GM Facing Class Action Lawsuit Over Lifters

[Grumpy Bear]

I've never understood waiting for the warranty to run out to do the things that keep it alive and allowing it to suffer until GM is out of the picture. 

 

I've used this before and seems a good time to tell it again. 

 

GM says, "We will only honor your warranty if you park you truck outside".

 

You live an an area where hail the size of tennis balls happens twice a week and you have a garage....yet.....you park outside until the warranty is over?  

 

 

Yea, really is the same thing.

[rav3]

28 minutes ago, M1ck3y said:

Anyone know if the rod bearings are coated in the l86. I know the lt1 is..

Look here and see if you can find that info........

GM 6.2 Liter V8 Small Block LT1 Engine

[bdsilverado]

If I have a 2020 6.2 with 22k problem free miles is this something I need to lose sleep over as I approach the end of my warranty?  Or is this a problem that would happen in the first say 5000 miles or so?  

[Truckboattruck]

Can happen at any time, though most of the ones I have heard about in the last year or so are 30-60k and 100k+ miles. That's only K2 and completely anecdotal, though. Not hard numbers at all. The T1s are all still young so a majority of what you really hear about is low mileage vehicles that experience the issue.

To say it's common is probably an overstatement, which is why I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Folks always cry about ****** breaking and you never hear about the problem free vehicles, but it's more common than it should be for sure due to either design or manufacturing defects in the components. Personally I knew coming into it that full aluminum radiator, AFM delete, aftermarket thermo valve, and billet torque converter were going to be necessary for my reliability peace of mind without a warranty at 100k+ miles. Others might feel differently and with good justification after long term ownership experiencing no problems.

I also end up in a lot of places where there's no tow that will just skip over to get me and take me to a trusted mechanic. For me to compare preemptive maintenance cost versus the same costs but with a 500-800$ in tow fees tacked on is pretty simple. I feel it makes more sense for me to get more reliability for my money when to hazard failure would result in a proportionally significant expense where I effectively get nothing.

Edited December 23, 2021 by Truckboattruck

[shakenfake]

3 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

I've never understood waiting for the warranty to run out to do the things that keep it alive and allowing it to suffer until GM is out of the picture. 

 

I've used this before and seems a good time to tell it again. 

 

GM says, "We will only honor your warranty if you park you truck outside".

 

You live an an area where hail the size of tennis balls happens twice a week and you have a garage....yet.....you park outside until the warranty is over?  

 

 

Yea, really is the same thing.

If GM covers damages then yes same thing if not then not the same thing. Also still not the same thing cause you are going in for damages every week instead of most likely one time through the warranty period.

[Black02Silverado]

Just my take on this is that a recall isn't going to happen because the supply chain can't handle it.  For now easier to take what comes in as needed.  Not a good thing but like the Takata airbag thing.  They didn't have the parts to accomplish all the vehicles needed to fix them.  Just thinking out loud.

[KARNUT]

The easiest thing to do is admit there’s a problem. Extend the warranty and give mitigating fixes. If changing the oil more often works pay for it. Even offer to turn off the cylinder deactivation. If that works. Discount the purchase price of a new GM vehicle.  Otherwise GM may be overwhelmed. Example I got a notice on my 17 Camry about paint pealing. If it happens before a certain time it’s covered. It’s covered pealing not chipping. My granddaughter drives it now, no pealing. Some will last past the life of the vehicle normal life span. Probably a normal loan period or 15K miles a year.

[16LT4]

12 hours ago, truckguy82 said:

Uh i dont think anybody gave you any “don’t do it” responses.

Uh... false.  Hence my comment about time and knowledge both increasing.  Specifically, at the time, not a single person replied mentioning they'd been using 5w-30 in their 5.3, with the responses ranging from "nope, only use the approved oil" to "the 5w-30 is for the V6 not the V8."  I guess you should have responded 3-5 years ago. 

 

I never looked to compare the hard parts of the various engines, or the recommended oils for the different engines, simply because I don't have any interest in the V6, the 6.2, or the Camaro/Corvette and never thought to, nor did I think they'd have different oil specs.

