8.1 piston slap question...

[al cole'holic]

...hey Jay, someone told me last night that due to the "normal" piston slap upon startup of the 8.1L that GM had given 100k mile warranty's out on these vehicles...??...any truth to that, I think no way..?

[Outnumbered]

...hey Jay, someone told me last night that due to the "normal" piston slap upon startup of the 8.1L that GM had given 100k mile warranty's out on these vehicles...??...any truth to that, I think no way..?
You got some slapage goin' on?

[PHOTOGLOU]

...hey Jay, someone told me last night that due to the "normal" piston slap upon startup of the 8.1L that GM had given 100k mile warranty's out on these vehicles...??...any truth to that, I think no way..?
Is the vehicle burning oil???

[the_gray_goose]

They gave me the 100k waranty, then they bought it back on a lemon law deal.
Mine would burn 1 qt of oil every 1500 miles since I drove it off the lot.
I hated to give it back, ( loved the truck) but they would not replace the motor.
The 100k waranty is worthless, they are not willing to fix it unless you genade
the motor.
And they know the motor will last just barely that or you will sell it to someone else before you get to 100K.
http://www.pistonslap.com/
class action http://www.girardgibbs.com/Slap.html?gclid=CJTf2ZLxwIoCFTIeGAod02K6lA
http://www.lemonlaw.com/gm-engine-problem.html

[dicudmore]

They gave me the 100k waranty, then they bought it back on a lemon law deal.
Mine would burn 1 qt of oil every 1500 miles since I drove it off the lot.
I hated to give it back, ( loved the truck) but they would not replace the motor.
The 100k waranty is worthless, they are not willing to fix it unless you genade
the motor.
And they know the motor will last just barely that or you will sell it to someone else before you get to 100K.
http://www.pistonslap.com/
class action http://www.girardgibbs.com/Slap.html?gclid=CJTf2ZLxwIoCFTIeGAod02K6lA
http://www.lemonlaw.com/gm-engine-problem.html
typically replacing the engine doesn't make any difference...
Chris, if you do talk them out of a warranty, it is a power-train dealio--not a major guard

[al cole'holic]

...it's done the piston slap since day 1 however I was told by many people that this was "normal" at startup and was just one of the quarks about that motor...it does go thru oil...like I was sayin I've never heard the 100k warranty hand out...what should I do, or let it be??

[Outnumbered]

...it's done the piston slap since day 1 however I was told by many people that this was "normal" at startup and was just one of the quarks about that motor...it does go thru oil...like I was sayin I've never heard the 100k warranty hand out...what should I do, or let it be??
Thanks. I never knew these 8.1's had issues. I always thought they were good motors. I Googled "8.1 piston slap" and came up will all kinds of stuff. :(

[al cole'holic]

Thanks. I never knew these 8.1's had issues. I always thought they were good motors. I Googled "8.1 piston slap" and came up will all kinds of stuff. :(
..hasn't been an issue for me at all, does it at startup for about 2 minutes tops then goes away...every Chevy service center had told me it was considered to be normal and there was no problem.

[the_gray_goose]

...it's done the piston slap since day 1 however I was told by many people that this was "normal" at startup and was just one of the quarks about that motor...it does go thru oil...like I was sayin I've never heard the 100k warranty hand out...what should I do, or let it be??
If is "Normal" then why do some have the problem and some do not?
I have two other friends that have the 8.1 with none of these issues at all.
They just got lucky to get a motor that the tolerences between the piston diameter and the cylinder walls were on the tighter side. this cylinder wear does not happen in a "nomal" motor.
http://www.pistonslap.com/photos/4cylinder12oclock.jpg
The service guys were very simpathedic about mine. they agreed that this was not a good motor. just had their hands tied by GM corp.
This was from KellyBlue Book
Excessive “piston slap” occurs because an automobile manufacturer (GM) designs and/or manufactures a defective engine in which the clearance between the piston and cylinder bore is too great. Essentially, the piston moves sideways and “slaps” or “knocks” hard against the cylinder bore and causes damage to the engine pistons and cylinders, excessive smoke emissions, excessive oil consumption, carbon buildup on piston heads, decreased mileage, and a loud and obnoxious “slapping” or “knocking” noise, all of which diminishes vehicle resale value in the trade.
"...a knocking engine could lower the value of a vehicle by $4,000 to $6,000 at trade-in"
Charlie Vogelheim, executive editor for Kelley Blue Book
Detroit Free Press

