Hello,
I have a 2015 Z51 A8 I took a trip to Florida and came back with about 6k miles and started noticing under higher RPM's that there was a noticeable tick or motor sound. I took the car to the dealership and had the corvette tech ride with me while I showed him the symptoms, he said definitely something going on and to schedule a visit. The motor problem was bad lifters, they ordered and changed out lifters and after 10 days returned the car to me. I drove the car home put it in the garage and drove it the next day in which #4 cylinder failed by striking the valve and shattering the rod which caused massive engine failure and blown fuses which left car dead except windows and hatch release. After 24 days received my car back with a brand new motor and started new break in procedure, at 614 miles got my 500 mile oil change and car ran great and thought all my problems behind me. At 1500 ish miles on new motor I started to hear mechanical sounds from what seemed like under the car with any kind of acceleration over snail pace and had the car stall on me twice when stopped at red light. I scheduled my car to get looked at, but went to battle creek speed fest with 1/2 mile runs at the airport and after first 1/2 mile run it seemed to run good and when I pulled up behind lead car I noticed that my car wasn't running and it would not restart. Tech got the car to run the next day but it sounded really bad and was discovered that #3 rod bearing was toast and would require new engine. I am now waiting for my 2nd new motor to be put in my car and have to go thru yet another break in period. I am going to seek legal advice on other options.

 

Original thread posted 6.3.14: So on my way home last night [6/2/14] around 7:30p. I think I may have blown an intake gasket or even worse blew the engine. Driving with traffic 70 / 75, high speed lane, giving I gas, no response. I was in manual mode so I shifted to 4th, still no accel, moved over to the middle lane and felt some serious bucking (almost felt like I was riding over rumble strips). Still tried to give it gas, no luck. Saw some white smoke pouring out of the drivers side front tire, first thought was crap flat tire, then crap maybe it's shredded (although as I was thinking, well that doesn't seem right for run flats but maybe i'm way off). The smoke continued to pour out as I moved over to the breakdown lane. Looked in the rearview and couldn't see anything across all 6 lanes of the highway (3 lanes north, 3 lanes south), complete white out. In this mayhem, a vehicle behind me crashed into the guardrail :/ (luckily he's ok sustained minor injuries and was sent off to the hospital, I didn't speak to the gentleman as I was preoccupied with on-star and figured I was the last person in the world he'd want to see). Rear of my car, covered in oil. Oil was leaking from the front end under the drivers side. The initial diagnostics said intake manifold failed (On-Star diagnostic). Anyways, tow truck guy showed up a little before 9 (left show around 7:30). He tried to turn it on, it wouldn't turn over, made an absolute racket (slightly concerned that I now have a wicked serious issue). Car is now sitting in the parking lot of the dealership.

Resolution: I got a good offer on another vette and picked her up early Jan 2015. Due to legal issues that I'm still somewhat [mostly insurance end of things for the accident that occurred behind me] involved in I can't go much more into detail about how it all played out.

 

2015 m7 base car, 4200 miles. Noticed that I had a loud tick coming from the engine. Not really loud but I could hear it with the windows up and the radio off. Seemed to vary with rpm. Also one morning at a stop sign in my neighborhood I noticed a puff of white smoke behind me. At first I thought it might be a header leak or something similar. Brought it into the service department to be checked out. They found silver and gold colored metal in the oil filter and kept the car to check it out. Noise was considered definitely abnormal. Tech submitted issue to TAC, GM wanted tech to do a tear down on the motor to find the cause of the issue. After talking to GM customer service a couple of times they decided to go ahead with an engine swap. New motor is supposed to arrive tomorrow and swap takes approx 2-3 days. I will update this thread after I receive the car back.

 

Update... Motor did not show up on Monday like it was supposed to. Apparently got there on Wednesday. Installed by Friday and I just picked it up. Have not been able to drive it much yet but seems much smoother and I have not heard any abnormal noises yet.

 

My engine froze at 532 miles. Gm bought back car and gave me a 2016. No noises or anything just stopped

 

My motor showed up last Tuesday still not done... Wish I had that kind of turn around time.

 

My C7 is a 2014 non-Z51, A6, NPP. It has 7300 kms (4200 miles). It is not a daily driver and had never seen a track or been driven too hard. First noticed a click /knock between 1500-2000 rpms. It was intermittent, not noticeable at cruising speed, or at idle. Sounded to me like a bad lifter. Took it to dealership, ruled out belt tensioner, and flex plate from torque tube. Checked lifters, all fine. Investigated further and found of noise in bottom of #3 cylinder. GM authorized then to tear it down further. Confirmed rod bearing in #3 with excessive wear. At this point full week in shop. Following Monday GM authorized a new motor. Should be installed this week. They tell me it is 2-3 days for motor to arrive (I'm in Canada).

