02-06-2003, 17:15
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#4 (permalink)
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Quote:
PISTON PROBLEMS
GRAHAM SMITH
07-02-2003
PISTON slap is not necessarily a problem on its own. It usually goes away once the engine is warmed up, the piston has a chance to expand and the clearance to the bore is reduced.
Of course, it is something that you would not expect in a car costing about $ 50,000.
Most likely General Motors has run the pistons a little loose to minimise friction in the engine, to maximise fuel economy and to boost performance.
If the engine is using oil at a high rate then the consequences could be catastrophic.
With oil consumption so variable in the GEN III -- and reportedly as high as 2.5 to 3 litres each 10,000km -- it is essential that owners check the oil level at least every 1000km, to make sure it doesn't run low to the point where damage can be done.
Owners of cars with Gen III engines shouldn't panic, but they should keep a watchful eye on the oil level.
Keep a record of any oil you add and talk to your dealer if you're concerned about it.
Response delay
HOLDEN says it could have dealt with the problems affecting the GEN III V8 had it produced it locally. But the alloy engine is produced in Ontario, Canada.
"We are on the receiving end, if you like," Holden sales and marketing manager Ross McKenzie says.
"Where we might be able to quickly deal with a quality-perception issue locally on something we have control of . . . this has been quite a protracted issue in trying to get a response out of St Catherines (Ontario), out of the powertrain group.
"They essentially said to us for quite a long time, this isn't a product fault issue and we said, we know that, we are trying to improve customers' quality perceptions of the engine. "
The Ontario plant came to the party and started producing revised pistons from late 2001-early 2002 and also a different ring kit.
But why did the GM powertrain group have to be convinced there was a problem ? Didn't North American drivers notice the piston slap or excessive oil use that affected a percentage of the cars ?
It seems most American drivers didn't notice or care.
Holden chief engineer Tony Hyde says the fact the GEN III is used in cars such as the Corvette means owners might be prepared to put up with any such problems and are used to engines using more oil.
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