Gen 5 Camaro Internal Engine Tech - 2010 Camaro and Piston Slap

Can you here loud piston slap when motor is first started and cold. My 2002 Camaro has it bad. Has GM fixed the problem? Just wondering if the 2010 Camaro sounds like a wheat thrasher when cold?

i know exactly what you are talking about, my brothers old pickup had it. it was an 04 silverado with a 5.3L. and to answer your question, no i dont hear any noise when the engine is started in my new camaro.

I've never heard of any issues with the 5th gens, mine's got about 8k miles on it & beat on hard no slap, my 07 tahoe has 70k miles on it. But I never had an issue with piston slap with my 02 formula when it was a stock bottom end car. Been lucky I guess.

maybe you didnt have any oil
not in issue in the 2010's

I would assume that piston slap is long gone on the LS3s and L99s...even my LS2 C6 has no hints of slap. :nod:

both my cars have it. im not concerned.

No noise here either.

It's just your engine getting it's pimp slap arm in shape.

I get some in my 2006 TBSS when it's 10F out.

Where I live if it's 10f, then hell just froze over.

I get some in my 2006 TBSS when it's 10F out.



Ha ha, thats nice! my DD cavalier does it really bad when its that cold also.

It's normally the rockers you hear and not piston slap on a LS1. Try a different oil, the European formula castrol synthetic usually makes the sound non existent.

I also have piston slap when its cold (and its cold here 6 months out of the year in Nebraska).

So i am also curious if the 2010s have the same issue when its COLD. Anybody with a 2010 live where its cold have any thoughts on this issue?

my 2010 2SS has none what so ever, but i also have less than 1,000 miles. IMO if it doesnt have it now at 15 degrees then it probly never will. I have a 08 F-150 that has some piston slap at that temp. so i would say the ls3 is good to go.

02 ls1 I have is like a Greek destroyer ... 2010 quiet

02 ls1 I have is like a Greek destroyer


nice, i like that!

i would say it depends on the temperature... and also the motor. im in the army up here in alaska and it gets down to -60 at times and at that temp everything slaps when you start it up.. My 2000 5.3 does it on the regular when its about -10 and my wifes 06 TBSS with an LS2 does it as well just have to let them warm up a little. I think alot of the noise you get is also from the aluminum heads, they transfer that noise alot more than the older steel heads back in the day

It's normally the rockers you hear and not piston slap on a LS1. Try a different oil, the European formula castrol synthetic usually makes the sound non existent.

I've heard the Euro formula Castrol is good stuff and I'd like to give it a try. I've looked for it before but I couldn't find any. Where can I find it?

I have a 5th gen and live in Pittsburgh, Pa. I have a piston slap 80% of the time I remote start my car or cold start that goes away after about 1 min. I'm taking my car to the dealer tonight to have them look at it tomorrow morning. My 07 TBSS had the same issue so I don't see them trying to fix it.

This is a well documented and thoroughly discussed topic with LS1 owners.

In the end it comes down to this... it is a hit or miss problem with this motor. GM is aware of it, and in certain cases dealers have even been known to repair said issue. I have never heard of it causing any problems, other than just being annoying (at least from all the forums I've read). It is typically worse when the motor is cold, and subsides once warm. Using heavier oil has been known to help.

Hope this helps.

-Rob