rabrooks

4 engines in this 09 and now the latest engine is losing oil pressure. all previous engines died due to oil pressure. Now this one seems to be going south too. WTH. The engines were replaced under warrantee by GM and a dealer who is Z06 savy replaced the engines replacing the entire oil system each time. Is my driving style killing these engines. the three replacement engines all lasted between 2500 and 6000 miles. I will get another oil sample analysis this week to see how the oil looks. If its bad, I'll be knocking on GM's door again. But I am sure they won't replace this engine. Although, I certainly think they should.
I am completely disgusted with this awesome POS

GM MODERATORS THAT MONITOR THESE FORUMS, STEP UP AND OWN THIS POS AS YOU SHOULD. 85,000 NEW COST AND ALL THIS DAMN DRAMA. THERE IS CLEARLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR

Millenium Z06

After 4 engines and having the complete oil system replaced each time, I'd be looking elsewhere for the problem. How are you breaking these engines in?

C6Z06C6

How low is your oil pressure at idle under accel?

racerx3317

I seriously doubt your driving style could be causing these failures. See if GM will buy it back from you. To lose one engine, ok sucks but it happens. Two a bit unusual but not unheard of. Four? No way something is def wrong. Like they didn't really replace it, rebuilt it and sent you on your way.

Dan_the_C5_Man

1. When did the first failure occur and what was the root-cause?

2. When was the first replacement motor installed? Was it after 2012?

Gary '09 C6

good question...OP, are you letting the oil get up to operating temp. (175*F) before "getting on it" ?

Nicodemo

Are you putting beer in the gas tank?

Rjhctrapp

Wow, what could possibly causing the engines to expire? Did you get samples from the other engines back and what did they say they found in the oil? If bearing material, I think I'd be inspecting the torque tube and support bearing for possibly putting a side load on the crank. What else is there that stayed in the car after 4 engines?

furiousox

Wow 175? Is this documented anywhere? It would take my Z a really long time to get to 175 lol it runs much cooler than my old LS3 Vette did

sccaGT1racer

After 4 engine failures you need to start looking for why. Are you getting engine temp before reving it? Is it running to hot? What is failing in the engine?

Dale1990

Something funky is going on if you've lost 3 replacement engines with under 6k miles on each. The LS7 has a few known issues but none are so prevalent that you'd wipe out that many motors that fast. Was there any kind of post-mortem done on the failures? When they were working, did you notice any anomalies in oil pressure, oil/water temperatures, engine noise? Were those 6k miles in a LeMans race.

I would doubt that not waiting for the oil to warm up would be a cause unless there was some other underlying issue. There would be some accelerated wear but nothing that would wipe out 3 engines with <10k miles each.

Millenium Z06

I wait to 140-150° before i drive it hard, most engine builders and oil reps will tell you this.

Millenium Z06

If GM is indeed replacing the complete oil system each and every time, that leaves out the possibility for contamination from the previous engine and an external cause needs to be investigated.

Now, if the oiling systems were not replaced then you may have an answer. oil pressure loss is a result of bearing clearances growing, a pump failure or something clogging the pickup tube causing starvation and since the engines dont use ant RTV, I doubt the tube is getting clogged.

Millenium Z06

Not warming up the oil could cause premature bearing failure or cause a spun a bearing; if the cam bearing moves a little when the oil is cold, your motor is done. It doesn't happen frequently but it does happen.

GARY2004Z06

Always made passes at oil temps around 100*F. As others have said, I would look elsewhere.

racerx3317

140 to 150. Waiting till it gets to 175 is a bit much.

JoesC5

I agree. Very seldom does my 09 get above 150 degrees as it has the early design oil cooler. It might get to 175 degrees if it's 100 degrees ambient and I'm idling in heavy traffic where my water temp is around 210/220 degrees

outhouse

Not unless you redline it for 3 minutes at every stop light.


The only way you can be in error, is not paying attention to the gages.


Or faulty oil change methods.


Biggest problem I'm guessing, lies with who is doing the work and how they addressed the original problem that blew the first motor.

Unreal

I've never met a ls7 owner that understands this, and how it can take 20-30 minutes of just taking it easy before you get on it. This is why I'm a huge fan or removing or going to a water based oil cooler. Factory oil cooler does more harm than good for the vast majority of people.

Dirty Howie

My guess is the dealer/mechanic is at fault by not installing/prepping correctly or actually not replacing oil system parts as necessary.

Same dealer on all motor replacements ........ correct ?????


DH