Piston Slap??
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2005
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Wow, those people really take the problem seriously. I don't seem to have the problem (yet), but I looked into it before I bought an LS1 and the consensus seemed to be that it *was* harmless albeit annoying. Which is it? Are these people just extremists who want new engines and think the squeaky wheel will get the grease, or this really a serious problem that we should all trade our LS1's in for Mustangs over?
RIP April 14, 2008
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: the land where cars repeatedly hit my bumper when I'm in the store...
no problem here. occurs on start up when cold (occasionally when warm) for a couple of seconds (and I mean ten seconds, max!) but I have never exeperienced a problem that was rooted in the slap, and not experienced it at all since I switched to Belgian synthetic Castrol Syntec oil. Of course its also been warm for a bit now so the oil may or may not have anything to do with it. Either way, just more personality points for the LS1. 
Brad
Brad
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Michigan
Originally Posted by GoldenBird
Wow, those people really take the problem seriously. I don't seem to have the problem (yet), but I looked into it before I bought an LS1 and the consensus seemed to be that it *was* harmless albeit annoying. Which is it? Are these people just extremists who want new engines and think the squeaky wheel will get the grease, or this really a serious problem that we should all trade our LS1's in for Mustangs over?
In some cases it warrants warranty work but in most all the others it is simply characteristics of an aluminum block engine and what happens to the engine when it is cold vs. warm. The LS1 being an aluminum block is made to function optimaly when warm and the engine has expanded.
There was an article in one of my magazines that went over it in some detail so someone like me could understand it but I do not remember which mag it was.
It also gave some explanation as to why you will lose (burn) some oil every 3,000 miles.
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Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 83
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From: Warren,Mi
the piston slap an actual problem for most ls1 cars mine has and ive read several articals that gm is aware of it.the slap is due to the connecting rods.which have been changed in the ls2 engine.although the noise is there its not a problem.gm has found no running problems due to the noise
Launching!
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 295
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From: Colorado Springs
Originally Posted by ls1powrdta
the piston slap an actual problem for most ls1 cars mine has and ive read several articals that gm is aware of it.the slap is due to the connecting rods.which have been changed in the ls2 engine.although the noise is there its not a problem.gm has found no running problems due to the noise
