There are a few potential causes for Chevy cylinder deactivation problems, including oil consumption problems, harmful to the environment, sludge issues, and lower cylinder temperatures. An AFM Disabler is an electronic device that plugs into the OBD-II port, under the dashboard. With 44, its a enormous Jon to remove the oil pan. Getting 20 mpg in town and 24-28 mpg highway and love the truck now with these mild tweaks. The cylinders are deactivated by means of a double-stroke lifter which is FAR more prone to failure than a standard lifter. The secondary pressure relief in the back of the pan began to open at 55 psi and was completely open by 75 psi. The LFA was upgraded with AFM and [], [] improvement over AFM, DFM has 17 different cylinder firing patterns and switches seamlessly between them to provide just []. Batten, followed by several years developing performance pistons at Wiseco Piston Co. Today, Brian develops performance parts for Summit Racing Equipment and is a regular OnAllCylinders contributor. I would rather stay a V8 full time than deal with AFM issues in the future. .or something similar . 2 15 with 5.3 Sierras both with 100k and I was looking at the 08 escalade hybrid with dod on its 6.0 so wondering if the delete would contribute to the high oil consumption and therefore would adding the deflector be a good idea. Every one of these engine will have a lifter fail, this is a travesty! For a primer [], [] cathedral port cylinder heads and used Active Fuel Management (AFM). Now the problems back, I have 180k miles on it now. I have a 12 wit 4.8 Silverado 75000 miles I bought a 2010 GMC Sierra 5.3L Truck in 2013 with 24K miles. This reduces expense when you build it [], [] intake, and a cable-driven throttle body, plus Im also installing Trick Flows VVT and AFM delete kits. I am wondering the same thing. Brian, Heres what you need to know: An AFM Delete Kit is recommended when an AFM lifter fails or when doing performance upgrades. CAM motion says no just have to disable the AFM and VVT with a stock tune as the camshaft is not an aggressive camshaft but a drop in. GM offers the following diagnostic steps in determining if this is the problem. I have seen more internal engine failures in the last 5 years or so than I have in the first 15 years in the business. It seems to me that the high volume oil pump should not hopefully cause premature wear but if it is pushing more oil through the heads than I guess the valve stem seals have more work to do. Deactivating cylinders at light load forces the throttle valve be opened more fully to create constant power, and allows the engine to breathe easier. After all we bailed them out of bankruptcy. The engine has flex-fuel capability. I dont know where to being to look for the problem. What the biggest reported problem with Chevy Silverados? AFM sucks Im paying for a truck that has broke down twice replace the cam and lifters and now its broke down again 105000 miles never heard of that in a 350 Chevrolet. the body is in great shape. We are looking into the AFM Disabler option, but my question is- how do we know if a lifter is already bad or not? My 5.3 has a vin code of O. I was getting ~ 30 mpg, so I love that. I already ordered the parts to replace myself and remove the code. Seems like the AFM disabler device is working for a number of people including myself as the 5.3l AFM engine has inherent design faults. chevrolet - How does cylinder deactivation work? - Motor Vehicle I didnt even think about AFM until I got to drivee it on the highway and encountered the 4 cyl syndrome. [], I have a 2012 Silverado Z71 bought new. The LZ1 was upgraded with AFM and []. Why this happens is a more . whith a disabler. [] they have a downside? The Hit and Miss Nature of Cylinder Deactivation Systems Im crossing my fingers it does the trick! On June 4th you stated The vehicles affected were 2007 to Feb. 2011 AFM equipped engines (Aluminum or Iron block-L94, LZ1, L99, LC9, LH6, L76, LFA, LMG, and LY5) I am looking at purchasing a 2012 Tahoe with the LMG per the build sheet. If i am successful locating a non-dod vin would i just need to have the ecm reprogrammed? She started to have the lifter problem again after 60,000 miles more. I would appreciate any feedback. I would appreciate it if you let me know how you make out. Delete the AFM, buy a tuner/chip, take it to a performance place and get an actual tune done that fixes it, replace the AFM lifters with non AFM type, change other engine components with thisetc..etc..etc??? Brian, we have a 2007 Yukon Denali in our shop with a 6.2L v-8 that has suffered a lifter failure with camshaft damage. This lowers the cost of building it [], [] aluminum block engine. Also putting in a new transmission vs. rebuilding. I traded in a 2004 