Street/Track Corvette LS7 - New Motor !
- Thread starter Dirty_Howie
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Its not a oil issue. Its a design,head issue. Read the Corvette forumns. If it starts smokinng on cold start or on hot restart pull the heads for repagir before7 it breaks a valve and ruuins the block. You can use all the oils you want it will still fail. I'd look into aftermarrukeyt heads,,valve train.
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Howie, here is a Virgin oil analysis for Redline 5-30. It will list all additive levels your looking for
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/redline-5-30-street-oil-voa-jan-2011.146791/
My LS7 does have factory heads but have been Work by John Lingenfelter. My engine was built by John and i have not had a single issue. You may consider calling and speaking with him about what happened to the other engine.
http://www.lingenfelter.com/mm5/merchant...tegory_Code=C56
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/redline-5-30-street-oil-voa-jan-2011.146791/
My LS7 does have factory heads but have been Work by John Lingenfelter. My engine was built by John and i have not had a single issue. You may consider calling and speaking with him about what happened to the other engine.
http://www.lingenfelter.com/mm5/merchant...tegory_Code=C56
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Well it'll be a bit hard to speak to John anymore since he passed away.
But I have always felt he was one of the best. Ever since he trailered a stock body Camaro in to a Car and Driver shootout years ago and ran over 200 mph!!!!
And from what I've read online I would say the LS7 has a few bad parts in the supply line. These failures are far from typical. Just "Internet Amplification".
But I have always felt he was one of the best. Ever since he trailered a stock body Camaro in to a Car and Driver shootout years ago and ran over 200 mph!!!!
And from what I've read online I would say the LS7 has a few bad parts in the supply line. These failures are far from typical. Just "Internet Amplification".
Isacc or Tim is who I would speak to.
I agree about john. He was one of the best. he was very innovative in the industry and when ken took over over in 08 he has continued. Tatum gave me a few options for engines when I bought my sand car. Turnkey, LPE, HP lane, and Beck Racing ( local ). After my research It became a tossup between Turnkey and LPE. My decision was based purely on reputation
I agree about john. He was one of the best. he was very innovative in the industry and when ken took over over in 08 he has continued. Tatum gave me a few options for engines when I bought my sand car. Turnkey, LPE, HP lane, and Beck Racing ( local ). After my research It became a tossup between Turnkey and LPE. My decision was based purely on reputation
Originally Posted By: JosephHarmon
ZDDP isn't the answer to all lifes lube ill's. To bad Gm has it in there hands it's likely a failure in the valve train but who knows. To track one of these cars shouldn't void a warranty if used with in the peramiters. It will be interesting to see if they communicate issues. Don't hold your breath.
Yes I'm not saying ZDDP will even potentially help. I just want to make sure it can't hurt !!!
DH
ZDDP isn't the answer to all lifes lube ill's. To bad Gm has it in there hands it's likely a failure in the valve train but who knows. To track one of these cars shouldn't void a warranty if used with in the peramiters. It will be interesting to see if they communicate issues. Don't hold your breath.
Yes I'm not saying ZDDP will even potentially help. I just want to make sure it can't hurt !!!
DH
I would have liked mine to last a lot longer too. But some say it did last longer than THEY expected.
DH
DH
Originally Posted By: Smokefan1977
Howie, here is a Virgin oil analysis for Redline 5-30. It will list all additive levels your looking for
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/redline-5-30-street-oil-voa-jan-2011.146791/
My LS7 does have factory heads but have been Work by John Lingenfelter. My engine was built by John and i have not had a single issue. You may consider calling and speaking with him about what happened to the other engine.
http://www.lingenfelter.com/mm5/merchant...tegory_Code=C56
I will have to start doing the UAO stuff if it isn't too expensive.
So you just took oil out of the bottle and sent it in right? Thats what you mean by virgin I presume.
My new motor will be filled with Mobil15w30 at the dealer. I will probably just run it for a few hundred miles and then remove it to make sure no metal was left behind somehow in the motor swap. Is there any pros/cons in having the Redline 5w30 as the breakin oil?
DH
Howie, here is a Virgin oil analysis for Redline 5-30. It will list all additive levels your looking for
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/redline-5-30-street-oil-voa-jan-2011.146791/
My LS7 does have factory heads but have been Work by John Lingenfelter. My engine was built by John and i have not had a single issue. You may consider calling and speaking with him about what happened to the other engine.
http://www.lingenfelter.com/mm5/merchant...tegory_Code=C56
I will have to start doing the UAO stuff if it isn't too expensive.
So you just took oil out of the bottle and sent it in right? Thats what you mean by virgin I presume.
