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TedH

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  • Name
    TedH
  • Location
    Tampa Bay
  • Gender
    Male
  • Interests
    MCI MC7 Bus conversion, Vette, Motorcycles, (my) Woman
  • Drives
    2014 Silverado High Country - Deep Ruby Red

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  1. The kit is about $600 and I have yet to find a shop that offers the removal service. I'm assuming it will be $2,500 to remove all signs of the DOD plus parts since you practically have to remove the top end and entire cooling system. My question: When do I need to become concerned? Wait 1-2 more years? It runs fine and no apparent issues. I'm missing my 2003 LS Silverado with 4.8L and 4L60E. (trade-in in 2016). I want to keep my 2014. But, I want to also be prepared for the potential expense to remove the damn DOD/AFM. Just want to be realistic. At this point in my life, I prefer to drive the wheels off my truck than finance and pay off in 5 years. I need to get ready for my retirement years (over 55).
  2. By accident, I did a search on my Diablo i3 tuner and found it has a 'Flex fuel' tune in addition to the 87, 91 and 93 octane gas tunes. So, I filled with Ethanol twice (currently, about 65% ethanol per my Diablo sampler) and tuned it for Flex. I added a slightly firmer shift (trans is too sloppy and I'm always pressing harder to push it along and now happier since the new tune... I still press the go pedal but for better reasons) and ensured the DOD/AFM is OFF. Overall, no noticeable change other than the better shifting. But, it is early and I hope to enjoy it regardless. NOTE: I'm not concerned with mileage as I am WFH since March 2020 due to the 'lockdown' and my once-weekly 1-hour drive each way (beer and wings with my buds) is my one long trip I get to enjoy listening to the flowmaster Force II exhaust note. I am tuning now for enjoyment. Also, I am looking seriously at potential for delete of DOD/AFM due to my 70K mileage... a separate thread/topic.
  3. Comp Cams offers this kit: ahttps://liftkits4less.com/catalog/product/view/id/537020/s/premium-dod-delete-kit-for-gm-gen-v-l83/?gclid=CjwKCAjwzaSLBhBJEiwAJSRokglwDspeh2iaswIP_KwSA6FCmFoBblgpnDXIPZg1VfMRWHI8OS1VzRoCI_wQAvD_BwE ms I am seeing a lot of 'press' about the 2014 L83 5.3L having serious wear from the DOD/AFM system. Mostly, it is around the lifter wear on those cylinders that are subject to AFM. In 2016, I purchased my 2014 Silverado with 5.3L with about 20K miles. I QUICKLY disabled AFM shortly after adding an exhaust and HATING the exhaust sound. Today, after COVID and isolation, I am approaching 70K miles. started with Range AFM disable but it drained my battery. I then found the Diablo i3 tuner that allowed me to disable full-time with no battery drain. I recently started running E85 to benefit from the higher HP/TQ and decided to read up on DOD/AFM. That is when I was hit with all the press about the permanent delete kits. What is your experience? Since I have disabled (using software) for much of the last 50K miles, is it a non-issue. Do I need to sell/adapt by 100K miles? What are the telltales that it is 'about time'? I have some clicking but I assumed that was the injectors as I have had it since purchase (only audible when window is down and I am driving through my favorite fast food window for my fries/burger fix.
  4. Good info. Thanks for sharing. Will give it serious consideration.
  5. I bought the Diablo tuner several years ago and disabled the DOD and applied the 87-octane tune. From the Diablo site, the 87-octane tune gives a decent power and torque boost: 1999-2015 Silverado / Sierra 5.3L V8 Performance/Diablo Tune: +20 HP, +25 TQ 87 Octane Tune: +13 HP, +18 TQ Mileage Booster Tune: 2 MPG Should I save my fuel $$$ and forego applying the Performance/Diablo Tune? It appears to offer 7hp/7tq boost over the 87-octane tune. Other 'performance' mods I have are the K&N air filter and stainless Flowmaster Force II dual exhaust (cat-back).
  6. My Flowmaster system is 409 stainless. Not as rust resistant as 304 but more resistant than aluminized steel.
  7. Order of my upgrades): K&N filter swap (day 1) Flowmaster Force II stainless cat-back dual exhaust with Super 50 muffler (no flapper) Range AFM Disabler - Removed (trouble codes, no start, battery drain and having to remember to remove it) SCT X4 tuner - discovered it didn't have AFM disable without more $$$ for a custom tune. No 5.3L tune. Windows install issues. Returned for refund Diablosport Intune i3 tuner disabled the V4 mode. NOTE: I have the original single exhaust and a fresh Borla muffler in the garage attic if I decide to chuck it all and return close to stock.