4.8 L with 256000KM on it that ran like a clock and never gave me a problem. It is currently at the dealer having a new long block installed under warranty. Pulled right valve cover an rockers on syl 6 dont move. As a side note, Range Technologies recommends removing the disabler between visits to the dealer as they will need to access the OBD-2 port. Any truth to that? A tuner can often fix that as well by giving it some more ignition advance in these regions. The oil pump is high volume, but there are a lot of people that dont change it and rely on the pressure valve to keep the volume manageable. Not sure which direction to go from here. This system is the most effective way to disable AFM. Verified over hundreds of trips, makes no sense. Would doing the disabler option once I get it back be the right one? While it does still use the GM Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation technology that caused a plethora of issues on the gen-four Vortec 5300 engines, it seems that GM has solved the issues related to excessive oil consumption. the extra oil isnt needed. Its a CA EMMISIONS TRUCK. I have only put about 600 miles on it and noticed that the oil was a bit low and am hoping that it was that way when I picked it up. Cylinder misfires (most common sign) Rough idling, poor acceleration, loss of power Check engine light with engine misfire codes Air-to-fuel ratios are either running rich or lean The easiest way to tell that you have an injector problem is through the check engine light and engine codes for misfires. Their tech guys have seen it all and may have some thoughts on this as well. Keith, were happy to help. With that said, the current global chip shortage has been affecting the industry on a wide scale, forcing production halt among several automakers. On the AFM lifters that dosnt work i have installed them With the oil hole Down! You may want to update your post. has 92,000 miles and was just told I have cam and lifter failure. I had to replace them all and the camshaft as well. Perhaps a flaw by design would be a more appropriate description . 8000 grand for the repair mine was 1,700.00 to repair, I had a 2004 small block v8(4.8) 331,000 miles on the truck,it was the usual on the maintenance front axles,etc. I phoned the dealer and gave the VIN number, told it isnt equipped with AFM. Learn how your comment data is processed. HP tuners is not for someone like me that doesnt know how to use it and from what I read neither the range nor diablo plug and play device will work since the buicks pcm files are different than all other GM vehicles that came with afm because it was tuned in house at gms performance division. Ill Never Ever buy another gm. I told her to never pull the gadget out. I got the AMF disabler anyway and so far so good. NOTE: You can find engine specs and detailed engine upgrade advice for every LS and LS-based Vortec truck engine in one place: The Definitive Guide to LS Engine Specs and LS Engine Upgrades. You can search our site by engine code to find some of the upgrade articles weve published and more are on the way. so the trans fluid worked for you then? I bought a 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 with 5.3L, X31 off road package a year ago. These trucks cost too much to have a terrible product. will feel like a jerk asking the clerk at lowes to cut them again. [], I have 2007 5.3 its a new motor this truck scares me 9000.00 these trucks are jokes IMHO . Diablo says yes but they do not provide tunes. GM Lifter Recall Needed, Says Class Action Lawsuit Active Fuel Management About Gone From 2022 Silverado Lineup - GM Authority No clue what to do. What type of ODBII gadget did you use? I have the towing package on my 13 Tahoe LTZ. It uses a M14 x 1.5 thread plug like Dorman 65217. Most of the complaints show up in the 2009 to 2011 model years. But not sure very annoying. I guess they also went to aluminum blocks in 2007, not sure if that has anything to do with this issues thanks for the advice! I have a 2007 Yukon XL with the 5.3L and am planning to do this as my lifters have failed and it rattles loudly if it starts, and runs limp. It has the orings in place, that seals the towers. Did Obama make them do this? GM should recall every vehicle with this terrible design flaw! .That was a year ago and now I have a collapsed lifter and the most inexpensive repair $2200.00 for a partial lifter replacement. I bought a new 2017 Cadillac CTS back in January 3.6L V6 with 8-speed trans. When I first bought my newer truck with fuel management, the GM tech at the dealership told me; if I wanted the engine to live a long life keep the RPMs below 4500. In 2010, GM added a deflector (p/n) NAL-12639759 to redirect in into the pan. It also has an electrical connector on