Rebuild engine? piston slap? really?
10-11-2010, 11:34 AM
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2010 C63, 2003 C230 coupe
Rebuild engine? piston slap? really?
I picked up a 2010 p31 in May. A few days ago I noticed a new strange faint ticking noise. Its hard to describe noises, but the conditions of the noise are:
1) Only when the engine is under tension, not in neutral or park.
2) From a standstill to about 2000 rpm, or driving 10-15mph.
3) It is more prominent going up hill.
4) Noise is just starting now; might be due to colder canadian temp. 50-60 fahrenheit.
My friend, who is a GM mechanic, diagnosed it as piston slap and that the only way to fix it is taking everything apart. He said my dealer may also say it is "tolerable".
GM's are notorious for this problem and I hope he is just biased to this diagnosis.
The car is going to the dealer on friday for A service, I will tell them to look into it.
Does anyone have any input?
1) Only when the engine is under tension, not in neutral or park.
2) From a standstill to about 2000 rpm, or driving 10-15mph.
3) It is more prominent going up hill.
4) Noise is just starting now; might be due to colder canadian temp. 50-60 fahrenheit.
My friend, who is a GM mechanic, diagnosed it as piston slap and that the only way to fix it is taking everything apart. He said my dealer may also say it is "tolerable".
GM's are notorious for this problem and I hope he is just biased to this diagnosis.
The car is going to the dealer on friday for A service, I will tell them to look into it.
Does anyone have any input?
10-11-2010, 11:53 AM
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Hey blackbenzo, long time no talk... hope all is well for you!! The noise could be from our colder weather, unless it persist even after warming up the engine. Either way, I'm sure it's not a big problem, it should be covered under warranty.
10-11-2010, 11:53 AM
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Hope it's nothing serious. Guarantee should cover it but if they say it's "tolerable" you might have a long and nasty process ahead of you. I bet there's a ton of lawyers on this forum 
Guess american law differs a bit from canadian law though (luckily for you...).
Guess american law differs a bit from canadian law though (luckily for you...).
10-11-2010, 11:54 AM
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I can honestly say that, I have never heard that term "piston slap". This has sparked my interest, let us know what you find out, once you take it in.
10-11-2010, 12:00 PM
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2010 Irridium Silver MB C63 AMG Sedan
Normal. Oil reaching everything in cold temps causes pistons to tick. Or oil level is low, super low. This has been discussed over and over. These engines are bullit proof.
10-11-2010, 12:03 PM
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^^ Good point Zephyr... that's what I was thinking but couldn't find the proper words.
benzo, did you check your oil dipstick? Is 0W40 made to be used in cold weather like our Canadian winters?
benzo, did you check your oil dipstick? Is 0W40 made to be used in cold weather like our Canadian winters?
10-11-2010, 01:13 PM
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2010 C63, 2003 C230 coupe
Awesome news, I am due for service so hopefully it's oil and temp issue. I didn't grow up as a car guy and just recently decided to jump in. So my personal knowledge database is weak. Thanks Zephyr and everyone else, you guys are a tremendous help.
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10-11-2010, 01:41 PM
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No problem. I had a 2009 that never ticked and now my new 2010 ticks on a very rare occasion after sitting for a few days or while warming. It goes away immidiately after warming up...enjoy and don't worry. Just make sure you get oil level checked and top off if needed...
10-11-2010, 01:46 PM
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Quite a few:)
Given the high revving nature of the 63, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if they ran a little extra clearance.. I'll need to dig around WIS and see what they call for.
Unless it's making a Serious racket I wouldn't lose any sleep just yet!
Jonathan
Unless it's making a Serious racket I wouldn't lose any sleep just yet!
Jonathan
10-11-2010, 05:50 PM
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10-11-2010, 07:10 PM
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I think the GM QA was an assumption that everything was perfect and would go together like in the drawings.... however... this is GM, with not to smart of a working force, or sub contracting force... wasn't tha like 10 years ago or something also? I would of thought that would of been a thing of the past!
