2021 GMC Sierra lifter failure

patstick · July 19, 2022

I have a 2021 GMC sierra with a 5.3 L that had a lifter failure at 9K the dealer replaced both banks of lifters on both sides. My question is has anyone else had a similar repair and if so has it been successful I was hoping to get good long use out of this truck but I’m questioning whether I should just get rid of it and move on to something else thanks in advance

diyer2 · July 19, 2022

You're not alone having lifter failure. Look around this site.

Stop the motor from going into V4 mode, there are several ways to prevent it.

Shorter oil changes and consider better oil like Amsoil.

The lifters are a poor design, some fail, some don't.

John813 · July 19, 2022

At end of day if you aren't happy with the truck, or have that lingering thought of durability, then evaluate the cost to move on and see if it's worth it.

Rams still have AFM and their lifters have durability issues but seem to fail later on compared to your mileage. TBD on their new 3.0L TT 6. I would avoid first year anything FCA engines.

I've had 3 ecoboost vehicles and all 3 had issues, one was a defective head, cam phaser failure etc... My brothers Gen 2 Raptor had his cam phaser fail as well and there's been plently saying they failed a 2nd time.

To be determined on if your new lifters it may last another 100k+ or 9k before they go out again. I've read some on forums/facebook groups that had no issues post one failure/some that never had failure going on 100k+ miles.

It's a bad design imo.

My plan of action is to delete the DFM completely with new parts and a tune once the powertrain expires. I knew going into this truck the lifters were a potential weak point.

patstick · July 19, 2022

Yes I have seen the other posts on this farm I guess nobody has put enough mileage on the fix yet just very disheartening they have a brand new truck and have this issue and I know I’m not alone still very upsetting thank you for your response

RetCPO · August 16, 2022

2020 AT4 5.3 I run in L9, dfm won't kick in. Lose 10th gear but I'm not worried about mpg difference.

patstick · August 16, 2022

How do you run in L9

RetCPO · August 16, 2022

2 minutes ago, patstick said:

How do you run in L9

Shift to L and then toggle the + button on the gear shift, it will display L2 , L3 and so on. Stop when L9 is displayed on the dash. Transmission will then shift normally up to 9th gear. dfm will not activate.

patstick · August 16, 2022

Thanks!

mwlewis558 · August 16, 2022

On 7/19/2022 at 9:17 AM, John813 said:

My plan of action is to delete the DFM completely with new parts and a tune once the powertrain expires. I knew going into this truck the lifters were a potential weak point.

How will you delete the DFM? I've been looking for a way to do this and haven't seen anything. I assume it would be an engine rebuild and that doesn't scare me because I am willing to pay it if I know my truck will not have any DFM related issues down the road. My goal is to drive this truck to minimum 250k.

Jac365 · August 16, 2022

9 hours ago, mwlewis558 said:

How will you delete the DFM? I've been looking for a way to do this and haven't seen anything. I assume it would be an engine rebuild and that doesn't scare me because I am willing to pay it if I know my truck will not have any DFM related issues down the road. My goal is to drive this truck to minimum 250k.

Range inc. offers two methods for disabling DFM. One is the Range box. (plugs in to OBD port). I have this my truck. Bought it to disable AFM on my 2012 Sierra 5.3. When I got the 2019 AT4 I sent the box to Range and they updated it for DFM and sent it back, free of charge. Works well, even disables the auto stop crap 90% of the time, even though it's not designed for that purpose. The other is a Range Pulsar. More costly but more features. The pulsar piggy backs the electronics and allows the user to disable DFM and auto stop, recalibrate top speed, recalibrate for tire size, recalibrate tire pressure max and mins and recalibrate throttle sensitivity. If the Pulsar is removed everything goes back to factory settings.

(NOTE: I am not affiliated with Range INC an any shape or form, just a customer.

Snakes709 · August 19, 2022

Smh. Using range, pulsar or putting it in l9 doesnt stop the issue. It will disable the truck from using dfm but the shitty parts are still being used in the motor. Only true way of deleting it is a new camshaft, new lifters and physically swap out all the parts that are used and get a legit custom tune.

RetCPO · August 21, 2022

If it ain't broke I'm not gonna fix it.

Byrds8 · August 24, 2022

On 8/19/2022 at 9:47 AM, Snakes709 said:

Smh. Using range, pulsar or putting it in l9 doesnt stop the issue. It will disable the truck from using dfm but the shitty parts are still being used in the motor. Only true way of deleting it is a new camshaft, new lifters and physically swap out all the parts that are used and get a legit custom tune.

While you are correct, changing out those parts will 100% solve the issue, you are incorrect in the fact that disabling DFM does not also solve the issue. From what I have read on here and other places, disabling DFM/AFM does in fact keep lifters from failing in the way they fail with it active.

Edited August 24, 2022 by Byrds8

Snakes709 · August 24, 2022

3 hours ago, Byrds8 said:

While you are correct, changing out those parts will 100% solve the issue, you are incorrect in the fact that disabling DFM does not also solve the issue. From what I have read on here and other places, disabling DFM/AFM does in fact keep lifters from failing in the way they fail with it active.

I have seen no proof of that at all. I see just as many lifter failures on trucks where owners disable dfm as owners that dont. Even the service advisor that i dealt with that was extremely knowledgeable on this topic said he has had just as may owners come in that disable it. You cant “tune” out a hardware issue.

Byrds8 · August 25, 2022

16 hours ago, Snakes709 said:

I have seen no proof of that at all. I see just as many lifter failures on trucks where owners disable dfm as owners that dont. Even the service advisor that i dealt with that was extremely knowledgeable on this topic said he has had just as may owners come in that disable it. You cant “tune” out a hardware issue.

Well, just like most things, you take any service advisors word with a grain of salt. Every service advisor I have spoken with about it will flat out say if you disable AFM/DFM the lifters wont fail. Its due to the activation of it that is causing the issues. I am not here to argue, I am just pointing out what I have learned much as yourself. There are articles discussing this subject though.