the back. (Bought car 1 day before lifter died!) The engine is running on only four cylinders. Looking to tear down myself. NOT GOOD!! Then changed the oil. Would installing the Disabler solve this? Double digit MPGs in my 98 K1500 would be a dream lmao. Then it takes out the lifter again and again until you bite the bullet and replace the cam. My dad ended up running seafoam through it and some transmission fluid, changed the oil pressure sensor which I definitely think was bad and also cleaned out the little screen and he said it was so full of junk and metal scraps. Took it to the dealer and was told I had a collapsed lifter. I had purchased an extended warranty when I bought the truck new. When you drain the oil at three to four thousand miles its still clean. All I can say is they now try this again and they are still having trouble..when will they ever leave well enough alone. Thanks for the advice Brian! Install an AFM Delete Kit There is a good chance that some of the drivers side lifters decided to go. You will be placed in derate if the ECM does not see the correct resistance from the ATF intake. When you don't need the full power of the engine, it provides better fuel economy." It actavated the lifter? I just got new warranty engine and dont want this issue again? Because I want to. GM uses 3 different styles all are engine specific. The engine will normally operate on 8 cylinders in V8 mode during starting, idling, and medium or . Cant believe they havent fixed this in a decade. I would say maybe 5% of my customers keep up on their oil changes. Was thinking maybe I could trick the ruck into thinking the engine was not warmed up, however, this might cause some problems for other processes, such as mix ratio and timing. Is there any reaction to the disabler when pulling a boat or trailer? They should let us the better mileage. Junk . The AFM activation and deactivation is controlled by the Valve Lifter Oil Manifold or VLOM. 1. Did not help. Corvette that does employ AFM. Stop-start cylinder deactivation, direct injection, variable valve timing, thermal management, and continuously variable oil pump; are just some of the Silverado features of . The service manager that I spoke with said, GM states if 2 qts of oil is used between oil changes the engine needs rebuild. I only have ~ 5k miles on it, and it hasnt been driven hard, so Im assuming the lifters are fine. Logic says that it should not as the ECM isnt programmed to use AFM, but will it see a lack of resistance from no solenoid pack plugged in? I could just transfer over the AFM lifter cover, but it is really nasty on the bottom side & I do not want to risk damaging this replacement engine if it is loaded with debris from the lifter & camshaft failure. Vehicle has been serviced more regular than the manual calls for and the AFM has caused problem after problem with fouled plugs. Hello! The dealer in Rockhill, SC when asked only said they had not had a problem. Wed recommend a call to our partners at Summit Racing. It prevents the computer from switching over to four-cylinder mode. Just pulled it down in the garage there was no other damage , luckily. Nine plaintiffs filed the General . Toyota has their own problems. , Production date on the vehicle is 04/2006 oddly enough. The motor I pulled was a 2007 LY5 with about 77k on it. 50,000 miles. Cylinder Deactivation to the Rescue. You will get codes thrown if the afm is physically removed without telling the ECM you did so. Now you tell me AFM works and I will tell you; that you are full of shit! And consider using a higher grade of engine oil like Mobil 1 or Amsoil, etc. No problems with any to this point. Where can I buy a bolt to replace this relief valve ?? Chevy 5.3 Engine Problems Are They That Long-Lasting? - Motor Verso Right now I have just over 77K miles with no lifter problems Knock on wood I am thinking of the AFM disabler. It was well researched and tested back in the late seventies and eighties . Only running on drivers side cylinders. Will this AFM DISABLER damage anything???. On one hand it has an aluminum block, which is nice. Jasper makes aGM engine that deletes AFM & will warranty the engine to a 100,000 miles parts & labor . You can unplug the sensor on the vacuum booster and it will fool the computer into thinking there is a high demand on the engine and shut down the AFM system but you will have a Check engine light in your face for doing so . This update also saw the usage of cylinder deactivation technology or Active Fuel Management. GM Dynamic Fuel Management Cylinder Deactivation Technology - GM Authority Absolutely agree, but we all know GM cant afford to recall them all & definitely wont, gettin a Toyota, but first will go to GM dealer and ask to see a truck without AFM & when