Corvette Z06 Forum banner

NEWBIE needing HELP!!!!

3K views 13 replies 8 participants last post by  lebvette 
#1 ·
Hey guys just purchased my son a 2008 Z06, since my son is 2years old I guess Ill enjoy it for now. LOL.
Anyways I just recently purchased this Z and it is my first LS7. I drove it around my town for about 4 days and everything was great. Then I started hearing a tapping sound on the passenger side of the engine. Me not being a great mechanic, took the car to my local dealership and told them about the tick and asked the guys to change out the oil. Just in case.
I came back a few hours later and the mechanic told me that he had found "light metal shavings" in the oil. It was decided that he was going to remove the oil sump and when he did he found more shavings in the sump. He also said that he "Believed" that the tapping sound was coming from a lifter.
Dealership said they would contact the extended warranty that I purchased and get to work on replacing the oil sump and lifter. The next day I was told that the extended warranty company had denied my claim since I had just purchased the car and any damage that was in the car is pre-existing and not covered. :WTF:
I told the dealership to give me back my car and I took it to a Tune shop in Houston called EngalndGreen. These guys are very well respected in Houston. I talked to the mechanic at EngalndGreen and he took my car for a test drive. He told me that he heard nothing in my car that alarmed him and said that the LS7 is noisy. When I told him about the metal shavings, he said he has done countless of oil changes on Z06's and that it is not rare to find this in the oil.
Basically he said my car was fine and that I should not worry and enjoy it. Im still worried.
My car runs great, it does not overheat, my oil pressure is normal but that ticking sound and metal shavings is killing my brain. I work offshore on oil rigs in Africa and wont be back home to the States until Sept 23rd so my car is parked and noone drives it but me.
What do you guys think I should do? Should I take it back to EnglandGreen and spend some money on getting work done to it including a new Cam package. I need some advice and I am sure you guys could help me out.

Thanking you guys in advance,
EJ
 
See less See more
#2 ·
just changed the oil in my 07Z last week, very fine metal shavings (metallic powder almost like graphite anti-seize) on drain plug magnet. It varies with mileage driven between oil changes and I always check the drain plugs for this. Use drain plugs with magnetic tips to catch this material, it is just wear products from the engine, nothing abnormal.

For noise troubleshooting, get a mechanics stethoscope to pinpoint any engine noises, LS7 is known for being loud, compare to another LS7 if available.
 
#5 ·
OK guys, so I just got an email back from EnglandGreen. Below is the email from them. What do you guys think about the work and the pricing. Should I bite the bullet now and pay up for some piece of mind?

EJ,
No, you are definitely not overreacting. What you describe is a very common problem with the C6 Z06 LS7 engines.I apologise for the misinformation my technician gave you - I was not at the shop when you came over.

To do a cursory inspection requires that the valve springs be removed. To do a proper inspection requires the cylinder heads to be removed. As the labor is the biggest cost, it makes sense to just go ahead and get the remediation work done on your cylinder heads.

We have done this same cylinder head remediation job on 12 C6 Z06s this year already, so I can give you a very accurate price. It is $3495

• Remove and replace cylinder heads
• Hot tank, install bronze valve guides, stainless steel exhaust valves, reuse light titanium intake valves, 3 angle valve job, new valve seals, new dual springs with titanium retainers, steel seats and HD locks.
• LS7 Head Gaskets
• LS7 Exhaust Gaskets
• LS7 lifters
• ARP Head Bolts
• Fluids - engine oil, filter & coolant
• Comp Cams Rocker Trunion Kit
• Installation of Rocker Trunion kit
 
#8 ·
Just a word here about the warranty being denied by the warranty company. That is only part of the story. The dealer is typically on the hook for any repairs in the first 30 days because the warranty company is run by a 3rd party vendor for the dealers benefit, not yours. I'm sure if you read your agreement you will see that they are on thin ground trying to deny you what you have coming. I would contact the BBB in your area they will take up the fight for you and probably get you some results. The question now is if you didn't buy the car from a Chevy dealer that has a certified corvette specialist on staff, do you trust them to repair the car? Also I would think you being armed with the statement from the dealer that the problem is a pre-existing one they are going to have to give you some assistance. Don't just let them blow you off.
 
#9 ·
That is a fair price for the work being performed, especially from a reputable shop. Since you are paying the labor to remove the heads, I would have them install stage II heads and a custom dyno tune, that's an easy 40-50 RWHP gain. If you dont have smog requirements I'd put a cam in too!
Below is the invoice for similar work done to my car:

Synergy Stage 2 head job, new valves, springs, ect. All fixes for valve issues.

