[Gunkk]

Originally Posted by Tyrolblue67

That's very interesting.
By newer, do you mean post 2018 cars?
I have a 2019.
When did these plumbing updates appear?
Can you actually see the differences?
Tyrolblue67

Don't remember the year. Yes I've seen pics where the oil pan internal config is different, with different length oil pipes. Now of course I have to find the receipts. EDIT: 2017 and 2018 are different pans. Can't find the pictures of the plumbing I saw. I have a 2017.

[Tyrolblue67]

Originally Posted by Gunkk

Don't remember the year. Yes I've seen pics where the oil pan internal config is different, with different length oil pipes. Now of course I have to find the receipts. EDIT: 2017 and 2018 are different pans. Can't find the pictures of the plumbing I saw. I have a 2017.

I'm guessing that the pan was updated sometime during the 2018 production run? I wonder if after this revision that's when the failure rates decreased? Then there's the issue with the timing chain guide that keeps rearing it's ugly head. Then the lifters and lifter trays.
We'll never know because most of the information is kept locked up away from the public on the oil pump failure and these other issues.
Although it's a very small sample size, whatever the revision(s) that were made, there have been far fewer oil pump failures after the 2018 model year. At least here on this forum.
I'm currently on the fence as to what I'll do on my 2019. My powertrain warranty is up next June. Seems like if you do the Katech pump, you should go ahead and do the heads and cam package that they offer.
Peace of mind and about an extra 100-150 hp or so.
All it takes is money 🤑
Tyrolblue67

[Z OH 6]

Originally Posted by Tyrolblue67

I'm guessing that the pan was updated sometime during the 2018 production run? I wonder if after this revision that's when the failure rates decreased? Then there's the issue with the timing chain guide that keeps rearing it's ugly head. Then the lifters and lifter trays.
We'll never know because most of the information is kept locked up away from the public on the oil pump failure and these other issues.
Although it's a very small sample size, whatever the revision(s) that were made, there have been far fewer oil pump failures after the 2018 model year. At least here on this forum.
I'm currently on the fence as to what I'll do on my 2019. My powertrain warranty is up next June. Seems like if you do the Katech pump, you should go ahead and do the heads and cam package that they offer.
Peace of mind and about an extra 100-150 hp or so.
All it takes is money ��
Tyrolblue67

Its the oil pump that changed in 2019. Those that had theirs fail on the 2017-2018 models and had them replaced with a newer GM pump or the Katech pump and don't seem to suffer from this issue again. The Katech is certainly the go-to pump if you don't mind paying extra for it or if your car is highly modified. Its better peace of mind but I have no worries with the GM pump in the 2019+ models either if the car is lightly modified and not beaten to death at the track.

[Mark R]

Not to beat a dead horse, but this is a long thread. I had my 2018 pump replaced with a Katech at 14,000 miles. No cam or other work. The peace of mind is worth it to me, since I never plan to sell.

[george]

Originally Posted by Gunkk

Don't remember the year. Yes I've seen pics where the oil pan internal config is different, with different length oil pipes. Now of course I have to find the receipts. EDIT: 2017 and 2018 are different pans. Can't find the pictures of the plumbing I saw. I have a 2017.

What are the differences in the oil pans?

[AZ_1LE]

No options for year models that haven't had a bad oil pump?

[SlowWhite]

I’ve gotten through about 50 pages here so far. I’m a few days away from buying a low mileage (nicely kept) 2017 ZL1. The build date is from 11/16 and it appears this is outside of the meat of the danger zone. Do I understand that correctly? Have many of the early batch ZL1s had failures? It would seem the part is likely the same as the units in the main date range but perhaps a minor change was made to reduce cost or simply a bad few batches of pumps due to a materials or manufacturing issue.

Thoughts? Would appreciate the help.

[Z OH 6]

Originally Posted by AZ_1LE

No options for year models that haven't had a bad oil pump?

2019+ doesn't need one unless you want to replace it with the Katech for peace of mind or you plan to highly modify your vehicle and beat on it hard at the track. Or were you referring to a poll option?

[Mark R]

Originally Posted by SlowWhite

I’ve gotten through about 50 pages here so far. I’m a few days away from buying a low mileage (nicely kept) 2017 ZL1. The build date is from 11/16 and it appears this is outside of the meat of the danger zone. Do I understand that correctly? Have many of the early batch ZL1s had failures? It would seem the part is likely the same as the units in the main date range but perhaps a minor change was made to reduce cost or simply a bad few batches of pumps due to a materials or manufacturing issue.

Thoughts? Would appreciate the help.

My thoughts? Can you afford to replace the engine if it got destroyed by a bad oil pump? Can you afford $3500 to replace the oil pump before it breaks?

As far as I'm concerned, any 2017-2018 ZL-1 is suspect for potentially having a bad oil pump. If the car you are looking for has 40-50K miles on it, well, it probably made it past the breakage window.

[TLSTWIN]

Originally Posted by SlowWhite

I’ve gotten through about 50 pages here so far. I’m a few days away from buying a low mileage (nicely kept) 2017 ZL1. The build date is from 11/16 and it appears this is outside of the meat of the danger zone. Do I understand that correctly? Have many of the early batch ZL1s had failures? It would seem the part is likely the same as the units in the main date range but perhaps a minor change was made to reduce cost or simply a bad few batches of pumps due to a materials or manufacturing issue.

Thoughts? Would appreciate the help.

Based on what I have been gathering, maybe flawed, is that a lot of precaution when warming up the car goes a long way. Just simply letting the car get up to the 180ish temp, which doesn't take too long, before flogging on it.

Also some preventative work ( replacing the oil pump with a katech) will allow a great deal of peace of mind.

[SlowWhite]

Originally Posted by Mark R

My thoughts? Can you afford to replace the engine if it got destroyed by a bad oil pump? Can you afford $3500 to replace the oil pump before it breaks?

As far as I'm concerned, any 2017-2018 ZL-1 is suspect for potentially having a bad oil pump. If the car you are looking for has 40-50K miles on it, well, it probably made it past the breakage window.

Good points. For about the same price as a new pump installed I can get an extended warranty (third party, platinum) that will cover the car for 8 years. Or, I could use that $ to put in a Katech pump instead if that’s the only potential weak spot. I mainly want to understand if the date range is really the gating factor or if no matter what it’s all 2017/2018 cars.

I looked at the poll results and while I recognize that not all owners are part of this forum, the numbers seem rather low for reported failures.

[gblaue]

Originally Posted by SlowWhite

I’ve gotten through about 50 pages here so far. I’m a few days away from buying a low mileage (nicely kept) 2017 ZL1. The build date is from 11/16 and it appears this is outside of the meat of the danger zone. Do I understand that correctly? Have many of the early batch ZL1s had failures? It would seem the part is likely the same as the units in the main date range but perhaps a minor change was made to reduce cost or simply a bad few batches of pumps due to a materials or manufacturing issue.

Thoughts? Would appreciate the help.

Mine was was built in 11/16. I had my pump swapped out to a Katech at 38k miles, because I just have bad luck.

[SlowWhite]

Originally Posted by gblaue

Mine was was built in 11/16. I had my pump swapped out to a Katech at 38k miles, because I just have bad luck.

Thanks for the reply. Did you have a failure (signs of lower oil pressure) or anything noted upon removal or was it more for peace of mind?

[Mark R]

I swapped to a Katech oil pump at 14k miles, on a stock engine. I'm very happy with that choice.