they say they dont have it Ill say See ya, I have an appointment with the Toyota dealer! Always had GMs never anything else till now. After taking a $3.6h bath on the lifter/valve work and doing a little research, how can GM allow a problem like this AFM continue from 07 to present? Very confusing stuff out there. Are there errors or something only the dealer can clear? I didnt have lifters fail, I had the 4 cylinders 1,4,6,7 have such blow by that my choice was a valve and piston job or a new motor. [] for performance, LS9 engines didnt use Active Fuel Management (AFM), Variable Valve Timing (VVT), or Flex Fuel (E-85) technology. I noticed this discussion mainly addresses Chevy Silverados and other trucks? I have a 2014 Silverado with a 5-3. Chevrolet Silverado 2014-Present: Common Problems This is my second Avalanche and I never had any issues with either of them. Took it to a shop and they advised that it could be due to the AFM system not functioning properly. If you are using VVT, you could use the NAL-12612273 (L92) cam. Replaced the engine with remanufactured one and had the AFM turned off with a computer hooked to the ECU. A 17 with 5.3. Truck ran fine before that. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BR1R8N8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A359W9MWR50ZG1&psc=1. AFM works by deactivating half of the engines cylinders under certain circumstances to reduce fuel usage. A lot more info with the ongoing GM 5.3l AFM engine issues on Cargurus. Engines withAFMalso use a special camshaft, a high-volume oil pump, and a pressure relief valve in the oil pan. 2019 Chevy, GMC Trucks Get Smarter Cylinder Deactivation - Car and Driver I ave noticed the point about excess oil spray. My 2013 GMC Yukon XL 6.2L is currently having a failed lifer replaced. AFM - active fuel management strategy which deactivates the lifters on specific . any help? It came back on last Wednesday starting with a flash. Cylinder deactivation is very effective in reducing fuel and reducing the emissions of harmful gases. Thanks. If you left the original cam in, the AFM cylinders will be down about 25 lbs. My point is that the engine likely on uses dod a small percentage of the time so can not really imagine that the delete causes any more issue than normal which may be the high oil consumption but do all of these engines with dod consume a lot of oil? the vehicle has 120,000 on it and 30 to 60 psi of oil pressure never lower or higher. Dont want to make a move on a new truck or jump to a 2500 yet. https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-t30884_ds822284. They have plastic casing, so you can imagine what will happen with aged plastic. Didnt really notice a loss in power other than the surging, (wondering if thats the engine trying to switch between 4 and 8 cylinders). If you dont have VVT, you could use part number NAL-12561721 (LQ9) along with a 4-pole 3-bolt 2005 Corvette cam sprocket p/n NAL-12586481 to make it compatible with your ECM. So I did the job one more time. Vortec 5300s featuring LH6 and LC9 engines are prone to failing spark plugs due to carbon build-up. I recently bought a 2018 Silverado 5.3L with AFM. Now Im here tring to figure out what to do. If you already own this engine you will need to deactivate the AFM system or even better DO NOT buy any GM vehicle with this engine. An electromechanical system deactivates and reactivates all 16 of the engine's hydraulic valve lifters, controlling valve actuation. Fuel pump failure is the most common problem and can occur due to a number of reasons, such as a clogged filter or a faulty pump. Help appreciated. Most will want to get rid of the AFM immediately. But the problem at that time was the computer technology. Everything else looked good. Everything was fine for two weeks, ow customer complains s it same noise it made as before. Just recently, GM announced a temporary closure. The oil-pressure controlled system that operates the special lifters is VERY prone to failure, if the oil is not changed on time, OR if the wrong oil is used. I plan on getting a tuner to disable the AFM. These engines made 270-400 hp from the factory will run smooth as silk for over 300,000 miles (unless you have AFM). Should I wait until the warranty runs out, or will that be too late to stop possible damage? What if I was able to trick the computer into thinking it is in 5th gear when it is actually in 6th? If you swapped in a LS9 cam, you will find it makes good power at the very top, but its actually down from 5,000 rpm and lower where the truck spends the majority of its time. If the 4th cylinder lifter has failed, would driving it damage the engine? I had privilege to work on some of that garbage they never did work . Cylinder Deactivation (Active Fuel