  8. I returned the SCT unit for a full refund of the $399. I forgot to mention one other issue with the SCT X3: It would not install fully on my Windows 10 machine. I had to use my old Windows XP machine. That and the tune shortcomings really soured me on SCT products. I ordered the DiabloSport Intune i3. It arrived Friday. Today, I installed the software on my (Windows 10) notebook computer and made sure the device had its latest updates. Then, I got acquainted with the unit while it was plugged into the OBD 2 port of the Silverado. Once I figured out the navigation and got around the 'clunkiness' of the handheld unit (the touch screen is not as responsive as my iPhone), I found the option to toggle AFM/DOD On/Off. Selected Off, confirmed it and it updated the ECM and TCM programming on the Silverado. Took the truck for a spin and it now stays in V8 mode full-time. The $200 Range AFM OBD2 module is now an artifact in the center drawer of my desk. The DiabloSport Intune i3 is well worth the $379 price (free shipping). And, I have yet to lay down the 87-octane performance tune from the Diablo. Wish I had trusted and researched the Diablo and other tuner products back in 2016 when I was an AFM novice. It will be nice to no longer have to deal with the AFM throwing trouble codes, draining the battery and essentially being a nuisance (having to remember to remove it from the port). Full-time V8 mode!!! I found the promised land! YAY!!!
  9. I returned the SCT X4 tuner for a full refund. The one I had received was not for my application (2014 Silverado 5.3L). Have ordered a Diablsport intune I3 (50-state). I plan to disable AFM and then toy with the 87-octane tune and shift point firmness available out of the box. Not planning to buy a tune map. Hoping to permanently retire the Range AFM unit.
  10. A/C stopped blowing cold two months ago. I finally took it to the dealer as it had an outstanding recall update (power steering control loss) and it was due for an oil/filter (I can do it, but 2 birds/1 stone). $1,200 later, I have a new GM warranted A/C condenser (and a fresh oil/filter). 24 month/unlimited miles warranty. I am reading now the 2014-2017's have weak A/C compressors, condensers and lines (many failures from 2015-2017). Surprised.
  11. Tell me more about this Superchips tuner. Is there a model or part number specific to the 2014 Silverado 5.3L?
  12. After getting the two quotes from the tuner ($165 and $325) and offer from the seller of $70 for a device with the AFM-disable ($470 total), I am just returning the SCT X4 and performing more/better research on solutions. For now, I will just run the Range AFM when I get sick of driving around in M5 until I find the best, reasonable solution.
  13. When I bought my 2014 High Country in 2016, the first two 'upgrades' were a K&N air filter and a Flowmaster Force II Dual cat-back exhaust. K&N because everything I drive has K&N. Flowmaster because I wanted the sound of dual exhaust. I had no idea that I would then have to address the AFM drone with the Flowmaster system. It was silent on the stock exhaust since it had the 'valve' after the muffler. But the truck was too QUIET for my taste. From there, I started my quest to address the AFM drone. I realized that the only way to eliminate the drone with the Flowmaster system was to keep the engine in V8 mode. First, I tried selecting M5 whenever I put the truck in gear. That got tiresome... I wanted to use 6th gear! Then I happened upon the Range AFM disabler. $200 later and I figured I had the answer.... for all of 1 week. Then, the trouble codes, no-starts and battery drain became issues. I had to remove the Range every so often. Then, sometimes, it would go a whole week before it had an issue. Usually, the truck just wouldn't start. Or, it wouldn't start and it would flash a message about the brake system having an issue, or the trailer brake having an issue. So, I removed it, drove in M5, drove in D and tolerated the drone or put the Range back in. Never happy. Last week, I ordered the SCT X4 tuner thinking it could drop a 'tune' into my computer to remove the AFM. It can... with a catch. You have to buy a separate tune!!! So, I spend $400 for the device to find out that, for another $165 (or $325 if I want all of the other good tweaks), I can get a tune that turns AFM mode OFF. So, I currently have a new $400 paper weight. I failed to mention that somewhere along the way, I spent $250 on that GM Performance Borla muffler. I have my (cut) OEM exhaust on a shelf in the garage with the flapper valve. That GM Borla muffler is looking better every day... for $250 installed!!! I miss my 2003 Silverado that never had AFM. It had the K&N and a nice single outlet Borla exhaust. But, it was showing its age with transmission issues and an obsolete and aging sound system.
  14. I need to use youtube more. I found a link for the 2014 Silverado on first try I have also bookmarked the link for the Blue Ox components. Looks like an expensive proposition. For now, I will continue to just tow my motorcycle on my 8x5' exposed trailer (wired for 12v). Thanks for sharing this info!
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