"over-active" Lifters On Smoking 2009 Silverado 5.3l Afm

MS3DALE · March 2, 2010

I'll end up being forced to trade in this truck at the 50K mile warranty mark for this manufacturers engine design mistake

Actually the warranty on the drive-train is 5yr/100K.

MS3DALE · March 2, 2010

BTW - I got my new set of AFM lifters installed about 4K miles ago. Got to give my dealer (Bud's Chevy in Ohio) credit for doing a good repair job on the engine top end tear down/rebuild job. So far no excessive smoking, but still consumed/lost a quart and a half of Mobil 1 oil in 4K miles since repair. So problem will most likely reappear.

Thats actually "acceptable"...

Subject: Information on Engine Oil Consumption Guidelines

Models: 2009 and Prior GM Passenger Cars and Gasoline-Powered Light Duty Trucks Under 8500 LB GVW (Including Saturn)

All engines require oil to lubricate and protect the load bearing and internal moving parts from wear including cylinder walls, pistons and piston rings. When a piston moves down its cylinder, a thin film of oil is left on the cylinder wall. During the power stroke, part of this oil layer is consumed in the combustion process. As a result, varying rates of oil consumption are accepted as normal in all engines.

Oil Consumption:

The accepted rate of oil consumption for engines used in the vehicles referenced is 0.946 liter (1 qt) in 3200 km (2000 mi)

Important: This rate only applies to personal use vehicles, under warranty, that are driven in a non-aggressive manner and maintained in accordance with the appropriate maintenance schedule, with less than 58,000 km (36,000 mi), or driven at legal speeds in an unloaded (for trucks) condition.

Important: This rate does not apply to vehicles that are driven in an aggressive manner, at high RPM, high speeds, or in a loaded condition (for trucks). Oil consumption for vehicles driven under these conditions will be more.

Many factors can affect a customer's concern with oil consumption. Driving habits and vehicle maintenance vary from owner to owner. Thoroughly evaluate each case before deciding whether the vehicle in question has abnormal engine oil consumption.

Gasket and External Leaks:

Inspect the oil pan and engine covers for leakage due to over-tightened, damaged, or out of place gaskets. Inspect oil lines and fittings for signs of leakage.

Improper Reading of the Oil Level Indicator (Dipstick)

Verify that the dipstick tube is fully seated in the block. When checking the oil level, make sure the dipstick is wiped clean before taking an oil level reading and fully depress the dipstick until the shoulder bottoms out on the dipstick tube. The dipstick should be the proper part number for the engine/vehicle that is being checked.

Notice: Operating your vehicle with an oil level that is below the minimum level indicated on the engine oil dipstick can result in severe engine damage. Repairs resulting from operating an engine with insufficient oil are not covered under the terms of the New Vehicle Warranty.

Important: Refer to Owner Manual in SI for checking and adding engine oil.

Not Waiting Long Enough After Running Engine to Check Oil Level:

Some engines require more time than others for the oil to drain back into the crankcase. To assure a sufficient amount of oil has drained back to the crankcase, and an accurate reading can be obtained, the vehicle should be allowed to sit for at least 15 minutes, after the engine has been shut off, before taking an oil level reading. In order to ensure accurate results, the temperature of the oil should be close to the same temperature as the last time the oil level was checked.

Important: This does not apply to 2006-2009 Corvette Z06 equipped with the 7.0L LS7 and the 2009 Corvette ZR-1 with the 6.2L LS9 engines (dry sump). Follow the instructions in the Owner Manual for checking the oil in this application.

Improper Oil Fill After an Oil Change:

Following an oil change, verify that the proper amount and type of oil was put in the engine and that the oil level on the dipstick is not above the full mark or below the add marks. Refer to the Owner Manual or Service Manual for information on recommended oil quantity, viscosity, and quality.

Aggressive Driving, High Speed or High RPM Driving:

Aggressive driving and/or continuous driving at high speeds/high RPMs will increase oil consumption. Because this may not always be an everyday occurrence, it is hard to determine exactly how much the oil economy will be affected.

A higher rate of oil consumption is normal for vehicles equipped with manual transmissions that are driven aggressively. By "aggressive," we mean operation at high RPM (3,000 RPM to redline), with frequent use of engine braking (using the engine to slow the vehicle). Vehicles that are driven aggressively may consume engine oil at a rate of up to 0.946 L (1 quart) every 805 km (500 mi). This is normal for a vehicle that is driven aggressively. No repair is necessary. This characteristic does, however, require the owner to check the engine oil level at sufficiently frequent intervals, especially when driving aggressively, to assure the oil level remains within the recommended operating range. As the Owner’s Manual recommends, you should check the oil level every time you get fuel.

