Editor’s note: Outside of our exclusive scoop of Volkswagen’s Goodwill Package, news that a Corvette Z06’s engine failed at the hands of a Fox News journalist was our top daily news piece of the last 12 months. It originally ran July 18th, 2015. The cause of the failure is explained here, though whether that is the true reason of the failure is open to discussion.
While track testing the latest Z06 Corvette, Gary Gastelu of Fox News experienced an issue that’s becoming a trend for Chevrolet’s supercharged sports car: engine failure.
“After a few lapping sessions, the engine in mine unceremoniously called it quits,” reports Gastelu in his review.
Unfortunately the cause is still unknown in this instance, though engine failures are increasing in occurrence for the 650-horsepower Corvette.
Late last year, Corvette Forum’s member “Lawdogg149” had the LT4 V-8 in his Z06 implode after only 891 miles on the clock. The failure was with the valvetrain, though root cause of the failure wasn’t reported. GM instructed the dealer servicing the car to return the engine to the mothership unopened for further analysis. The Z06 received a new powerplant covered under warranty.
GM Authority stated as many as three failures have been mentioned on Corvette Forums as of June 2015.
Other issues have been reported, such as reduced power after hard launches or track use, in order for the engine to “survive for 100,000 miles as well as allow the Z06 to meet stringent US emissions regs,” reported Jalopnik last year.
And yet, nitrous Hellcats are running 9s with no problems…
Not overheating either.
Hell my modded, 770 crank hp ’08 GT 500 with just a blower, intake, injector and spark plug upgrades has about 106,000 km (20,000 km on with the mods) and runs great. I don’t understand how GM, which used to have bullet proof drivetrains are having so much problems of late with this engine. This, after all an old, school OHV engine. Sorry, as a mustang owner I just couldn’t resist the “antique engineering” jab usually thrown at us by GM owners.
Didn’t Motor Trend also suffer an engine failure during their long term test of a new Vette. That one was diagnosed as thrown rod bearing due to machining debris left on the crank.
Pat
And everyone gives me trouble about bad mouthing GM. SERIOUSLY? I’m no fortune teller…but I’m sure as time goes on, more GM products will have more GM problems. Tell me again why the government bailed them out? They promised a new GM, and all we keep getting is the old GM. JUNK!!!
A+
Great post, will definitely ignore you in the future.
Sweet! Besides…I know what I see, and when I’m right!
Anything built in Kentucky by GM…has never been all that great in the first place.
For the price of a new Corvette, I could get a REALLY SWEET MERCEDES!
Where’s BTSR? Why hasn’t he weighed in on HELLCATs vs ‘Vettes? These comments aren’t complete without his contribution.