Some new C8 Z06 Corvettes had some engine problems. The reasons why could be much simpler than you think.
Front action shot of a 2023 Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06 on a racetrack
Recently, you may or may not have come across an article or video suggesting catastrophic failures in the new Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06. While this is a case involving one, Marco Garcia appears to have proven precisely that, there are other factors at play here. And a common variable found in all these cases is that the cars had low miles. Another video showed a new C8 Z06 doing donuts with less than 1,500 miles on the odometer. No catastrophic failure this time. Just a check engine light, which was reset with a scanner the owner used. He made it clear the car was running fine and only got the engine light after doing donuts.
Internal combustion engines have many moving parts. Despite advances in engineering and machining, these parts operate at varying temperatures and loads. Even more so in high performance vehicles like the Corvette. These engine, transmission and other vehicle parts are designed to fit. This happens during the rolling period.
The C8 Z06 engine is as sophisticated as they come
The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 LT6 engine
Herein lies the point. Mind you, the engine in the C8 Z06 is a beast. It is one of the most powerful naturally aspirated engines out there. It’s a high-performance 5.5-liter flat-crank V-8. It redlines at 8,600 RPM and has an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. This engine produces 670 horsepower at 8,400 RPM and 460 pound-feet of torque at 6,300 RPM. The whole drive train needs to be gently broken in so that everything fits properly after this period. So once you start revving it to redline and full throttle as much as you can on a track day, things work as intended and don’t start breaking for no apparent reason.
The break is important. It’s important enough in normal cars. What would make you think it wouldn’t matter in high performance cars? To elaborate on this, in 2020, a Brazilian YouTuber bought a new BMW M5. He immediately proceeded to put the pedal to the metal, so to speak, and even tested the launch control several times with only a few miles on the car. BMW warns in its owner’s manual not to do any of these things until you’re done with the 1,500 mile break-in period. The result was a broken transmission gear for the all-wheel drive system. In the video below you can see the exact moment the stream broke while a friend of the YouTuber was testing the launch control system.
With the previous-generation C7 Corvette, Chevrolet had some overheating issues with its supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 early on. The problem was solved and the Corvette engineers learned their lesson. So much so that for the high-revving C8 Z06 engine, they paid special attention to the cooling system. The goal was to keep the oil temperature within acceptable thresholds in prolonged, high-stress scenarios. And they have succeeded. In addition, Chevrolet engineers claim that no special maintenance periods are required for the C8 Z06. You get your regular oil and filter changes, and then spark plugs after 100,000 miles. That, coupled with the fact that the C8 Z06s have been running regular track days without issue, should assure you that this engine is truly bulletproof. As long as it is properly broken in and cared for.
The rolling of modern engines is not an urban legend
A 3/4 front action shot of a 2023 Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06 on a racetrack
Proper engine break-in allows for trouble-free long-term performance. It is especially important to allow the piston rings to seat well inside the cylinder walls. The result will be to avoid uneven wear of the cylinder walls. When this happens, you end up with an engine that burns oil and may not perform as well as it was designed to, or last as long. If you don’t respect the onboarding period, you allow a scenario that can create defective components. This is because of how you would have influenced the size and shape of these components, and how they sit with everything else.
If you drag the engine slowly, without giving in to the temptation to test its limits from the start, you will reap the benefits. These are longer service life and optimal operating parameters for a long time. If you want to know how to wind an engine the right way, you can refer to the owner’s manual for the proper procedures. Each manufacturer may have a different approach. Some will ask for the first oil and oil filter change after a few hundred miles, while others won’t.
The most common thing suggested by most manufacturers is to not run the engine in the red during the break-in period, which generally lasts about 1,500 miles. This is especially relevant if your engine is still cold for obvious reasons. And don’t put the engine under heavy loads either, like going full throttle while in high gear. This would be similar to towing a trailer, for example. Another common tip you’ll see in the manual is to vary the engine speeds. You may be tempted to use cruise control, but try not to and vary the engine speeds, not exceeding the manufacturer’s specification, to allow the parts to get used to operating in different conditions. Bottom line, you could say I wouldn’t buy a C8 Z06 Corvette for a number of reasons. But not because you think the engine will give you problems. The problem here lies between the seat and the steering wheel.
