Lost my motor today

[Track Junky]

Well after 155,000 hard miles my 2001 Siverado lost #7 piston. I fired it up this morning and I noticed it had a miss. Took it to the shop cause I had to smog it anyways.
They noticed the misfire and then did a compression test. good all around except for cylinder #7 only giving 70 lbs of compression. Pulled valve cover to check valve springs and they were fine.
By Wednesday and $5600 later she should have a new motor in her.

OUCH!!

[carkrazy1987]

The low compression could be froma bad valve. I work for gm, on the heavyline side, and very rarely that stock engines loose pistons or block damage. I see more often on 4.8, 5.3, 6.0 is a valve seat burnt. I have 2 6.0 and a 5.3 with burnt valves on the floor nxt to my tool box. One actually has a burnt exh valve on cyl #7 lol. What I'm trying to get at, hopefully they did a leak down test also, and not just going on a compression, could save u money.

[Ron in SoCal]

Wow Gae...I read that headline and thought it was your race motor. Painful, none the less, but glad it wasn't that!

[Sieg]

Bummer! More fun spending motor money on track toys vs. transportation tools. Guess the upside is it's not a Duramax.

[intocarss]

That sucks, Sorry to hear it

[CarlC]

The low compression could be froma bad valve. I work for gm, on the heavyline side, and very rarely that stock engines loose pistons or block damage. I see more often on 4.8, 5.3, 6.0 is a valve seat burnt. I have 2 6.0 and a 5.3 with burnt valves on the floor nxt to my tool box. One actually has a burnt exh valve on cyl #7 lol. What I'm trying to get at, hopefully they did a leak down test also, and not just going on a compression, could save u money.

Thanks for the practical side of this. It's always good to know what the long-term weaknesses of a system are.

In that light, at 155k how is the overall condition of a well maintained 5.3 - 6.0 that sees little towing/heavy-duty use? My wifes '05 5.3 Silverado 1500 runs like a watch, does not burn oil, and has had zero problems, so I'm hesitant to sell it. The instrument gauges are another story.

[Flash68]

Wow Gae...I read that headline and thought it was your race motor. Painful, none the less, but glad it wasn't that!

Yeah me too! Sucks both ways.... :mad:

[Flash68]

Thanks for the practical side of this. It's always good to know what the long-term weaknesses of a system are.

In that light, at 155k how is the overall condition of a well maintained 5.3 - 6.0 that sees little towing/heavy-duty use? My wifes '05 5.3 Silverado 1500 runs like a watch, does not burn oil, and has had zero problems, so I'm hesitant to sell it. The instrument gauges are another story.

Carl, your wife drives a truck? That's pretty tough... :D

[Vegas69]

We don't give a **** about your old wore out truck. :unibrow:

[Track Junky]

The low compression could be froma bad valve. I work for gm, on the heavyline side, and very rarely that stock engines loose pistons or block damage. I see more often on 4.8, 5.3, 6.0 is a valve seat burnt. I have 2 6.0 and a 5.3 with burnt valves on the floor nxt to my tool box. One actually has a burnt exh valve on cyl #7 lol. What I'm trying to get at, hopefully they did a leak down test also, and not just going on a compression, could save u money.

Good point. Didn't ask them about a leak down but to be honest I'm tired of hearing the old piston slap problem the 6.0's had at cold starts. I was told this problem has been fixed. Any insight?

[quote=Ron in SoCal;389732]Wow Gae...I read that headline and thought it was your race motor. Painful, none the less, but glad it wasn't that![/quote

You and me both buddy!!

[Track Junky]

so you have a new $5600 piston ash tray, lol

Already have a couple of those, lol

Bummer! More fun spending motor money on track toys vs. transportation tools. Guess the upside is it's not a Duramax.

That sucks, Sorry to hear it


Takes away from the toy fund big time!!