10-12-2010, 01:19 AM
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C63 AMG, BMW 135i
‘Piston Slap’ was common in GM’s mass produced early generation LS engines. Many were replaced through warranty and many more owners were told by dealers it was within normal operating tolerances and had to live with it. Either way, it was a noisy engine and not such an issue today in the new generation motors.
If it was my AMG making a noise and even though some latitude in tolerances is expected because of the need to expand during warm up, it’s worth mentioning to the dealer. It costs nothing to ask the question.
.
10-12-2010, 05:51 PM
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2010 P31 Obsidian; 1990 ZX11
Mobil 1 website claims 0W oil is engineered to allow an engine to start at minus 35 degrees celsius. I have also seen a specifically packaged/bottled Mobil 1 0W40 "Arctic Formula," different than the standard bottled 0W40.
10-12-2010, 05:55 PM
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2009 E350, 2002 GT2, 2004 SC M3, 2010 C63
I had some light ticking upon start up which occurred at the same time I got the low oil indicator.
Added a little over a quart which got me to the mid point on the dip stick and it went away.
Added a little over a quart which got me to the mid point on the dip stick and it went away.
10-12-2010, 10:27 PM
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2010 C63, 2003 C230 coupe
I was thinking temperature, but the problem persists when the engine is hot. I added a liter of oil today, dipstick is slightly below half between min/max.
I only get the sound when accelerating slowly under tension (more prominent up a hill), not in neutral. I also get it by loosely holding the breaks and creeping up to 2000rpm.
I'll update on Friday after the oil change/service at the dealer.
I only get the sound when accelerating slowly under tension (more prominent up a hill), not in neutral. I also get it by loosely holding the breaks and creeping up to 2000rpm.
I'll update on Friday after the oil change/service at the dealer.
10-12-2010, 10:43 PM
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2010 C63, 2003 C230 coupe
I listened to the sound file on the other thread. Mine is not like that at all. I tried to record my sound but it is too faint.
My best effort to describe the sound. When the car is at idle and you slowly apply gas, there is a high pitcher almost whine sound. Then around 2500 the exhaust deepens and that initial whine goes away. My sound is only heard during the initial slow pull away from 0mph. It doesn't matter if the car was just started or was driven hard for an hour. It is a higher pitched light tap that progresses with throttle under tension.
My best effort to describe the sound. When the car is at idle and you slowly apply gas, there is a high pitcher almost whine sound. Then around 2500 the exhaust deepens and that initial whine goes away. My sound is only heard during the initial slow pull away from 0mph. It doesn't matter if the car was just started or was driven hard for an hour. It is a higher pitched light tap that progresses with throttle under tension.
10-12-2010, 11:02 PM
#19
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Also dont be surprised if it's bad fuel and a knock.
I got it on my porsche from time to time as well.
Turns out if was bad 91 gas form shell.
it was knocking. sounded almost like piston slap or tappets / valves
I got it on my porsche from time to time as well.
Turns out if was bad 91 gas form shell.
it was knocking. sounded almost like piston slap or tappets / valves
10-13-2010, 10:29 AM
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blackbenzo, what grade of fuel do you use? I only use Sunoco (now Petro) Ultra 94... and no problem so far.
10-13-2010, 04:04 PM
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2010 C63, 2003 C230 coupe
10-13-2010, 04:08 PM
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Hahaha.. I feel you! I asked the dealership to top up my oil, but they said it's not needed at this point. 
I'm missing 1 litres.
I'm missing 1 litres.
10-14-2010, 12:43 PM
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I was at Fletcher Jones two weeks ago and they had a new SLS in service that had a nasty engine noise. Sounded like bottom end but could have been valve noise as well. I wasn't close enough to it to determine. I felt bad for whoever just took delivery of that car because extensive repairs were in its future.
