The write up confuses me. Hopefully he can free up the stuck/collapsed lifter. 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). Right now I have just over 77K miles with no lifter problems Knock on wood I am thinking of the AFM disabler. Unfortunately because of emission standards nowadays, manufacturers cant go back to those style of engines. And consider using a higher grade of engine oil like Mobil 1 or Amsoil, etc. Now I learn about the cylinder deactivation issue and suggestions to add the Range Technology module to deactivate it. I tried the trans fluid in the oil. It looks as if Ill need to start saving for a complete AFM delete kit with a new cam. Took the heads off again. Im always sorry to hear when people run into issues like these. 91 GMC Sierra K1500 F44 6.2 NA Plow truck with 7.5ft Leo Plow 94 K3500 CC DRW 6.5TD DE exhaust . At this state, a disabler would probably do what you need it to do. I call it active obama fuel management .A scam . Thank you again for the response. It works . How do you know if the lifter has failed? It has plenty of oil pressure and I put all new lifters in it. Their tech guys have seen it all and may have some thoughts on this as well. He unstuck it and I took it for a drive and same thing happened. They are being forced by the feds to use stuff like AFM to meet the CAFE requirements. will feel like a jerk asking the clerk at lowes to cut them again. My 5.3 is. The Definitive Guide to LS Engine Specs and LS Engine Upgrades, LS3 Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for LS3 Mods to Maximize Performance - OnAllCylinders, LS Engine Bore & Stroke Chart - OnAllCylinders, http://www.autoserviceprofessional.com/article/91652/ticking-gm-v8-lifters-and-dtc, Range Active Fuel Management Disable Device, LS9 6.2L Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for LS9 Mods to Maximize Performance - OnAllCylinders, LMG 5.3L Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for LMG Mods to Maximize Performance - OnAllCylinders, L59 5.3L Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for L59 Mods to Maximize Performance - OnAllCylinders, L76 Car Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for L76 Car Engine Mods to Maximize Performance - OnAllCylinders, LH8 5.3L Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for L20 Engine Mods to Maximize Performance - OnAllCylinders, LH6 5.3L Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for LH6 Engine Mods to Maximize Performance - OnAllCylinders, LFA 6.0L Engine Specs: Performance, Bore & Stroke, Cylinder Heads, Cam Specs & More - OnAllCylinders, LFA 6.0L Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for LFA Engine Mods to Maximize Performance - OnAllCylinders, LZ1 6.0L Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for LZ1 Engine Mods to Maximize Performance - OnAllCylinders, What the New LT2 Mid-Engine Corvette Reveals About the Future of GM LT Engines, All the Torques: How Summit Pro LS Truck Camshafts Help Truck Owners Maximize Performance, LMF 5.3L Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for LMF Mods to Maximize Performance - OnAllCylinders, L98 6.0L Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for L98 Mods to Maximize Performance, LQ4/LQ9 Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for LQ4 & LQ9 Mods to Maximize Performance - OnAllCylinders, Range AFM Disabler Reviews | Range Technology AFM Disabler 2019, LS3 Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for LS3 Mods to Maximize Performance, LM7 5.3L Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for LM7 Mods to Maximize Performance, LS4 Engine Specs: Performance, Bore & Stroke, Cylinder Heads, Cam Specs & More, L76 6.0L Car Engine Specs: Performance, Bore & Stroke, Cylinder Heads, Cam Specs & More, L96 6.0L Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for L96 Mods to Maximize Performance, LC9 5.3L Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for LC9 Mods to Maximize Performance, LH6 5.3L Engine Specs: Performance, Bore & Stroke, Cylinder Heads, Cam Specs & More, LZ1 6.0L Engine Specs: Performance, Bore & Stroke, Cylinder Heads, Cam Specs & More, Chevy 4.3L Vortec Common Engine Problems - Vortec 4300 V6, https://www.onallcylinders.com/2017/11/30/how-to-delete-or-disable-active-fuel-management-afm-on-gm-…, The 5 Most Common Chevy EcoTec3 5.3L Engine Problems, Chevy 6.0L Vortec Engine Problems - Common Vortec 6000 Problems, The 4 Most Common Chevy EcoTec3 6.2L Engine Problems, Gen 3 vs. Gen 4 LS Engines: How to ID Them (Video), Ask Away with Jeff Smith: Upgrades to GM LS 6.0L 4x4, LM4 5.3L Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for LM4 Mods to Maximize Performance, L33 5.3L Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for L33 Mods to Maximize Performance, Mailbag: Choosing an Engine Management System for an LS-Swapped '82 Olds Cutlass. It uses a M14 x 1.5 thread plug like Dorman 65217. I have a 2013 1500 with the LC9. It also mentions a valve cover replacement with revised PCV valve design. http://www.autoserviceprofessional.com/article/91652/ticking-gm-v8-lifters-and-dtc. GM Releases Valve Lifter Service Update For V8 Engines Hello Brian, I just purchased a 2018 Silverado with a 5.3 AFM engine, I have 200 km on it. But yes ultimately, it might be time for a cam and any AFM lifters that werent replaced. No clue what to do. He stated if I continued to exceed 4500 RPM it would blow the lifters out. He used seafoam and changed to synthetic oil. (Non-AFM engines have a smooth cover.). They shift cam lobes by sliding the cam, never actually shutting down the value but riding a different lube! Why would GM ever produce such problems with such little to gain. Cylinder deactivation--branded Active Fuel Management by GM--shuts off some cylinders when extra power isn't needed, to improve fuel economy. There is a note in the TSB that states the bulletin doesnt apply to the LH6 used in the Rainier, Trailblazer, and Envoy due to a different design oil pan and AFM relief valve. 