Broken Rod And Bent Push Rods......

GDM Z28 · August 26, 2011

Even though the headers would not of caused this damage I agree with other people in this thread, they will use that as an excuse to void warranty. If the truck happens to be at your house I have a factory set of exhaust manifolds from a 6.0. You are welcome to have them (just cover shipping). I would put stock manifolds on so its not an issue.

mhenshaw · August 26, 2011

If you made the modifications of adding no GM headers, you knew what was going to happen to the warranty.

The headers being added didn't have anything to do with his engine taking a dump. Anyone who thinks it did is a moron.

No one thinks the headers caused this. We are stating that GM will blame the headers and not warrenty the truck. Gm is already making excusses with saying the motor was over revved, so you don't think they will say something about headers?

The motor is trashed so now he needs 5 to 8 thousands dollars of work. This is not an ordinary warrenty claim, this is a big deal.

mkelly · August 26, 2011

If you made the modifications of adding no GM headers, you knew what was going to happen to the warranty.

The headers being added didn't have anything to do with his engine taking a dump. Anyone who thinks it did is a moron.

No one thinks the headers caused this. We are stating that GM will blame the headers and not warrenty the truck. Gm is already making excusses with saying the motor was over revved, so you don't think they will say something about headers?

The motor is trashed so now he needs 5 to 8 thousands dollars of work. This is not an ordinary warrenty claim, this is a big deal.

Keep in mind that GM hasnt said anything. Unless I'm mistaken it is the dealership that is claiming that BS.

For what its worth I would imagine that the damage is directly related to the cam/lifter replacement........................ I dont believe the 5.3 is an interference engine, but its possible that something was left in the cylinder when it was assembled. Look at the head above the demolished cylinder and examine for damage.

The only time I've heard of broken rods are.... something in the cylinder to bend/break the rod...... and lack of oil.

I cant imagine the amount of revs you would have to get out of the 5.3 to get it to blow up, even with a tuner......

donjames911 · August 26, 2011

If you made the modifications of adding no GM headers, you knew what was going to happen to the warranty.

The headers being added didn't have anything to do with his engine taking a dump. Anyone who thinks it did is a moron.

Of course the non-GM headers had nothing to do with the engine failure. But GM does not employ morons. There's prolly some teeny-tiny words in the warranty that states ANY non-GM mods to the engine voids the warranty....

Z45 · August 26, 2011

Correct me if I am wrong, but under the Magnuson-Moss act, GM cannot void your warranty unless they proved the shorty headers had something to do with the failure...and any good tech will know that the headers didn't cause this in any way possible

Not likely but they look at the modification and assume a hot-rodder.

Btw-The tech do not make the decisions in the shop, they follow orders and management makes decisions. As one tech told me once, hey don't blame me, I am just doing what I am told.

donjames911 · August 26, 2011

Ja, I vas only followink orderz...

kad2112 · August 27, 2011

The headers should not be the issue. If they replaced the lifters and pushrods under warranty with the headers on, then this should be ok as well. I think that is why they are saying it was over-revved. They are looking for excuses.

uh6tdrvr · August 27, 2011

If you made the modifications of adding no GM headers, you knew what was going to happen to the warranty.

The headers being added didn't have anything to do with his engine taking a dump. Anyone who thinks it did is a moron.

No one thinks the headers caused this. We are stating that GM will blame the headers and not warrenty the truck. Gm is already making excusses with saying the motor was over revved, so you don't think they will say something about headers?

The motor is trashed so now he needs 5 to 8 thousands dollars of work. This is not an ordinary warrenty claim, this is a big deal.

5-8 K??? WTF? For 5-8K he could have a hell of an engine with labor! IF it comes down to it and i mean IF, might as well start back with a 6.0 but you can find alot of 5.3 long blocks for under 3K. For 4K you can get a GM Performance Parts 5.3L High Output Engine from Jegs for 4100 and im sure you can get it cheaper than that. Im sure you arent wanting to dump that much money on something that isnt your fault but there are alot of options out there.

jandersinc · August 27, 2011

At dealership prices the bill will probably be $5 - $8k. The warranty should cover it, but if it was out of warranty that'd probably be the final bill at the dealership.

rogerf · August 28, 2011

Keep in mind that GM hasnt said anything. Unless I'm mistaken it is the dealership that is claiming that BS.

