2023 Corvette Z06 Engine Fails At 621 Miles: Video
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The 2023 Corvette Z06 is an epic machine, with supercar-levels of performance and an exotic howl that rivals even the best from Europe. Unfortunately for one 2023 Corvette Z06 owner, the fun ended a bit too soon after his engine failed with just 621 miles on the clock.
In a recent video shared online, the 2023 Corvette Z06 owner in question lays it all out, and even provides footage of the engine failure as it happened. Apparently, the car was taken out for some spirited driving on a two-lane backroad. In the driving footage, we hear the car rev out as the driver puts the throttle down, the exhaust note clearly indicating some full-throttle fun. However, as the car starts to decelerate, we hear something clunk inside the motor. Definitely not a healthy noise.
After pulling a U-turn, the engine stops completely, and according to the folks in the video, the car subsequently “locked up,” with an engine code reader returning misfires on cylinders two, seven, and eight.
Luckily for the owner, GM was quick to get a new engine installed. Although the owner expected the whole process to take two to three months, the dealer that serviced his vehicle took just two weeks to get it back in his hands with a fresh motor. Impressive, no doubt.
Naturally, the question is this – what happened? The video doesn’t really detail why the 2023 Corvette Z06 engine failed after just 621 miles, but one obvious answer is improper break-in. According to Chevrolet, the naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 LT6 in the 2023 Corvette Z06 requires a 500-mile break-in period at varying vehicle speeds and engine rpms for street driving, and a 1,500-mile break-in period before taking the car to the track. According to Assistant Global Chief Engineer, Small Block V8 Engines, Dustin Gardner, the process helps to protect vital engine components, including the running surfaces, or the bearings.
The owner states that the proper break-in procedure was observed for the first 500 miles, during which engine power is reduced in the first two gears. After the initial 500 miles, the engine can be opened up a bit more. However, it’s unclear if the owner pushed the engine harder than recommended prior to hitting the 1,500-mile mark, but given the pulls seen in the video, it’s certainly a possibility.
Notably, this isn’t the first instance of a 2023 Corvette Z06 blowing an engine with just a few miles on the clock – early last month, a new Z06 owner got a blown engine with just 52 miles on it.
As a reminder, the 2023 Corvette Z06 is based on the GM Y2 platform, and is produced at the GM Bowling Green plant in Kentucky.
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Floors it at 499 miles!!
Sure are people out there who haven’t a clue on how this engine was damaged but quick on the band wagon to crucify someone. Wonder if the Corvette racing team have the same break-in process before screaming around the track? And don’t forget the professional drag racers with thousands of horse power who can’t even drive their vehicle to put on hundreds of miles for a break-in! Tomg
This engine damage also feels as if it was done with intent to damage the good reputation of the Corvette Z06. If you break in an engine properly and slowly warm up the cold engine, the LT6 cannot become defective. It is possible that these “video monkeys” are intentionally pre-damaging the Z06 engines! Please check and DO NOT hesitate to contact the prosecutor if there is evidence of misuse of the LT6 engine!
Please check YOU!
It may be that the “competitors” want the engine damage and pay the people who always provide videos immediately!
These OEMs are probably professional idiots paying full idiots!
As we know, these OEMs are incapable of developing or producing cheap supercars. Now pay attention to any further engine damage in a Corvette and report it immediately to the public prosecutor on suspicion of unfair competition to the detriment of GM and the Corvette C8.
I’m glad I can’t afford one of these
The Z06 is a street ready race car and needs to be broken in that way. Even engines that are in the 50K build class can blow if not broken in right and commonly do on the race track.
This video is really poor. Tells you absolutely nothing useful. Can you say BORING? Thought it would be something valuable, like a warning against flipping these vehicles and voiding the warranty, because you might need it. Filming right next to an airport?
