2001 2500HD 6.0L Great Truck?

ChevyHDTruckDriver · April 2, 2002

2001 2500HD 6.0L Engine Knock Concern:

I am just as frustrated as many of you with the $35,000 engine knock. I received the engine component certificate from GM several weeks ago. However, my internal temperature went up a few notches when GM refused to offer a price reduction on a GM Protection Plan. I asked GM for a GM Protection Plan price break on engine coverage since my component certificate covers the engine. Although not happy with the engine knock, I felt their offer was in good faith. But, GM refused and told me my only option was to pay full price. My request was not unreasonable. In fact, I left the decision in GM's hands to determine the percentage of the price reduction based upon their warranty claims. Here is GM's response:

"We appreciate the opportunity to review your concerns with your 2001 Chevrolet. We have examined your request (# removed) in which your concern is documented with the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center and with our central office and we are in agreement with the position previously provided to you. The Engine Component Letter that you accepted was to assure you that General Motors is standing behind the engine in your vehicle for 5 years or 100,000 miles whichever comes first. Our General Motors Engineers are confident that there is not a problem with the engine nor will there be as a result of the engine knock. We are sorry but are unable to reduce the cost of the General Motors Protection Plans (GMPP). We understand your not wanting to pay for what appears to be double coverage. However, the GMPP plans all come as a package deal, we can not mix and match coverages. We recommend the GMPP Value Guard as it covers all the other aspects of your vehicle. This General Motors final decision on this matter and we will no longer address additional e-mail on this subject."

GM customer service and my loyalty went up in smoke. I guess I will establish the requirements for a lemon law buyback request. I think my request will be warmly accepted at binding arbitration. I am off to locate the number for the state Attorney General's office.

DaveRuane · April 2, 2002

Try higher octane fuel from a reputable station...

ChevyHDTruckDriver · April 3, 2002

DaveRuane,

I tried higher octane fuel. I have also run GM's top end cleaner and a bottle of BG44K just in case. The sound of the knock changes with the type of oil and oil filter. I have tried three filters to date. The best combination is Valvoline Synthetic 5w30 with a Mobil 1 filter. I tried a NAPA Gold Filter on the last change. The worst combination was with Dino Oil and GM's factory filter. The knock has diminished with the new oil and filter. The fact that oil filters and type of oil affect the severity of the knock just about rules out the GM catch all that it is carbon buildup. If that were the case, changing oil and filter would not have an impact.

4x4man · April 3, 2002

I read on another forum that someone ran Redline oil in their car and it significantly reduced the piston slap noise in his car. He has like 80,000 miles on his car. It was said that there is moly in the oil which is a great protectant. Anyway, outside of its cost (8 bucks) I also heard it doesn't have the API certification due to the high amount of moly in the oil.

I think I read it on edmunds site under the synthetic oil topic in Maintanance section....

Not that this will help, but thought I would bring this up for information anyway.

Bob