This is what I keep telling people. Vortec 5300s featuring LH6 and LC9 engines are prone to failing spark plugs due to carbon build-up. Dave, I also have a 2008 LTZ avalanche with 106,000 I have the exact same symptoms at this point I just want to sell it will the disabler help remove the check engine light wont pass inspection with light on thanks for your help Chris. If i am successful locating a non-dod vin would i just need to have the ecm reprogrammed? If you just crack it without it starting it moves all the time . Diablo says yes but they do not provide tunes. Ive got about 6 to 8 psi of oil pressure after the engine gets warm and I have to stop at a traffic light. Every one of these engine will have a lifter fail, this is a travesty! Would doing the disabler option once I get it back be the right one? There has been a lifter noise since I bought the truck 1 year ago. If AFM has been deleted, its common just to use a Dorman drain plug (m14 x 1.5) to remove the pressure relief valve entirely. The biggest problem is nobody changes their oil on time. The main misconception is that shutting down half the engine's cylinders reduces fuel consumption because the . 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??? Chris, when you did your delete, did you also change the cam at the same time? Keith, were happy to help. No it runs fine on sylinder one but not on 6 or 7!!! Cylinder deactivation works to save fuel, but it may not be for the reasons you think. 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. Getting ready to diy for $450. I have a Yukon 116k it now needs its 3rd set of lifters and cam. the body is in great shape. how many miles do you have on your engine? They dont so any better than domestics on mpgs. Since the tranny oil worked, you should now change the oil, right? Side note, after 200 hundred miles of trouble free driving the transmission failed so we had to replace that too. Some guys have been able to use a tool through the top with the cover off to get it to release. The engine will operate on 8cylinders, or V8mode, during engine starting, engine idling, and medium to heavy throttle applications. I ave noticed the point about excess oil spray. I wouldnt trade my 2000 Silverado, 5.3 liter that has constantly gotten 20 mpg since I bought it 15 years ago, for a dozen of these new $50,000 POS. Did not help. Ive been reading, with disgust and concern of the lifter/cam situation. I have a 12 with 4.8 Silverado 75000 miles I have a 07 Yukon with 180K and no issues what so ever. 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). is it still working good since you have done that with the trans fluid? I used 1 quart of tranny fluid in the crankcase ran it for 20 minutes, no luck. . If so what would the vin code be? I bought a 2010 GMC Sierra 5.3L Truck in 2013 with 24K miles. The older truck gets 19 mpg the newer truck with fuel management gets 14. Didnt change exhaust nor tune so likely no change in power/torque. I have an 2004 1500 Suburban 4WD that I am about to replace the motor in. Yes, always change all the lifters at once. Better airflow reduces drag on the pistons and the associated pumping losses. It has AMF. If Problems regarding Chevy 5.3L engines, if the running compression of the misfiring cylinders stays below 25 PSI. hi brian when you replace the lifters do you have to change the guides also? They should let us the better mileage. Todays computers are faster so it does work. 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. Im praying that my RangeTech buys me a few years. Who knew? I have also heard that the oil pump is to be changed and I have also heard that it does not matter. We need availability of a replacement engine without the AFM. The GM 2.7-liter L3B Turbo four-cylinder engine for Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups is meant to change minds about power and torque in a small package. Glad I did. 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. My tech just installed the engine, only to notice that he doesnt have anything to plug the AFM solenoid pack into. Any truth to that? December 20, 2021 A GM lifter recall should allegedly be ordered for Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles equipped with 5.3L, 6.0L or 6.2L V8 engines. This may show as low oil pressure or code P0521 or P0523 and is a relatively inexpensive fix as well. It does seem that when they start goingthey go quickly. Very expensive repair too! Ive been a Ford guy my whole life, so I was unaware of AFM until a recent trip where I did a lot of highway driving and happened to bring up the real-time mpg display, where I saw it switch between V6 and V4. There is a filter screen under the oil pressure sender that may be clogged and not getting enough oil to supply the solenoids. There are 5.3 cylinder deactivation problems that can occur. An electromechanical system deactivates and reactivates all 16 of the engine's hydraulic valve lifters, controlling valve actuation. It is being covered under warranty since I only have 72,000 miles on it. Once the lifter has been damaged, the cam is probably also damaged. Does the disabler prevent the engine damage in the