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I am thinking about buying a 2010-13 Corvette GS

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Old Feb 7, 2026 | 07:46 PM
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Default I am thinking about buying a 2010-13 Corvette GS

and would like to ask if there are any particular problems with these cars. Any persistent maintenance issues or problems? Thanks in advance.
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Feb 8, 2026, 01:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Ahrmike
check valvesprings. yellow springs = no good.
I don't know where people come up with this crap.

There are no valve spring issues on the LS3. And no seller is going to let you pull a valve cover to look at valve springa.
Old Feb 7, 2026 | 08:07 PM
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No, they are damn bulletproof.
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Old Feb 7, 2026 | 08:13 PM
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check valvesprings. yellow springs = no good.
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Old Feb 7, 2026 | 08:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Ahrmike
check valvesprings. yellow springs = no good.
How does one check the valve springs when buying a vehicle
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Old Feb 7, 2026 | 08:32 PM
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I've had two...2011 with 130K miles and a "new"2013 with ~40K miles. I can tell you there are several things you will want to keep an eye on:
1. Harmonic balancer
2. factory rocker arms have unsealed needle bearings and they will, with time and mileage wear out. When they do, they puke those little needle bearings into the engine which make beautiful FOD. This is a known problem for LS3s as they age.
3. Valve springs as noted.

Love C6 Grand Sports... probably on of the better Vettes ever made.
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Old Feb 7, 2026 | 09:57 PM
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Originally Posted by PMPerformance
How does one check the valve springs when buying a vehicle
Yes, really. How does one check valves spring when buying one?
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Old Feb 7, 2026 | 10:04 PM
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Just pull the valve covers off. Its a simple task, anyone with basic knowledge and mechanical skills can do so in 15-20 minutes. Pull the plastic cover off one side, disconnect the 4 plug wires and remove the coil pack/rail off the aluminum valve cover and then remove the few bolts that hold the valve cover on. Very simple. Also not something you should worry about immediately. Its not a Z06 with the LS7s with the notorious head issues...the Grandsport is a LS3, one of the most reliable engines GM has ever built.
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Old Feb 7, 2026 | 10:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Nasty99Vette
Just pull the valve covers off. Its a simple task, anyone with basic knowledge and mechanical skills can do so in 15-20 minutes. Pull the plastic cover off one side, disconnect the 4 plug wires and remove the coil pack/rail off the aluminum valve cover and then remove the few bolts that hold the valve cover on. Very simple. Also not something you should worry about immediately. Its not a Z06 with the LS7s with the notorious head issues...the Grandsport is a LS3, one of the most reliable engines GM has ever built.
No kidding! Yes it’s just that simple to ask the seller to see if you can open up the valve covers and see what valve springs it has
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Old Feb 7, 2026 | 10:14 PM
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Old Feb 8, 2026 | 12:32 AM
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Old Feb 8, 2026 | 02:40 AM
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Originally Posted by LOURDESBELLE
No kidding! Yes it’s just that simple to ask the seller to see if you can open up the valve covers and see what valve springs it has
the manual gs has a dry sump so the on-engine valve cover oil "cap" can be popped open and you can definitely see the spring. the auto has a locked in angled filler neck so its a bit harder. def doable with a boresscope or a mirror.

Anyway, the "check your valve spring" was more of an after-purchase comment. its prob not going to drop on the drive home, but OP should definitely pop a VC off after getting it home to check and swap.
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Old Feb 8, 2026 | 08:38 AM
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So GM just randomly sprinkled in yellow Valvesprings that were faulty? No year designation, just depends on day and moon phase?
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Old Feb 8, 2026 | 08:57 AM
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The LS3 is bullet proof & the wide body C6’s are at the top of the heap for body styles across all generations
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Old Feb 8, 2026 | 08:58 AM
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Originally Posted by 449er
The LS3 is bullet proof & the wide body C6’s are at the top of the heap for body styles across all generations

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Old Feb 8, 2026 | 09:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Tackelbarry
and would like to ask if there are any particular problems with these cars. Any persistent maintenance issues or problems? Thanks in advance.

So to get the thread back on track, let me ask you questions:
  • What color are you looking for? or stated differently what is your first color choice
  • Manual or Automatic
  • Coupe or Convertible
  • what is the major purpose of the car? daily driver? weekend toy? drag race or auto cross ? garage queen or car show ?
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Old Feb 8, 2026 | 09:13 AM
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C6 Grand Sports are the pinnacle of Corvette reliability.

amazing cars

2010 Callaway manual 6speed



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Old Feb 8, 2026 | 09:27 AM
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The 4LT leather dash will come loose sooner or later. Just a cosmetic issue but relatively difficult to fix. Easy to avoid as only 12% of the '13 GS had 4LT.
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Old Feb 8, 2026 | 01:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Ahrmike
check valvesprings. yellow springs = no good.
I don't know where people come up with this crap.

There are no valve spring issues on the LS3. And no seller is going to let you pull a valve cover to look at valve springa.
Old Feb 8, 2026 | 01:58 PM
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Originally Posted by PMPerformance
So GM just randomly sprinkled in yellow Valvesprings that were faulty? No year designation, just depends on day and moon phase?
People are out of their minds. Too much internet. I bet they saw some crap lyle said in his "content" and are repeating it.
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Old Feb 8, 2026 | 02:03 PM
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Originally Posted by FAUEE
I don't know where people come up with this crap.

There are no valve spring issues on the LS3. And no seller is going to let you pull a valve cover to look at valve springa.
I agree, there are no “ bad yellow springs” to be concerned with in an LS3, perhaps the poster was confusing the LS6 engines which did have valve spring issues early on with the C5 ZO6’s

Last edited by 449er; Feb 8, 2026 at 02:19 PM.
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