Towing or Heavy Usage:

Towing a trailer will increase oil consumption and may cause oil consumption to fall below the normal accepted rate referenced in this bulletin for an unloaded vehicle in a personal use application. Large frontal area trailers will further increase the work required from the engine, especially at highway speeds, and thus increases the rate of oil consumption.

Crankcase Ventilation System:

Verify that the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system is operating properly. Blockages, restrictions, or damage to the PCV system can result in increased oil use.

Oil Dilution (Fuel and Water)

On vehicles that are usually driven short distances, less than 8 km (5 mi), especially in colder weather, unburned fuel and condensation generated from cold engine operation may not get hot enough to evaporate out of the oil. When this occurs, the dipstick may indicate that the oil level is over-full. Subsequent driving on a trip of sufficient length to enable normal engine operating temperature for 30 minutes or more, in order to vaporize excess moisture and fuel, may give the customer the impression of excessive oil consumption.

Engine Temperature:

If an engine is run at overheated temperatures (see Owner's Manual or Service Manual) for more than brief periods, oil will oxidize at a faster than normal rate. In addition, gaskets may distort, piston rings may stick, and excessive wear may result. Verify that all cooling system components are in proper working order.

Engine Wear:

Piston scuffing, excessive piston-to-wall clearance, tapered or out of round cylinders, worn, damaged or improperly installed valve guides, seals and piston rings will all cause an increase in oil consumption.

Measurement of Oil Consumption:

Engines require a period of time to BREAK IN so that moving parts are properly seated. Therefore, oil economy should not be tested until the vehicle has accumulated at least 6400 km (4000 mi). An exception would be allowed only if an engine is reported to be using more than 0.946 liter (1 qt) in 1600 km (1000 mi).

Verify that the engine has no external leaks. Repair as necessary.

Verify that the engine is at normal operating temperature (see Owner's Manual or Service Manual).

Park the vehicle on a level surface.

Wait at least 15 minutes, after the engine is shut off, before checking the oil level to make sure that the oil has had time to drain back into the crankcase.

Verify that the oil level is at, but not above, the full mark on the dipstick, and that the proper viscosity and quality oil are being used as recommended in the Owner's Manual.

Record the vehicle mileage, date, and exact oil level on the form included in this bulletin.

Ask the customer to verify the oil level, each time the vehicle is fueled, following steps 1-6 and return the vehicle to the dealership if the oil level is found at or below the add mark, 0.946 liter (1 qt) low. If the oil level remains above the add mark, the customer should continue to operate the vehicle and verify the engine oil level until 3200 km (2000 mi) has accumulated before returning to the dealership for a final evaluation.

If the final evaluation shows that the engine uses more than 0.946 liter (1 qt) in 3200 km (2000 mi), follow the published symptom diagnostics as described in the appropriate Service Manual. If the oil consumption test shows that the engine uses less than 0.946 liter (1 qt) in 3200 km (2000 mi), explain to the customer that their engine meets the guidelines for oil consumption.

2005LT · March 3, 2010

Well, I got my fingers crossed for my 09' 6.0L with 6,000 miles on the odometer. I know it's not a 5.3 but it probably has the same lifters. So far so good though.

C. Charles Hahn · March 3, 2010

Personally, I think the OP has plenty of perspective. He knows he's not alone in paying for an LTZ that smokes like a 25-y.o. truck because of a design flaw that is unique to GMT900 engines.

If your complaint is that you paid for an LTZ and that should somehow entitle you to not have any problems whatsoever with a hugely mass produced vehicle of which only a small percentage have problems, then I have to ask just one question:

Would you NOT complain if this happened to you after paying for a basic W/T trim Silverado? Or for that matter, what number would have to be on the window sticker in order to make you NOT complain about having problems with the vehicle?

I fully understand the frustration of discovering the vehicle you bought is potentially a lemon (I've been there too), and that had you known this would happen you'd have searched for and bought a different specific truck. Just remember that's what GM issues warranties for, and also why if the problem persists despite multiple attempts to repair the vehicle, you can push to have GM buy the vehicle back so you can replace it with another one that isn't part of that statistically small group of vehicles that are experiencing the effects of a production defect.