first place? . If you installed a factory truck cam, there shouldnt be any particular reason for it to be down on power. They may be able to find some of those missing ponies. When cylinders are deactivated, the number of crankshaft rotation increases between firing pulses. Its Chrysler and Ford. I guess I might have to call a dealership or GM to get a definite answer on this one. AFM - active fuel management strategy which deactivates the lifters on specific . My 2013 GMC Yukon XL 6.2L is currently having a failed lifer replaced. Pulled the inntake and replaced valleypan With all the solenoids. With the nipple, or without? I have a 2013 1500 with the LC9. Drives way better for my mostly paved road driving. The problem:. Any problems to watch out for?Did you replace the VLOM? HELP, I have 2005 envoy that runs makes lifter noise then dies in about 30 seconds then I started it one day and it ran with little noise for 5 min started next day and it starts and dies again got heads off was told I could put ls 3 lifters in is that true or is there something else I could do thanks Duane. If you scroll back, you will find that it is recommended to change lifters and camshaft and looks some more. I want to put a AFM disabler in it what all do I need to have done. She started to have the lifter problem again after 60,000 miles more. GM offers the following diagnostic steps in determining if this is the problem. This is my project car and will be my drive (about 5000 miles a year). Toyota will be my next truck unless GM owns up and makes wright with consumers. Does anyone know how to disable the new Dynamic Fuel Management on the 2019 Silverados? Are there errors or something only the dealer can clear? Should I buy one to disable the V4 mode? You may want to update your post. The tune is the best bang for the buck outside a cam swap anyway and what Id recommend. Any help would be appreciated. []. Love the truck so far. I also have 08 Burb, but have different symptoms (high oil consumption, blue exhaust smoke at start, and now a really rough start after sitting overnight). NOTE: A disabler device should ONLY be used if the valvetrain is in good working order. But not sure very annoying. Everything else looked good. I recently took a long trip and it burned 1.5 quarts of oil. If you are using VVT, you could use the NAL-12612273 (L92) cam. 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). Its not possible to install them wrong? The oil is baked on to every component. But if you dont like it. Send response to tkrieg@cox.net. When we removed the oil pan from the new block, we noticed a metal shield covering the bottom of the block. Engines withAFMalso use a special camshaft, a high-volume oil pump, and a pressure relief valve in the oil pan. 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. Just one or two. Traded it with 180K miles and did not experience any problems. Not sure which direction to go from here. I wont bother with blocking the relief valve. A tuner can often fix that as well by giving it some more ignition advance in these regions. Have there been improvements in more recent model years employing AFM [2014 or newer]? At least Dodge admitted they had junk transmissions in the early 2000s and picked up sales each. I bought a 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 with 5.3L, X31 off road package a year ago. Took it to my dads and he tore things apart and found that I had a lifter that was stuck. 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. Pod. When you don't need the full power of the engine, it provides better fuel economy." Toyotas 5.7 is one of the biggest gas guzzlers among half-ton trucks. I am hoping this does the trick. I called my service station and they told me to get it in ASAP. You could also have tried that if the trans oil didnt work. Hello! It uses a M14 x 1.5 thread plug like Dorman 65217. Can I (should I) also change to a standard volume oil pump? Jasper makes aGM engine that deletes AFM & will warranty the engine to a 100,000 miles parts & labor . You cannot compare them to old 350s. More information can be found in the GM TSB bulletin number 10-06-01-008g. Its a simple and effective way to turn off the AFM system and provides the added bonus of improving exhaust sound. I have an 07 Yukon with over 180K. GM should recall every vehicle with this terrible design flaw! Brian, thank you for the quick response. You can reuse the original valley cover OR use a non-AFM valley cover, leave the harness connected, and tuck the solenoid pack away. Fortunately, the old engine hadnt been shipped back to the remanufacturer. No problems with any to this point. You may eventually see a check engine light from a misfire code and the ECM dialing everything back to protect your engine. Why cant u just unplug the solenoid on back of engine by oil pressure sensor? The most common issue GM vehicle owners with AFM report is increased fuel consumption. I own a reputable repair shop. Because your Saab is mechanically similar to the Trailblazer, wed suggest that you are correct and no changes need to be made to the relief valve. If you installed a performance cam intended for a car, it may be bleeding off some low end compression. Lost number four I am considering the same. Thats a tough call, if the warranty will cover itId let it run out. Thanks. I know a few guys with Tundras. [], I have a 2012 Silverado Z71 bought new. 