B737-700
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 226; Flight Crew Type 15000
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
I was pilot flying; flying the SEAVU into LAX. ATC tucked us in about six miles behind a heavy aircraft ahead of us on the arrival. Approximately over SEAVU; we encountered heavy wake turbulence; which kicked off the autopilot. I engaged the autopilot in heading mode; and offset our course momentarily to escape the wake turbulence. I was turning back to LUVYN; when ATC noticed we were off the arrival track; and gave us a clearance to reacquire the arrival at KRAIN. We LNAV'd to KRAIN; and flew the ILS 25L to LAX. I should have immediately advised ATC of our situation to get a proper clearance back to the arrival. It would be very helpful if ATC would be more cognizant of the need to leave more space for arrivals following a heavy aircraft.
B737-700 Captain reported encountering 'heavy wake turbulence' in trail of a heavy on the SEAVU arrival to LAX; resulting in a track deviation.