Hi everybody,

I bought a 02 Z28A4conv. 'cuz I always wanted one. Great car, lots of fun, lots of comments from friends, etc. I been reading this board ever since and the information and education has been fantastic. What a great group. I just recently registered so I can join in the discussion.

A couple of things, for example, keep coming up in the discussion that are scaring me. How frequent is this piston slap problem? Some comments suggest it is worse in 01 models than 02 but is it something I should worry about? Another thing is the potential for oil consumption....how frequent is that?

I absolutely hate engines that don't sound right and I've always unloaded anything that started drinking oil. As much as I like the "Z", I'm afraid I won't like it much if it develops one or both of those problems.

How likely am I to be driving my LS1 in five more years?

Thanks for all comments.

Joe

 

your car shouldn't really drink oil and they were supposed to clean up piston slap. if your really that scared of these things, honda might be the way to go but if you want honest mean power, you got it! most all large engines will drink some oil, some more than others.

if you have problems with either, take it back and use ur warrenty

 

BTW- welcome to the board!!!

 

Piston slap is very common. It's common enough that GM addressed the issue on the LS2 motor and claims to have resolved it.

As for oil consumption, you can expect to use a quart every 1500 - 2000 miles. But, as long as you're not blowing smoke out the exhaust, it's not a concern. It's an annoyance, but hey .... that's why they sell oil by the case.

 

A quart every 2000 miles is quite excessive. I lose NO more then half a quart every 5000 miles. I even get a little smoke when I get off of it too. You may want to try a LS6 pcv or new catch can type setup on your car.

As for a serious piston slap problem, if you are as picky as you say about engines, you would have noticed it already.

 

My car uses oil like every 1500 miles but it supposedly is not a big deal. I am fortunate enough as of right now that I do not have the piston slap. Enjoy the car because you will have so much fun and yes you can be driving the car in 5 years.

 

oil comsuption is largely related to sustaining
high PRM low load driving i.e. going stop sign to stop
sign in 1st or 2nd gear. Basicly being lazy and not
going to 3rd etc..
frequent running up in the RPM band will burn too
but not as much as stated above.
I drive alot in city conditions and skip alot
1-3 or 2-4. These cars don't need much over 1000
RPM to get through traffic so 1-2-3 shifts aren't needed

I used at most 1/2qt per 3000 miles.
Synthetic oil is said to burn less too.

EDIT: just saw you're an A4 so there isn't much
you can do from a driving stand point.

 

According to 2 local dealers, Using up to 1 quart in 1,000 miles is considered "normal" by GM. Do a search and I'm sure you'll find a TON of discussion on this topic.

Personally, with my 4.11 rear and the fact that I stay in 4th a lot more than I really should, I use about a quart every 1,500 miles.

 

Wow, you guys use alot of oil. I change my oil every 3000 and I take out 5.5 quarts, and put 5.5 back in. Give or take a touch.

 

I've had over a dozen LS1 cars and none
of them used 1qt/1000 miles.
Everything I've seen says 1 qt per 3000 is
normal. I don't think there is a factual basis
on either standpoint but this is the first I've heard
of 1/1000 is normal. I know there is a GM service
tolerance concerning oil consumption as to what is
normal.

I think alot of it has to due with how the car was
broken in. Beat it up early, the rings don't set right
and you burn more. Thats something I've been told
is a sign of how a car was treated buy a previous owner.

 

Thanks for the comments. Does anyone have an idea of the % of cars that have a piston slap? Is it 10%, 20%, 50% or more?

I have 9,000+ miles on my car and I don't have piston slap(or I can't hear it) and it doesn't use oil. Am I just lucky or is it too early yet to tell?

And...oh yeah, as some of you have pointed out, the power is great. Letting it out is a real rush!

Joe

 

Piston slap isn't something that suddenly developes in cars with 9000 miles on them. If you don't have it now, and if you did you would know it, then you don't have to worry about it. The oil consumption problem seems to be more of a problem for the manual transmission cars than for the cars with automatics. It really is not a common problem. You should not use more than half a quart between oil changes but it will probably be less unless you drive like an idiot. Relax and enjoy a great car. According to GM engineers the LS1 engine was developed with a target life of 300,000 miles.

 

Its been said that 10w-30 will reduce
piston slap. I use it, don't have much of
an problem unless its really cold out and
the car hasn't been started for awhile.

As far as oil consumption being an M6
problem, read my first post in this thread.

 

i'm by no means an expert only having owned my car since sept. however my car at idle makes a slight noise i'm not familiar with. but when it warms up and revs up it purrs like a kitten. (mine has 49k) also my NORTHSTAR CAMARO CLUB OF MINNESOTA just toured a speed shop last weekend ,TPIS and they had a ls1 on the dyno they ran for us. it made the same noise mine does at idle cold. but made about 450 plus hp at the flywheel (sweet).

 

I have a 1998 Z28, oldest one that is suppose to i guess have all the common problems, but i have never had piston slap or oil consumption like that.