Does Anyone Like The 2010-2011 5.3 AFM Engines

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ewrob

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i know gm had some problems with 07-08 afm engines,what i can read is oil consumption and maybe a tick when cold,has these engines ever lost power or failed to perform.i have not seen where the newer engines mine is a 2011 lmg 5.3 in a sierra,has had much customer complaints as the 07-08 had,of course it might show up in time,i have owned gm,ford dodge,toyota,never had anything major wrong with any of them,im hoping to start this tread,there may be way more good experiences with them than bad,if all i hear is bad things about this engine,i may end up selling it,i would hate to keep it 5 years and all the bad stuff everyone complains about shows up on mine
 
I had to have all the lifters replaced in my 2010 Sierra SLT Z71 5.3L AFM engine. Started last winter with cold weather, one or two lifters made clacking noise. Had the dealer check it out back in March and he tells me, your lifers are weak and failed the leak down test. So they ordered a complete set of new lifters, 8 reg and 8 AFM lifters and R&R them. 2 of the new lifters failed to pump up and the R&R those. So far I have 4,000 miles on engine since and its been running fine. The lifters were replaced at about 9,500 miles. Dealer told me at the time they had already done several trucks. Heads have to be removed to get at the lifters.

Dealer was very good, put me in a rental car (Cadillac DTS) and had the truck for only 2 days. They also called me 2x to see if it was OK and was not making noise. Very good dealer. All I had to do is tell them once the lifters are clacking and they made an appointment and fixed it. There is a Service Bulletin on this for all 2007-11 AFM engines. Some lifers are good and some are not.

The noise can range from slight ticking noise to clacking.


I had a 2008 identical truck and in over 30,000 miles no lifter noise.

If by some strange occurrence I had the choice of DE-activating the AFM system and still keep the warranty, I would do it without hesitation.
 
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Afm engine

Which block do you have alunimum or iron block,i hope the lifter swap fixes your problem
 
Aluminum, only 5.3L engine they are putting in the 1500 now, RPO LC9 Flexfuel

Have not heard a noisy lifter since but will see this winter. $42k truck and noisy lifters was a let down. I have owned (15+) GM vehicles dating back to my first, a 1966 Impala SS396 and this is the first that has ever had the engine opened up.

The composition of the block should not have anything to do with it, Chevy has been building aluminum engines since the famous 69 Camaro ZL1. GM was supplied with poor quality components and I think that is a big problem with the auto industry right now. All the manufacturers are looking for ways to cut costs and some do it with inferior materials.

PS - The heads have to be removed from the engine to R&R the valve lifers. I just looked on the repair order and it was about 6 hrs labor for the engine work. The had to R&R a bad seat belt too, would not retract fast enough to avoid getting caught in the closing door.

Mike
2010 GMC Sierra SLT E. Cab Z71 All Terrain
2009 Cadillac CTS4 AWD Performance Sedan
 
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i think you are right about the cost cutting,but mine has a castiron block,alunimum heads,i checked with the vin # and got under the truck and looked for myself,block is iron
 
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my 2011 GMC is a CI block and alum heads also

5.3 AFM engine as well... 10,000 km no lifter noise yet !!!

got my fingers crossed!!!

cheers
Warts
 
Mine has the 5.3 afm aluminum block, just did the first oil change
and the oil level was fine, no tick either. Using mobile 1 and hoping for
the best. I would hope that if GM had lifter problems they would have
addressed the problem by 2011... guess only time will tell.
 
Engine knock at 2000 miles 2011 sierra

I have a 2011 1500 sierra and the lifters ( i think) are real noisy on DEceleration when slowing down. Especialy when towing in towhaul mode, and the engine revs while slowing down,it is real noisy almost not a tick but a knock.I just traded a 2009 with shift problems that were quote normal operation for a new 2011 with a engine knock. Hate to take it in and hear the same (that its normal). I have purchased 15 new GMC trucks in last 25 yrs and kinda upset with the new ones. Anyone have anythoughts I would appreciate the help. No tick at start up , just when slowing down I can really hear the tic comeing to a corner. Changed oil at 800 miles to Mobile one.Thanks D
 
Dav49978 – I’d suggest speaking with your dealership about this. If you’re still having issues, please send me a private message so I can look into this for you.

Thanks,
Laura
GMC Customer Service
 
yikes,

my engine is silky smooth and powerful. so far so good!

still fingers are crossed..

also got 8.16L / 100km or 28.8USMPG

on a 750km hike to Thompson from Winnipeg about 10-12 Deg C, bone flat and there was no wind!!! but still pretty sweet milage!

cheers
Warts
 
To avoid AFM on Chevy trucks, one could formerly select the 6.0 liter engine. What was a good choice (going with the 6.0 liter--no AFM) definitely worked in the past, but guess what? The new 2014 Silverado's now have AFM in all 3 engines: 4.3 V6; 5.3 V8; and the 6.2 V8...per the new 2014 Silverado brochure I am now reading and holding in my hand.

My personal research on the internet has observed "excessive oil consumption" in the 5.3 V8's from 2007-2011, and a hint of it in the 2012 5.3 V8. I do not trust GM to do what is right, but only to act in their own personal self interest as it "hits the bottom line". This will eventually result in a loss of market share...once everyone starts talking about it, and the news spreads across the USA and other countries.

Before buying any vehicle, I recommend carcomplaints.com; This is how I picked a "sweet spot" in the 5.3V8 engine for 2006. It was the last year...before they started to place AFM in the 5.3; Our 2006 Suburban with the 5.3V8 burns no oil, while having over 150k miles.

What "new" vehicle would I buy? Definitely not a Chevy truck, although they look good! Unlikely a Ford truck, although most other people are buying them. Possibly a Dodge truck, but owning a 1977 Dodge Aspen "turned my stomach" against Chrysler products for life. My conscience would object to a foreign truck.
I don't really know!
 
AFM System

Wartsnuff, does your vehicle have the Active Fuel Management (AFM) system?
Is the engine 5.3 liter with 6 spd auto? If you have the AFM, how do you know when it is shutting down some cylinders, is there a sound or feel from the engine? Is there an indicator on the dash when AFM is working?
I have the 5.3 L engine , 6 spd auto with AFM but have only got 20.5 Miles per Can. gal on a highway trip so far while the window sticker showed 30 mpg?
 
Fuel Mileage Improving

On my 2nd road trip I got 23.5 MPG. Must be geting the 5.3 L engine broken in with 11500KM on it. My GM service guy says that is about the best I can expect with this vehicle.:mad:
 
personly I feel here in Atlantic Canada,AFM is of no use to us because of all the hills.The AFM should be great in Sask. or Manitoba.,or any place there are no hilly terrian.
 
I have an 08 5.3 AFM crew with 100K and am just starting to have an intermittent jump or stumble with about a 50 to 100 drop in RPM. It feels like a misfire but it also seems like a complete misfire not just one cylinder but maybe all 8 just for a moment and then all is smooth. At idle in park no jump, when in Reverse or Drive with the brake on at stops it is felt intermittently, with the AC on it does it more often, at take off it may stumble a little but then comes on and is smooth and runs good.

I found a shop that could access the code and turn off the AFM so I am constantly in V8 mode. No change other than it seems a little stronger accelerating. Today I started it and when the auto locks lock when you put it in drive, it locked and unlocked several times. This was the first time it has happened.

I am worried it will get worse now and start causing me more issues. It seems to be an electronic problem.

Anyone who has experienced these symptoms and has been successful in finding the issue please let me know, I am new here and this is my first post.
 
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