Im looking at an ls1. I noticed it has what sounds like piston slap when 1st turned on. The owner said it's normal, not piston slap but something else, and goes away when the car warms up. Sure enough, when it got to operating temps, it completely went away. Is this a reason not to get the car, or is this normal?

 

How can one have 1000+ posts and not have heard of this nor do a search?

yeah some ls1's have piston slap.

 

Yes, normal. Should only last about a minute though, as soon as it starts to warm up it should be gone.

 

1st off, I am an lt1 guy. Second off, I know they can have piston slap and if you do a search, which i did, "Piston Slap" shows nothing of interest.

Is this a reason not to get the car? It did go away after we drove it for a few mins. He said it had something to do with the lifters and was normal.

I am asking is this piston slap or is it a lifter tick?

 

It's piston slap and is normal. Also, sounding like a sewing machine when you get a cam is normal.

Buy it if it's a good deal and there's nothing wrong with the car once you check it out.

Mike

 

Yeah mine had piston slap until warm up but 10,000 miles later and mine slaps at all temps, its in the shop right now i wouldn't buy it but thats just me.

 

Lifter tick is different. The common problem is piston slap and is not a reason to walk away, but as I said, most piston slap is gone wihin a minute - not after driving it around. Mine for instance starts about 10 seconds after the car is started and is gone about 30 seconds after that at idle.

Start the car cold, and just let it idle, if the tap goes away quickly at idle, it should be fine.

 

Does this problem exsist more so in certain years of camaros/firebirds? Since we're on this subject we may as well touch on the oil consumption. I haven't gotten my 00 SS yet but i'm sure it will have some sort of higher than normal oil consumption. What is a recommended oil to use and what is the worst year for the LS1's as far as oil consumption and piston slap goes?

 

2001 and 2002 are the years where the oil pump problems weren't something to consider. The EGR was removed and oil consumption isn't a chronic complaint. You also get the LS6 intake and I believe you get the LS6 clutch for the M6s.

 

I have a 2002 Z28 and I dont have any piston slap problems but i do have oil burning problems, my car goes through about 2 qt's every 2 months.

 

found this very helpfull link

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showpo...80&postcount=2

 

This is normal. Mine does that every time I start the car then after about 2 minutes it goes away, usally I turn on the car then its like a hum of sort and then I adjust my seat, drive off then 2 minuets or less the sound is gone. But having read the post here....I didn't know it was piston slap cause it doesn't sound like it the pistons, not really sure what it is, but it only does this when the engine is cold right at start up. Im thinking its normal.

I used to consume 1 quart of oil about ever 3 weeks or 1 month. Then I switched oil brand. I use regular Valvoline 5-30 oil and I have no oil cunsomption and I drive about the same miles. The valvoline oil is not synthitic its their white quart bottles. I got an oil analysis and told them I start up the car and adjust the seat then take off, they said everything seems normal.

If car runs good and everything checks out good, I would buy it.

 

My car doesn't use oil, doesn't slap, doesn't tick. 50,000 miles, mods in sig.

I don't think I even know what piston slap sounds like. Can someone fill me in?

 

Real piston slap is unmistakable. Go to a truck stop and listen to the rattle. It can be so small that a person never considers it. It can be so severe that it would be hard to find someone to buy it from you.

LS1s are valvetrain noisy engines. Listen to a low compression engine and compare it to yours. You will notice noises you hadn't thought about before. Congratulations on a good engine; everyone would like to have what you have.

 

What is the actual cause of the sound? Is it the top of the piston hitting the valves? (I hope not, I thought LS1's weren't interference engines)