[Track Junky]

Yeah me too! Sucks both ways.... :mad:

We don't give a **** about your old wore out truck. :unibrow:

**** happens but timing was good. I'm lucky I wasn't in the middle of a big project.

Todd, bout time you manned up and took the key board away from Kellie :lol:

[Vegas69]

This is Kelli typing, he's just politely telling me what to write.:lol:

[Track Junky]

All things considered she's been a great truck. I drive it like I do my car and it has spent all of it's life towing and hauling. I even towed a 2005 Duramax that was towing a car a half mile to a motel over by Buttonwillow. His EGT's got to hot chasing me down I-5 during my 85-90 mph pulls.

The long wheel base(crew cab long bed 4x4)makes this thing handle great through the mountains on the way to Tahoe during ski season and I have had many pull next to me in the parking lots after hammering up the mountains telling me in astonishment how well it handled as they tried to keep up with me.

Bottom line, I love my truck!!

[Track Junky]

This is Kelli typing, he's just politely telling me what to write.:lol:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Just glad your crabby ass is back :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[intocarss]

Good point. Didn't ask them about a leak down but to be honest I'm tired of hearing the old piston slap problem the 6.0's had at cold starts. I was told this problem has been fixed. Any insight?

I have a 02 2500 HD crew cab long bed with the 8.1 and it knocks on start up too. Has 117xxx mi on it. It towed my fully loaded 22' enclosed with a cab over camper on it great!! Except for having to tow a gas station behind it... it has been a great truck .

[Vegas69]

Seriously , why don't you just rebuild the current engine. Valve job, bearings, rings, pistons,etc

[Bucketlist2012]

That really sucks...

I am rolling the 200K mile f 150, and i am thankful to have gotten this far.

Wife wanted a newer truck real bad... I wanted my car upgraded...

Thankfully the truck held up , or my Z/28 would still be a :rofl: bucket of bolts..:rofl: :rofl: :cheers:

[Track Junky]

Seriously , why don't you just rebuild the current engine. Valve job, bearings, rings, pistons,etc

I cant wait that long. I had to put one job off for 3 days already and I'm hoping the sheet rocker doesn't finish early on another. The new GM 6.0 shows up on Monday and I will have my truck back on Wednesday.

A recommendation to all that still have the original motors in their trucks:

I changed all fluids on this truck as recommended by the manufactures's recommendations from engine to tranny to differential and transfer case. I switched to synthetic oil early on which I wont do on my new motor. That stuff loves to seep through gaskets.

Be sure to warm them up good before driving them. Due to my recent impatience of not waiting to warm the truck up until the piston slap stopped I think I created the recent rear main seal leak due to the pistons not being expanded in the cylinders and jarring the crankshaft around. Just my opinion.

[Track Junky]

That really sucks...

I am rolling the 200K mile f 150, and i am thankful to have gotten this far.

Wife wanted a newer truck real bad... I wanted my car upgraded...

Thankfully the truck held up , or my Z/28 would still be a :rofl: bucket of bolts..:rofl: :rofl: :cheers:

Exact reason I dont buy a new truck. :thumbsup: :cheers:

[DENTGUY]

My 07 Trailblazer SS with LS2 definitely has the piston slap. It came with synthetic and I've kept it that way. But I tell ya, when its cold in the morning its not hard to hear it. Cant believe I'm 900 miles away from 100,000 miles on her. Wouldn't trade her for anything. If this motor goes, I'll build it and quite driving it for work :thumbsup:

[CarlC]

Carl, your wife drives a truck? That's pretty tough... :D

Better yet, my old work truck :thumbsup:

[carkrazy1987]

They are very durable, the engines I pull out came from fleet trucks, that run 24 - 7. No joke, they put 100k in 3 months on these trucks in the cane field. They just rotate drivers at shift changes and keep going. The random valve spring or seat seems to be the most commen issue. As on street trucks, trucks with afm lifters have had burning oil issues. Depending on the truck, its a simple valve cover issue, or a splash shield in the oil pan. Not too many piston slap issues anymore. A well take care engine will outlast everything else on the truck. And I doubt the rear main was leaking, very rare that they do, most likely the oil pan/oil cooler to pan gskt. Hubs and water pumps are big problems after 100k. Besides that, tough trucks, and even tougher motors. Oh and the cluster, they fixed that by gettin rid of the pesky thing lol

[carkrazy1987]

And Wednesday?!? When did u give em the ok? That's a slow shop. Us, as long as u give us the ok by 4pm, u can have ur truck back round lunch next day lol.

