engine failure 42000 km - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

jsd · 08-09-2020, 12:26 PM

Hi guys, long time ago, i was online. Today a bad and unbelievable day and experience for me as zl1 enthusiast. I was done a tour, really cruising with the zl1. Them accellerate the car in the first. Engine done a big loud bang, oil comes out, low oil lamp goes on for a second. I took the first out and was able to rollin with the car a few meters to the next space i was sure for parking.
I am not really a mechanic, but i think, when a loud bang like this while i accelarete and the engine then makes some strange rattle the engine is broken totaly.
What a sad day. Car was imported from me in 2012, no gm warranty in switzerland for this exotic car. Engine have 42000 km and i was always careful with this car.

Last year i let replace the supercharger on my cost to prevent a engine failure of cause of the known problems with the superchargers.
Its a 2012 year.

FasNuf · 08-09-2020, 12:30 PM

Pull the valve covers off and inspect the valve train.

Where is the oil coming out from?

jsd · 08-09-2020, 02:29 PM

Was hard to see it on the street with hot engine.
I think it was between the injectors and the exhaust(manifold) on the driver side. The steering rod was full of oil. The entire space under the hood was full of oil vapor and the back of the car as well.

jsd · 08-11-2020, 08:08 AM

its a nice hole in the block. ZL1 Time over for me

FasNuf · 08-11-2020, 09:35 AM

Ouch! That'll hurt. I don't think Flex Seal is gonna help that one. Maybe insurance can help get a crate motor in there. One can dream right?
Sorry for your loss

JB'sZL1 · 08-11-2020, 09:38 AM

A thrown rod often occurs because of low oil. Not a common occurrence in LSA's...

jsd · 08-11-2020, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB'sZL1

A thrown rod often occurs because of low oil. Not a common occurrence in LSA's...

Oil was checking monthly from my side and was never to low. So this will be not the reason.
It will be time for an other car. I was in the play for a new zl1 1 le, but for me gm engines are no more the number one choice

Have a good time guys and enjoy your rides

gtstorey · 08-11-2020, 10:45 AM

I wouldn't leave GM because of one engine failure, although it hurts when your's is the one. The LS series of motors have been as reliable as about any High Performance motor out there. GM has it problems but the LS motor isn't one of them.

jsd · 08-11-2020, 11:16 AM

I am in switzerland , so the situation with gm, waeranty and stuff like this is a little bit different to me. I have to pay a lot more for such cars as in the usa and when some problems occur, gm will not take responsibilty for it. So i have to pay everything my self.
So i prefere to not do the same misstake twice. Driving us cars, enjoying the sound of a v8 was lifestyle mixed with a lot of emotions. A nice bmw or audi or mercedes will never wake the same emotions on me. 😌

Maybe in 20 year again when i will be retired. I will see

JB'sZL1 · 08-11-2020, 11:25 AM

I don't know of a manufacturer that guarantees the engine for 8 or 9 years. If you are so certain it's a defect, it may be worthwhile to investigate. Conversely, the LSA is long established with no, or minimal defects. Why would a defect in a LSA manifest itself 9 years later? It doesn't. Engine defects most often manifest themselves quickly.

Brutale arancia · 08-12-2020, 06:14 AM

Having just left the driver seat with a smile, I am filled with sympathy for your misfortune.

RankSS · 08-12-2020, 10:43 AM

Get a new motor.
Are you going to throw the baby out with the bathwater?

ZMEnow · 08-12-2020, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB'sZL1

I don't know of a manufacturer that guarantees the engine for 8 or 9 years. If you are so certain it's a defect, it may be worthwhile to investigate. Conversely, the LSA is long established with no, or minimal defects. Why would a defect in a LSA manifest itself 9 years later? It doesn't. Engine defects most often manifest themselves quickly.

Now you do... I am on my second Genesis G80 sedan. 420hp, all wheel drive, 10 years, 100,000 on the drive train, 5 years 60,000 on everything else.

RobZL1 · 08-12-2020, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RankSS

Get a new motor.
Are you going to throw the baby out with the bathwater?

I agree! I'm not sure what the regulations are in Switzerland, but I'd order up a nice short block from Thomson or TSP, etc.