Job01 Stage 2 Head Job Labor: 10.00 hrs@$120.00/hr=$1,200.00

17800568 GM Head Bolts, new style-N 2.0 @ 40.00 =$ 80.00
12582179 7.0 Head Gasket-N 2.0 @ 60.00 =$ 120.00
HEADS Heads-WCCH Stage II 1.0 @ 2000.00 =$ 2000.00
COOLANT Coolant-N 2.0 @ 10.00 =$ 20.00
5141 NGK TR6GP-N 8.0 @ 5.00 =$ 40.00 Heads Total = $2260.00

Job02 Amsoil 5W-30, 8QT =$105.00

PF46 Oil Filter-N 1.0 @ 9.00 =$ 9.00
OIL WASTE FEE Waste Fee-N 1.0 @ 3.00 =$ 3.00
AM5-30W Amsoil 5-30W-N 8.0 @ 11.50 =$ 92.00 104.00

Job03 Tuning Labor: 5.00 hrs@$100.00/hr=$500.00

Status: New Work Order

Payments:


Labor 1,700.00
Parts 240.00
Non Taxable 2,124.00
Tax 21.60
Total $4,085.60

The shop kept my factory heads as a core charge.
 
#10 · (Edited)
I bought my 2008 C6Z in April 2010 with 7950 miles on it. Met the prior owner at the Certified Preowned Chevy dealer, who said he changed the oil 3 times in the 2 & 1/4 years he owned it. He had nothing to gain, as he already sold it back to the dealer after an argument with his wife. I still talk to him occasionally.

Engine valvetrain has always been a little noisy, but "symmetrical" sound to the engine. First oil change, some metal shavings noted. Second and Third, not so much, but would occasionally reappear in subsequent oil changes.

In December 2013, on a normal drive into work (@ 33k miles), I had a much more pronounced tick (not deep rod knock) but definitely upper valvetrain. It happened on a 20 mile drive. I drove the car short-shifted in low gears to dealer and then had it towed to a second dealer. I was told that the problem was "inproperly hardened roller lifters", which ended up taking out the cam lobe. On LS engines heads have to come off to reach lifters and cam. Dealer said the GM would cover about 1/3rd of the cost under a GM good faith warranty claim, as my car had low miles, but was 1 year past the 5 year 100k warranty. I paid about $2400 for the work, but bill did not show the GM gratis warranty contribution. However, cost seems consistent with your costs. A friend confirmed the cost, but calling another Corvette specialist dealer in the country pretending to be my situation. Car still runs fine, but I have not run it very hard. I need to take it to the drag strip and do some runs to acid test their 12 month 12k mile work warranty. I would be curious to know if your problem is this or the more commonly reported valveguide issue. My heads were reused and I had no word of any valveguide issue, but then again I never got to talk to the mechanic.

Also, need to mention that they chewed up the fins on power steering cooler (I discovered at pick up time and had them replace), and they completely overtorqued the lug nuts with an air-hammer (even a hardened-brittle McGard lock nut), which fortunately did not shatter after I had to run an AC 12 Amp electric hammer wrench on it for 50 seconds to break it free. This was Schumaker Chev in West Palm Beach Florida by the way.

Oh, and your grief from extended warranty insurance is another reason I just stay away from that. I asked service manager about extended warranty add-on, AFTER repair work, as I know that a replacement crate LS7 is $14k alone. I was told it would be $4000 for a couple years of coverage!! Are you kidding me! I have a friend who took his C5 in for investigation/repair of a rear diff noise. However, that dealer said that they did not know what the problem was for sure, and that if they took apart and found it was something else, that my friend would have to pay the $800 labor fee, as the Ext Warr insurance would not cover!! So what good is EW insurance, if you can't take anything apart to fully diagnose? Just like any insurance company - scumbags.
 
#11 · (Edited)
Shop definitely knows their stuff and is highly recommended by other vette owners. Hate 3rd party warranties!!! Your initial post alone just added to my on going hate with them. Sh***y 3rd party warranties!! GMPP if you have a chance ot BUST!

As far as the sound, it could be normal, it could be not. It sou ds like a sewi g machi e thats for sure.

When I changed my oil, I too got the same result. Looked like mercury, or metal paste. Thats the cam and other grindig parts wearing down, and from what ive read is normal. Nothing to be worried about. What I would do is CANCEL warranty, and get the heads replaced. Ive been runni g my Z hard for the past year, and GM engineering is holding up.. knock on wood. I have no warranty, but did get cam/heads and other bolt ons added. :) DAMN 3RD PARTY WARRANTIES
 
#12 ·
Man guys I apologize for the delay in response, Internet access sucks out here in Africa. God I cant wait to get back to the States in 2 1/2 weeks.

Anyways I appreciate all your comments and after going over them, I am going to pull the trigger on taking my car to the shop and getting the head work done just to be on the safe side.

As for the warranty goes, Im with you on this Rupertpupkin. These 3rd party warranties suck.

Well again guys thanks for all your help. Only been a member here for about a week and I already can see how helpful all you guys can be.
EJ
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top