Jump to content

2015 Sierra 5.3 Engine Replacement

Slickracer34

By Slickracer34
in Troubleshooting & Recalls

 Share

Recommended Posts

Slickracer34 Enthusiast

Slickracer34

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hey everyone. Sorry if this has been covered before but for some reason I can't do a search in the forums. I have a 2015 Sierra 5.3 with 132K kms. I have had a Range disabler and Magnaflow cat-back pretty much all along, and about 10K kms ago I installed an HPS intake. A couple weeks ago when climbing a hill on the highway at about 3.5K rpms the truck stopped pulling but continued revving and the exhaust changed to a high pitched sound. I backed off and it seemed to catch it's breath but it didn't run right the rest of the week. On that Friday about a mile from my house I stepped on it again and up around 3.5K it did it again and this time it caused damage. #7 cylinder has only 30psi compression and the shop says the cylinder walls are scored and the piston is damaged. They didn't mention any damage to the head. I have not seen the pictures yet and they haven't told me yet what they think happened other than there was oil and coolant on the piston. I'm sure the coolant was spillage from pulling the head. The only code showing was P0307. There was no audible tapping or knocking sound but the exhaust sounds hollow and garbled when idling and had a really bad sour smell when driving up on the flat bed. Maybe a ring land failure from detonation?  If it was detonation could the aftermarket intake have possibly anything to do with it? TIA for any opinions.

Edited by Slickracer34
CamGTP Senior Enthusiast

CamGTP

Posted
Posted

The intake won't have anything to do with what may have happened.

 

Sounds like bad luck and something let go. I would only be guessing at the cause from where I sit as well. Could be a ring failure that scored the wall, injector issue that lead to it or who knows what else.

Slickracer34 Enthusiast

Slickracer34

Posted
  • Author
Posted
1 hour ago, CamGTP said:

The intake won't have anything to do with what may have happened.

 

Sounds like bad luck and something let go. I would only be guessing at the cause from where I sit as well. Could be a ring failure that scored the wall, injector issue that lead to it or who knows what else.

Yeah I didn't think so either. If the intake was the issue I should have got a code for lean condition or something. It never threw a code until it was in my driveway puking 10 mins after it let go. On a side note the oil pump grenaded at 15K kms and they didn't replace the motor. It got flushed and they said it was fine and everybody I knew said they should have replaced it. I said if that oil pump failure did any damage it'll show before my warranty is up. My warranty is up at 140K so I'm glad that whatever it was that happened it happened now.

PPK Enthusiast

PPK

Posted
Posted (edited)

It could have been detonation... and then a broken ring.If you catch it immediately - pull the piston and replace it - you can just have some marks in the cylinder. With a broken ring.. any period of time running it- that ring - the broken part that is a half circle sized or so - the ends will gouge the cyl wall. 

 

When you pull the piston and see the ring - and the top ring - you can speculate detonation caused ring land / broken ring failure was the result....

 

i know this the hard way....

Edited by PPK
Slickracer34 Enthusiast

Slickracer34

Posted
  • Author
Posted
On 2/8/2021 at 7:22 PM, PPK said:

It could have been detonation... and then a broken ring.If you catch it immediately - pull the piston and replace it - you can just have some marks in the cylinder. With a broken ring.. any period of time running it- that ring - the broken part that is a half circle sized or so - the ends will gouge the cyl wall. 

 

When you pull the piston and see the ring - and the top ring - you can speculate detonation caused ring land / broken ring failure was the result....

 

i know this the hard way....

I just got my truck back today with the new motor. All the work order said is there was moisture in the exhaust manifold and past the valves. There was blow by and a hair line crack in the cylinder. I never did get to see the photos they took of the damage. I'm pretty sure whatever it was that happened wasn't caused by my cold air intake. There must be a thousand or more people running intakes on these motors with no issues whatsoever. The dealer said this is the first L83 they have ever seen this happen to. Was your detonation issue on your L83?

PPK Enthusiast

PPK

Posted
Posted

Detonation.. yes.. A Ford. broken ring lands - and rings. i think the piston broke first - and then the rings of course without support went. Detonation in a pre-90s Ford without the sensors and controls of fuel injected engines...

  • 2 months later...
Slickracer34 Enthusiast

Slickracer34

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Here's an update on my engine replacement. I'll never know what happened to the original motor since it's been shipped back. The dealer somehow lost all the photos of the damage and seem to dance around all my questions when I push them on it. Oh well at least I have a new motor and 2K kms of warranty left. The more I run it through my mind and remember what it sounded like when it happened I am positive it was detonation that killed it. I've only ever run 87 octane and two weeks ago I switched to 91. Since then my mileage has gone from 17-18L/100km to 13.5-15L/100km. I think that's about 14mpg to 17mpg but not sure. It runs better, idles smoother, and feels more responsive. I plan on putting the HPS intake back on when I put my summer wheels on and will be running 91 octane from now on. Just my two cents.