08-09-2020, 12:26 PM	#1
jsd Drives: 2012 ZL 1 #370 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Switzerland Posts: 351	engine failure 42000 km Hi guys, long time ago, i was online. Today a bad and unbelievable day and experience for me as zl1 enthusiast. I was done a tour, really cruising with the zl1. Them accellerate the car in the first. Engine done a big loud bang, oil comes out, low oil lamp goes on for a second. I took the first out and was able to rollin with the car a few meters to the next space i was sure for parking. I am not really a mechanic, but i think, when a loud bang like this while i accelarete and the engine then makes some strange rattle the engine is broken totaly. What a sad day. Car was imported from me in 2012, no gm warranty in switzerland for this exotic car. Engine have 42000 km and i was always careful with this car. Last year i let replace the supercharger on my cost to prevent a engine failure of cause of the known problems with the superchargers. Its a 2012 year.

08-09-2020, 12:30 PM	#2
FasNuf Drives: 2014 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,615 View My Garage	Pull the valve covers off and inspect the valve train. Where is the oil coming out from? __________________ . . . . https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgN...etl17hA/videos

08-11-2020, 09:35 AM	#5
FasNuf Drives: 2014 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,615 View My Garage	Ouch! That'll hurt. I don't think Flex Seal is gonna help that one. Maybe insurance can help get a crate motor in there. One can dream right? Sorry for your loss __________________ . . . . https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgN...etl17hA/videos

08-12-2020, 10:43 AM	#12
RankSS Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Saskatoon SK Can. Eh Posts: 365	Get a new motor. Are you going to throw the baby out with the bathwater? __________________ 2010 Camaro SS RS, Maggie with 3.4" pulley, 60# injectors, ADM dual fuel pumps, ADM Stage 2 Cam with Brian Tooley springs and pushrods, black CAI intake, Stainless Works long tube headers w/gutted cats, ZL1 Diff w/offset bushings, Pfadt lowering springs, Pfadt sway bars, Pfadt solid sub frame mounts, BMR trailing arms and toe rods, Hurst short throw shifter, Painted on Hugger Orange stripes, Forgestar F14 Piano Black wheels, Nitto NT05 rubber.

08-09-2020, 02:29 PM	#3
jsd Drives: 2012 ZL 1 #370 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Switzerland Posts: 351	Was hard to see it on the street with hot engine. I think it was between the injectors and the exhaust(manifold) on the driver side. The steering rod was full of oil. The entire space under the hood was full of oil vapor and the back of the car as well.

08-11-2020, 08:08 AM	#4
jsd Drives: 2012 ZL 1 #370 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Switzerland Posts: 351	its a nice hole in the block. ZL1 Time over for me

08-11-2020, 09:38 AM	#6
JB'sZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 and 2019 Ram Laramie Join Date: May 2017 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 1,259	A thrown rod often occurs because of low oil. Not a common occurrence in LSA's...

08-11-2020, 10:45 AM	#8
gtstorey Drives: 2010 Camaro SS2,L99, LSA SC Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,154	I wouldn't leave GM because of one engine failure, although it hurts when your's is the one. The LS series of motors have been as reliable as about any High Performance motor out there. GM has it problems but the LS motor isn't one of them.

08-11-2020, 11:16 AM	#9
jsd Drives: 2012 ZL 1 #370 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Switzerland Posts: 351	I am in switzerland , so the situation with gm, waeranty and stuff like this is a little bit different to me. I have to pay a lot more for such cars as in the usa and when some problems occur, gm will not take responsibilty for it. So i have to pay everything my self. So i prefere to not do the same misstake twice. Driving us cars, enjoying the sound of a v8 was lifestyle mixed with a lot of emotions. A nice bmw or audi or mercedes will never wake the same emotions on me. 😌 Maybe in 20 year again when i will be retired. I will see

08-11-2020, 11:25 AM	#10
JB'sZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 and 2019 Ram Laramie Join Date: May 2017 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 1,259	I don't know of a manufacturer that guarantees the engine for 8 or 9 years. If you are so certain it's a defect, it may be worthwhile to investigate. Conversely, the LSA is long established with no, or minimal defects. Why would a defect in a LSA manifest itself 9 years later? It doesn't. Engine defects most often manifest themselves quickly.

08-12-2020, 06:14 AM	#11
Brutale arancia Drives: 2013 ZL1 Camaro Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Michigan Posts: 218	Having just left the driver seat with a smile, I am filled with sympathy for your misfortune.