![[VIDEO] GM Determines the Cause of the Engine Failure in YouTuber's C8 Corvette](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2020-2/070220_3b.jpg)
Earlier this week we brought you the story of Jake Spiczka’s 2020 Corvette whose engine seized up while it was been driven by a couple of YouTubers. During an inspection of the car at the dealership, metal shavings were found in the oil filter. As the data logs showed it wasn’t a driver error, GM requested the engine be sent to Detroit where it was inspected by engineers.
While we are new to the story, Jake says he’s been dealing with this for about three weeks now. But the good news is that the Corvette is back in Jake’s possession and he has some follow-up news about the cause of his engine’s seizure.
From the driver’s seat of his 2020 Corvette, Jake tells us the new engine replacement was completely done under warranty and he wasn’t charged $1 for any of the work.
“I just wanted to say that my experience was absolutely phenomenal. Yes, the engine did seize. Yes, I did have to get the engine replaced. But the entire experience it only lasted about two and a half weeks,” he says. Jake goes on to thank his service rep Gene at Friendy Chevrolet who he says called him every day whether he had news on the car or not.
He also says that Gene had high praise for the GM engineers he was working with and that communication between the dealership and Detroit “was amazing.”
![[VIDEO] GM Determines the Cause of the Engine Failure in YouTuber's C8 Corvette](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2020-2/070220_2b.jpg)
So let’s get to cause of Jake’s engine’s failure. He says that GM contacted him directly and explained that the failure was caused by the number 1 and number 2 rod bearings being spun and that it wasn’t caused by a lack of oil. He goes on to say that they believe it was most likely a bearing fitting issue during assembly although it could have been caused by possible debris from the manufacturing process.
Jake calls it a “100% fluke” that this happened to his car and we are hoping that’s the case. Jake also takes some time to recap how he had to deal with the situation including did he want it publicized all over YouTube that his car had an engine problem, plus some of the negative comments he’s had to deal with on his channel. But overall he is very positive about the experience and he loves the new Corvette.
Here’s Jake aka MidWestRide on Part 4 of his Corvette engine failure:
Source:
MidWestRide
Related:
[VIDEO] GM Ordered the LT2 V8 Engine that Seized in a 2020 Corvette Sent to Detroit for Inspection
2020 Corvette Stingray’s Oil Change Procedure is Different than Previous Generations
[VIDEO] 2020 Corvette Stingray Receives First Oil Change
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![[SPIED] Corvette ZR1 Mules Testing in Ohio Ahead of the NCM Bash](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/uploads/2024/04/042224_8-218x150.jpg "[SPIED] Corvette ZR1 Mules Testing in Ohio Ahead of the NCM Bash")
It’s just amazing how GM will kiss ass when its a high profile new product, but for other things like cracked wheels or bent, they just kick us to the curb! Had the same thing happen to me back in 1984 with a bad engine in a P car (FIERO) they wanted the engine back to Pontiac Assembly. I was treated like a rich dude! LOL .
I have owned a bunch of old vettes always concerned about numbers. I sure hope matching numbers does not matter on a 2020!
I think so much of this is dealership to dealership.
I’ve had issues in the last with my wife’s Prius (hid bulbs at 35k miles).
The service guy said bulbs aren’t covered but they should absolutely last longer than 2.5 years and they were super expensive.
He called me next day and said they replaced bulbs and some other transformer or something and total would be like $800 but it’s covered under warranty.
I had a 2003 Hyundai….I know they have come a long way..but everyone was touting Hyundai’s turn around back then as well…well the car left me stranded twice in less than 2 years in a brand new, stock V6 Tiburon. Dealer both times said they couldn’t replicate the issue and gave it back to me (even though their tow guy couldn’t get the car to start each time, apparently sitting overnight the car would start but it had to sit for 24 hours)
My father n law retired from GM an I only own GM vehicles they are best out there.
The media scrutiny is why it was repaired in two weeks. I got rid of my brand new Chevy after less than 50K for no other reason than how the dealership (Dueck on marine) treated me and gm’s response. They’re all thieves.
Bill McMorrow
The new engine will have the original matching numbers for the car, GM being a manufacturer is allowed to destroy the old engine and stamp the original numbers on the new engine.
If you have ever worked on your own car or anyone else’s you know interruptions cause a lower quality of work. If you are half into a job an interruption can cause you to loose track of the exact operation completed before you stopped working. With the disruption of the production processes at the engine plant in New York days may have separated the start of work on the engine that failed and the completion of the lower end of that engine. If it was worked to completion at one time the rush to finish the engine before they locked the plant doors or made the decision to continue working during the closure of GM plants everywhere else might have contributed to the bearing failures in the bottom of that engine. Quick solution for any other compromised engine could be as simple as charge the oil filter after the first 500 miles and examining the contents for metal shaving. Install a new filter and top-off the motor oil!
Great for Him… I read some of that stuff and on some videos people have posted that were wrong….
My Experience with GM was just the opposite had a C6 ZR1 that was in the shop more then it was out mainly for Overheating
It took just over a year before GM took it back.
So not a new corvette then? I dont think I wouldnt wanted a replacement engine. You guys take the whole car back and give a whole new one where people havent been dissembling things…
I had a ’68 427 solid lifter 3×2 barrel corvette that ate engines. All were replaced under warranty although I do recall one very spirited discussion with the VP of warranty claims.
