Ls1 camaro threw a rod on cold start?!
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Mooresville, NC
Ls1 camaro threw a rod on cold start?! I daily drive a 2001 Camaro z28 with only 61,xxx original miles that was garage kept since its birth. The car has and intake lid, longtube headers with full exhaust and tuned on 93 octane. I got of school last night and drove it home for 15 minutes I got on it a little but not flogging it, nothing out of ordinary. I parked it over night and got up this morning and it was pouring outside and I go to start my car. It's a manual so I press in the clutch and turn my key over. ON THE FIRST TURN, THE ENGINES CYLINDER 7 THROWS A ROD SMACKS CHUNK OUT OF MY BLOCK. I have never ever in my life seen this cirumstance happen to any engine let alone the strength of an LS1 engine?? I changed the oil a week ago and nothing out of the ordinary with no signs of catastrophic engine failure. Any input would be appreciated I'm just lost on why this happened. Thanks
It doesn't seep through the O-rings. If your manifold bolts aren't tight, the water comes down the cowl to the intake manifold and directly into the cylinder.
But it's definitely a hydrolock issue from rain making it into the motor. Sorry.
But it's definitely a hydrolock issue from rain making it into the motor. Sorry.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Mooresville, NC
Thanks for response, the intake manifold is tight and I don't see how water would have seeped through the o rings being as the car is such low mileage and kept away from weather. Plus the O rings should seal not only the A/F but the atomosphere to the exterior. If that happened it was a such a low percentage of possibility and I have the worst luck.
Yup, sounds like Hydrolocked to me, especially since you said it was pouring rain outside.
Also, when you say intake lid, which one. If the filter is exposed that could of been the reason.
Also, when you say intake lid, which one. If the filter is exposed that could of been the reason.
TECH Junkie
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,050
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From: Poplarville, MS
It happened to me. Rubber o-rings and gaskets will shrink over 15 year of service no matter if it is kept in side or not. I think you will find on disassembly that the injectors will pull out of the manifold easily.
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I would think you would notice a vacuum leak if the o rings can't seal.
TECH Addict
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,628
Likes: 30
The problem with these intakes leaking is over time the bolt threads get nasty. So the bolts FEEL tight but the intake is LOOSE. Another problem is with the engine warm the intake expands and seals up fairly well, but when the engine is cold the intake is loose ................... you can guess the rest. I've seen this so many times over and over. Best insurance is to SEAL the WINDSHIELD COWLING so rain water can not shower over the engine every time it rains.
I discovered this early one morning after it rained overnight. I went to start my Formula and it started to crank then slowed down then BAM it started funny. I thought WTH just happened??????? When I tried to restart it no problem started normal but I knew something crazy was going on. SO I popped the hood and discovered the engine was all wet??????? I'm thinking WTH??? why is it wet?????
I closed the hood and got a gallon jug of water then poured it on the windshield...........popped the hood and discovered Niagara Falls dripping all over the engine. I then started looking for the source of this and found the cowling IS NOT sealed so any water just drips onto the engine!
Now its a lot more to sealing this cowling then you would think and it has to be carefully done because even one little tiny water leak can lead to engine carnage.
BE SURE TO TEST IN THE RAIN AFTER YOU DO THIS, WHEN YOU OPEN THE HOOD NO water should be on the engine or dripping onto the engine.
Believe it or not the new Camaros use a plastic cover over the engine to stop this maddnessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss sssss
I discovered this early one morning after it rained overnight. I went to start my Formula and it started to crank then slowed down then BAM it started funny. I thought WTH just happened??????? When I tried to restart it no problem started normal but I knew something crazy was going on. SO I popped the hood and discovered the engine was all wet??????? I'm thinking WTH??? why is it wet?????
I closed the hood and got a gallon jug of water then poured it on the windshield...........popped the hood and discovered Niagara Falls dripping all over the engine. I then started looking for the source of this and found the cowling IS NOT sealed so any water just drips onto the engine!
Now its a lot more to sealing this cowling then you would think and it has to be carefully done because even one little tiny water leak can lead to engine carnage.
BE SURE TO TEST IN THE RAIN AFTER YOU DO THIS, WHEN YOU OPEN THE HOOD NO water should be on the engine or dripping onto the engine.
Believe it or not the new Camaros use a plastic cover over the engine to stop this maddnessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss sssss
Last edited by RockinWs6; Jan 23, 2017 at 02:09 PM.
The problem with these intakes leaking is over time the bolt threads get nasty. So the bolts FEEL tight but the intake is LOOSE. Another problem is with the engine warm the intake expands and seals up fairly well, but when the engine is cold the intake is loose ................... you can guess the rest. I've seen this so many times over and over. Best insurance is to SEAL the WINDSHIELD COWLING so rain water can not shower over the engine every time it rains.
I discovered this early one morning after it rained overnight. I went to start my Formula and it started to crank then slowed down then BAM it started funny. I thought WTH just happened??????? When I tried to restart it no problem started normal but I knew something crazy was going on. SO I popped the hood and discovered the engine was all wet??????? I'm thinking WTH??? why is it wet?????
I closed the hood and got a gallon jug of water then poured it on the windshield...........popped the hood and discovered Niagara Falls dripping all over the engine. I then started looking for the source of this and found the cowling IS NOT sealed so any water just drips onto the engine!
Now its a lot more to sealing this cowling then you would think and it has to be carefully done because even one little tiny water leak can lead to engine carnage.
BE SURE TO TEST IN THE RAIN AFTER YOU DO THIS, WHEN YOU OPEN THE HOOD NO water should be on the engine or dripping onto the engine.
Believe it or not the new Camaros use a plastic cover over the engine to stop this maddnessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss sssss
I discovered this early one morning after it rained overnight. I went to start my Formula and it started to crank then slowed down then BAM it started funny. I thought WTH just happened??????? When I tried to restart it no problem started normal but I knew something crazy was going on. SO I popped the hood and discovered the engine was all wet??????? I'm thinking WTH??? why is it wet?????
I closed the hood and got a gallon jug of water then poured it on the windshield...........popped the hood and discovered Niagara Falls dripping all over the engine. I then started looking for the source of this and found the cowling IS NOT sealed so any water just drips onto the engine!
Now its a lot more to sealing this cowling then you would think and it has to be carefully done because even one little tiny water leak can lead to engine carnage.
BE SURE TO TEST IN THE RAIN AFTER YOU DO THIS, WHEN YOU OPEN THE HOOD NO water should be on the engine or dripping onto the engine.
Believe it or not the new Camaros use a plastic cover over the engine to stop this maddnessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss sssss
TECH Addict
Joined: Mar 2013
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Likes: 30
I really don't care what you all think or believe and I'm not going to hash over this. Read my post and do as you like. Good Luck
