Any Data on L83 5.3 Reliability After Lifter Failure and Replacement With and Without Range Delete?

[20151500SLT]

Howdy everyone. About two months ago I had the dreaded AFM lifter failure on a 2015 Sierra 1500 SLT L83 with only 55,000 miles. Number 7 exhaust stuck, but there was no camshaft damage thankfully. Price to replace both banks (was advised by the foreman that this was the way to go) and the manifold was $5400. GM was "nice" enough to pay 38% of this, bringing my price to $3400. They also didn't have any of the manifolds in the entire country at the time, so my truck sat in a dealer bay for one month. The work came with a two year warranty for this issue.

 

Anyway, I have been driving it and it is mechanically fine now (the radio screen is doing the glitchy channel/screen changing business, but I guess that is for another thread). The dealer shop foreman advised that he had done about 50 of these in the last 7 years. In fact, mine was not the only one sitting in there waiting for a manifold. He advised the Range AFM delete and running 5w30 oil instead of the manufacturer recommended 0w20. He said that the Range delete should stop the AFM lifters from actuating as long as the module is plugged in, and that although it would not technically stop failure of a non afm lifter, these failures were much less common than the AFM lifter failures. 

 

I have not yet bought the Range module. I really like the truck, but don't want to be responsible for a $8000 repair two years from now if another lifter takes a dump and takes the camshaft with them. I don't think GM will help much, if at all at that time. I am wondering if anyone with intimate understanding of the issue can comment as to the reliability post repair if the Range AFM disabler is used.

 

I would like to continue to drive the truck but am getting tired of pissing away money at it. In the last six months I have had this, the known AC coolant leak, the brakes needed replacing, and now after picking the truck up last month the screen is acting glitchy and will be $1300 to replace it with no guarantee that it will fix it for good.

[shakenfake]

You say 7 "exhaust was stuck" do you mean 7 lifter? What manifold were they replacing?

[scralatchtica824]

I wonder how an oil with a higher viscosity would prevent lifter failure.

[It's Tim]

One should expect to budget to maintain a 7 year old vehicle.

[pokismoki]

main reason for failure is probably not changing your oil at 3-4000 miles and high engine temps, and using cheap mixed synthetic oil

 

you can also drive in 5th gear this will disable the v4 mode

[20151500SLT]

On 3/24/2022 at 10:02 AM, shakenfake said:

You say 7 "exhaust was stuck" do you mean 7 lifter? What manifold were they replacing?

Yes, the exhaust lifter for cylinder 7 was stuck. Basically I gave too much info; the AFM lifter got all screwy screwy.

 

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10158866-9999.pdf

Edited March 26, 2022 by 20151500SLT

[20151500SLT]

On 3/24/2022 at 12:04 PM, pokismoki said:

main reason for failure is probably not changing your oil at 3-4000 miles and high engine temps, and using cheap mixed synthetic oil

 

you can also drive in 5th gear this will disable the v4 mode

First, no. I'm not going to debate oil change intervals with you, but there is no benefit to changing your oil much sooner than needed. No, I also don't use shitty oil and the engine is not dogged. If you understood this issue, you'd understand that it has been happening to some engines before their second oil change. While not changing oil can certainly predispose to the issue, not changing your oil too soon is not going to cause it.

 

Second, I am aware of this.

[20151500SLT]

On 3/24/2022 at 11:08 AM, It's Tim said:

One should expect to budget to maintain a 7 year old vehicle.

Sure, I have no problem with maintenance, like the AC and brakes. I do however have a problem with the AFM lifter failures since GM stupidly decreased the reliability of the legendary GM small block pushrod engine to gain 5% in fuel efficiency, while the other manufacturers haven't proposed such a stupid system. The issue is well known and is the subject of a current class action lawsuit.

[pokismoki]

what was the culprit?

[KARNUT]

On 3/24/2022 at 10:08 AM, It's Tim said:

One should expect to budget to maintain a 7 year old vehicle.

I have a 7 year old, 11 year old and 2 21 year old vehicles. Fluids, some brakes, tires, one needed bars leak. All run really well. I consider that normal. 

[shakenfake]

On 3/25/2022 at 7:00 PM, 20151500SLT said:

Yes, the exhaust lifter for cylinder 7 was stuck. Basically I gave too much info; the AFM lifter got all screwy screwy.

 

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10158866-9999.pdf

I wouldn't call it an exhaust lifter. Not really proper terminology.

[Ryeman canada]

I hade the lifter fail, changed all four on one bank. Installed the range device then 500km later the same cylinder failed. I don’t know why, never went into 4cyl mode. Pretty disappointed.