Edited December 23, 2021 by 16LT4

[diyer2]

I can confirm from a trusted source that the replacement lifters being used have a different part number than the ones being removed. Are they redesigned? They look the same on the outside. 

[Grumpy Bear]

12 hours ago, bdsilverado said:

If I have a 2020 6.2 with 22k problem free miles is this something I need to lose sleep over as I approach the end of my warranty?  Or is this a problem that would happen in the first say 5000 miles or so?  

 

There is more than one reason for lifter failure. The ones failing very soon after being placed in service have true design issues of one type or another and would fail regardless of how it was serviced or driven. It may be the lifter proper or it may by a companion fit such as a lifter bore to tight. 

 

There are lifters that fail due to abuse and that has been the case since men invented the first machines. These can happen any time.

 

There are lifters that fail due to a lack of good maintenance. Changing the oil often enough. Changing the filter. Changing the VLOM screens now and again. Needs to be surgically clean always. This takes time. 

 

There are lifters that fail due to improper oil or filter choices. This may take time or it may happen quite early. 

 

Then there is reporting which has nothing to do with failure but everything to do with perceptions surrounding the failures. For example a guy has a failure twice back to back. Was it the same lifter position? Was it an AMF lifter or non-AFM lifter? Was the oil plug left out   Context and reporting the matter weighs on the mind and misleads the reader AND misses an opportunity to solve the issue. For example same position different lifter batch may mean there is an issue with the bore in the block or an issue with oil feed to that position missed first go around. Something other?

 

Worry about what you have 'influence' over. Worry about what can be managed. If it is truly is a defect you have a warranty and an opportunity to report correctly and with enough detail to guide someone else. 

 

 

[BlaineBug]

54 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

 

There is more than one reason for lifter failure. The ones failing very soon after being placed in service have true design issues of one type or another and would fail regardless of how it was serviced or driven. It may be the lifter proper or it may by a companion fit such as a lifter bore to tight. 

 

There are lifters that fail due to abuse and that has been the case since men invented the first machines. These can happen any time.

 

There are lifters that fail due to a lack of good maintenance. Changing the oil often enough. Changing the filter. Changing the VLOM screens now and again. Needs to be surgically clean always. This takes time. 

 

There are lifters that fail due to improper oil or filter choices. This may take time or it may happen quite early. 

 

Then there is reporting which has nothing to do with failure but everything to do with perceptions surrounding the failures. For example a guy has a failure twice back to back. Was it the same lifter position? Was it an AMF lifter or non-AFM lifter? Was the oil plug left out   Context and reporting the matter weighs on the mind and misleads the reader AND misses an opportunity to solve the issue. For example same position different lifter batch may mean there is an issue with the bore in the block or an issue with oil feed to that position missed first go around. Something other?

 

Worry about what you have 'influence' over. Worry about what can be managed. If it is truly is a defect you have a warranty and an opportunity to report correctly and with enough detail to guide someone else. 

 

 

Is VLOM screen cleaning basic maintenance?

[M1ck3y]

15 hours ago, rav3 said:

Look here and see if you can find that info........

GM 6.2 Liter V8 Small Block LT1 Engine

 

Thanks, but I still can't find anything specifically stating the l86 has coated bearings... 

Edited December 23, 2021 by M1ck3y

[M1ck3y]

1 hour ago, BlaineBug said:

Is VLOM screen cleaning basic maintenance?

 

It should be. Which is part of lawsuit I believe.

[rav3]

For those unfamiliar with what the issue is, here's a GM video link explaining the issue. I don't endorse this video, as I don't know what others know or have experienced.

However, it's my educated guess, that by disabling the AFM, which disables the "locking tabs", should reduce the chances of a failure due to the locking tabs jamming in the lifter. By disabling the AFM system, say via something like a Range AFM disabler, you have eliminated future possible lifter failures. This is just my opinion.

 

Active Fuel Management | ACDelco AFM Lifters

[rav3]

58 minutes ago, M1ck3y said:

 

Thanks, but I still can't find anything specifically stating the l86 has coated bearings... 

Can you explain what & how this "coating" would do or not do, relative to the issue of the original post. I just need to be educated on it.