2019 Chevy, GMC Trucks Get Smarter Cylinder Deactivation - Car and Driver I only have ~ 5k miles on it, and it hasnt been driven hard, so Im assuming the lifters are fine. The cylinders are deactivated by means of a double-stroke lifter which is FAR more prone to failure than a standard lifter. Just shut AFM off. 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. This allows the engine to run in V8 mode. As long as a lifter hasnt started to fail, you can get by with a less-expensive disabler as preventative maintenance. I have been assuming this is just a slow to pump-up lifter or lifters. chevrolet - How does cylinder deactivation work? - Motor Vehicle Here's what you need to know: 1. GM Active Fuel Management Cylinder Deactivation Technology - GM Authority 50,000 miles. Ditto , never buy a throw away vehicle again is my recommendation and my fix . Active Fuel Management (AFM) is a trademarked General Motors technology that improves gas mileage by shutting down half of the cylinders under light-load conditions to reduce fuel consumption. Ive heard the Brand name Range thrown around in other forums, This is how mine started outthen 6 months later on the highway the service stabilitrak light and flashing engine light came on. They may be able to find some of those missing ponies. I wii be using this truck to haul a camper for full time RV living and am thinking of a tuner to shut off AFM and maximize performance and economy. This really sucks. Troubles begin with Bean-counters decide on what can be used for production and engineers who arent Gear-Heads. Engines withAFMalso use a special camshaft, a high-volume oil pump, and a pressure relief valve in the oil pan. Battery was unplugged for a week.. The biggest problem is nobody changes their oil on time. Engine oil pressure is fine. The engine will operate on 8cylinders, or V8mode, during engine starting, engine idling, and medium to heavy throttle applications. How to Deactivate AFM, DFM, MDS, and Start/Stop To Prevent - Holley 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. I have a 2007 Gmc Envoy Denali with LH6 cant find a good LH6 engine but I found a 2011 LC9 engine w 52000 miles will everything plug up or what am I getting into? Would installing the Disabler solve this? We have purchased a used low mileage 6.2L as that is all the extended warranty company would pay for. It depends on the failure mode of the lifter however, certainly worth a try. Basically rebuilt most of the engine while in the vehicle. The engine also had 799 or 243 casting heads which are closely related to the LS6. I phoned the dealer and gave the VIN number, told it isnt equipped with AFM. [] for performance, LS9 engines didnt use Active Fuel Management (AFM), Variable Valve Timing (VVT), or Flex Fuel (E-85) technology. Truck has an active P0300 code and runs very rough. Only wish Id did my homework, nothing but issues, from 14,000 miles it starts this motor noise,as if lifters at cold starts, let set up for 8 hrs same noise, this noise is on the right side of engine, it lasts 5 seconds but never heard this until we had this cold spell in the state low temperatures or it was just time for this to start? Brian, I have been reading your article about the AFM. Run it and let it soak overnight. 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. The engine will operate on 8 cylinders in V8 mode during starting, idling, and medium or heavy throttle conditions. Put everything back together proper torque, gakets, valve seals, etc. You can search our site by engine code to find some of the upgrade articles weve published and more are on the way. changed oil , its all working now, but want to disable this sorry system. WATCH THIS VIDEO https://youtu.be/1MJMf3nnQhQ. I am confused about the plug in disabler. These trucks cost too much to have a terrible product. Since it is not costing me anything out of pocket, I did not go with the Delete Kit (did not want to spend the money). An electromechanical system deactivates and reactivates all 16 of the engine's hydraulic valve lifters, controlling valve actuation. in your opinion will this work, i really dont see any reason it wouldnt. I have 1999 5.3 Silverado that gets 19-20 miles to the gallon all the time this shit pile with dod only gets 14 miles to the gallon. Only issue might be the oil consumption due to pressure run off and spraying of oil in crankcase? With the AFM tuned off, it shouldnt be trying to switch over to four cylinder mode. I asume low oil pressure cant make some of the DOD lifters to malfunction? How to Delete or Disable Active Fuel Management (AFM) Definitely dont want to do anything to fix one problem and create another. 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. 