I have NEVER heard an LS based engine with lifter tap on start up. My 99 SS camaro does get some piston slap (and no the pistons are not forged). My 99 SS does consume oil. Its not "burning" oil per say but rather the PCV system on some of the LS based engines are a poor design and its pulling the oil through the PCV valve. But its not burning oil due to a mechanical problem. Whats funny about my SS is when I do an oil change the piston slap goes tottaly away for about 500 miles or so and slowly comes back. Comes back faster with some oils. The best I have found so far is AMSOIL Signature Series.
Our new 2007 new body style GMC 2500HD has the 6.0 with 7000 miles on it now and it does not use a drop of oil and the engine is as quiet as a mouse. Man does this truck have some power! The LS engines are by far the best small blocks any company has ever made (the cleveland rocked but dumb ford didnt keep it around for long).
You running SSO in your 6.0?
I've got ASL and EAO47 in our 2500HD van right now, and will be making the switch to SSO in the spring. Van has 7700 miles on it right now and it is quiet as a mouse as well. And no oil consumption.
I feel the excact opposite you do with the power of the 6.0. Course our van is pretty loaded and we're running 3.73 gears.
Im not running the SSO yet untill I feel it is broken in good. It has 7,100 miles on it right now. Our truck also has 3.73 gears in it. We tow a loaded landscape trailer with it 5 days a week and have towed my car up the mountains to my cousins auto fabrication shop twice. The car trailer weights 2000 and my car 3600 so thats 5500 and it does not even flinch. Dont even know its back there. I got behind a semi going up a steep grade while towing my car to the shop for some fab work (had his flashers on doing about 40 on a really steep grade) and got antsy so I passed him like he was standing still. You are the first person I have ever heard say they werent impressed with the power of the 6.0 engine. Our truck has the 6 speed automatic with towing package. Paid $17900 for it!
The six speed must be the difference then, but then again we don't have the vortex max in the van. They usually throw the older version motors in the van's (leftover's i guess). And it has the old 4 speed which i don't like. The 6-speeds are great for towing.
Put a real 10k+ load behind it and then tell me how you like the power. haha
I went to lake powell last year and pulled our 8k lb fifth wheel and put the 4k lb boat behind that. The tundra did a fine job, and managed 7.5mpg. Now 12k lbs.........that's a load. Overweight? Yes. Underpowered? No.
We also pull our 10k+ 4-horse gooseneck trailer and manage 9mpg.
You did get one heluva deal though at $18k.