What else could this be ????

[ModernMuscleHead]

Okay. I bought a 1996 Suburban from a reputable Chevy dealer last Friday. I used to sell new cars for this dealer from 99-01 so I trust them. The Suburban has 130,703 on the clock when I buy it. I'm driving it home and I have no heat . When I stop the temp gauge goes to like 210. It only goes down when I'm driving so right away I figure it's low on coolant. It was so the next question is where is it going. I took it right back to the dealer. They said they would look at it Saturday. Saturday they tell me its the intake manifold gasket and it will be done Monday. Tuesday is when it was done and I pick it up. I pick up some friends and drive straight to the Auto Show in Detroit. When we come out and I start it it's knocking. As it warms up it goes away. I look under the hood when I get home and the coolant jug is empty so Wednesday morning I take it back to the dealer. They mark the bottle, fill it and listen to the knock. They tell me its a lifter. I'm thinking strange because It didn't make this noise either time I test drove it. Didnt make it until they changed the gasket. Thursday morning I have coolant under the Suburban so I take it in to service again. They kept it all day Thursday until 5:30 and told me they had to change the water pump. I pick it up and the guy starts it and its really banging. By the time I reach the E-way and its warm its quiet again. I added a quart of Lucas oil treatment and let it sit for about an hour and a half. I start it up and it knocks so loud it puts on the check engine light. The code shows random multiple cylinder missfire. I'm told it's because the knock sensor retarded the timing into missfire. Does this sound true ? My question is obviously this could be a sticky lifter, or option two since it had sit on their used lot so long with a bad intake gasket it could have gotten coolant in the oil and this may be a rod knock. If its a rod knock though, why does it go away when it gets warm ? I have run it hard up to 5500 RPM once its warm and it doesnt make a sound. It doesnt seem to be down on power. What else would cause the missfire ? what else could this be other than lifter or rod ? Any help I can get would be great. As of today I called the dealer 3 times and never got a call back. I think they are preparing to be sued or something. I just want some answers.

[Z28ISGR8]

Tell them to fix it or sue em. But than again small claims court is like a jump ball. Anything can happen there.

[TSTONE]

i talked with you earlier today about this in brief

here's the long

I work as in service at Chevy store, and this happens. Thats why i was asking the questions i did.

I cringe anytime we do open heart on an engine over 100k because of this issue. If your leak was internalized long term it washed the bearings. Unfixed the coolant/oil mix continues to lube/fill the bearing grooves. Once the problem is corrected the engine loses that additional "filling" and you end up experiencing your situation.

You may have an out under the Michigan 72 law(if still in effect) since you took it right back, unfortunately you took delivery again which can hurt your situation.

[MiT/A'96]

Looks like you might get the Shaft...& I don't mean ,the drive shaft either... but I do wish you luck ...

[ZeeVert]

Document and take notes on everything.

[WMCCjames]

Sounds like the bearings are hosed due to coolant being in the engine......was the oil frothy or foaming at all?

[ModernMuscleHead]

The oil looked pretty clean when I pulled the stick prior to them changing the intake gasket. I have been writing everything down from the time in service to the time out. From the time I noticed the knocking, every call I made to them etc. I don't know if it will help me or not, but I know documentation is best. I'm even going to follow the assistant service managers advice and switch to Mobile One which he says will probably get rid of the lifter noise. I don't believe him, and I'm not sure it is lifter noise, but I figure if I follow his recommendation then it proves I was trying to work with them and do what they asked.

[SoulTerror]

That sux, hope you can get it figured out.