4,7 plugs foul runs rough at idle. My 2002 I had over 298K on it with no engine related issues. I dont plan on installing the delete kit at this time. The oil collapses the plunger inside the lifter. I used 1 quart of tranny fluid in the crankcase ran it for 20 minutes, no luck. Corvette that does employ AFM. I have also heard that the oil pump is to be changed and I have also heard that it does not matter. Carbon Build-Up in the Intake Ports. The biggest difference between the Vortec engines that used to be found in Chevy and GMC vehicles and the EcoTec engines found in them now are the fueling methods. Having a hard time finding one .. I have always loved Ford and Chevys , I dont like this Vehicle not one bit, starring shaft has to be lubed or it whines, front A arms has done been replaced, tapping in motor, leaf springs has been lubed, retorqued, put completely new leaf springs back in on the rear , grease all down from rims to body of truck, you have to clean often,console shakes as if milk shakes in console which later they also put rubber bushings in front of coils of shocks ( front end) .You lock it down in 44 it s metal to metal , As of now Im at 32,000 done gone threw all the arbitrator laws depending on how it goes? Cant believe they havent fixed this in a decade. how many miles do you have on your engine? Only running on drivers side cylinders. The exhaust valve remains open during the intake stroke and closes just before BDC. Now I know why there wa such a push to get older ,less efficient vehicles off the roads. Junk . It came back on last Wednesday starting with a flash. NOTE: A disabler device should ONLY be used if the valvetrain is in good working order. Do you think I can still disable AFM? The engine had 200K miles. Love the truck so far. 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. i have a 2007 suburban 6.0 and the number 4 intake lifter took a dive.i have already started to disassemble the engine as i plan on replacing all the lifters and reassemble the engine as i never had any other problems with it. what deleter (if thats a real word) have you heard good things about. I plan on getting a tuner to disable the AFM. []. A lot more info with the ongoing GM 5.3l AFM engine issues on Cargurus. Cylinder deactivation is very effective in reducing fuel and reducing the emissions of harmful gases. Hello Keith, if your lifters are still in good shape, an AFM Disabler is a good idea. Any problems to watch out for?Did you replace the VLOM? The secondary pressure relief in the back of the pan began to open at 55 psi and was completely open by 75 psi. Ill Never Ever buy another gm. A 17 with 5.3. GM Escalates Cylinder Deactivation With Dynamic Fuel - EngineLabs 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. Didnt really notice a loss in power other than the surging, (wondering if thats the engine trying to switch between 4 and 8 cylinders). My 2012 Silverado 5.3L just did the same thing as your Tahoe Brian. Below youll see references to the L99 as a result. $8500.00 fix. When they are locked into position, they wont wear further and cause issues down the road. []. I have a 2011 GMC with over 162,000 miles on it and it runs great! Yes a poor design but a flaw ? The most common are fuel pump failure, transfer case sensor failure, fuel injector failure, and carbon build-up. I have no other engine problems and Id like to fix the issue. Next day, fired it up to take the the junk yard and it ran great. Most of all, my concern is reliability. I have a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 with the 5.3. I did and they diagnosed it as being on Cylinder 3, not one of the cylinders that deactivates. Love the truck. 1. I have driven it now for 2 days without issue but I am having the AFM disabled/tuned out today. 190k on the motor always ran AMSOIL full synth since new. Both #6 lifters only move when turning engine by hand, if you use the starter they stop moving. How is that an improvement. He claims that GM used the same engine whether it was or was not equipped with AFM in this year and model? She had driven it for a couple of months that way. Replaced all lifters. Dont follow just anybody I know where it originates but in todays world I found found it to be amusingly accurate. Excess oil will be pushed out of the pressure relief valve into the oil pan. Would really appreciate your comments on this point as really interested in an 07/08 escalade without or an 09 hybrid with dod. Have a lifter problem on my 2010 5.3 Silverado. PDF GM LS AFM Deactivation Lifter Issues - Melling The 1 Big Problem People Are Having With the Chevy Silverado - MotorBiscuit There are 5.3 cylinder deactivation problems that can occur. Better airflow reduces drag on the pistons and the associated pumping losses. Have misfire code and engine has what I would call a surge while driving. If thats the case, Summit Racing has dedicated truck cams that will increase power through the rangebottom to topbut the meat of it is in the mid-range where your engine spends the most time. Apparently all passkey III keys are not the same,, I bought one that said for 2006 impala assuming all pk3 would be the same, and I could not get it programmed in my saab 9-7,, so how Im waiting on ones that specially said for saab 9-7. hoping they will work. It is replaceable.. just remove oil pan and it will be on top at the filter. Given that, would you recommend buying one of the OBD-II devices to disable AFM? More information can be found in the GM TSB bulletin number 10-06-01-008g. Verified over hundreds of trips, makes no sense. Constant engine and transmission problems. This lowers the cost of building it [], [] aluminum block engine. General motors sent out a service bulletins to their dealers however, all dealers will not tell you about the bulletin. All New lifters were from AC delco. 