Lost my motor today

[Track Junky]

Well after 155,000 hard miles my 2001 Siverado lost #7 piston. I fired it up this morning and I noticed it had a miss. Took it to the shop cause I had to smog it anyways.
They noticed the misfire and then did a compression test. good all around except for cylinder #7 only giving 70 lbs of compression. Pulled valve cover to check valve springs and they were fine.
By Wednesday and $5600 later she should have a new motor in her.

OUCH!!

[carkrazy1987]

The low compression could be froma bad valve. I work for gm, on the heavyline side, and very rarely that stock engines loose pistons or block damage. I see more often on 4.8, 5.3, 6.0 is a valve seat burnt. I have 2 6.0 and a 5.3 with burnt valves on the floor nxt to my tool box. One actually has a burnt exh valve on cyl #7 lol. What I'm trying to get at, hopefully they did a leak down test also, and not just going on a compression, could save u money.

[Ron in SoCal]

Wow Gae...I read that headline and thought it was your race motor. Painful, none the less, but glad it wasn't that!

[Track Junky]

Originally Posted by carkrazy1987

The low compression could be froma bad valve. I work for gm, on the heavyline side, and very rarely that stock engines loose pistons or block damage. I see more often on 4.8, 5.3, 6.0 is a valve seat burnt. I have 2 6.0 and a 5.3 with burnt valves on the floor nxt to my tool box. One actually has a burnt exh valve on cyl #7 lol. What I'm trying to get at, hopefully they did a leak down test also, and not just going on a compression, could save u money.

Good point. Didn't ask them about a leak down but to be honest I'm tired of hearing the old piston slap problem the 6.0's had at cold starts. I was told this problem has been fixed. Any insight?

[quote=Ron in SoCal;389732]Wow Gae...I read that headline and thought it was your race motor. Painful, none the less, but glad it wasn't that![/quote

You and me both buddy!!

[intocarss]

Originally Posted by Track Junky

Good point. Didn't ask them about a leak down but to be honest I'm tired of hearing the old piston slap problem the 6.0's had at cold starts. I was told this problem has been fixed. Any insight?

I have a 02 2500 HD crew cab long bed with the 8.1 and it knocks on start up too. Has 117xxx mi on it. It towed my fully loaded 22' enclosed with a cab over camper on it great!! Except for having to tow a gas station behind it... it has been a great truck .

[CarlC]

Originally Posted by carkrazy1987

The low compression could be froma bad valve. I work for gm, on the heavyline side, and very rarely that stock engines loose pistons or block damage. I see more often on 4.8, 5.3, 6.0 is a valve seat burnt. I have 2 6.0 and a 5.3 with burnt valves on the floor nxt to my tool box. One actually has a burnt exh valve on cyl #7 lol. What I'm trying to get at, hopefully they did a leak down test also, and not just going on a compression, could save u money.

Thanks for the practical side of this. It's always good to know what the long-term weaknesses of a system are.

In that light, at 155k how is the overall condition of a well maintained 5.3 - 6.0 that sees little towing/heavy-duty use? My wifes '05 5.3 Silverado 1500 runs like a watch, does not burn oil, and has had zero problems, so I'm hesitant to sell it. The instrument gauges are another story.

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by CarlC

Thanks for the practical side of this. It's always good to know what the long-term weaknesses of a system are.

In that light, at 155k how is the overall condition of a well maintained 5.3 - 6.0 that sees little towing/heavy-duty use? My wifes '05 5.3 Silverado 1500 runs like a watch, does not burn oil, and has had zero problems, so I'm hesitant to sell it. The instrument gauges are another story.

Carl, your wife drives a truck? That's pretty tough...

[CarlC]

Originally Posted by Flash68

Carl, your wife drives a truck? That's pretty tough...

Better yet, my old work truck

[carkrazy1987]

They are very durable, the engines I pull out came from fleet trucks, that run 24 - 7. No joke, they put 100k in 3 months on these trucks in the cane field. They just rotate drivers at shift changes and keep going. The random valve spring or seat seems to be the most commen issue. As on street trucks, trucks with afm lifters have had burning oil issues. Depending on the truck, its a simple valve cover issue, or a splash shield in the oil pan. Not too many piston slap issues anymore. A well take care engine will outlast everything else on the truck. And I doubt the rear main was leaking, very rare that they do, most likely the oil pan/oil cooler to pan gskt. Hubs and water pumps are big problems after 100k. Besides that, tough trucks, and even tougher motors. Oh and the cluster, they fixed that by gettin rid of the pesky thing lol

[Efi69Cam]

Originally Posted by CarlC

Thanks for the practical side of this. It's always good to know what the long-term weaknesses of a system are.

In that light, at 155k how is the overall condition of a well maintained 5.3 - 6.0 that sees little towing/heavy-duty use? My wifes '05 5.3 Silverado 1500 runs like a watch, does not burn oil, and has had zero problems, so I'm hesitant to sell it. The instrument gauges are another story.

I had the stepper motors in my wife's 2003 Suburban cluster replaced by a local speedometer shop. Cost less than $200.