About to Purchase a 2021 5.3L RST - advise regarding lifter issue and if I should request service

Oscar Cabrera · April 11, 2022

Hi All, new to the forum here and excited about purchasing my first truck!

I have put a deposit down on a 2021 RST with 5.3L Vortec with DFM (I verified this on the sticker that it has DFM). I also checked the build code on the door jam and it says Feb 2021. The car has about 11k miles and from the carfax report it has 3 service records inlcuding oil changes. Car was first bought in michigan and it made it to my local MA dealer via auction. It is CPO and I feel pretty good about that but now to the lifter spring question. There is a service note on that model and the manufacture date fits inside the service manufacture date to replace potentially faulty lifter springs.

Question is, do I raise this to the dealer before delivery and ask that it be done or just drive the car off and be ok with the fact that I have an extended CPO warranty for 100k miles and 6 years (I am unlikely to reach both as owner). I am not sure how I feel about techs fidling with thiese parts of the engine for an essentially brand new truck but also concerned to just be left stranded one day (something which could happen with any car) but this is a specific known issue. Any advise is appreciated.

Edited April 11, 2022 by Oscar Cabrera

Wiggums · April 11, 2022

I have the same thing.. 2019 with 5.3 DFM and it's never been a problem although it has only 9,000 miles on it.

My biggest issue is the extremely jittery rear suspension that can cause the whole vehicle to fishtail without me pushing the brakes or gas although it's a rare occurrence, it's only happened three times since I bought it.

diyer2 · April 11, 2022

I think they would not replace the lifters until there is a problem. I wouldn't have a problem buying it but I would do more frequent oil and filter changes than the computers OLM. Cheap insurance IMO.

It's Tim · April 11, 2022

39 minutes ago, Wiggums said:

My biggest issue is the extremely jittery rear suspension that can cause the whole vehicle to fishtail without me pushing the brakes or gas although it's a rare occurrence, it's only happened three times since I bought it.

Most usually learn to slow down after the first time.

Anon12345 · April 11, 2022

25 minutes ago, It's Tim said:

Most usually learn to slow down after the first time.

LOL

2016 Sierra Owner · April 11, 2022

I doubt they will do any work like that till the issue is there and they can diagnose it as having an issue. They would not get reimbursed from GM by just replacing something that might be a future problem. The dealership would have to "eat" the cost on such a repair.

Oscar Cabrera · April 11, 2022

but GM has issued a service bulletin on on these engines. They would not have to eat anything.

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2021/12/gm-releases-valve-lifter-service-update-for-v8-engines/

newdude · April 11, 2022

3 hours ago, Oscar Cabrera said:

Hi All, new to the forum here and excited about purchasing my first truck!

I have put a deposit down on a 2021 RST with 5.3L Vortec with DFM (I verified this on the sticker that it has DFM). I also checked the build code on the door jam and it says Feb 2021. The car has about 11k miles and from the carfax report it has 3 service records inlcuding oil changes. Car was first bought in michigan and it made it to my local MA dealer via auction. It is CPO and I feel pretty good about that but now to the lifter spring question. There is a service note on that model and the manufacture date fits inside the service manufacture date to replace potentially faulty lifter springs.

Question is, do I raise this to the dealer before delivery and ask that it be done or just drive the car off and be ok with the fact that I have an extended CPO warranty for 100k miles and 6 years (I am unlikely to reach both as owner). I am not sure how I feel about techs fidling with thiese parts of the engine for an essentially brand new truck but also concerned to just be left stranded one day (something which could happen with any car) but this is a specific known issue. Any advise is appreciated.

15 minutes ago, Oscar Cabrera said:

but GM has issued a service bulletin on on these engines. They would not have to eat anything.

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2021/12/gm-releases-valve-lifter-service-update-for-v8-engines/

Get the CPO. GM won't tear into a perfectly working engine and replace parts for no reason, UNLESS there is a special service extended coverage to repair a potential issue.

That document you linked. That is for a GM Field Service Update. Its not a bulletin as bulletins are advisories to aid in diagnostics of a vehicle and may contain a specific warranty labor code. A field Service Update would involve actual work like reprogramming or installing a revised part.

Do you have a link to the truck you are looking at or do you have the VIN of this truck? The Field Service Update, "N212353840 Service Update - Valve Lifter Repair" is VIN SPECIFIC. Not ALL 2021 trucks have the coverage.

Oscar Cabrera · April 11, 2022

So the plot thickens....Due to an available carfax I called a service center where it shows it was serviced and asked them if they could share with me what work had been done on the truck....and YES, it was the lifter issue which I am referring to here. The guy at the service center (not a chevy dealer) was very open and honest as I explained I was in the process of buying the car. He said it was lifter and pushrod issue and they had gone in and replaced both banks of lifters, seals, etc. etc. with the updated ones (they could not use the old ones even if they had them in stock). So essentially the failure has already happened in this truck and has been serviced. He said the main issue is the OCI and it should be done at 5k miles at most. He said the trucks are notorious for this also, but also said that if the car was under warranty it would be covered if anything happened again. Thoughts now???

Oscar Cabrera · April 11, 2022

5 minutes ago, Oscar Cabrera said:

So the plot thickens....Due to an available carfax I called a service center where it shows it was serviced and asked them if they could share with me what work had been done on the truck....and YES, it was the lifter issue which I am referring to here. The guy at the service center (not a chevy dealer) was very open and honest as I explained I was in the process of buying the car. He said it was lifter and pushrod issue and they had gone in and replaced both banks of lifters, seals, etc. etc. with the updated ones (they could not use the old ones even if they had them in stock). So essentially the failure has already happened in this truck and has been serviced. He said the main issue is the OCI and it should be done at 5k miles at most. He said the trucks are notorious for this also, but also said that if the car was under warranty it would be covered if anything happened again. Thoughts now???

Actually it was a chevy dealership - Al Serra in Michigan. Person I spoke to also said that they would be happy to share the repair history when I take ownership of the car.

Oscar Cabrera · April 11, 2022

23 minutes ago, newdude said:

Get the CPO. GM won't tear into a perfectly working engine and replace parts for no reason, UNLESS there is a special service extended coverage to repair a potential issue.

That document you linked. That is for a GM Field Service Update. Its not a bulletin as bulletins are advisories to aid in diagnostics of a vehicle and may contain a specific warranty labor code. A field Service Update would involve actual work like reprogramming or installing a revised part.

Do you have a link to the truck you are looking at or do you have the VIN of this truck? The Field Service Update, "N212353840 Service Update - Valve Lifter Repair" is VIN SPECIFIC. Not ALL 2021 trucks have the coverage.

Truck I am looking at had a manufacture date of 02/2021 in door jam sticker so it was affected by the bad parts. Also, the service center confirmed that the lifter service had been done on both banks back in mid Dec.

newdude · April 11, 2022

Just now, Oscar Cabrera said:

Truck I am looking at had a manufacture date of 02/2021 in door jam sticker so it was affected by the bad parts. Also, the service center confirmed that the lifter service had been done on both banks back in mid Dec.

So...do you have the VIN?