…did they use break in oil….? which has zink in it..The way that motor sounds it was well above 6500 RPM…this guy should be in a jacked up 4×4 playing in the mud not a world class car. Additonally these cars should have the first oil change at 500 miles again with more zink oil in it. I had a 383m rebuilt in my 67 chevy 2. The machine shop told me “no warranty unless you use the zink oil”…I did and now I have an 11 second quarter pounder…yes it was tempting to let her go during break in but the 7 thousand i put in the engine and upgrades…said “no way’
I don’t think this guy is telling the whole story. The Go Pro video he shared shows some pretty aggressive revving for a motor with 621 miles on it. What about all the videos he hasn’t shown anyone. My personal opinion is that this guy is responsible for blowing the engine. I think he beat the $hit out of this car from day one. No respect for the car or GM’s break in instructions. The break in schedule is not a suggestion, it needs to be followed. I followed the break in procedure for my 2020 Stingray not only to the letter, but I listened to a video of Tag talking about additional procedures to follow during break in and heeded his advice. It gives me great peace of mind and a smooth running machine. I agree with George: he should be in a jacked up 4X4 playing in the mud. I wouldn’t come right out and call the guy a liar, but I wouldn’t disagree if someone else did. Unfortunately for GM, it is cheaper for them to replace the motor “under warranty” rather than suffer the bad publicity. Just my opinion. Cheers!
I don’t understand why anyone is alleging improper break in…that clearly can’t be determined from the video, as he was over 500 miles when the failure occurred…and not actively tracking the car, so the 1500 miles discussion before track use is irrelevant. I presume it’s easy for Chevy to check the RPMs from the ECU…and the fact he got a speedy engine replacement suggests there was no evidence of misuse. If I were to speculate, I’d assume the speedy engine replacement was because they quickly understood what happened and it was not surprising…
The driver is an idiot. Doesn’t the engine computer record these stats that might prove if the engine was abused and the warranty voided? Either way the owner no longer has a matching numbers car.
A new Z06, with the Z06 badging already removed, nothing to do with the failure, but interesting to say the least…..
Yeah, smells like a staged performance.
Sure are people out there who haven’t a clue on how this engine was damaged but quick on the band wagon to crucify someone. Wonder if the Corvette racing team have the same break-in process before screaming around the track? And don’t forget the professional drag racers with thousands of horse power who can’t even drive their vehicle to put on hundreds of miles for a break-in! Tomg
You already said that…
First, if GM wants to prevent those problems , they should use the computer, to lock up RPMs, for the 500 miles break-in and maybe even 1500 miles. Second, GM , should void the warranty , if you do not respect the break-in , just like they do if you do not make your oil changes , at least once a year, etc.
When I saw the video of the ZO6 engines build it reminded me of my time as an Engineer at Cadillac in the late 60s when we had a problem of oiling the bearings with a hand pump causing engine failures, due to operator performances. All other divisions pressure oiled the engine after build.
I found some engines would live upto 90 seconds without oil.
We had a 15% failure rate due to lack of proper oiling
I dont know, this is a very suspect story. two weeks to get a new z06 engine?? i work at a dealership, takes that long for 2009 5.3l to show up, let alone a rare z06 motor, would love to have the vin and see if a warranty engine was actually done here, i know thats not possible, just seems strange to me, but what do i know! haha
My lord, those are ugly cars. The rear end looks like total chaos. Nothing clean and simple about that design. No indication of smooth powerful muscle there.
Whatever you re smoking, give me some!! One of the prettiest modern sports cars today..!!
Personally, I never thought of “Hand-Crafted” engines as being an asset. I seen it way too often over at Mercedes-Benz.
Materials will eventually fail through time, now you add the inconstancy of humans assembling the engine? For me, no thank you.
Engines are designed and built with appropriate clearances for adequate lubrication and friction. Running in is more about bedding in piston rings and everything else should run smoothly from the first turn of the crank. So it comes down to quality control on assembly.
That shouldn’t have happened. Must be a big lousy engineering DEFECT! Didn’t sound like he was wheely (it’s a car site) pushing it.
Don’t they dyno these motors. Parts sometimes fail. If I remember right there was some valve issues with the LT2 also. Break in is as much for the whole drive train as it is for the motor.
Not your fathers Corvette
Wouldn’t your really rather have a BUICK!