Defective GM Vortec Engines 1999-2002

[novacane]

Re: Defective GM Vortec Engines 1999-2002

it goes like this EITHER YOU GET A GOOD ONE OR A BAD ONE its real simple im with you guys 4.3 5.7 vortec motors are fine 3.1 3.3<br />ya cant roast um wont go for that kinda abuse like 4.9 4.5 cad motor dont roast it and toss in the gm coolant supplement lol alluiuum seal lol but hay you get a BAD ONE FROM TIME TO TIME no matter how good it is !!!<br />

 

[tajones]

Re: Defective GM Vortec Engines 1999-2002

I would like to know if ODDD1 is a GM dealer. The original post is for defective Chevy engines in which ODDD1 came to the defense of GM. That's understandable since none of this is comfimed. Then others give first hand accounts of problems they have had with GM engines and once again here comes ODDD1 to GM's rescue. It must be your fault, he says, you don't know what oil to use, etc. I use GM products and I know they are not infalable. I am interested in any problems that may be out there and I keep an open mind. I listen to the opinion, research, and think for myself. I advise all here to do the same, especially if you are in the market for a new Chevy.<br />Jabo

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Defective GM Vortec Engines 1999-2002

Short skirt piston + low density block = noise.

 

[BigBlackMotor]

Re: Defective GM Vortec Engines 1999-2002

For folks who are interested, there is now a borescope photo of the cylinder bore damage that has been caused by excessive piston to bore clearance and the resulting piston slap at the http://www.gmpistonslap.cjb.net . There is also a .wav sound file available as well. Again, the people on that web site are not talking about a little bit of light clatter on cold start-up that goes away upon warm up. The only problem is that these engines (for the most part) are fairly quiet on the lot, progressing to a light cold start clatter as a few miles accrue and then some gradually keep getting worse. The particular borescope photo was from the #8 cylinder on a 2001 8.1 Liter engine with 14K miles. Good luck everybody!

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Defective GM Vortec Engines 1999-2002

lot of heat generated with this topic, and I kind of wish I had seen it when it was really hot. I don't thing I saw many comments from 4.3 liter owners. I have a '96 Chevy S-10 (sissy truck, I know) with the 4.3, and I like the power and have generally been satisfied -- but there have been something like 5 recalls on the vehicle, beginning with one for incorrectly installed valve seals when it was all of 2 months old. More recently, my mechanic had a devil of a time correcting a computer malfunction (results in the "service engine soon" light coming on and apparently providing incorrect fault codes). He says he should have found it earlier, via a service bulletin that GM put out. So I guess it's not as if the factory is exactly keeping secrets.<br /><br />But I also have headaches with a Ford. And we recently bought a couple of old ('85) Mercedes diesels, betting the engines will outlast the drivers. Unfortunately, the electrical systems and A/C climate control systems seem to be a major pain, although the engines do seem to keep clattering along like they should.<br /><br />So what do you do? The old 305 in my '77 Chris Craft seems to have a few more hours in it, hopefully.....

 

[wileecoyote]

Re: Defective GM Vortec Engines 1999-2002

I have a 92 S-10 with a 4.3, a 2001 Yukon with a 5.3, and a 87 boat with a 4.3 and a 98 4.3 vortec I'm building for it.I have worked for GM/Chevy for 15 years and I have not had any problems with any of my motors. I could care less how much they slap, tap when cold, burn 1 qt of oil in 3k miles, all I know is I'm pushin 210k on my s-10 and that 4.3 is great, as is the boat(want more power) and the Yukon. Sounds like one disgruntled owner who probably didn't maintain his engine and is now pissed. SORRY!