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. Perhaps a flaw by design would be a more appropriate description . I am leaning heavily on installing the AFM disabler. It looks as if Ill need to start saving for a complete AFM delete kit with a new cam. My 5.3 has a vin code of O. Your email address will not be published. Corvette that does employ AFM. Only running on drivers side cylinders. NOTE:If you were in a situation where youve installed the AFM delete kit, but dont have access to a programmera disabler can still be a viable option. This system was originally used in early 1980s Cadillacs. He used seafoam and changed to synthetic oil. Would installing the Disabler solve this? In four-cylinder mode, they act like air springs and allow for smooth operation. 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. The 2nd went with a conventional valvetrain. Never did strand me on the side of the road way. Is this the shield you referred to in a past post? There is a chance the cam lobe was stressed and started to deteriorate. That might show up if you cut the filter and looked for debris in the pleats. [] For more on that, read: How to Delete or Disable Active Fuel Management (AFM) on GM Engines. Why doesnt anyone make an aftermarket set of replacement AFM lifters that are the right length but DO NOT COLLPASE! Constant engine and transmission problems. Plus the 5.7 has its own problems with VVT reliability and the rest of the truck is flimsy junk. Will this AFM DISABLER damage anything???. I dont plan on installing the delete kit at this time. The Range AFM/DFM Disabler allows your V6 or V8 GM vehicle to run in full cylinder mode at all times, preventing the Active and Dynamic Fuel Management systems from dropping cylinders. Anyway, after some pushing and pulling I took it to the Dealer who sold it to me. [] for performance, LS9 engines didnt use Active Fuel Management (AFM), Variable Valve Timing (VVT), or Flex Fuel (E-85) technology. When an engine is contstantly running on oil that is broken down, it not only wheres out components because of no protection. This will spray oil on the bottom of the cylinder walls which can cause oil burning, especially in high-rpm engines. The engine also had 799 or 243 casting heads which are closely related to the LS6. Give the folks in Summit Racings tech department a call (330-630-0240) and they can work on a solution for you. It had the AFM wiring & lifter cover installed with solenoid pack in the original engine, we even removed it to inspect. I just bought a 2018 Silverado. Good point which begs the questuion, why does the Service Stabilitrak error seem to coincide with lifter failure? If doing that, the full blown AFM delete is about $1000 depending on how far you go (full overhaul or cam with lifters only). Now I know why there wa such a push to get older ,less efficient vehicles off the roads. Im a little confused on the problems too, Im reading that the 2007 pick-ups with 5.3 really had bad oil consumption and plug fouling problems, but is the 2005 5.3 that came in the trailblazers, envoys, and sabb 9-7s the exact same design as these pick-ups and prone to the same failures? Power will be sent to the rear axle via a beefed-up 4L60E [], Have a problem with 09 Chevy This replacement engine has the same camshaft sensor plug plug, 5 wire like the AFM would use, instead of the 3 wire. (Bought car 1 day before lifter died!) if GM wont make a dependable truck for 60,000 Toyota is sure to take over even with very poor gas mileage . All Gen IV engine blocks haveAFMtowers and oil passages cast in. I have already dropped a lot of money on this truck (08 suburban). Replacing engine due to issues caused by AFM. The 2016+ Tacomas are junk. The oil collapses the plunger inside the lifter. Just had my afm lifter fail had to drive 500 more miles home on 7 cylinders in my 6.0 lt chev. Do not pay that amount. Carbon Build-Up in the Intake Ports. My 2011 Tahoe has a LMG motor in it with a build date of May 2011. The valve itself is part number W0133-2574213. thank You so much! I know I felt the same way. Hopefully he can free up the stuck/collapsed lifter. If you left the original cam in, the AFM cylinders will be down about 25 lbs. The L76 is an adapted version of the LS2, featuring new rectangle port cylinder heads and Active Fuel Management (AFM). Then again, it should have never been controlling those solenoids. I will be installing the AFM deactivator tonight when I get hoe. Cylinder deactivation is very effective in reducing fuel and reducing the emissions of harmful gases. please respond with your opinion. Is there any reaction to the disabler when pulling a boat or trailer? 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? Hello Brian, I just purchased a 2018 Silverado with a 5.3 AFM engine, I have 200 km on it. What was happening to the first is slowly (or quickly in your case) happening to the others. 