ZL1 Engine Failure - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Unreal · 02-25-2013, 07:39 AM

My friend Trevor has a 2012 ZL1. On the way home from a car show last night the motor let go. Was just cruising home. Car is bone stock besides wheels/tires. Picked a piece of piston up so definitely a major failure. I've never heard of issues like this on LSAs so it will be interesting to see what the dealer finds.

Updates:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unreal

He posted that the dealer already ordered a new motor. He has a Impala LTZ as a loaner until they get the new motor in. The owner of the dealer called him personally first thing in the morning. He bought it to take to shows and cruise around, no racing or hard driving on it.

Nothing but chevron 91 octane in it, which is the best available around here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSOOCH

I was there. Nothing out of the ordinary. We were leaving the Autorama. I was right behind Him in My SS. He took off... BOOM! Oil everywhere, metal fragments all over the road and in the underbelly pan with a bunch of oil. His ZL1 had been sitting in the Autorama for four days before this.We shall wait to see what the dealer says. No mods, no track time or heavy use and abuse of this ZL1. Only 8k miles. Trevor is a good Friend of mine. It's terrible. I'm sure GM will repair it up and send him on his way. It's gotta be a freak accident that or somebody did something to his car at the Autorama.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSOOCH

I was at the dealer with Trevor yesterday. They haven't even begun to tear down anything. They have sent the data off his ECM to GM and are waiting to hear back. As long as they find that he hasn't tuned it they will ship a new motor per the Service Manager. His car has had full documented service and maintenance through this same dealer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSOOCH

I just heard from Trevor. The dealer reported that the ECM was clean, new motor is on order!!

Name: 804715_567349489944560_646224606_n.jpg
Views: 9211
Size: 107.1 KB

3-11-13 : UPDATED WITH MORE PICTURES...

yellow69z28rs · 02-25-2013, 07:53 AM

That's unbelievable.
Subscribed

LeanPocket · 02-25-2013, 08:07 AM

looks like detonation? low octane perhaps? Oil never changed?

otherwise that's unacceptable, the resale value of that car has gone to shit if they have to either rebuild the motor or replace the entire lsa motor since its a certified zl1. If that were me id be PISSED

SlingShot · 02-25-2013, 08:16 AM

Picked up the piece of piston from where ? Hope it was on the outside of the block ...

sycraft · 02-25-2013, 08:18 AM

I am sure the motor would be replaced, its the first major failure I have heard of from a stock one, even modified ones are holding up. Its mechanical, crap happens, they cant all be perfect, I even had a Viper that blew a stock motor at 400 miles new. Get the repair done and have fun, dont stress over it, there is a lot more things in life to stress over, a car is not one of them... I am sure GM will look into what happened. Would be curious when they read the computer, what they find. RPM at failure, temperature, ect.

Tyler H · 02-25-2013, 08:37 AM

That's a damn shame! Had my motor blow at 2200km in my Denali. Lifter broke and somehow got into the piston and so on. All this while sitting at a light with no warning. Dealer replaced the motor under warranty with no problems. I'm sure your friend has nothing to worry about. GM is very good at standing behind their product. At least in my experience. It still sucks to have such a failure so young into it's life. At least your pal will be provided with some courtesy transportation while his car is being repaired. Vehicles all have problems at some point but the difference is how the manufacture stands behind their product! Keep smiling cause it will be fixed and he will be back on the road with his ZL1 in no time!

Unreal · 02-25-2013, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeanPocket

looks like detonation? low octane perhaps? Oil never changed?

otherwise that's unacceptable, the resale value of that car has gone to shit if they have to either rebuild the motor or replace the entire lsa motor since its a certified zl1. If that were me id be PISSED

Always used highest possible and dealer changed the oil regularly.

Chunks of metal fished off the ground and belly pan. RPMs were <2k. He may have been idling at a stop light. I'll get more info today. It is already at the dealer. Onstar towed it.

toyosuprablue · 02-25-2013, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellow69z28rs

That's unbelievable.
Subscribed

+1

Nvincent4708 · 02-25-2013, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sycraft

I am sure the motor would be replaced, its the first major failure I have heard of from a stock one, even modified ones are holding up. Its mechanical, crap happens, they cant all be perfect, I even had a Viper that blew a stock motor at 400 miles new. Get the repair done and have fun, dont stress over it, there is a lot more things in life to stress over, a car is not one of them... I am sure GM will look into what happened. Would be curious when they read the computer, what they find. RPM at failure, temperature, ect.