My new motor will be filled with Mobil15w30 at the dealer. I will probably just run it for a few hundred miles and then remove it to make sure no metal was left behind somehow in the motor swap. Is there any pros/cons in having the Redline 5w30 as the breakin oil?
DH
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Well it'll be a bit hard to speak to John anymore since he passed away.
But I have always felt he was one of the best. Ever since he trailered a stock body Camaro in to a Car and Driver shootout years ago and ran over 200 mph!!!!
And from what I've read online I would say the LS7 has a few bad parts in the supply line. These failures are far from typical. Just "Internet Amplification".
I have the LPE large capacity sump tank in my Vette !
DH
Well it'll be a bit hard to speak to John anymore since he passed away.
But I have always felt he was one of the best. Ever since he trailered a stock body Camaro in to a Car and Driver shootout years ago and ran over 200 mph!!!!
And from what I've read online I would say the LS7 has a few bad parts in the supply line. These failures are far from typical. Just "Internet Amplification".
I have the LPE large capacity sump tank in my Vette !
DH
To be honest Howie we broke mine in on 5-30 dino ( Pennzoil Yellow Bottle ) oil and Redline breakin additive. Ran it easy for 2 weekends and dumped it out and then went to Redline. Been on Redline for the past 3 years. Granted mine did have some Dyno time before I recieved it, but I do know it was on Dino before it shipped from LPE.
The Dino was reccomended by LPE.the redline additive was my doing but was told it deffinetly couldn't hurt anything
The Dino was reccomended by LPE.the redline additive was my doing but was told it deffinetly couldn't hurt anything
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Does anybody know if the LS7 valve failures were on engines that had OE camshafts, or if they occurred on engines with aftermarket cams?
If it's a valve seating velocity or valvetrain geometry issue, oil selection won't fix it.
If it's a valve seating velocity or valvetrain geometry issue, oil selection won't fix it.
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Somebody mentioned after market heads, that would not help. I would look into iconel exhaust valves and machining the guides for a looser fit. This has been necessary for years on high performance marine engines. The LS7 may need the same treatment because it is a pretty extreme engine.
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Originally Posted By: rob6773
Somebody mentioned after market heads, that would not help. I would look into iconel exhaust valves and machining the guides for a looser fit. This has been necessary for years on high performance marine engines. The LS7 may need the same treatment because it is a pretty extreme engine.
The LS7 is an AWESOME engine. The best GM has ever made IMHO. However, in terms of power output when stock, it is no more extreme than the S2000, current Mustang GT, GT500, Viper, Challenger.....etc.
Remember stock it is 505HP and 7.0L. That is 72HP/L (yes, it is capable of much more, I know). Other engines operating at or above that power level are not having this issue, so obviously there is something going on here with GM's assembly, parts choice or a supplier issue.
Somebody mentioned after market heads, that would not help. I would look into iconel exhaust valves and machining the guides for a looser fit. This has been necessary for years on high performance marine engines. The LS7 may need the same treatment because it is a pretty extreme engine.
The LS7 is an AWESOME engine. The best GM has ever made IMHO. However, in terms of power output when stock, it is no more extreme than the S2000, current Mustang GT, GT500, Viper, Challenger.....etc.
Remember stock it is 505HP and 7.0L. That is 72HP/L (yes, it is capable of much more, I know). Other engines operating at or above that power level are not having this issue, so obviously there is something going on here with GM's assembly, parts choice or a supplier issue.
In the old days, some racer folks would remove the exhaust valve seals leaving only the intake seals for better lube on the exhaust valve guides. I know the LS7's have a weird dual purpose valve seal so it would be hard to do that. I guess oil consumption only occurs when intake seals are worn. Besides anything other than a horizontally opposed engine would cause the puff on startup. I had an old 911 with no exhaust valve seals from the factory. Oh well....I know this would solve your problem, just thought I would interject some babble.
Its not a 'Internet' thing. I've read about three in the last few months. NEW POSTS on the Corvette forum about another LS7 bites the dust. All stock. Mileages from mid 30,000 to mid 80,000. There was no posts commenting about surprise to broken valves,busted pistons and cylinder wall damage.
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get an ls7-R
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: rob6773
Somebody mentioned after market heads, that would not help. I would look into iconel exhaust valves and machining the guides for a looser fit. This has been necessary for years on high performance marine engines. The LS7 may need the same treatment because it is a pretty extreme engine.
The LS7 is an AWESOME engine. The best GM has ever made IMHO. However, in terms of power output when stock, it is no more extreme than the S2000, current Mustang GT, GT500, Viper, Challenger.....etc.
