AFM-Mods

Jbergner06 · March 2, 2017

Hello,

I had a couple of questions.
First

When i go to autozone.com and enter my vehicle there is two options for the 5.3 (7) or (0) What are the differences between the two? I have the (7) in my vin but I'm still not really sure what the differences are between the two engine codes. If there actually is a difference in performance or internal parts?

Next,

What are everyone's thoughts on disabling AFM my thought is its robbing me of some horse power and throttle response.
I know i can get a tune to disable it but i wasn't sure about the pros and cons of that. I have heard after a while the engine will start eating oil because of AFM. I only have 84000 but still.

I was also looking at getting a CAI between K&N and Volant I was leaning more towards Volant because of the closed intake box not sure if it has that much of difference but, i live in az and its dusty and when it gets muddy i don't want engine to be sucking up that water with the intake. I know the intake is not going to give me substantial amount of Hp or torque. The engine seems to breath better i have a friend with same truck and has K&N and it sounds really healthy and throaty. Pros cons on each? I have flowmaster super44 and love it I think that if i had an intake it would just sound even better.
With that i was wondering for as cheap as it is with throttle body spacer if any one has really noticed a difference.

Lastly seems like Diablotune is the way to go any other tuners that maybe a little cheaper that does all the same stuff?

Thank you in advance

Jordan

Daryl LBZ · March 2, 2017

The power robbing/throttle response issues are caused by torque management not AFM. If it were me I would have it turned off, but you may never have an issue with it causing oil consumption. It's usually either hit or miss as far as issues with it go. For tuning I would get a custom tune.

MaverickZ71 · March 2, 2017

The two engines listed are probably an iron block/aluminum heads vs an all-aluminum block/heads, or Flex Fuel (E85 ethanol) vs non-Flex. If memory serves, the crew cabs all get the aluminum blocks. By 2013, all Silverado 1500 V8's had Active Fuel Management (AFM).

The GMT900 AFM system is notorious for using oil. But if you have 84K miles and don't have this problem, you must have one of the few good ones, or your oil doesn't get checked in-between oil changes to notice how much it is drinking. Not sure what you mean by AFM robbing your throttle response and horsepower--it is either in V4 mode or V8 mode, and in V8 mode, it is what it is--that's all the power and throttle response you're going to get, with the stock tune. The 'torque management' system installed in the PCM software is set by the General to make your powertrain last longer and reduce their warranty claims.

The AFM system uses a different oil pressure manifold, lifters, and a different camshaft, among other different parts. If you're looking for a hot-rod LS engine, you'd be better off buying a junkyard non-AFM engine and building it stout, or removing the AFM system from your current engine (there are kits like the one from Texas Speed shop available) and then modding it.

The group consensus on this forum is that a Blackbear tune is the only way to go--it is the only one that removes the torque management, and it can also turn off the AFM. Blackbear's website also shows where they have proven most of the CAI's to be useless--the stock air box with a staight tube and a non-restrictive filter flows all of the air that a normally aspirated 5.3 or 6.2 is capable of inhaling.

Jbergner06 · March 3, 2017

Ok,
I see well I'm definitely not looking to make it a hot rod. Here in Az we have hills where i live so it drops to 4 then has to get back into 8 and it lags giving me less power then has to drop 2 gears why i was wondering if it would be ok just to get rid of AFM it doesn't seem to save me any gas any ways. I don't have a lead foot but when I want power i have to mash it to floor then it kicks out of 4 puts it in 8 then goes. Just seems like the AFM is robbing Good info tho thank you!

Black Denali Canada · March 3, 2017

I'm not sure if you have this option on your truck but I just picked up a 2017 Denali 1500 with the 6.2 & 8spd.

If I put mine in L7 / M7 it will automatically switch through gears 1-7 as normal but will not drop down into v4 mode. This may give you an idea until you decide on a permanent fix

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Jbergner06 · March 3, 2017

I do have that option I have the 6 speed. Have you noticed a difference in gas mileage?

dirtfan21 · March 3, 2017

Ok,

I see well I'm definitely not looking to make it a hot rod. Here in Az we have hills where i live so it drops to 4 then has to get back into 8 and it lags giving me less power then has to drop 2 gears why i was wondering if it would be ok just to get rid of AFM it doesn't seem to save me any gas any ways. I don't have a lead foot but when I want power i have to mash it to floor then it kicks out of 4 puts it in 8 then goes. Just seems like the AFM is robbing Good info tho thank you!

A Range AFM disabler is what you want then.

diyer2 · March 3, 2017

Range AFM Disabler for sure.

Black Denali Canada · March 3, 2017

I do have that option I have the 6 speed. Have you noticed a difference in gas mileage?

I couldn't say for sure .. truck is only a week old lol but I will say that I have noticed a difference in pure awesomeness lol

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Jbergner06 · March 4, 2017

I couldn't say for sure .. truck is only a week old lol but I will say that I have noticed a difference in pure awesomeness lol

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Muahha yea i get that LOL.

Gurrzt · March 4, 2017

The power robbing/throttle response issues are caused by torque management not AFM. If it were me I would have it turned off, but you may never have an issue with it causing oil consumption. It's usually either hit or miss as far as issues with it go. For tuning I would get a custom tune.

I agree totally, you can have the TM disabled using a hand held.