2001CamaroGuy

iTrader: (6)

01 Z28 with heads/cam/headers....BURNS OIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


It has burned oil from day 1 and hot rodding only made it worse. I am trying to hold off a re-bore because ultimately I want to re-sleeve to a 388 so the $1500-$2000 spent now would be money "thrown out".


The motor has just over 40K miles (never floated a valve, never had detonation, no spray, etc......pretty easy life). Can I just pull the heads, unbolt the rod caps, push the pistons up enough to get the rings off (leave the skirt in the bore), and replace with stock bore Total Seal rings?

I know I will have to replace the rod bolts (going to use ARPs) once I unbolt them and I "think" people have said the rod bolts can be replaced on the car.

Country Boy

iTrader: (24)

No... Youll have to hone the cylinders so the rings and the bores wear in together so they can seal. The rings wont seal if you dont.

2001CamaroGuy

iTrader: (6)

then how did GM replace the warrenty/recall 01 pistons? Surely they didn't re-bore the block....or did they?

Country Boy

iTrader: (24)

I dont know what GM did, but your talking about a dealer with a stock motor that only has to last the remainder of the warrenty, not a performance oriented motor with worked heads, cam and more compresstion

Smoke_Ford

First of all, you cant bore the block. Secondly, GM honed the cylinders out.

Scalpel

iTrader: (4)

According to the TSB from GM they were instructed to NOT hone the cylinders out. They were instructed to just replace the rings, no honing of the cylinders.

Country Boy

iTrader: (24)

Honing = Time... The dealer is going to do it the fastest way possible when they have to eat the costs. Call any machine shop and ask them and theyll tell you the same, that you have to hone for new rings.

Scalpel

iTrader: (4)

Country, I was just stating what the TSB indicated. I would NEVER accept a re-ring without having the cylinders honed. That's just common sense

LS1x2

iTrader: (11)

GM did not hone the cylinders. They problem also wasn't fixed for most people who had GM re-ring their motors.

Rhode Island Red

iTrader: (2)

I have a very early 2002 Firehawk and burned oil from day 1 as well. a lot of the oil get through the PCV valve ... that is part of the oil consumption problem (check the throttle body for oil puddle with your finger...while it's not running)

another trick to reduce oil in our oil-eaters is to do the LS6 valley-pan mod - it has an air/oil separator that ls1's do not ... this will help a little (i haven't done this yet but should help that part consumption problem, but not cure it.

despit the pcv oil, I still burn oil (piston-ring blow by) as this is the only way to account for 1-3 quarts per 3000 miles... I have been after Gm for a long time to fix my problem (it's under warrentee ) but finding a competent mechanic at a pontiac dealer that Knows LS1's thouroughly and its issues (would you trust them to work on your engine... if they almost never work on your model of car?) ... IN the NE .. is like winning at power ball.. that being said.. and what y'all said about them not rehoning, It looks like GM sent us up the proverbial creek without a paddle

looks like I will start saving for that re-sleeve myself a little earlier ... I have a feeling that the oil burners wont have long to live once they get into high milage

I'm in same sutation .. just less milage... let my know what you do to fix GM's little oil feature

antz01ta

iTrader: (3)

has anyone thought about bad valve seals?

Country Boy

iTrader: (24)

I know what you ment bud I just wanted to make sure whoever reads this knows that its not OK to just pull the pistons and add new rings without honing

Scalpel

iTrader: (4)

No doubt, that's why you're a moderator , you've gotta look out for others

2001CamaroGuy

iTrader: (6)

damnit....this sucks some big ones........