The E38 cannot log what happened at the time of the failure. Especially since it wouldn't be able to toss a code in that short time period. Say less than 10 seconds. Most likely a similar failure to my engine with the seized lifter in the bore and causing PTV contact.

newmoon · 02-25-2013, 08:48 AM

It's a good thing he was stock otherwise that would be one hell of a repair bill.

LeanPocket · 02-25-2013, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unreal

Always used highest possible and dealer changed the oil regularly.

Chunks of metal fished off the ground and belly pan. RPMs were <2k. He may have been idling at a stop light. I'll get more info today. It is already at the dealer. Onstar towed it.

Ok, that does cover him then. Those are some of the first things they check, they'll most likely cover the motor under warranty, i hope they dont get it sent to be rebuilt (some dealers do that) this is NOT a common problem, and hopefully this is a contained scenario. Post more pics if u can of the piston so we can further discuss and diagnose

Unreal · 02-25-2013, 09:20 AM

No way to rebuild it with a huge hole in the block. A piston piece can't be on the ground and it still be rebuildable.

HPT BANDIT · 02-25-2013, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unreal

No way to rebuild it with a huge hole in the block.

JB Weld : )

dmax86 · 02-25-2013, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPT BANDIT

JB Weld : )

+1

02-25-2013, 07:53 AM	#2
yellow69z28rs Drives: 2013 ZL1 Convertible Black Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Alexandria La. Posts: 363	That's unbelievable. Subscribed __________________ JRE 750 HP package Rag Top Rob

02-25-2013, 08:16 AM	#4
SlingShot Drives: 2012 ZL1 - #670 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Seminole, Fl. Posts: 8,009	Picked up the piece of piston from where ? Hope it was on the outside of the block ... __________________

02-25-2013, 08:18 AM	#5
sycraft COTW 5/06/2013 Drives: 2017 Corvette Grand Sport-Ho-Vette Join Date: May 2012 Location: Milford, Michigan Posts: 3,201 View My Garage	I am sure the motor would be replaced, its the first major failure I have heard of from a stock one, even modified ones are holding up. Its mechanical, crap happens, they cant all be perfect, I even had a Viper that blew a stock motor at 400 miles new. Get the repair done and have fun, dont stress over it, there is a lot more things in life to stress over, a car is not one of them... I am sure GM will look into what happened. Would be curious when they read the computer, what they find. RPM at failure, temperature, ect. __________________ 2017 Grand Sport, Borla X Pipe.....Enough Said

02-25-2013, 08:48 AM	#10
newmoon Drives: 2019 GT350 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: NC Posts: 3,232	It's a good thing he was stock otherwise that would be one hell of a repair bill. __________________ 2019 GT350 RR 2013 Boss Mustang 2012 SRT Challenger 392 auto 12:40s 112 stock 2012 Ford Mustang 5.0. Brembo, 3:73s 2010 SS, LS3, Cammed, LTs, 12:20s 2004 Redfire Cobra, Pullied & Tuned 1986 GT, Ed Curtis 347ci, 11:20s motor. 10:30s 100-hp shot

02-25-2013, 09:20 AM	#12
Unreal Drives: 2006 Z06 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 5,712	No way to rebuild it with a huge hole in the block. A piston piece can't be on the ground and it still be rebuildable. __________________ Nick Corvette Z06 -1200ish rwhp

02-25-2013, 08:07 AM	#3
LeanPocket Drives: 2010 2SS Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Corpus Christi TX Posts: 634	looks like detonation? low octane perhaps? Oil never changed? otherwise that's unacceptable, the resale value of that car has gone to shit if they have to either rebuild the motor or replace the entire lsa motor since its a certified zl1. If that were me id be PISSED

02-25-2013, 08:37 AM	#6
Tyler H XLR8TNG Drives: 2013 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Calgary,Ab Posts: 371	That's a damn shame! Had my motor blow at 2200km in my Denali. Lifter broke and somehow got into the piston and so on. All this while sitting at a light with no warning. Dealer replaced the motor under warranty with no problems. I'm sure your friend has nothing to worry about. GM is very good at standing behind their product. At least in my experience. It still sucks to have such a failure so young into it's life. At least your pal will be provided with some courtesy transportation while his car is being repaired. Vehicles all have problems at some point but the difference is how the manufacture stands behind their product! Keep smiling cause it will be fixed and he will be back on the road with his ZL1 in no time!