Vortec 6.0 Piston Knock/Slap

Pantera · December 6, 2001

Guys! Your not gonna like this!

Yes, the Piston slap/Spank/Knock issue!

The sound is getting louder. At only 1700 miles this thing is really starting to sound. Hot or cold! No matter the temp!

I am very unhappy about this! I think It's time to go back to the dealer and document this with them again.

Unreal that a fix (new pistons) looks like it's on the horizon for some of us willing to ##### loud enough.

I spoke with perhaps the finest piston mfg. company tech today for about 20 minutes on this issue. He asked that I not mention his company or his name and I respect that for obvious reasons. He said this is something that should be addressed and addressed loudly because this will, and he stressed "WILL" lead to potential problems in the future. Pistons don't make this sound when engines in passenger autos are built correctly (to appropriate tolerences) and he knows about the newly designed piston that GM is supposedly coming out with. He says this is good! Very good in fact! Should have been done in the beginning!!!!

What do you guys think.

Pantera

02 WS6 Chris · December 7, 2001

I too just got a 2002 Trans Am WS6 and it ticks like hell. It's so loud and just keeps getting louder. I took it into the dealer on Monday because I thought it sounded like a bad lifter/bent pushrods. They call me back today, they didn't even look for that stuff, just started it up, wrote down it was a "normal sound". I was talkin to the guy on the phone before I came to pick it up and he says"it's normal. It's piston slap and it comes from GM redisigning some internal parts on the engine. I said bullshit it's not normal, and he says "I'm sorry but there's nothing I can do". Looks like I won't be going back there again. I know it's not normal, there has to be somthing wrong somewhere so I'm gonna try another dealer soon and see if they fix it.

Shaners · December 7, 2001

That stinks!!! I feel bad for both of you... I get a little tinkly noise on startup but it isn't something that sounds like piston slap.

I hope you can get this problem resolved, and please keep us all informed. I think the "that's normal" response from the service guy is what GM tells him to say. There is no doubt you'll have to get a "rep" involved. Pantera, make sure you take your stethescope so the rep can hear exactly what you hear. And make him explain that noise in writing...

02 WS6 Chris · December 8, 2001

I think the worst part about the guy at the dealership is that he said he only heard it for a second. I can't belive that, it's loud as hell so not to hear it would be like selective hearing or somthing. i can't believe how mean some people can be, how can I get the number for my area rep?

Pantera · December 8, 2001

Well, get this! I was basically lip reading the Managers conversation to the Head Honcho the other day at the dealership and I saw the Director tell the manager "sounds like a valve train to me". I know what I saw!

This it is not. It's most likely piston slap and I too got the response "what sound are you talking about"? What bothers me is that when I get home the sound was "of course" louder and not as noticable. SUX huh?

Well. We will see what happens!!!

Pantera :angry: