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

Oscar Cabrera · April 11, 2022

K, Ya smarties - 3GCUYEED4MG240446

Oscar Cabrera · April 11, 2022

I appreaciate the help I am just wondering how I should proceed, I am either very lucky, failure has happened already and dealt with in the proper manner, AND the car is CPO. or is this just the universe telling me, "car is a bust bro" move on.

Wiggums · April 11, 2022

3 hours ago, It's Tim said:

Most usually learn to slow down after the first time.

That is hilarious.. but the problem was it was a 35-mph road and I was doing 30 mph because of the dried dirt caked on the road. I've driven over it many times in different 4x4's... and if you have been here for a while, you'd also know I'm not the only one with the fishtailing issue. It seems to be unique to twin-tube shocks found in RST Z71's.

newdude · April 11, 2022

12 minutes ago, Oscar Cabrera said:

I appreaciate the help I am just wondering how I should proceed, I am either very lucky, failure has happened already and dealt with in the proper manner, AND the car is CPO. or is this just the universe telling me, "car is a bust bro" move on.

So. The good news is the dealer followed PIP5776F and replaced all 8 lifters on the failed bank, not just the failed cylinder on the left side (driver's side). It happened at 8,814mi so only the left bank was replaced in accordance of PIP5776F.

This truck does NOT have "N212353840 Service Update - Valve Lifter Repair" applicable to it, so it would not have been/be applicable for replacing ALL of them on GM's dime per N212353840. If it had under 8,000mi during the failure it had, PIP5776F does direct replacing all lifters, but the failure happened over 8,000mi. If one was to fail again, it would be under powertrain warranty or an extended warranty, if you had one.

If the truck is nice and what you'd want otherwise, I'd grab it and get a nice extended warranty for it. If you are concerned for future failure, grab a Range Pulsar LT and disable DFM.

Oscar Cabrera · April 11, 2022

thanks for digging newdude. The car has the features I want. it is an RST all-star plus with the safety 1 package and is essentially new, also comes with the bed cover and side steps so I am inclined to go with it. The car is being sold at a dealership near me as a certified pre-owned so it comes with an extended powertrain warranty 6yrs/100k miles already. That would cover engine work i would think....

What would you guys do - certainly not a cheap car looking at 50k.

dieselfan1 · April 11, 2022

Keep looking or Buy a new truck.

I would never drop 50k on something that has been torn into.

jlong1984 · April 11, 2022

8 hours ago, Wiggums said:

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.

The problematic trucks are 2020 and 2021 model years. Seems a bad batch of parts. My '19 L84 had zero issues in 45,000 miles.

2016 Sierra Owner · April 12, 2022

On 4/11/2022 at 1:57 PM, 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/

Correct IF you take the truck in with the issue and it is diagnosed as a lifter spring. However if you show up and say I might have a bad lifter and I want them changed. Either you or the dealer will eat that cost because nothing is broken. Plus if you read the link you sent the service is supposed to have been completed before the truck was sold new to the original customer. With 11K miles on it it's probably considered used now so you are covered under the power train warranty.

Oscar Cabrera · April 12, 2022

Yes I read it, I guess i figured that since it would be sold again it would be prior to sale. I get they are not gonna dig in there. I think at very least I can ask them to source me the service records of the repair, at least I can see what exactly was done. I like the truck a lot and kinda was sold before I stumbled onto this topic with the '21s --

bwoodsmn · April 13, 2022

3 hours ago, Oscar Cabrera said:

I like the truck a lot and kinda was sold before I stumbled onto this topic with the '21s --

If you like the truck, buy it already and extend the power train warranty and enjoy it for years, If you're really worried about it now, don't buy it - you'll always have one ear listening for the tick tick tick....

I'd buy it - the forum exaggerates every problem these trucks have to where you would think they all break - and they don't. Many of us have trucks that work just great, we just don't find as much to ****** about.

Oscar Cabrera · April 13, 2022

thx bwoodsmn. I think i am just gonna run with it, will raise to my dealer so they know I am aware and that if something does go wrong I expect them to treat me with white gloves and if go to bat for me if sh&t realy hits the fan. The car is CPO and has a 100k mile powertrain warranty so it is covered. The unknown is hoping something don't happen while on VK or some long haul, that is the unknown. At least I know that all of the left bank parts were already replaced.

Oscar Cabrera · April 13, 2022

one more Q from me on this. once the repairs have been done (with the updated parts) are people still seeing these failures? anyone know?

diyer2 · April 13, 2022

I understand you're trying to cover your butt on this purchase but it's a roll of the dice same as buying a new one.

Like I said before do more frequent oil and filter changes. I wouldn't go over 5 K miles using off the shelf or dealer oil.

JimCost2014 · April 13, 2022

19 minutes ago, Oscar Cabrera said:

will raise to my dealer so they know I am aware and that if something does go wrong, I expect them to treat me with white gloves and if go to bat for me if sh&t really hits the fan.

Not trying to be mean, but how many new cars have you bought in the past? The service department manager and their staff are your biggest allies in getting things fixed correctly and in a timely manner. Demanding things for a possible future repair does not sound to me like the best plan of attack.

It's Tim · April 13, 2022

6 minutes ago, JimCost2014 said:

Not trying to be mean, but how many new cars have you bought in the past? The service department manager and their staff are your biggest allies in getting things fixed correctly and in a timely manner. Demanding things for a possible future repair does not sound to me like the best plan of attack.

In this market if that vehicle hasn't sold within hours there a more red flags....