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5.3 connecting rod #5 breaks

captianhook3

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captianhook3 Enthusiast

captianhook3

Posted
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Well here's my story I bought this truck new it has 88000 mi. and #5 connecting rod broke , I'm like WHAT ! Truck was not abused ever , and this happen on a start up in warm temp. with a 500 mi amsoil oil change on it . I'm told connecting rod could have been broken for a while and then all the stars linged up and discenagrated this motor. Why would a connecting rod break,? has this happen to any of you and did GM stand behind you ? if so how old was your truck and what was the mileage. I'm told these motors are good for 300 000 miles so why me . were there any recalls out there I missed . Anybody know anything about Auto I web they have remanufactured engines for like $2360 by the way it's a 2001

Stevens03 Senior Enthusiast

Stevens03

Posted
Posted

Very rare is all I'm going to say. I've been on these boards since 2001 and quite frankly the only ones I read of having issue were guys who ran to much boost. :dunno:

music Senior Enthusiast

music

Posted
Posted

I think he saying he bought it new and it now has 88k on it.

 

 

You're right. Misread... my bad.

captianhook3 Enthusiast

captianhook3

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I bought this truck new. No boost stock back to front top to bottom. I'm 61 yrs. of age truck has never been beat or taken off road , has only seen dirt roads 3,4 times . @ 18000 miles the truck developed what GM calls lifter noise / piston slap, was told they all do that it's normal. I said "not" nomal but that was my answer, I'm the only driver of this truck. Has anyone ever heard of a connecting rod breaking @ start up on a 55 degree day That's when it let loose hit the key "TOAST" , Why would this happen, do ya think GM will step up to the plate on a truck this old ?

RockySierra Enthusiast

RockySierra

Posted
Posted

Piston slap/cold start knock IS normal for these engines. You can try to deny it all you want but that does not change the facts :) Piston slap had nothing to do with the rod breaking otherwise there would be a ton more people on here complaining of the same problem. It's just one of those unfortunate things where you'll likely never know why. Could be a number of things. Truth is any type of mechanical device is subject to failure at anytime. There are not guarantees. Sorry bro, I'd be pissed as well but it is what it is.

captianhook3 Enthusiast

captianhook3

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So there is still piston slap in the newer 5.3 vortec as well? why don't they do it from day one, mine started at 18,000 miles, I know a guy with a 2006 his didn't start till 60,000 miles. I do appreiciate the feed back as well as the symapathy. Will a remanufactured engine have piston slap? Can anyone tell me what causes it?

wavery Enthusiast

wavery

Posted
Posted

do ya think GM will step up to the plate on a truck this old ?

 

11 year-old vehicle....... not much chance.

 

I'm wondering if you may have lost a head gasket and water seeped into that cylinder over night. Water doesn't compress very well and the piston hitting it could break a rod especially if other cylinders fired before this one came up on compression stroke.

 

My guess is, when/if they pull the heads off, they may find water in that cylinder.

Stevens03 Senior Enthusiast

Stevens03

Posted
Posted

My dad one time had a cam shaft let go on an S10 Blazer. It was just over 5 years old and had 60,000 miles on it. GM wouldn't stand entirely behind it but did split the labor cost with him :dunno:

 

Still rare.

music Senior Enthusiast

music

Posted
Posted

So there is still piston slap in the newer 5.3 vortec as well?

 

 

Not that I'm aware. I don't recall any complaints about "piston slap" on the Gen-IV motors. That doesn't mean that none do it (?), but it's not common.

captianhook3 Enthusiast

captianhook3

Posted
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I had read that theory somewhere about head gasket blowing. I had the motor tore down there is no apperant reason , S--- happens, I 'm told! As Rocky Seria said if it's mechanical anything can happen, dosen't mean we have to like it. life goes on and so will this truck as I have a new remanufactured motor from Auto I Web going in it. Up untill this point that truck was problem free, so I say body is like new I aways keep it oiled with new oil a tacing agent and a rust inhibater. and that has payed off. Living in a snow belt ya got to do something to stay ahead of rust.

wavery Enthusiast

wavery

Posted
Posted

I had read that theory somewhere about head gasket blowing. I had the motor tore down there is no apperant reason , S--- happens, I 'm told! As Rocky Seria said if it's mechanical anything can happen, dosen't mean we have to like it. life goes on and so will this truck as I have a new remanufactured motor from Auto I Web going in it. Up untill this point that truck was problem free, so I say body is like new I aways keep it oiled with new oil a tacing agent and a rust inhibater. and that has payed off. Living in a snow belt ya got to do something to stay ahead of rust.

 

Did the rod punch a hole in the block, tear up the cylinder wall or do any other major damage?

 

If there was no water in the cylinder then the rod must have just had a defect in it... That's a shame but sure doesn't rise to the level of replacing the entire engine unless there was a lot more damage.

 

I feel for ya but you're right..... "life goes on".

captianhook3 Enthusiast

captianhook3

Posted
  • Author
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yea there was about 41/2 inchs of connecting rod entirely missing ground up in motor . Mechanic says he thinks it was broke fore a while and cause it is a 5.3 and I was not working it , ithe stars all lined up and it imploded. It would be a total tare down and rebuild.

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