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. Most will want to get rid of the AFM immediately. The Hit and Miss Nature of Cylinder Deactivation Systems Fortunately, the old engine hadnt been shipped back to the remanufacturer. GM Dynamic Fuel Management Cylinder Deactivation Technology - GM Authority Since no air can get in or out, four cylinders provide no power. Cost about $250, but it is not fool proof. Cylinder Deactivation: What Is It and How Does It Help Save Fuel? They replaced all the lifters, said no other damage, problem lifters were on cylinders 6 and 7. []. [] block engine used in GM hybrid trucks and SUVs between 2008 and 2009. I just got new warranty engine and dont want this issue again? Then again, it should have never been controlling those solenoids. Im confused from the write up about the plug in. When cruising on the freeway (for example) in 4 cylinder mode and jumping on the throttle to pass or get out in the fast lane, there is CONSIDERABLE and annoying and dangerous lag, like 3 seconds, and this is a problem. NOTE: Some parts are not legal for use in California or other states with similar laws/regulations. 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. 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. whith a disabler. Hello Mike, if you dont have any obvious signs like check engine lights etc., there are couple different possibilities. I am worrking on a 2007 chev Silverado 6.0 engine, [] the L76 that was equipped with AFM and had a ribbed valley cover, the L98 cover was []. The engine will normally operate on 8 cylinders in V8 mode during starting, idling, and medium or . AFM Sucks!!! 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. So bad theyve been rated least reliable midsized truck by consumer reports for 3 years in a row. I would say maybe 5% of my customers keep up on their oil changes. 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. AFMengines use special lifters for cylinders 1, 4, 6, and 7. Hi my name is noel I am a mobile mechanic and I have a client that was having trouble with the lifters on a 2011 gmc yukon Denali 6.2 I placed the lifters after finishing I still had a problem with cylinder 8,6,3 rocker arms were not moving so I replaced the cam OEM part but still having miss fire on cylinder 6 what should I do to get rid of this problem, [] computer cannot switch over to four-cylinder mode. But I can replace all of the other engine parts without doing the pistons and bearings so that is what I plan to do. Did not help. I have an 07 Silverado 1500 ltz. I had a 2007 Yukon XL 5.3 with the AFM. 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? No other V-8 truck of similar weight can do that (except another GM with AFM). Another General Motors 5.3L V8 Lawsuit Filed | GM Authority It will show up as a misfire code in a cylinders 1,4,6, or 7. 5.3-liter Chevy Engine Problems: What Should You Look Out For? I went ahead and purchased a Disabler on Amazon, for preventing it happening in the future. GM claims fuel improvements ranging from 5%-15% depending on the engine. Then had to drive the truck back to Tampa from Cheifland Fl. When you eliminate the AFM system, the extra oil is no longer needed. Traded it with 180K miles and did not experience any problems. Also I dont recommend doing this as you may be in violation of some emissions standard or manufacturers ethics code . thank You so much! Wow, thanks for the wisdom,, i checked my VIN Code (position #8, M=LH6) and my 2005 Saab 9-7x does have the LH6 motor with iron block, Are you sure its only 2007 & newer motors? Billy, there is some interesting trivia here on the L92. I have a 2008 Buick Lacrosse super that I am having a hard time finding a tuner or a tune shop that can turn off the afm. With 40000 Plus the 5.7 has its own problems with VVT reliability and the rest of the truck is flimsy junk. Many people find the four-cylinder sound annoying if their vehicle is equipped with a louder aftermarket exhaust. We did take it apart to check for metal possibly being trapped inside, it looked like brand new. I just bought a 2018 Silverado. Number 7 cylinder lifters stops moving when truck starts. Just one. 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 []. In 2015, I purchased a new Tahoe with the AFM and two weeks ago with 71K miles on it, the engine light came on. There are so many moving components in an engine these days as opposed to the past. All Cylinders. It was good for about 10 miles and started with same loud knock noise. But the problem at that time was the computer technology. Weve written some articles on the various Vortec engine upgrade paths, such as this one on LQ4 and LQ9it discusses some of the better options for choosing a cam intended for use in a truck. As a side note, the early ones had a 24x reluctor and plastic chain guide (good) vs. the later ones with 58x and the spring loaded tensioner (not so good). Brian, [] engines is that when VVT (variable valve timing) appeared and was later followed by AFM (which is Active Fuel Management, when the engine deletes four cylinders under light load) both of these packages drastically affect []. All eight cylinders are now powering the engine.