I just bought a 2001 Camaro SS. Under 25k miles, there has been a "rattle" between 2300-2500 rpm only when the car is under load. I took it back to the dealer, and they told me that it was a known/common problem with the pistons on the LS1 engine and that they will do nothing to fix it. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

Piston Slap. Welcome to owning a LS1. Mine is pretty quiet and only lasts for a minute thankfully.

 

Is there any way to fix it?

 

How can you tell if your engine has piston slap?

 

start your engine up in the morning after its been sitting all nite, and after start up you will start to hear a slight ticking noise, and it will last about 4 or so minutes, until the motor heats up....then it goes away.....that s the way it is on mine anyway.......do a search here on piston slap, there has been quite a few threads on it

 

I do not think you have piston slap as you indicate that it only occurs from 2300 to 2500 rpm and only under load. You may be suffering from pre-ignition. This happens when you use cheap gas.

Steve

 

Slight ticking noise? I thought piston slap was a very audible 'slap, slap, slap' or 'clap, clap, clap' sound. I remember hearing a sound clip somewhere and it wasn't a mild tick...

 

I heard a 6.0L Silverado with it the other day and it didnt sound like tick tick.
Wouldnt a tick tick cold be a exhaust leak developing.That only seals when warmed,but will eventually blow out and do tick tick all the time?
piston slap at the bottom this page it says photos as a link on that page there is a sound clip.
I got it off this board when I was curious about it...and I dont have it thank god.

 

It's usually kind of hard to determine a cause of various sounds without hearing them in person, so everything on here will be purely guessing games.

However, judging by the description you've given us, I personally think it has nothing to do with piston slap. That is usually heard only after starting the car and until it gets warm (unless this is the time you hear it). And it doesn't sound like a "rattle" it is more like a ticking sound.

I think the dealer is just trying to shrug you away. Take it to another dealer. If it actually is a true "rattle" it could very well be something like a defective cat, loose exhaust piping etc. etc.

Good luck!

TS

 

Thanks for all of the advice. I do not think that its a gas quality problem, I have been putting in high octane Amoco gas in it. I am also curious about whether or not it is "piston slap". Previous to my Camaro, I used to have a Monte Carlo. I would hear a similar noise until the engine warmed up. They replaced the pistons under 25k miles. About 3 weeks after getting the car back the noise was back. I took it back to the dealer and they told me it was a "normal" noise since Chevrolet is no longer putting the same skirt on the pistons??? Well, eventually the noise got to the point that the car sounded like a diesel truck. So I took it back in and they ended up replacing the entire engine.

I am just concerned about this dealer. And although I have had so many problems with them, they have proven to be the "best" in the area. The only other one that is closer is so incompetent its unbeleivable (took my monte in for an oil change, they lost the oil cap and didnt screw the air filter cover back on... among other things).

Can anyone recommend a decent dealer close to Gurnee, IL - USA? I will be making a formal complaint with Chevy as I am tired of all this crap (I have only had the car for only 2 weeks).

Thanks for hearing the vents!!

 

The noise that you are describing is NOT piston slap. Piston slap goes away when warm and goes away underload. It shows up more under no load light reving. Yes I have a "rattler" so I know exactly what it sounds like.
Whet you describe sounds like detonation. You could very well have carbon build up on the pistons. The car is used and you don't know how it was driven.
I would get some Seafoam and try that. Read the instructions thouroughly. I have never used it but know others that have used it to good effect. It'll clean it right out.

 

I have used SeaFoam in carburated vehicles, and yes it does work great. But, is it ok to use it in fuel injected engines?

 

Yep
But you have to put it in thru the brake booster vacuum hose I think.