[al cole'holic]

If is "Normal" then why do some have the problem and some do not?
I have two other friends that have the 8.1 with none of these issues at all.
They just got lucky to get a motor that the tolerences between the piston diameter and the cylinder walls were on the tighter side. this cylinder wear does not happen in a "nomal" motor.
http://www.pistonslap.com/photos/4cylinder12oclock.jpg
The service guys were very simpathedic about mine. they agreed that this was not a good motor. just had their hands tied by GM corp.
This was from KellyBlue Book
Excessive “piston slap” occurs because an automobile manufacturer (GM) designs and/or manufactures a defective engine in which the clearance between the piston and cylinder bore is too great. Essentially, the piston moves sideways and “slaps” or “knocks” hard against the cylinder bore and causes damage to the engine pistons and cylinders, excessive smoke emissions, excessive oil consumption, carbon buildup on piston heads, decreased mileage, and a loud and obnoxious “slapping” or “knocking” noise, all of which diminishes vehicle resale value in the trade.
"...a knocking engine could lower the value of a vehicle by $4,000 to $6,000 at trade-in"
Charlie Vogelheim, executive editor for Kelley Blue Book
Detroit Free Press
..sounds like they have been telling me this to avoid a bunch of headache. I guess I haven't pushed the issue further with them at any time..

[Havasu_Dreamin]

What model year(s) is this affecting?

[the_gray_goose]

What model year(s) is this affecting?
GO TO THIS WEBSITE: http://www.pistonslap.com/

[JakeC.]

I am a gm certified technition. and gm has a service bulliton that states the piston slap is considerd normal, as long as it goes away within a minute or two. if it does not go away or is burning to much oil, then there would be cause for repairs. if the vehicle is under warranty, then they would not replace the motor. they would tear it down and replace piston rings and all other nesicary parts. one of the reasons for the piston slap in the first place if the tolerances and the metal that is used. once it heats up a little bit, it expands and the noice goes away.

[Trailer Park Casanova]

I am a gm certified technition. and gm has a service bulliton that states the piston slap is considerd normal, as long as it goes away within a minute or two. if it does not go away or is burning to much oil, then there would be cause for repairs. if the vehicle is under warranty, then they would not replace the motor. they would tear it down and replace piston rings and all other nesicary parts. one of the reasons for the piston slap in the first place if the tolerances and the metal that is used. once it heats up a little bit, it expands and the noice goes away.
Long shot question,
Do the NEW 8.1 crate motors have the problem?
Did GM correct it?

[the_gray_goose]

Long shot question,
Do the NEW 8.1 crate motors have the problem?
Did GM correct it?
Not all of them. just some of them. "the normal ones"

[the_gray_goose]

We should continue this thread in a different forum.
I think Jay is doing a good thing here with this section and I don't think we should jack his area here with this.
I have a great deal of history with this issue and it hits a nerve when I here other people with the same problem motors. I would like to help anyone that has questions. If someone wants to start a thread in another section PM me.

[Trailer Park Casanova]

Not all of them. just some of them. "the normal ones"
We'll be buying a new truck that is rated to tow 17.000 lbs + and will keep our 2002 8.1.
Hopefully it'll be a new Chevy from Jay.
We'll see GM's response to the new Ford F450.
When the 8.1 engine wears out, I'll drop another new crate in.
It's the most fantastic, most reliable, fun to drive truck I've ever owned.
I'll hang on to it just to have it.
Almost a classic in it's own time.