve R.............what you say makes sense. Additionally, what I have noticed is that usually the person with the negative comment about the LS7 has never owned a LS7 and is just perpetuating hearsay. For example, today on a thread on another matter one writer threw in the comment on how they would never buy a 427 because of all the problems with the LS7---and I bet I read similar comments several times a week. Why I asked the question for this thread----I traded my ZO6 for a 427........never had any problem with the ZO6, nor did other ZO6 owners I met over the years (5-6 members in our local club had ZO6's and none of us had problems nor knew of anyone that did). However, when I keep reading about the problems my curiosity gets the better of me and I would like to know what is fact and what is fiction. Are our cars more prone to serious issues (even if we don't modify or race them), or are the actual issues within the expected norm for all cars? I was hoping a few of the forum dealers could shed some light on this based on their actual experience from their repair shops. Then I would either have some peace of mind and ignore the naysayers, or I could plan accordingly and maybe look into a C7 sooner than I would like (a C7 ZO6 convertible with 620 HP----I can dream can't I?).

saplumr

I think there is truth in LS7 issues. A lot more LS2 and LS3 motors and no where near the the complaints.

QUAKEJAKE

In my case with 46K on mine, bought new BTW, and my experience with at least a dozen Z owners over the years that I have had in depth discussions with them about how they maintain their vehicle I'd have to say fiction. Only one of the "dozen" had an engine failure. So in my personal real world experience that would be 9% failure rate? One of the common care practices was a shared owners' knowledge to let the oil temp warm up over 160* before getting on it. These Z's were 2006-2011's with anywhere between 12K -70K miles.

2k Cobra

My Z a 2007, street driven only, had $14.5 K worth of repairs by 40K miles. Heads shot, 3x wear on guides at 40K. Friends shot as well. If it wasn't for this forum, I might still have the car with a blown engine.

I bought the car new and properly maintained it. Worst thing I ever owned.

Happy with my Grand Sport..

glenB

Fiction?, tell that to the ones that have lost motors, both stock and modified. Also, even more have found worn out guides in relatively few miles, again, both stock and modified.

It's not fiction.... and I'd venture to say the numbers are probably running 10%. So, if you had a business and 10% of your employees were slacking, what would you do?

phileaglesfan

Crap, I wonder what went wrong.

ATC399

No one really knows... stock, mods, tracked, street only...Wiggle test, new head/valves....it goes on and on..Z section is infected with this scrap...FWIW I "drive" my Z whenever I get the chance and hardly ever in the right lane...Enjoy The Beast

funz06

Glen B.............can I ask where you are getting your 10% figure, and do you know what portion of this 10% had modified the car and or raced it? In reading prior threads on this over the last 3-4 years it just seemed that it was rare when the car wasn't modified or raced, but again I don't have any hard, reliable numbers.

Perhaps a much higher percentage of the LS7 cars were modified (considering the folks that bought them obviously like a lot of horsepower). This could also explain why a higher percentage of these engines had problems--if in fact this turns out to be true.

ATC399

saplumr

The telling comparison would be highly modified LS2 and LS3 motors to even stock LS7 issues. But who has the numbers.

NotVincent

My 427 with 5000 miles on it is in the shop for an oil pump replacement. Hot idle pressure dropped to under 10PSI and it would not raise above 50PSI no matter the RPM. My SA says there was no damage to my engine but, someone with a lot of experience with this issue says that this is a well-known issue with Chevy and that I better make sure my engine is thoroughly checked for damage. He believes it may have already suffered damage.

I don't beat on the car, I make sure the oil temp reaches 180 before I even exceed 3000 RPM and have never had an opportunity to even come close to red-lining it. I thought most of these LS7 horror stories were limited to tuners and racers. It appears I may have been wrong.

3 Z06ZR1

but over blown here to some degree too! Only like 34(guessing) cars most with mods. But all the over posting has many changing heads.
personally I have owned two with no issue!