Piston Slap

[andypower5.7]

Hi guys can someone tell me can you drive a car with piston slap as i have this on my clubby. Can i put Moery oil in to make it less noisey. I will fix the problem but not yet as i have the money but dont want to give it all incase for emergences.

[wyldnyt]

Keep driving it mate, i read your other post and as your going to throw in a new motor who cares what happens to this 1.

[andypower5.7]

Thats true but would it be ok to still drive it as it is until i change it.

[redvxr8clubby]

I would be getting a second opinion from someone who knows LS1's very well, before changing an engine - from my understanding if you have piston slap, the noise will be deeper knocking noise from low down in the engine. If lifters should be a tapping noise higher up. You could also try a differnet oil I am thinking maybe Magnatec 10-40 or Castrol Edge 10- 60 as suggested. If you have been getting car serviced at Holden the recommended oil is Mobil One 5w-30 - the place I get my Clubby serviced don't recommend Mobil One - they say you will burn through it pretty quick, and I notice you said your oil level needed to be topped up - they believe that Magnatec is a better choice. Having said this you will this you will no doubt get many different opinions on this.

Bottom line is get a second opinion from someone knowledgeable on LS1's. You could save a lot of unnecessary expense. Also you said you had no noise at all before exhaust change - piston slap wouldn't suddenly start as you drive out of an exhaust shop (maybe they gave it a caning), are you sure the exhaust isn't just hitting the body work etc somewhere. If we are talking piston slap, I don't think you are going to have sudden major engine failure, I believe you can drive around OK, but I wouldn't be giving it a hard time. I don't think you said how loud this noise actually is?

[andypower5.7]

Its not that loud as you can here a slight ticking noise in the car as it goes towards to the end of the gear going to the next. Doesnt do it on idle and you cant here it on the outside when standing next to the motor. I just dont believe its piston slap. I have been to 4 local mechanics and they told me the same thing bottom end. I rang Mario at Autotechnique and he told me to come down next week as it can be alot of things but i dont know if i can trust the car that far from the northern suburbs to ferntree gully. The first mechanic i went to for a opinion he put oil in it because it was low and i dont know what he put in as i think its louder now. As i dont know when piston slap kicks in.

[RAVENLS1]

mate, my cars a slapper, unless it uses oil as well i wouldnt worry about it, my car makes close 400rwhp and has 130,000 k's on it, but i really think the noise your hearing is just your exhaust ticking. if its not audible from outside but it is from inside then its not piston slap.

[andypower5.7]

I hope so but when i am outside and i move the throttle cable in the engine bay about a 1/4 revs you can here that ticking sound which sounds like coming from the bottom of the motor. What i would like to know when does piston slap occur at what speed etc etc.

[macca33]

Andy, I'd be getting it looked at by an LSx specialist mate - any of the forum sponsor workshops are worth a look. They will be able to diagnose any problems fairly quickly and offer genuine advice.

You can make your decision about what to do after that.

cheers

[RAVENLS1]

it should but not always only there when the engine is stone cold and it only lasts for a couple of minutes then goes away, if its there all the time the engine would of had to of done a heap of k's, it could also be gudgen pin noise or your oil pump?

[vuss383]

Andy , Have you looked/listened for an exhaust leak ? You say it had exhaust work & was not there prior . This is where noises are hard to diagnose from explinations . Take the drive down to see Mario & i'm sure he will find the issue with ease .
As stated the LS series engines have their own noises that may not turn out to be what a regular mechanic thinks they are if they have not had much experience with them !

Troy

[andypower5.7]

I think i will see Mario as he told me it can be my oil pump how can a oil pump make that noise and whats a gudgen pin.

[vuss383]

Gudgeon pin connects the rod to the piston !