Management) General Motors Active Fuel Management engine control system has the ability, under certain light load driving conditions, to provide maximum fuel economy by deactivating 4 of the engines 8 cylinders. GM's Active Fuel Management (AFM) works under certain light load driving conditions to maximize fuel economy by deactivating 4 of the engines 8 cylinders. I havent has any lifter or cam issues. Hi Brian please help, yesterday after ice fishing was climbing a hill back home and check engine light flashed. I just bought a 2015 5 3 17000 miles I was thinking about eliminating the 4-cylinder if I delete it with just the programmer will it hurt my motor? You were lucky that it worked. Are you saying that I am in the clear by a year and issues fixed? Hi Brian, have yet to find a read that shows an escalade with high oil consumption and i have read a lot on the hybrid. I just took a long trip and it used 1.5 quarts of oil. To do this, you need to leave the AFM solenoid pack connected to ensure no codes are thrown. Why have you not gotten a reply from Mr Nutter, Buying a Silverado 6.2L. All Cylinders. What can I expect with the AFM in place, or, with AFM disabled (not deleted)? Do you think it would be wise to put a AFM disabler on a brand new truck to avoid engine damage? How is that an improvement. They lasted one year with big problems. There are 5.3 cylinder deactivation problems that can occur. Last GM Ill ever buy unless its got a diesel. This video covers the steps youll need to take before upgrading to a larger [], I am installing a complete delete system, just wondering what it will do if dont plug the oil pressure relief valve? Replaced all lifters on passenger side as well as pushrods for even wear. This will spray oil on the bottom of the cylinder walls which can cause oil burning, especially in high-rpm engines. GM switched over to the 4100 v-8 in 1982. They took the engine down today found so much damage inside they ordered a new engine from Detroit. The most common issue GM vehicle owners with AFM report is increased fuel consumption. The engine had 200K miles. Do not pay that amount. Brian, thank you for the quick response. Im always sorry to hear when people run into issues like these. Afaik the 6.0 escalade hybrid does have it so wondering if safe to delete. The engine will operate on 8 cylinders in V8 mode during starting, idling, and medium or heavy throttle conditions. She had driven it for a couple of months that way. Changing the sensor didnt help. Does anyone know how to disable the new Dynamic Fuel Management on the 2019 Silverados? There are no changes in the valves or the springs. You are correct. Was a disaster then but a profitable disaster. Thank you. PDF Service Bulletin Bulletin No.: 20-NA-038 Date: March, 2020 GM Escalates Cylinder Deactivation With Dynamic Fuel - EngineLabs When we removed the oil pan from the new block, we noticed a metal shield covering the bottom of the block. We were getting a code that the cam position sensor was not functioning properly. Open to suggestions about best course of action. if GM wont make a dependable truck for 60,000 Toyota is sure to take over even with very poor gas mileage . Well, they move a couple of times after startup thats all.Asume its the same on syl 7 on the other side.Disconected the Connector to the solenoids, no difference. We believe this confirmed that the AFM has never been operating in this vehicle. Toyota will be my next truck unless GM owns up and makes wright with consumers. What would you do if you were in my situation? Brian, I repaired a 2012 GMC Yukon Denali as the AFM lifter on #4 I take failed. [], [] LS Tech: How to Delete VVT or DisableAFM []. Will the plug in cause my truck to burn more oil or will it fix the oil consumption issue? A problem with cylinder deactivation can be solved by tuning the intake and exhaust valves. I asume low oil pressure cant make some of the DOD lifters to malfunction? I am going to do the full repair of the engine now, but not an overhaul (too hard to get at the pan). My 97 k2500 suburban with a lightly modified 6.5L diesel gets 20ish. All eight cylinders are now powering the engine. We recommend taking the truck to a local chassis dyno tuner and talking with them about a reflash. I ordered a electronic disabler for it today. . Glad I did. Why doesnt anyone make an aftermarket set of replacement AFM lifters that are the right length but DO NOT COLLPASE! I cant really tell from driving. I remember those Other GM vehicles that the consumer tested for GM and paid GM for the honor. Engine starts but is throwing a misfire on cyls 4,7. []. I did and they diagnosed it as being on Cylinder 3, not one of the cylinders that deactivates. It seems this tough engine has everything incorporated into it. 2 15 with 5.3 Sierras both with 100k and But after reading this thread, Im a little concerned about the long-term reliability. It depends on the failure mode of the lifter however, certainly worth a try. Teflon coatings does not last. Battery was unplugged for a week.. put tran fluid in oil for a day till lifter became active, had to change the fouled plug. One month to the day driving on the highway got the Service Stabiltrak message quickly followed by the misfire code. After reading these forums Im a little concerned about my decision to stay with GM. The result is improved combustion chamber pressure as the piston approaches top . 