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. It will show up as a misfire code in a cylinders 1,4,6, or 7. With 44, its a enormous Jon to remove the oil pan. Engines with AFM use a high-volume oil pump. Why would GM ever produce such problems with such little to gain. You also need the disabler installed in your obd connector. It essentially turns your V8 engine into a V4 which saves fuel. All New lifters were from AC delco. I love the car so far. I would. Jusy 3 weeks ago I quit driving it because of the lifter, but it worked fine when i started it back up. Then had to drive the truck back to Tampa from Cheifland Fl. Number 7 cylinder lifters stops moving when truck starts. Do you think I can still disable AFM? We were getting a code that the cam position sensor was not functioning properly. The result is improved combustion chamber pressure as the piston approaches top . 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. Change your oil. Thank you again for the response. This valve is located on the oil pan rail and prevents excessive oil pressure from negatively impacting the AFM components. AFM Sucks!!! There are two ways to disable or delete Active Fuel Management on your GM or Chevy Gen IV LS or LS-based Vortec engineone is to install an AFM Disabler, and the second is to install an AFM Delete Kit. Their tech guys have seen it all and may have some thoughts on this as well. . This lowers the cost of building it [], [] aluminum block engine. All Cylinders. Then I guess I have to spend a bunch of money and get the delete kit. Runs better than new now and no more oil consumpsion!! It depends on the failure mode of the lifter however, certainly worth a try. Just like Ram and their trash MDS system or Ford and their throwaway Ecobust engines. Unfortunately because of emission standards nowadays, manufacturers cant go back to those style of engines. Take a look at what bmw did in its R1250 bike. I pulled the head off, replaced the lifter and put the gadget in the ODBII for about $400 total. The Cylinder Deactivation system, known as the Active Fuel Management system by GM, shuts off some of the cylinders when extra power is not needed which improves fuel economy. Driving around with a bad AFM lifter is the fastest and easiest way to destroy an engine. What if I was able to trick the computer into thinking it is in 5th gear when it is actually in 6th? Theyre also notorious for bad cam tower oil leaks. Seems my oil pressure sensor is bad, are showing the same oil pressure at all times, even when it dosnt run.Dont know it that fault was there before i replaced the lifters. Last GM Ill ever buy unless its got a diesel. When they are locked into position, they wont wear further and cause issues down the road. It is also known as Displacement on Demand (DoD) or cylinder deactivation. changed oil , its all working now, but want to disable this sorry system. I am trying to prevent same issue. i just bought a 2018 Silverado with the 5.3 TheAFMcylinders are opposite of one another in the firing order. . The AFM activation and deactivation is controlled by the Valve Lifter Oil Manifold or VLOM. 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. Have a lifter problem on my 2010 5.3 Silverado. I cant stand seeing customers continuously going thousands of miles over on the oil and wonder why theres problems. Yes thats true. What type of disabler did you go with? Installed them again, all facing upwards, will know tomorrow if that was the solution.If this is the cause i cant beleve why they arnt build so that it is impossible to install them the wrong way in the plastic holder.And altso that there was no warning or installation advice With the New lifters.If these are the only lifters in the Whole world that must be in The original version sprayed oil on the cylinder walls and increased oil consumption. I am having that done today on my 08 Suburban and its only costing me $225. Next day I drove my car to work and was fine but when I left work all lights came back on and terrible noise in the hood. A 14 gmc 5.3 Sierra 85000 miles We believe this confirmed that the AFM has never been operating in this vehicle. I plan on getting a tuner to disable the AFM. With 40000 She drove it for another 35,000 and it went out again. I would say maybe 5% of my customers keep up on their oil changes. I always have done my oil changes on time, not sure about the people who owned it before me though. Sometimes it will do it all the time and other times can drive it for 10 miles and then it starts but doesnt do it constantly when driving. I have no other engine problems and Id like to fix the issue. A lot of drivers reported losing 2-4 quarts of oil in between oil changes. If possible, will simply not using VVT provide a powerful,good running engine? What makes you think it was a design flaw ? If you want to delete it entirely, its a M14 x 1.5 pipe plug or you could use the Improved Racing plug p/n IRP-814-M14-Kit. I had the same issue and had to have the AFM information deleted from the computer and the car tuned. No other truck my ass .lol my 99 silverado 1500 with the junk LR4 4.8l and 320k miles 9n itgets 21mpg all day long with 93 octane gas in it. Yesterday my motor (116,000 miles) felt like it went into limp mode when decelerating from 8 cyl to 4 cyl but it recovered.This is the second time that this has happened in 6 months so I think that I am on the slope. 