I guarantee you GM would not be dumb enough to put AFM technology into mass production (we're talking tens of thousands of engines and trucks) if they had not done adequate durability and reliability testing beforehand. Any time a vehicle is mass produced, there is going to be SOME problem with SOME part SOME of the time. The number of defective parts coming out of the factory is statistically small enough to be considered within acceptable range, and that's what really matters in the long run.

I know you're disappointed that you're one of the unlucky ones, but it is completely irrational to constantly harp on it and demand that GM should "recall" all of the extremely large number of trucks with these engines to replace parts that in a majority of those vehicles don't need replacing and probably never will.

You know what the problem is, what the fix is, and that your GM warranty will stand behind it, so get over it! Take the truck to the dealer, have it fixed, and if you continue to experience problems keep taking it back until the problem is either fixed, or your truck has been bought back so you can buy a new one that doesn't have the same problems. No need to buy used or jump to another manufacturer, either, as you'll likely have problems with those as well even though it won't be with the same part(s).

4wd · March 3, 2010

Personally, I think the OP has plenty of perspective. He knows he's not alone in paying for an LTZ that smokes like a 25-y.o. truck because of a design flaw that is unique to GMT900 engines.

If your complaint is that you paid for an LTZ and that should somehow entitle you to not have any problems whatsoever with a hugely mass produced vehicle of which only a small percentage have problems, then I have to ask just one question:

Would you NOT complain if this happened to you after paying for a basic W/T trim Silverado? Or for that matter, what number would have to be on the window sticker in order to make you NOT complain about having problems with the vehicle?

I fully understand the frustration of discovering the vehicle you bought is potentially a lemon (I've been there too), and that had you known this would happen you'd have searched for and bought a different specific truck. Just remember that's what GM issues warranties for, and also why if the problem persists despite multiple attempts to repair the vehicle, you can push to have GM buy the vehicle back so you can replace it with another one that isn't part of that statistically small group of vehicles that are experiencing the effects of a production defect.

I guarantee you GM would not be dumb enough to put AFM technology into mass production (we're talking tens of thousands of engines and trucks) if they had not done adequate durability and reliability testing beforehand. Any time a vehicle is mass produced, there is going to be SOME problem with SOME part SOME of the time. The number of defective parts coming out of the factory is statistically small enough to be considered within acceptable range, and that's what really matters in the long run.

I know you're disappointed that you're one of the unlucky ones, but it is completely irrational to constantly harp on it and demand that GM should "recall" all of the extremely large number of trucks with these engines to replace parts that in a majority of those vehicles don't need replacing and probably never will.

You know what the problem is, what the fix is, and that your GM warranty will stand behind it, so get over it! Take the truck to the dealer, have it fixed, and if you continue to experience problems keep taking it back until the problem is either fixed, or your truck has been bought back so you can buy a new one that doesn't have the same problems. No need to buy used or jump to another manufacturer, either, as you'll likely have problems with those as well even though it won't be with the same part(s).

No problem! we agree on the theory..

But we need GM to provide a fix quickly before the warranty expire and I end up paying for it, at the start it took 3 seconds and was intermittent, now I hear the noise with every cold start and it takes longer, it will get worse with usage, I see people coming here looking for a fix for a minor problem and discovering that they have the same issue, more and more people will experience this problem for sure!, it is only a matter of time. it will be horrible when you see GM's GEN IV AFM engines dancing at traffic lights and parking lots. The issue is with the ENGINE not the paint or the mirror!, we all know and agree that such an issue badly hurts the resale value!, customer satisfaction, and customer retention.

Yeh!,,,it is only at cold start!!?, take your time to fix it!, is this why we don't have a fix yet? warranty work is costly for GM but the delay is more costly because dealers go through other minor warranty fixes to satisfy customers, it is very frustrating and embarrassing to go through a major repair and not repair anything, stupid!

Z'06 · March 3, 2010

Personally, I think the OP has plenty of perspective. He knows he's not alone in paying for an LTZ that smokes like a 25-y.o. truck because of a design flaw that is unique to GMT900 engines.

If your complaint is that you paid for an LTZ and that should somehow entitle you to not have any problems whatsoever with a hugely mass produced vehicle of which only a small percentage have problems, then I have to ask just one question:

Would you NOT complain if this happened to you after paying for a basic W/T trim Silverado? Or for that matter, what number would have to be on the window sticker in order to make you NOT complain about having problems with the vehicle?

