Piston Slap

ugeesta · July 1, 2003

I just made the step up to heavy duty last month. I traded in my 01 Silverado Z71 for a new 2002 2500 SLT 8.1/Allison. I was really excited to find an 02 still new on the lot (I love that chrome grille) and have loved driving my new baby.

But, I've been reading up in the 8.1 and have found several complaints about oil consumtion and piston slap. I'm starting to wonder if I should have shelled out the extra cash for a Dmax. How serious of an issue is the piston slap?

422 SS · July 1, 2003

Its a little late now, considering you already bought the gasser.My 8.1 burns a qt every 500-700 miles.It also knocks like a diesel for 20-30 seconds on start-up.Some have problems others don't.My truck has 55,000 on it and other than the oil cost and annoying knocking it seems okay.I will never buy another one thats for sure.Dmax all the way.

HendyPhoto · July 1, 2003

I have an '02 8.1 with 17,000 miles, just had the oil changed after 3500 miles, and I was a quart low on oil. I didnt tow hardly at all during that 3500 miles though. It does take like 20-30 seconds to pump oil into the engine, therefore it knocks like a diesel, but then it runs and sounds perfect. I am sure if I towed more, it would consume more oil. I love my 8.1 and will buy another one.

bummed-n-Md · July 2, 2003

do a search on 'oil consumption' on this forum. It has been discussed at length.

The quick answer with your oil usage is:

for the most part, it is a 'break - in issue".

I have 13 months of driving on my '02 2500HD 8.1/ally CC 4x4 and just rolled 32,500. (bought new with 32 miles on odo)

when I first got it, I was going through 1 qt every 1200 miles or less. I could watch the oil on my dipstick drop 1 hole, every fillup. At 18000, it 'suddenly' droppped to 1 hole every other fillup. At 23000, it dropped again.

Right now I am going through about 1 qt every 3500 to 4000 miles. Very acceptable usage for an engine this big.

I do very little towing, but on occasion, I do haul gravel and lumber in the bed (up to a ton at a time).

when I first bought the truck, I kind of babied it. no hard acceleration, etc. I got real concerned also when the engine would start knocking after a while. I found that the knocking would go away after I drove it with the bed full or out on the highway. From past experience I surmissed that maybe it was "carbon buildup". (I used to have a Triumph Spitfire I needed to blow the carbon out of at least once a week ). I started a little experiment. I stopped babing the engine and stopped worring about it. When I needed to, I would accelerate hard, especially up this 1/4 mile hill with a stop sign at the bottom. knocking went away.

I now have a ritual, I purposely accelerate full pedal up this hill every day on my way home. I have had no problems with knocking since I started doing it.

"blowing the carbon out" once in a while makes all the difference in the world.

bummed (no longer)

HendyPhoto · July 2, 2003

You should try telling a cop that you were just "blowing out the carbon" they really dont buy it when you are doing 55 on a quarter mile hill in a residential area! LOL

f7_ditch_jumper · July 3, 2003

(I love that chrome grille) Dont buy the truck for the grill. I have an 02 with "that chrome grille" and i had to have it replaced @ 17000 miles. I finally decided to wash my truck and the hose took the "chrome" off.

Guess what that chrome is?

A. Steal dipped in chrome.

b. Plastic dipped in chrome.

c. a cheap sticker with two seams.

If you guess C you are correct.

ugeesta · July 3, 2003

It sounds like your grille was damaged somehow. The condition you describe is that of an old trucks trim moulding that has been weathered for a long time. You didn't wash the truck with solvants, did you?

hdmax · July 5, 2003

42,000 miles on my 02 2500HD (Duramax) and the grille looks like new.

Getting back on subject; I was talking to an owner of a contruction company a couple days ago, he has an 01 2500HD that he drives pretty much all the time. It now has 263,000 and some old miles. I ask him if it ever knocks on cold mornings, He told me it knocks every time he starts it no matter how hot or cold, or how long it has been shut down. Early on he took it in, and GM told him (in writing) that it was normal and would not effect the engine. Just maybe they were right!

bummed-n-Md · July 7, 2003

You should try telling a cop that you were just "blowing out the carbon" they really dont buy it when you are doing 55 on a quarter mile hill in a residential area! LOL

Actually, at this stop sign, the speed limit on the other side is 50. I accelerate hard up to 50 then let off the gas. don't need to support the county with 'extra' funds. (also don't want o tpay the insurance company any extra bucks)

bummed.

HendyPhoto · July 7, 2003

Thats for dang sure!!! Insurance on these puppies is bad enough with no tickets!!

timk49 · July 9, 2003

Ride it hard.

ugeesta · July 9, 2003

I got caught erlier this year in my 01 Siverado. It was a Monday morning and I was on the way to work. Behind or neighborhood is a dead sastraight back road about 4 miles long. Is was sunny, warm and Joe Diffy's "Pick Up Man" was playing on the radio. We just moved into the neighborhood so I haen't adjusted to the local speed limits yet. Needless to say, I got caught doing 72 in a 45. OUCH. Fortunately, the courts took mercy on my poor soul.

But, it started out such a good morning......