[Efi69Cam]

Thanks for the practical side of this. It's always good to know what the long-term weaknesses of a system are.

In that light, at 155k how is the overall condition of a well maintained 5.3 - 6.0 that sees little towing/heavy-duty use? My wifes '05 5.3 Silverado 1500 runs like a watch, does not burn oil, and has had zero problems, so I'm hesitant to sell it. The instrument gauges are another story.

I had the stepper motors in my wife's 2003 Suburban cluster replaced by a local speedometer shop. Cost less than $200.

[Track Junky]

And Wednesday?!? When did u give em the ok? That's a slow shop. Us, as long as u give us the ok by 4pm, u can have ur truck back round lunch next day lol.

OK was given on a Saturday and they are a pretty busy shop. I went to the shop today and the motor had been delivered. I should have taken a pic. Looked so cute all wrapped up on its little pallet :lol:

[Track Junky]

They are very durable, the engines I pull out came from fleet trucks, that run 24 - 7. No joke, they put 100k in 3 months on these trucks in the cane field. They just rotate drivers at shift changes and keep going. The random valve spring or seat seems to be the most commen issue. As on street trucks, trucks with afm lifters have had burning oil issues. Depending on the truck, its a simple valve cover issue, or a splash shield in the oil pan. Not too many piston slap issues anymore. A well take care engine will outlast everything else on the truck. And I doubt the rear main was leaking, very rare that they do, most likely the oil pan/oil cooler to pan gskt. Hubs and water pumps are big problems after 100k. Besides that, tough trucks, and even tougher motors. Oh and the cluster, they fixed that by gettin rid of the pesky thing lol

Thanks for the info. I was told this one shouldn't have the piston slap issue but we'll see.

[CarlC]

I had the stepper motors in my wife's 2003 Suburban cluster replaced by a local speedometer shop. Cost less than $200.

$30 for all of the stepper motors for every gauge on Ebay and one hour (seriously) labor. It's a super-simple repair.

[Track Junky]

So I got my truck back last night at 7:30 p.m.. The new GM long block 6.0's per like a kitten with no piston slap.:thumbsup:

[intocarss]

So I got my truck back last night at 7:30 p.m.. The new GM long block 6.0's per like a kitten with no piston slap.:thumbsup:

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Ummgawa]

324k on my 2001 1500 Silverado. Rebuilt 4L60 once, waterpump once, brakes and tune ups. I drove it from Atlanta to SEMA, then PCH and eventually back home. I have no issues with my truck. Greatest vehicle I have ever owned.period.

[Track Junky]

I expected mine to go to at least 250K. The only thing I replaced in the 155K was the brakes and even the fronts went to 100K. Rears to 135K.

I agree, great trucks!!

[Bucketlist2012]

I expected mine to go to at least 250K. The only thing I replaced in the 155K was the brakes and even the fronts went to 100K. Rears to 135K.

I agree, great trucks!!

Too Funny... I baby my truck, so Brakes and other parts, tires, hardly ever wear out..

I save all my hard driving for the 350Z, and soon My Crazy Black Beast..

But at 16, I would have beat the truck into the ground...At 52, I know how to save money in one place,the truck, and i sure know how to burn up money on the Z/28...i am proving that..

But you can get a lot of miles out of GM or Ford trucks...Like 200K to 300K and more..:lateral: :cheers: :woot:

[Vince@Meanstreets]

dibs on the old 6.0L. LOL

I thought I was the only one. 60% left on my original brakes at 118K. I'll warm my 8.1L up before I head out in the AM now. Thank you.

[Track Junky]

dibs on the old 6.0L. LOL

I thought I was the only one. 60% left on my original brakes at 118K. I'll warm my 8.1L up before I head out in the AM now. Thank you.

Definitely amazed on how long the brakes lasted.

Vince, would have givin' you the 6.0 but they gave me $600 for the core.