I believe I may also hold the record for shortest distance driven between engine replacements. The mechanic backed the car out of the service bay and was about half way to where I was waiting when the new engine cratered.
Gm treated loyal customers like Kings when I worked for them at the dealership level. I even witnessed them extend goodwill to vehicles out if warranty for gasket issues leading to internal engine wear. The customers file makes things happen in his favor. An empty file means he doesn’t patronize the service and get his services or updates, so it takes concern by the customer to come and get the love while also bring a regular loyal customer.
A copy of a letter that I sent the dealership after having paint issues with my 2019 Stingray Ragtop:
Royal Chevrolet Cadillac is A One of a Kind Dealership…
I bought a 2019 Corvette StingRay 2LT Convertible. Todd Mckay (General Manager), Blaine Barber (Service Manager), Gary Spring (Sales Manager), Alex Mackenzie (Sales Manager) and Gail Downes (Sales & Leasing Consultant)) all treated me amazingly.
I had some unacceptable issues with my new car. After going back and forth with the Dealership and General Motors Customer Care. Todd Mckay Manager of Royal Chevrolet Cadillac (28 years family owned) is as passionate about Corvettes as I am and stood behind their reputation.
The Corvette was replaced.
This business is run with so much honesty and integrity like I have
rarely seen for a long time. Awesome customer care, awesome service, I haven’t seen better.
I ‘m back to experiencing the joy of owning a Brand New Corvette. (Replaced with a Grand Sport Ragtop)
Thank you,
Rob Arthur
Lots of parts are in an assembly line and machine assembled, your always going to have a failure here and there, ad long as it’s not reoccurring regularly that I would start to worry any. You don’t have to be off much on a measurement to spin a main or rod bearing. It’s not like there putting engines together with plasti-gauge, to check bearing clearances. Moral of this comment, I wouldn’t sweat this failure, unless it becomes reoccurring and problematic.
A warranty is exactly THAT. My bride and I waited for the dealer prep of our NEW 1973 Corvette in anticipation of our honeymoon road trip. Its block was cracked, and it delayed our trip by two weeks. 100% manufactory quality control is a nice goal, but it is impossible to attain.
I have a problem with my gmc sierra Denali 6.6 duramax my truck was leaking diesel and oil .i call gmc to resolve the situation they did fix the oil and diesel but on top that i have you pay 365.00 dollars to the toll truck out my money plus on the gmc shot they damaged my truck and put scratch all ove i can gmc hot line and they toll that they not going to fo nothing about
Of course they fixed it fast,you can’t have this douche bag YouTube guy talking shit about there new flagship car. Me or you would have a different experience I’m sure.
What couldn’t GM be upstanding with the C7 Grand Sport and Z06 wheel cracking and bending issues. Why are we all going through a class action to have them do something about the crappy cast wheels on these cars. They quietly introduced forged wheels on their website $750 ea front and $800ea for the rear. C7 Corvette staggered 19″ and 20″. My 2017 Grand Sport is now known as the car with the glass wheels. 6 incidents so far… Thanks GM ??
SOME OF THE COMMENTS ARE NOT WITH REALITY, FORDS F 600 HAD ISSUES WITH CRACKED BLOCKS , AND SO WAS CHRYSLER, WITH TRANSMISSIONS AND ENGINES ON THE INFAMOUS BARON MODELS, BUT BEEN 75 YEARS OLD AND WORKING FROM FERRARIS TO MORRIS MINI, AND ALL THE AMERICAN CARS, CHEVYS WERE THE LEAST TO HAVE REAL SERIOUS PROBLEMS.
WE AS CUSTOMERS ARE BUYING CARS AND THE WARRANTY IS WRITTEN VERY CLEAR AND EXPLANATORY ABOUT THE PROCEDURES, AND IT IS AT DISCRETION OF THE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE THE CAR, AND HAVING A NEW ENGINE WITH THE SAME NUMBER WHEN THE CAR IS NEW WITH FEW MILES, IT SHOWS THAT THE CAR STILL PRESERVING IS ORIGINAL VALUE AND MATCHING NUMBERS! SO SEPARATE THE HANDLING OF THE RELATIONSHIP FROM THE DEALER, BECAUSE GM ALLWAYS HANDLED CLAIMS ACCORDING TO THE NATURE OF WARRANTY ISSUES! I WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE WITTNESSING CAR ABUSES, AND LATER THE SAME OWNER GOING BEZZERK BECAUSE NEGLECT WASN’T IN HE’S DICCTIONARY! AND I KNOW SOME COMMENTS ARE BY RIVAL BRANDS PUTTING MORE FUEL TO THE FIRE, HAAAHAA ! OHHH I
WILL BUY MY CORVETTE, SOON!
Spun bearings, yup, I guessed it right from the beginning. How did I do that, experience? The mid-year big blocks were notorious for spun bearings, oil pans were too small and if you didn’t watch your oil level closely and you jumped on the pedal did a little fishtail. That’s right, sucked up all the oil too quickly and then disaster strikes. Watch the video again, right after a whiplash fishtail takes place the engine crash and burn began.
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