Remember stock it is 505HP and 7.0L. That is 72HP/L (yes, it is capable of much more, I know). Other engines operating at or above that power level are not having this issue, so obviously there is something going on here with GM's assembly, parts choice or a supplier issue.
It is not the design of the head but more or less the quality of the build. If you buy "assembled" aftermarket heads they can be much worse because the assembly can be really poor. The engine guy I use says GM leaves about 20 hp on the table in all their LS motors because of build quality. If someone were to pull the heads off and have a pro do the valve job over along with iconal valves the problem should be solved. It would also make a lot of sense to have aditional porting done to the heads at the same time.
Originally Posted By: rob6773
Somebody mentioned after market heads, that would not help. I would look into iconel exhaust valves and machining the guides for a looser fit. This has been necessary for years on high performance marine engines. The LS7 may need the same treatment because it is a pretty extreme engine.
The LS7 is an AWESOME engine. The best GM has ever made IMHO. However, in terms of power output when stock, it is no more extreme than the S2000, current Mustang GT, GT500, Viper, Challenger.....etc.
Remember stock it is 505HP and 7.0L. That is 72HP/L (yes, it is capable of much more, I know). Other engines operating at or above that power level are not having this issue, so obviously there is something going on here with GM's assembly, parts choice or a supplier issue.
It is not the design of the head but more or less the quality of the build. If you buy "assembled" aftermarket heads they can be much worse because the assembly can be really poor. The engine guy I use says GM leaves about 20 hp on the table in all their LS motors because of build quality. If someone were to pull the heads off and have a pro do the valve job over along with iconal valves the problem should be solved. It would also make a lot of sense to have aditional porting done to the heads at the same time.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: rob6773
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: rob6773
Somebody mentioned after market heads, that would not help. I would look into iconel exhaust valves and machining the guides for a looser fit. This has been necessary for years on high performance marine engines. The LS7 may need the same treatment because it is a pretty extreme engine.
The LS7 is an AWESOME engine. The best GM has ever made IMHO. However, in terms of power output when stock, it is no more extreme than the S2000, current Mustang GT, GT500, Viper, Challenger.....etc.
Remember stock it is 505HP and 7.0L. That is 72HP/L (yes, it is capable of much more, I know). Other engines operating at or above that power level are not having this issue, so obviously there is something going on here with GM's assembly, parts choice or a supplier issue.
It is not the design of the head but more or less the quality of the build. If you buy "assembled" aftermarket heads they can be much worse because the assembly can be really poor. The engine guy I use says GM leaves about 20 hp on the table in all their LS motors because of build quality. If someone were to pull the heads off and have a pro do the valve job over along with iconal valves the problem should be solved. It would also make a lot of sense to have aditional porting done to the heads at the same time.
OK, I wasn't thinking in the same vein. Yeah, a head that is purchased bare and then setup by somebody like Ed Curtis or he like is going to be a solid choice. A lot of the "OTS" heads aren't all that great in shipped form.
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: rob6773
Somebody mentioned after market heads, that would not help. I would look into iconel exhaust valves and machining the guides for a looser fit. This has been necessary for years on high performance marine engines. The LS7 may need the same treatment because it is a pretty extreme engine.
The LS7 is an AWESOME engine. The best GM has ever made IMHO. However, in terms of power output when stock, it is no more extreme than the S2000, current Mustang GT, GT500, Viper, Challenger.....etc.
Remember stock it is 505HP and 7.0L. That is 72HP/L (yes, it is capable of much more, I know). Other engines operating at or above that power level are not having this issue, so obviously there is something going on here with GM's assembly, parts choice or a supplier issue.
It is not the design of the head but more or less the quality of the build. If you buy "assembled" aftermarket heads they can be much worse because the assembly can be really poor. The engine guy I use says GM leaves about 20 hp on the table in all their LS motors because of build quality. If someone were to pull the heads off and have a pro do the valve job over along with iconal valves the problem should be solved. It would also make a lot of sense to have aditional porting done to the heads at the same time.
OK, I wasn't thinking in the same vein. Yeah, a head that is purchased bare and then setup by somebody like Ed Curtis or he like is going to be a solid choice. A lot of the "OTS" heads aren't all that great in shipped form.
Hey guys I appreciate the discussion on the heads/valve train/etc but this can be viewed on the Corvette Forum.
I specifically want some help in determining which oil I should run in this NEW STOCK LS7 ......... Thanks !!
DH
I specifically want some help in determining which oil I should run in this NEW STOCK LS7 ......... Thanks !!
DH
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