Did the GM fix the "piston slap" issue and "oil burn" ring issue by the '02 model year in the LS1's? I'm in the market for another LS1 car and know these were common problems, just trying to decrease my chance of being screwed down the road.

 

nope, the 01-02's seem to have the most piston slap.

 

Mine doesn't seem to have it especially bad. It will do it a bit when its cold, but none what so ever when it warms up. Also, this car has never burnt a noticeable amount of oil from change to change. Like half a quart, if any. 67.5k and going strong.

 

How about the bad rings...what years were they in the most?

BTW I did a search and did find lots of info, but very little on specific problems for model years.

 

I have a 2002 and no piston slap. No oil loss either. Very nice running engine. If you have any doubts about LS1 reliability look at Consumer Reports. The LS1 is rated "much better than average" for reliability in 2002.

 

'02 was the year the LS6 got coated pistions and I believe the LS1 got them as well. Either way, the largest attempt at fixing the piston slap issue is coming with the LS2, floating wrist pins.

Todd

 

I never hear the corvette people compaining about piston slap...do theirs slap less? Did they fix the piston slap issues by 04?

 

what actually causes the slap?

--matt

 

Piston slap happens in motors where the piston has to much clearance in the cylinder, allowing it to literally slap the cylinder wall. The skirt of the piston moves back and forth nailing the wall on the up on down strokes. On most slappers, this is really pronounced at cold start up, but goes away when warm as the piston heats up and expands, filling the gap. Needless to say this is not really a good thing.

 

My '02 has some piston slap when it is cold. Once it is warmed up I have none. I have no oil burning issues.

My '02 does run like a raped ape so I don't think the piston slap is an issue.

 

If anything it seems like the earliest LS1s are least likely to have piston slap (97-00 C5s or 98-00 F-bodies)

 

i saw that you were talking about piston slap, is this a gm service bulletin issue, i just got mine a couple of weeks ago and have noise when first startup

 

Just got your what? Piston slap? Or service bulletin?

 

The piston slap seems to be normal, just the nature of the beast with alluminum engines. As for the "oil burn/ring issues" that some LS1's have...did they correct this known problem by 2002 model year?

 

Ditto, 01 45K same info.

We also have almost the same HP and 1/4 times

 

I burn no oil, dipstick is still on the full line at
the 3K service interval. My car rattles when
cold but gets quiet when warmed up.

I think people confuse piston slap with normal
cold engine tolerance noises. An old iron SBC
with forged pistons acts the same; cold slap
that gets better as it warms up. This is not an
"issue" - it's materials science, if you built the
thing dead tight at cold it would sieze when hot.

Now, if you still rattle like a diesel when it's up
to operating temp, you've got a piston slap
"issue". If you don't like how it sounds when it
is still warming up, that's an issue of another
sort.

 

sorry it was the car, and the noise i just noticed it

 

Not sure on the f-body's, but the Corvette got the new pistons in spring of 01. New rings in the LS-6 at the start of 02 production, the LS-1 got them a couple of weeks into production.

As for the piston slap issue, couple of things to consider. One is carbon build-up that will cause a "tick" noise on cold start. Use some GM #12345515 to remove and see if this helps. Second, not sure what you are running for oil or filter, but consider a better flowing filter. I am currently running a Baldwin filter and Amsoil 5W-30, which has better high temperature viscosity than Mobil-1. Next change I am going to German Castrol 0W-30, which is available at Autozone. Excellent oil.

 

152,XXX miles and never any piston slap or oil consumption......





......oh yeah, I drive an LT1

 

My '01 car did not have piston slap at start up when I first bought it. The previous owner used 10w-30 syn in it. I just switched to K&N with GC 0w-30 and it started ticking at start up...but goes away after it's warm. I'm not worried about it b/c there are plenty of LS1s running around with plenty of miles on them that have this problem.