Towing Vehicle Performance Modifications

[john hd]

pick

does the cat filter have a drain/sediment trap?

or do you have to take a bath in diesel when you change it?

just wondering, nice install b.t.w.

john

[Cracker]

Pick:

That looks like a real neat installation in a fairly easy to get at location. Was the tie-in to the fuel line difficult to get to? It looks like you did it with rubber lines? I'm also interested in the pre-draining question. Additionally, when you replace the filter do you have any problems with entrapped air? Pardon any amateurish questions - I've had diesels in my boats but this is my first diesel vehicle.

[Pick]

John & Cracker, no it does not have a sediment or water bowl. I have been told this Cat filter will not pass water. However if it does, it will be caught in the OEM filter which does have a water drain.

The lines are 7/16" fuel line puchased at an auto parts store.

I *should* be able to change the filter without taking a bath.

When I installed the filter, the QD fittings were extremely hard to disconnect. You use a plastic tool that slips over the line and releases the hose. No fun at all. I used an electric fuel pump to prime the filter and lines. I made the last connection, and the truck started right up, no problem.

A gentleman in California sells the Cat filter in kit form. It is a nice setup. Here is his website: Nicktane Filters

[qqq]

99 & newer Chevy owners ,

www.pistonslap.com


Hart

[John]

Hart,

My 2000 Silverado 5.3L developed cold-start pistonslap around 22,000 miles and read at that time about using a different oil filter(I also changed over to synthetic oil) and the cold-start pistonslap immediately went away.

I just turned 70,000 yesterday and I still have no pistonslap.

[qqq]

John,

The noise you had is a cold start noise that goes away once the oil pressure is high enough, & synt. oil is good for it.
Piston slap is much worse & never stops;
You can hear it at
www.pistonslap.com
or in yr engine any day now...

Hart

[Silvertwinkie]

I better watch what I post...I've been known at times to be pretty passionate!

FWIW, I re-read Hart's posts and I didn't take it that way (only read this thread's postings). I took it just as a frustrated person dealing with the GM B.S. that we all have gone through. Of course, a bad day with GM beats a great day with SOB!!

I have to admit that this piston slap thing seems much bigger than I first thought. My dad's '00 2500 5.3L w/ 10k on it still has yet to show the issue, but I've done some serious reading on the subject over the past few days and I wish I could say I was surprised with GMs answers, but I really wasn't. For those not having the problem...that's really great, for those that have it and can't seem to shake it.....I'm not sure what more will happen to correct the issue.

FWIW, I also recall talking with a person at a campground over the summer that worked on the power companies fleet near Kenosha/Milwaukee area. He told me that of the 8.1L that they had, most of them had the piston slap and that he said a smaller number have been burning more oil than they are used to. Perhaps JohnHD could expand on this or chaulk it up to a hoax.

Eric

[qqq]

Eric,

I'm glad to see some people do some research before judging others

John,
So just because I state a few true & documented facts , that makes me an unhappy person? Come on! Get used to hear the truth when it's based on reality.
I didn't create all the websites I refer to, they are the result of defective GM products.

Hart

[john hd]

eric

don't know if i can disspell anyone elses experiances with newer chevys.

like i said above, we have a all chevy light duty fleet. that is because we must keep our trucks for 10 to 12 years or 150K. we have had fords and dodges. they did not last and cost more per mile to repair.

i know of one chevy that had a engine failure, it was because a lineman ran a fence post through the oil pan patrolling power line in the right of way. (it wasn't me b.t.w.)

do our trucks use more oil? some yes, but they are run hard and have many more hours than a regular truck. by that i mean they may use 2 quarts a month.

to they have piston slap? none that i have heard, and i get to drive quite a number of different trucks. that is my experiance, not something off a web site. good or bad.

hart,

i think john was reffering to your comment about his truck. lighten up a little, you seem awfully negative most of the time.

john

[John]

Hart,

I'm sorry to hear that you and many other GM Vortec owners are having Piston Slap, but as I said earlier I have 70,000 miles on my 2000 5.3L Vortec engine and I fortunately haven't as of yet develop this problem.

And until I do, I'll just continue on down the road skinny, dumb and happy!

[Pick]

My first GM pickup was a 1973 C20 with a 350 and a 4 on the floor. I think I changed the oil in that truck every 2000 miles and it started using a lot of oil at around 80,000. Still it was a good truck.

The worst GM truck I had was a 1982 1/2 ton with a 6.2L diesel. What a dog that one was. The odometer said "55,000" but after owning it for a few weeks, I suspect it was really 255,000.

No matter what, I think I will always own GM. You have to take the good with the bad.

My "company car" is a 1996 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor with 162,000 miles on it. It uses about 3 quarts per oil change. It is a nice solid car and has held up wonderfully.

I know a lot of people who have GM pickups. I do not know anyone with "piston slap".

[qqq]

My everyday 93 Explorer 6 cyl. with 120000 miles purrs like a kitten
One out of two aint bad
So I'll also continue down the road Fat, grumpy but happy all the same

Hart

[George Jr.]

Has anyone heard this..............the new Chevy engines do not have piston skirts.......thus piston slap.