2 15 with 5.3 Sierras both with 100k and What type of ODBII gadget did you use? have yet to find a read that shows an escalade with high oil consumption and i have read a lot on the hybrid. 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. I call it active obama fuel management .A scam . The trucks are only supposed to use two four. On the caddis it helped to relocate the computer inboard the passenger compartment to keep them cool helped . The engine is close siblings with the LMG which shared many of the same featuresexcept the LMF isnt saddled with AFM. In October of 2010, GM added a deflector (p/n NAL-12639759) to keep oil from being sprayed directly on the rear cylinders. My local mechanic suggested whatever I buy with an AFM he will send off the ECU to have the AFM flashed out. Been driving with no issues but I did notice that the AFM disabler removed a P0449 code (Evaporative Emission Control System Vent Valve/Solenoid Circuit Malfunction) dont know if this is a coincidence or they are related??? The exhaust valve remains open during the intake stroke and closes just before BDC. module (ECM) will command the cylinder deactivation system ON to deactivate engine cylinders1, 7, 6, and 4, switching to a V4mode. what deleter (if thats a real word) have you heard good things about. Took it to a shop and they advised that it could be due to the AFM system not functioning properly. Shame this happened. Here are a few of the issues that you'll want to keep on your radar if you drive a 2017 Chevy or GMC vehicle with a 5.3L engine in it. Interesting that gm still hasnt gotten the bugs out of their Volt and now their 2nd attempt. 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. You mentioned that it will shoot oil into the pan and on the cylinder walls possibly causing some oil consumption So i have a running vehicle and my only concern is making it as reliable as possible, should I disable the AFM or not?? yep, you are 100% Right, I called a local saab shop and they filled me in, in 2005 the trailblazer and clones have DOD (displacement on demand), My next issue is getting extra ignition keys on the cheap. Is this an issue only with GM SUVs and trucks, or does it include cars too? Is this due to the AFM being shut off? If the lifter actually fails so that the mechanism wont release, it wont work. A 17 with 5.3. [] Here is a guide on how to turn off AFM: https://www.onallcylinders.com/2017/11/30/how-to-delete-or-disable-active-fuel-management-afm-on-gm-… [], [] Guide to disabling AFM: https://www.onallcylinders.com/2017/11/30/how-to-delete-or-disable-active-fuel-management-afm-on-gm-… [], [] Here is an article on how to deactivate AFM. Does the Pressure relief vavle ever go bad?? This happened on a camping trip with my kids last friday night. Our patented technology is the only product that will disable Active or Dynamic Fuel Management without reprogramming the factory ECU. Also, it is the easiest way [], [] for the 2010 Chevy Camaro SSis also a Gen IV 6.2L aluminum-block V8, but with the addition of Active Fuel Management and Variable Valve Timing. It is a bad deal for sure.ive fixed a few best thing u can do is delete it in buy kit.no sense in fixing a flawed problem with the same flawed parts. Not sure what else it can be. My fear now is not will it happen but when! Now I get 24 to 26 with deactivation locked out and full power. Chevy 5.3 Engine Problems (Gen 4) #3: Spark Plug Failure. Hello. Regarding the cylinder deactivation impact on fuel consumption . It could be the filter screen under the oil sending unit. For a primer [], [] cathedral port cylinder heads and used Active Fuel Management (AFM). . As long as a lifter hasnt started to fail, you can get by with a less-expensive disabler as preventative maintenance. Hello Keith, if your lifters are still in good shape, an AFM Disabler is a good idea. 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. But I can replace all of the other engine parts without doing the pistons and bearings so that is what I plan to do. As we were installing the sensors prior to installation in the vehicle, we noticed that there was no fitting on the oil pan for the oil level sensor. $8500.00 fix. I have a 2011 Chevy Tahoe with the 5.3 Gen 4 LS (VIN Code 0) and I bought a CAM motion DOD/AFM delete kit, 3 bolt drop in CAM Motion stage 2 camshaft, VVT delete kit and finally a Diablo Predator 2 Premium for GM programmer. I did and they diagnosed it as being on Cylinder 3, not one of the cylinders that deactivates. Given maximum engine power is not required during the majority of everyday driving, AFM works to deactivate engine cylinders when they are not needed, such as when cruising on the highway, thus. However I do have 7 year bumper to bumper warranty that covers this problem if I start to get lifter problems over the next 2 years.. On the other hand if get the AFM disabler installed I am pretty sure that I void the warranty from what I read on the policy.