I fully understand the frustration of discovering the vehicle you bought is potentially a lemon (I've been there too), and that had you known this would happen you'd have searched for and bought a different specific truck. Just remember that's what GM issues warranties for, and also why if the problem persists despite multiple attempts to repair the vehicle, you can push to have GM buy the vehicle back so you can replace it with another one that isn't part of that statistically small group of vehicles that are experiencing the effects of a production defect.

I guarantee you GM would not be dumb enough to put AFM technology into mass production (we're talking tens of thousands of engines and trucks) if they had not done adequate durability and reliability testing beforehand. Any time a vehicle is mass produced, there is going to be SOME problem with SOME part SOME of the time. The number of defective parts coming out of the factory is statistically small enough to be considered within acceptable range, and that's what really matters in the long run.

I know you're disappointed that you're one of the unlucky ones, but it is completely irrational to constantly harp on it and demand that GM should "recall" all of the extremely large number of trucks with these engines to replace parts that in a majority of those vehicles don't need replacing and probably never will.

You know what the problem is, what the fix is, and that your GM warranty will stand behind it, so get over it! Take the truck to the dealer, have it fixed, and if you continue to experience problems keep taking it back until the problem is either fixed, or your truck has been bought back so you can buy a new one that doesn't have the same problems. No need to buy used or jump to another manufacturer, either, as you'll likely have problems with those as well even though it won't be with the same part(s).

I don't have a GMT900. Perhaps you intended to reply to the OP?

C. Charles Hahn · March 3, 2010

But we need GM to provide a fix quickly before the warranty expire and I end up paying for it

Have you reported the problem you're having to your dealer? Do they have it documented and recorded in their files? If so, then you have a case to make GM cover any repairs or engine replacement even after the warranty period technically expires. Persistence is the key, here.

RTMX_DAD · April 28, 2010

OK brand new here, So my 2010 silverado 5.3l crew cab is destined for a life in the service dept? It has been in 2x for the exhaust cloud they just replaced the valve cover and intake gasket on one side. The cloud is significantly smaller but it is still there. It's pretty embarrasing if nothing else to have people look at your new truck like its an old jallopy. And I just clicked 6,000 miles. Had a rattle in the dash that they said was a kinked heater hose still have the rattle.

Z'06 · April 28, 2010

OK brand new here, So my 2010 silverado 5.3l crew cab is destined for a life in the service dept? It has been in 2x for the exhaust cloud they just replaced the valve cover and intake gasket on one side. The cloud is significantly smaller but it is still there. It's pretty embarrasing if nothing else to have people look at your new truck like its an old jallopy. And I just clicked 6,000 miles. Had a rattle in the dash that they said was a kinked heater hose still have the rattle.

First thing to do would be to have your AFM turned off and see how quickly the smoke goes away. It's worked for others on this forum. If it doesn't work, take it back in with your stock ECM (which you might want to retain for backup as your mileage is so low).

C. Charles Hahn · April 28, 2010

OK brand new here, So my 2010 silverado 5.3l crew cab is destined for a life in the service dept? It has been in 2x for the exhaust cloud they just replaced the valve cover and intake gasket on one side. The cloud is significantly smaller but it is still there. It's pretty embarrasing if nothing else to have people look at your new truck like its an old jallopy. And I just clicked 6,000 miles. Had a rattle in the dash that they said was a kinked heater hose still have the rattle.

Your truck has a problem, and has been in twice for the dealer to try correcting it. If it goes back in again, it's time to inquire about the lemon law and getting your truck bought back by GM. Then just buy another one of the same that won't have these problems and be done with it.

No sense in crying about it or making "doom and gloom" statements like that; you had the misfortune of buying a truck that has issues and/or may be a lemon. It happens. Deal with it and move on.

headnorth · May 18, 2010

2008 Sierra Crew Cab 5.3l Burns Oil, Oil consumption..............see my post topic to the left for my oil burn issue....not experiencing smoke though

My smoking 2009 Silverado 5.3 that used 2 QT's of oil from 2,500 to 4,500 miles is in at my dealer getting a complete set of new AFM Lifters installed. So another case of over-active AFM lifters documented in case any of your trucks smoke excessively at startup, or consume too much oil. My Dealer's Tech tell's me that GM say's to replace the lifters. Oil collecting in the intake is an indicator. No they wouldn't replace all of the lifters with Non-AFM lifters and turn off the AFM in the computer - Believe me I asked. The 6.2 is the only way to go if I could do it over!!!

Ron