2017 5.3 Liter Chevy Engine Problems: Be Aware of These 4 Issues! how many miles do you have on your engine? The problem I am facing is that I want to drive this vehicle for at lease another 77K and do not want to drive my vehicle with this AFM issue. Or not because it is the cast iron block and not he aluminum block? If someone didnt want to spend gas buy a Toyota. A 14 gmc 5.3 Sierra 85000 miles This allows the engine to run in V8 mode. Only thing I noticed with the oil consumption issue. My 2013 LC9 just had #6 lifter fail, got a misfire code but the ticking gave it away. Yes, always change all the lifters at once. In other words, the crankshaft and bearings were not visible. Then again, it should have never been controlling those solenoids. GM tried this on cadillacs about 20 years ago and if memory serves me correctly it was a disaster. Would never take it on a long trip. Found that all passenger side cylinders are not firing. With 40000 Install the disabler when you get your Yukon back and it will remain in good working order. They layed over night in engine oil before instalation. In 2015, I purchased a new Tahoe with the AFM and two weeks ago with 71K miles on it, the engine light came on. Hello. There has been a lifter noise since I bought the truck 1 year ago. Not sure what else it can be. [] block engine used in GM hybrid trucks and SUVs between 2008 and 2009. The 2nd went with a conventional valvetrain. . I have ordered an ATM disabler and will be putting a can of Textron in the gas at the next fill up. I can tell you for the past 2 years I changed out my LC9 5.3L fully synthetic oil every 3,000, even though Mobile Oil claims 10,000 miles or more. Only issue might be the oil consumption due to pressure run off and spraying of oil in crankcase? They shift cam lobes by sliding the cam, never actually shutting down the value but riding a different lube! . The collapsed lifters will not engage the pushrods and both valves remain closed. The oil collapses the plunger inside the lifter. Ever since that which was Feb/March 2020 i get a intermittent rattle does not do it all the time and I am not getting any codes i.e. It is being covered under warranty since I only have 72,000 miles on it. Question I have a 2015 Silverado and had a transmission go bad when I had it rebuilt I had the AFM/DOD turned off. No problems with any to this point. Engines with AFM use a high-volume oil pump. Good point which begs the questuion, why does the Service Stabilitrak error seem to coincide with lifter failure? Plug the tuner into your GM vehicle's OBDII diagnostic port, and follow the instructions provided to update the engine control module's program The new program will make sure that AFM never engages. Replaced all lifters. Oil 0w or 5w -20 According to some experts, switching to cylinder deactivation reduces the emissions high somewhere between 4 and 10%, which is a huge percentage of saving the air from pollution. The original version sprayed oil on the cylinder walls and increased oil consumption. Your 1981 caddy was your fmu I got glue inside of it and it stuck the potentiometer for stochiometric if you get a new fmu or you pick the glue out of the potentiometer you can set it to stoichiometric and get a lot better fuel mileage as far as your truck why dont you look at the intake manifold I got a crack or a vacuum leak somewhere for gas mileage thank you truck service, Near 1981 its your fmu it has glue inside the potentiometer you have to either RNR it for a new one or pick the glue out of the potentiometer for stochial magic is the only variable resistor inside that you can turn with a screwdriver once you get the glue out of it itll read still kill metric just be careful and then you can set it properly with your own meter on your monitoring your O2 sensor and then on your Silverado thingy your 5.3 just check the intake manifold for lakes Ill get you a better gas mileage if you dont have any intake cuz theyre plastic and they crack and stuff like that other than that yeah thats it, Larry Jenkins, I have a 17 GMC Sierra 6.2 SLT, I got 25 to 27mpg regularly with 93 gas and cylinder deactivation.