Engine issues after car sits for extended period - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

bubbagumper6 · 08-27-2019, 11:22 AM

I have a 2010 v6 with around 117k miles on it. Several times now I've had an issue where after the car sits idle for a few days it runs like crap when I start it back up. Specifically it shudders when I press on the gas. But then the issue usually goes away on its own.

This last time it sat for 5 days at the airport parking lot. Started up ok, pulled out onto the street fine, but when I hit the highway around 50mph it started shuddering hard when i pressed the gas. Check engine light also came on. Pulled off, turned the car off, plugged in my code reader, turned the car back on, CEL light was off, no codes, and has been running fine since. (This was 4 days ago)

Is there some issue with this engine when it sits for a few days???

SquawkVFR · 08-27-2019, 11:32 AM

Consider the things an engine needs to run. Unless the air went bad or someone stole your spark plugs, you probably got some bad gas or moisture where it shouldn’t be... fill up with some good gas and get some sea foam ASAP and see if that doesn’t clear things up.

In the future, make sure you park it with as full of a tank as possible and pour in a bottle of fuel stabilizer... that’s what I do for long spells.

bubbagumper6 · 08-27-2019, 03:32 PM

I think this has only happened a total of 3 times and its always been when I left the car at the airport. This last time was only 5 days. And shutting the car off then turning it back on fixed the issue so doesnt seem like it would be the gas...

My first thought was an oil starvation problem.

SquawkVFR · 08-27-2019, 04:00 PM

Does it happen around the same spot at the same speed when you leave the airport?

Greenhornet2 · 08-27-2019, 04:55 PM

How old is your battery? Might be on the brink. Low charge when it starts takes a while for the alternator to charge it back up full

CamaroFred · 08-27-2019, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SquawkVFR

Consider the things an engine needs to run. Unless the air went bad or someone stole your spark plugs, you probably got some bad gas or moisture where it shouldn’t be... fill up with some good gas and get some sea foam ASAP and see if that doesn’t clear things up.

In the future, make sure you park it with as full of a tank as possible and pour in a bottle of fuel stabilizer... that’s what I do for long spells.

5 days is not long term storage. A winter or summer is long term.

SquawkVFR · 08-27-2019, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroFred

5 days is not long term storage. A winter or summer is long term.

That’s true....it’s probably something else.

bubbagumper6 · 08-28-2019, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenhornet2

How old is your battery? Might be on the brink. Low charge when it starts takes a while for the alternator to charge it back up full

The battery is quite old (probably original) but never fails to start the car and once its running all power is drawn from the alternator so I wouldn't expect that to be the issue either....

SquawkVFR · 08-28-2019, 08:18 AM

Good luck with your issue. Hope it’s something simple.

lbls1 · 08-28-2019, 08:33 AM

My signature cars have been known to sit for months, yet there are no issues when I retrieve them. It sounds a bit like a timing issue that you have, that perhaps gets aggravated from erratic driving.

Tajefe Couple · 08-28-2019, 05:48 PM

TB issue???

CamaroFred · 08-28-2019, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubbagumper6

The battery is quite old (probably original) but never fails to start the car and once its running all power is drawn from the alternator so I wouldn't expect that to be the issue either....

That should be true, but if the battery is drawing a disproportionate amount of power to charge...

SummitWhite11 · 08-28-2019, 09:21 PM

I have a 2010 and had the same issues you are experiencing. Only difference was it sat for 1.5 months. I then hooked the car up the battery tender. Once I fixed that issue.. I then refilled the car with fresh gas and added fuel stabilizer. Problem was solved. Since then I have not had any issues since my last post on 3.21.19 See link below...

https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=546938

Greenhornet2 · 08-29-2019, 10:48 AM

Batteries on their way out do strange things on these cars

08-27-2019, 11:22 AM	#1
bubbagumper6 Drives: 2010 LT RS Join Date: May 2013 Location: United States Posts: 37	Engine issues after car sits for extended period I have a 2010 v6 with around 117k miles on it. Several times now I've had an issue where after the car sits idle for a few days it runs like crap when I start it back up. Specifically it shudders when I press on the gas. But then the issue usually goes away on its own. This last time it sat for 5 days at the airport parking lot. Started up ok, pulled out onto the street fine, but when I hit the highway around 50mph it started shuddering hard when i pressed the gas. Check engine light also came on. Pulled off, turned the car off, plugged in my code reader, turned the car back on, CEL light was off, no codes, and has been running fine since. (This was 4 days ago) Is there some issue with this engine when it sits for a few days???