  • Like 1

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Forum Statistics

    250.3k
    Total Topics
    2.7m
    Total Posts

  • Member Statistics

    342,739
    Total Members
    8,960
    Most Online
    chfkief
    Newest Member
    chfkief
    Joined

  • Who's Online   3 Members, 0 Anonymous, 1,317 Guests (See full list)

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • Chuck FB
      Joke Thread

      By Chuck FB · Posted

      Fred was in the fertilized egg business. He had several hundred young pullets, and ten roosters to fertilize the eggs He kept records, and any rooster not performing went into the soup pot and was replaced. This took a lot of time, so he bought some tiny bells and attached them to his roosters. Each bell had a different tone, so he could tell from a distance, which rooster was performing. Now, he could sit on the porch and fill out an efficiency report by just listening to the bells. Fred's favourite rooster, old Butch, was a very fine specimen, but this morning he noticed old Butch's bell hadn't rung at all! When he went to investigate, he saw the other roosters were busy chasing pullets, bells-a-ringing, but the pullets, hearing the roosters coming, would run for cover. To Fred's amazement, old Butch had his bell in his beak, so it couldn't ring. He'd sneak up on a pullet, do his job and walk on to the next one. Fred was so proud of old Butch, he entered him in the City Show and he became an overnight sensation among the judges. The result was the judges not only awarded old Butch the "No Bell Piece Prize," but they also awarded him the "Pulletsurprise" as well. Clearly old Butch was a politician in the making. Who else but a politician could figure out how to win two of the most coveted awards on our planet by being the best at sneaking up on the unsuspecting populace and screwing them when they weren't paying attention. Vote carefully in the next election, you can't always hear the bells.
    • chfkief
      FS: Black Bear Performance AutoCal Tuning System

      By chfkief · Posted

      Do you still have?
    • 3CarSeatDad
      High Country Suburban build confirmation

      By 3CarSeatDad · Posted

      Can someone confirm if the GM order workbench terminal is able to validate a custom build sequence:   1) Initialize the Allocation Base: Open a new vehicle build queue, select the 2026 Chevrolet Suburban 4WD, and pick the High Country (3LZ Preferred Equipment Group).   2) Select the Diesel Powertrain: Go directly to the engine configuration screen and choose RPO code LZ0 (3.0L Duramax Turbo-Diesel). Ensure it maps to the MHS 10-speed automatic transmission.   3) Deploy the Seating Swap: Navigate to the Interior Options screen and enter RPO code ATT to replace the standard captain's chairs with the power-release 60/40 bench seat. Because you are not trying to force a separate luxury or air-suspension bundle, the standard, premium D07 Fixed Floor Console remains active. The system will accept this change immediately without triggering a warning message.   3)Apply Heavy-Duty Hauling Capability: Input RPO code NHT (Max Trailering Package). The commercial terminal will automatically bundle the required trailering hardware and software modules to support the diesel engine's maximum towing capacity.   5) Layer the Premium Tech and Glass: Separately add code C3U (Panoramic Power Sunroof) and code UKL (Super Cruise) to the order screen.   6) Run the Final Validation: Click the "Validate Order" button at the bottom of the interface.
    • revmanii
      Looking at ordering a '26 WT because I want a std cab, std bed

      By revmanii · Posted

      Spent the last hour or 2 googling and reading up on the spacer thing. I don't like the loss of thread contact on the slip on spacers, but it appears you can get "extended" lug nuts that reach into the hole of the wheel to get back the lost threads. Looks like the only true hubcentric slip on spacers are at least .375". I'd want as little as I could get away with and don't want to cause other clearance issues going any thicker. Bora seems to offer what appears to be a well made .375" spacer and extended lug nuts. I searched here and did find a couple threads recommending Bora. But not cheap. By the time I buy spacers and lugs, new TPMS sensors, then pay a tire shop to install the new sensors, I suspect I'm going to be in over $400. Thinking about running out and getting some washers to put behind the wheel to see if .375" is enough to clear calipers, turn lock to lock without rubbing, and to see if the wheels/tires look strange pushed out a little. This would just be to check fitment.
    • Core-Lokt
      Road Master Active Suspension

      By Core-Lokt · Posted

      Roadmaster makes some quality parts; I have their sway bar. I considered the RAS, but I ended up bagging. I didn't know what kind of ride I'd get with RAS, and the bags have interior jounce bumpers, so I can run 0 pounds pressure. I figured I'd have the best of normal suspension ride with assist on-demand. But it seems you got pretty much the same in one item.

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...