 

Good for GM to authorize a new motor! Sorry you are without your car for a while until it gets put in.

 

John (jkummer) sorry your engine had to be replaced but glad you caught it and GM is taking care of it. Can you describe the "click/knock" you heard in more detail for those not familiar with what a bad lifter would sound like (I know you put up the video, but that is with the hood up and standing by the engine. What I am trying to get at is how it could be defined from inside the car)? Was it loud enough you heard it over the radio and the NPP? Did you experience when you started off (you said it occurred at 1500-2000 rpm) at both normal and more enthusiastic acceleration? Thanks!

 

Well, I took a video and posted it on my original thread. Here it is again fit anyone interested. Yes it was quite loud, and did it even just revving the engine in neutral. To be honest, I didn't do any enthusiastic driving once I discovered the noise for fear it may do some damage. Best described as a ticking noise that increased /decreased with the engine rpm.

 

I had an engine failure at 380 miles on my 2014 z51 manual. I never was informed as to the mode of failure of that engine but the engine was replaced and broken in gently. In May with approximately 1500 miles on the new engine the temp warning came on, oil pressure dropped to zero and engine started knocking and it died. Had the oil changed to mobil one a week before. 1.5 hours after failure there was NO oil on the dip stick. Car was towed to local dealership southern Jersey. They called me initially to say no oil in car then 5 minutes later said they drained 8 quarts. Diagnostics reportedly said engine "came apart" at 60mph. After a long battle the engine was replaced again. The tread "She died 2 " has more info and pics but I broke in the third engine and with about 1500 miles had check engine light come on and had oil leaking out of the air filter box. Long story short car being replaced with a 2016 by Chevy. Good to see the company standing behind their product and not making me retain an attorney. Back to 1100 status and hoping my order moves through the system quickly.

 

The odds of getting three bad engines has to be astronomical. Makes me wonder if there was some other underlying issue that wasn't diagnosed.

 

New engine arrived Thursday. Installed and I picked up up today (Friday). Total of two full weeks in the shop, but install was only a day in change. The dealership did a fantastic job IMO, and treated me very well. I got a loaner immediately, no questions asked. The car was returned exactly as I left it, aside from the new engine. It is obvious they treated it with care during the whole process, and for that I am very thankful. My car doesn't have a single mark on it, and it was completely detailed before I picked it up. I'm very unhappy it happened in the first place, but GM come good for the engine, and the dealership (Larry Hudson's Listowel, Ontario) was second to none. I know they worked hard at getting me rolling for the long weekend here in Canada. It's been a tough two weeks but everyone did their best to make it right, and in the end, that's all I could really ask for.

 

Update

8-3-15 Brought my car back in for a oil change at 500 miles on the new motor and to check out the reoccurring tick noise I'm having. They said it was normal and nothing to be concerned with.

8-11-15 brought I back in because the tick is now louder and I also now have a vibration at 44-47mph in 4th gear @ approx 2000rpm. They said there is nothing wrong with my car. They kept it the entire day. They didn't even drive the car to check for the noise. I took a pic of the mileage when I dropped it off and another pic when I picked it up, it's the exact same.

I've just filed a claim with the BBB. It's now been in three times for the same issue, with 14 days out of service so far.

 

2015 3LT Z51 bought new October '14.

Experienced a tap or tick noise first wk of ownership most notable in my garage at idle echoing and at drive thru's. With windows up noise was noticeable at 1750rpm car is not a daily and never tracked its riding on all season tires since after 1st shop visit pictures below show car is driven moderatly. I brought it into its first service at 250miles upon 2nd wk of ownership when the service app was made. Car was interned for 1.5months with 2 GM tac cases and returned with no repairs told to keep an eye on things

The car went in and out of the shop back and forth and soon started experiencing overheating with coolant blowing out of the reservoir and oil pressure gauge reading low and/or fluctuating with slight idle miss and hot coolant and oil temps

The car was always returned back to me with no faults due to no error codes in the ecu with a coolant top off and new cap. Vehicle experienced numerous overheats with the final one putting the motor down. Diagnostic method was always idle car in the shop for 1hr and check ecu for codes and fluids levels never a drive test or further fault testing

The coolant reservoir surge tank, water pump, pump housing and 3 coolant caps in total were said to have been replaced although repair orders show only coolant caps and pump housing. Overheats caused oil life to go down to 0%

Car began to show signs of oil leaks around the bottom of radiator uncertain if there is a heat exchanger to the dry sump oil tank to warm up cold oil or not

Engine damaged due to high temps is the official listed cause of death

Dash never displayed errors other than coolant light, no check engine or any other message other than AC off due to high temp when over heating

During engine failure dash appeared normal with coolant temp at 0 ( Coolant light went off) due to losing cap and coolant seconds prior, no check engine or any other warnings

GM authorized a long block and replacement of cooling system minus heater core which is to be flushed