08-27-2019, 11:32 AM	#2
SquawkVFR Account Suspended Drives: 2010 Camaro Join Date: May 2014 Location: Alabama Posts: 1,971	Consider the things an engine needs to run. Unless the air went bad or someone stole your spark plugs, you probably got some bad gas or moisture where it shouldn’t be... fill up with some good gas and get some sea foam ASAP and see if that doesn’t clear things up. In the future, make sure you park it with as full of a tank as possible and pour in a bottle of fuel stabilizer... that’s what I do for long spells. Last edited by SquawkVFR; 08-27-2019 at 03:49 PM.

08-27-2019, 04:55 PM	#5
Greenhornet2 Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS LS3 Whipple Join Date: May 2019 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,925	How old is your battery? Might be on the brink. Low charge when it starts takes a while for the alternator to charge it back up full __________________ Whipple 2.9 CAI ID1050x injectors ZL1 Pump JRE FPCM JMS Voltage booster JRE Rough Idle blower cam BTR .660 springs CHE trunnion kit 1 7/8 Speed Engineering Borla Atak JRE scoop 1.5" lowering springs BMR trailing arms and toe links Cradle inserts 704WHP 603WTQ 93 octane

08-28-2019, 08:33 AM	#10
lbls1 Drives: 2002 Camaro SS SOM; 2015 Malibu LTZ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 4,021	My signature cars have been known to sit for months, yet there are no issues when I retrieve them. It sounds a bit like a timing issue that you have, that perhaps gets aggravated from erratic driving. __________________ '02 CAMARO SS SOM; 5.7L LS1/FLS6B '08 TBSS AWD Black Granite Metallic '15 Malibu LTZ 2LZ Turbo *'14 CAMARO ZL1 Blue Ray Metallic*

08-28-2019, 05:48 PM	#11
Tajefe Couple Drives: Never just fly under the radar Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,531 View My Garage	TB issue??? __________________ 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 Old Skool

08-27-2019, 03:32 PM	#3
bubbagumper6 Drives: 2010 LT RS Join Date: May 2013 Location: United States Posts: 37	I think this has only happened a total of 3 times and its always been when I left the car at the airport. This last time was only 5 days. And shutting the car off then turning it back on fixed the issue so doesnt seem like it would be the gas... My first thought was an oil starvation problem.

08-27-2019, 04:00 PM	#4
SquawkVFR Account Suspended Drives: 2010 Camaro Join Date: May 2014 Location: Alabama Posts: 1,971	Does it happen around the same spot at the same speed when you leave the airport?

08-28-2019, 08:18 AM	#9
SquawkVFR Account Suspended Drives: 2010 Camaro Join Date: May 2014 Location: Alabama Posts: 1,971	Good luck with your issue. Hope it’s something simple.

08-28-2019, 09:21 PM	#13
SummitWhite11 Drives: 2010 2LT/RS Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Palm Coast, FL Posts: 1,174	I have a 2010 and had the same issues you are experiencing. Only difference was it sat for 1.5 months. I then hooked the car up the battery tender. Once I fixed that issue.. I then refilled the car with fresh gas and added fuel stabilizer. Problem was solved. Since then I have not had any issues since my last post on 3.21.19 See link below... https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=546938 __________________ 2010 2LT/RS ZL1 Appearance package, Flow Master American Thunder Cat Back Exhaust w/ QUAD TIPS, K&N Typhoon CAI, Ported VMAX TB, OEM GM Brembo Brakes Package w/ Hawks Carbon Ceramic Pads, Night Owl Halo Kit (WIFI), FRONT/REAR Carbon Fiber Wrapped Bowties, Rear Oracle Blue LED Bowtie, Oracle Ghosted Painted Side LED Markers, Silver Side Faded Gills, OEM Satin Camaro Fuel Door, OEM Strut Tower Brace, Detroit Speed Engineering 1.5" Lowering Springs, Koni Orange STR.T Struts, Z28 rear LCA's, Black Magic rear 32" sway bar, 1LE front sway bar w/ DSE end links. Evil Energy Catch Can.

08-29-2019, 10:48 AM	#14
Greenhornet2 Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS LS3 Whipple Join Date: May 2019 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,925	Batteries on their way out do strange things on these cars __________________ Whipple 2.9 CAI ID1050x injectors ZL1 Pump JRE FPCM JMS Voltage booster JRE Rough Idle blower cam BTR .660 springs CHE trunnion kit 1 7/8 Speed Engineering Borla Atak JRE scoop 1.5" lowering springs BMR trailing arms and toe links Cradle inserts 704WHP 603WTQ 93 octane