For what its worth I would imagine that the damage is directly related to the cam/lifter replacement........................ I dont believe the 5.3 is an interference engine, but its possible that something was left in the cylinder when it was assembled. Look at the head above the demolished cylinder and examine for damage.

The only time I've heard of broken rods are.... something in the cylinder to bend/break the rod...... and lack of oil.

I cant imagine the amount of revs you would have to get out of the 5.3 to get it to blow up, even with a tuner......

Exactly what I was thinking...sounds more like it dropped a valve, jambed the upstroke.

TRCM · August 28, 2011

I would NOT remove the headers.

Reason being, if they did the cam/lifters, I am sure they noticed the headers. If you remove them and try to put stock manifolds back on, they will claim you are trying to hide something, and it will make it being your fault even more suspect and even harder to get them to pay for the repairs.

brainpause · August 28, 2011

Y

I would NOT remove the headers.

Reason being, if they did the cam/lifters, I am sure they noticed the headers. If you remove them and try to put stock manifolds back on, they will claim you are trying to hide something, and it will make it being your fault even more suspect and even harder to get them to pay for the repairs.

+1

It's what I was thinking. I just couldn't figure out how to say it

TRCM · August 28, 2011

Also, if they claim you modded it and that is what killed the engine, then why did they fix the lifters/cam ? According to their answer, that should have been denied as well.

Doug_Scott · August 28, 2011

As others have said, you cannot over-rev a stock engine running the stock ecm.

The technician would not be able to check connecting rods, or even the bearings if he was just repacing cam and lifters.

How many "bent lifters" (and what is a bent lifter anyways?) were found in total originally?

Why did they just replace cam and lifters in the first place? Valve train parts do not bend for no reason

Did the noise go away after the first fix?

After the rod broke, what cylinder was that on, and what push rods were bent? If the push rods were bent on cyl 4, I would actually expect that if the connecting rod broke on that cylinder. Once connecting rod breaks, the piston stops moving right where it is. The valve train would still keep working, and if the piston was at/near TDC, the valves will hit the piston, bending at least the valve, and likely the push rod as well.

I just realized something, you never said it was a connecting rod that broke, you simply said "rod". Are we talking about a connecting rod or a push rod?

If it were me looking at the truck in the first place, I would have hunted down the real cause of the bent pushrod (and again, assuming it was actually a bent pushrod and not the "bent lifter" you originally wrote), and not just tossed cam and lifters in. Why GM would even authorize a camshaft for bent pushrods is plenty strange enough.

There is no way headers can cause this, much like no way a muffler can cause this. Something that should be checked is head gasket and combustion chamber in head for a large crack (allowing coolant to enter cylinder at enough volume to cause hydraulic lock).

Even if you drove the truck with your foot to the floor at every chance you get does not constitute abuse. If GM did not want your to put the gas pedal to the floor, they would not put the floor where it is.

The Chosen One · August 28, 2011

Excellent feedback from everyone!!

I forgot to mention that the Headers were on the truck when I took it in on the original repair....and it was "ok'd for fix by GM" per service advisor.

There were also bent valves (somthing else i forgot to mention) I am not to sure if it was on the same cylinder (was either #4 or #6) didn't look enought to check exhaust side at the time to verify which cylinder.

The original misfire was on Cylinder 4 and there were 2 lifters replaced.

I believe and can't be completely sure, but if that Piston continued to hit that valve..may have caused the rod to break.

Again that leads to the original repair, may not installed correctly (valves not tightened) and cause valve to fall out of place. who knows, but that is my thinking.

FYI

According to a tech at this dealership on first trip....Lifters have been a common repaif for them on this engine.

Speaking to another Dealerhip Service Manager---same thing they have replaced lifters frequently.

I am still waiting for their call.