GM authorization of oil system said to be a go yet the tone of voice was uncertain this is TBD

Dealer compiling a list of parts to be ordered and was told roughly a month to complete repairs due to possible other parts needing to be ordered due to complexity of repair

ECU is not to be replaced although with damaged engine knocking and making noise is still not giving error codes when tech running car in the shop

Detail offered but no deep cleaning of interior and air conditioning damaged cause by oil residue from engine failure as A/C turned off and opened vents to engine air/smoke upon engine failure

Loaner car base model Cruze with hubcap at no cost to me covered under warranty

Previous buyback offered before engine failure however not the same trim pkg as I owner rather a cheaper one. Bank would not accept VIN swap without collateral being the same equal value, neither did my legal go for it. Current standing is unknown until GM gets back to my legal TBD.

Unknown what will happen at this point repair is authorized but GM tech however GM legal may decide to do something else when they hear of all this TBD

Current state of my stingray at the dealer

 

My 2015 3LT C7 purred like a kitten for a little over 3000 miles. One Sunday morning I pulled out of my driveway and noticed that the car was a little rough. Drove to the highway and noticed that the car was not accelerating properly and upon leaving the highway the car died. It took about 2 weeks but the motor was replaced.

 

Update: Motor has been replaced waiting on the remainder of bits which seems to be spread out all over the shop

You will notice the dry sump tank for those wondering what one looks like also the intake manifold base has been melted as well as the knock sensors on the block. I really hope they know how it all goes back together as it went out of the bottom rather than removing the bumper and pulling it from the front.

 

Lex - Don't know if it helps, but it pains me (and no doubt many others here) to see a one year old Vette pieced-out like that.

Fingers crossed that she's as good as new (maybe better) when done.

 

I'm surprised that the mechanic left the intakes open like that -- should be taped. Hope everything works out for you.
Alan

 

This is one thread that I do not like to read. Stomach cramps, anxiety. Lol. Sheez.

 

Rx Remedy Z-REXX: remember the 10s of 1000s of us who are fortunate to own and enjoy a trouble free C7!

 

Can't imagine the angst with such a sequence happening. Would expect full engine replacement and cannot imagine GM disagreeing. If this happened to me not sure what I would do Lex. You have my sympathy.

 

Lex, I'm speechless and yes it is saddening to see pictures of your C7 masterpiece tore apart. I have no idea what I would do in this situation. I hope that you get it back ASAP, looking factory new.

SF
Rick

 

I picked her up today so thats 33days shop time and a bill over 15k covered under warranty. Below is the official cause of failure and just what I assumed was the case including the rod knock that I had starting at 250miles when new and the seeping head gasket pressurizing the cooling system which was blowing all the coolant out and chewing up caps that I mentioned numerious times both written here and spoken to the service dept. If the car would have only grabbed DTC errors for this I am sure all would have been prevented but that is just not the case all 3 dealers didn't spent any diagnostic time just topped off coolant and a swift kick out the door. As others have seen with overheat issues there are no DTC's and I hope this serves to help someone before their engine pops!

Pictures above show my radiator on the ground and another shows a driveshaft over it. It seems my RO shows a replacement yet these following picture reveal a radiator with corrosion on it,fins bent, numerous bugs embedded like my old radiator and a part label dated aug 2014 which is mysteriously the build date of my car and I don't see GM parts warehouse storing one for over a year.

The car overall still shows evidence of a catastrophic failure which the service didn't correct. I was wondering why the RO shows the same mileage I brought it in at as the check out mileage yet the car had an addition 30miles on the odometer when I picked it up. Apparently the dealers idea of cleaning the bottom of the car of all that oil and coolant was to drive it so that the exhaust burned off the oil and wind blew any residual fluids so I wouldn't complain about leaks in my drive or garage. Needless to say I would have though at least a wipe down but when I peeked underneath it was still wet with oil residue same goes for the engine bay. I am worried what else they skimmed as the ancillary components billed out to about 7,800 the radiator was about 300 plus labor.

 

I'm guessing that the crankshaft bearing failure was the thrust bearing like it was in my first motor. Seems like it has been a common denominator in the c7 engine failures I've seen reported.

I'm pretty confident that is what is wrong with my current motor too. Guessing that the torque tube alignment is putting pressure on this 180 degree thrust bearing in the wrong places and causing damage.

 

To leave the engine bay a mess and to damage the radiator and then install it like it is a new unit is just horrible workmanship. I hope your troubles are over.

 

I would complain to the area GM people about the less than competent repair work. To leave the car in that condition is shameful. At the very least the should have taken it to a detail company that specializes in a thorough cleaning. When my Ferrari 360 had a leaking rear main oil seal which put a lot of oil in the under tray they steam cleaned it and when I picked it up it was like new. I was shocked to see all those components just laying on the shop floor.
Alan