Is this plan sufficient to stave off potential AFM failure

[TQUAP]

So just picked up a 2018 Escalade ESV and am absolutely loving it. Only issue is my plans for mitigating potential AFM failure are coming to naught. I was planning on either 1) mechanically deleting the AFM system or 2) getting a trusted extended warranty. Well the only quote I've been able to get for the delete was over $10k. And of the two warranty companies I identified as trustworthy the only quote I've gotten was $8,000 for four years of coverage. Neither of those are palatable. 

 

My buddy is a mechanic and was saying AFM lifters failure usually comes about around 120k miles. My truck has 74k and we miiiiiight put 8,000 on it per year. Plan was a 5-7 year hold.

 

From what research I've done it seems like the lifter failure usually comes down to oiling problems. This truck appears to have been very well maintained so far. So what I'm thinking is:

 

1) disable AFM via tune

2) absolutely religious OCI of 3,000 miles

3) BG EPR once per year and seafoam on non-BG oil changes 

4) use high detergent synthetic oil such as Mobil 1 Extended Performance and high quality filters

 

If I'm planning to own the truck up to 120k miles so you guys think I'd be pretty well protected from AFM failure with a regimen like that or should I continue shopping for extended warranties?

[davester]

It is unknown if disabling the afm lifters increases their lifespan or not.  They can and have failed either way (enabled or not).

 

You see a bunch of posts about afm online because the people with the trucks where it fails post about it.  The much larger group of people with trucks where afm works fine do not post online that their truck is working fine.

[newdude]

I'd do 1, 2 and 4.  3 can be avoided by sticking to 2 and 4.  Mobil 1 is okay, better options on the market for the same or slightly higher price.  

 

As for step 3, replace that with changing oil weight from 0w20 to 5w30 or 0w40.  

[Z45]

My neighbor has over 125,000 miles on 2015 Silverado and his lifters have not failed.   It comes down to poor quality control by outside supplier.  GM does not make them, they bid out to low bidder just about every part/lubricant that goes into every vehicle.  They are not building them to last forever, they sell new vehicles and that's their core business, that and financing them (both customer and dealers).  If they built them that good they would warranty them longer because they would be confident in the quality.   

[Black02Silverado]

Well, depends on how well it was maintained. No way of really telling. They could have done 3k oil changes but with what oil?  Quick lube bulk oil?  It's a gamble. To me depending on what you paid for it, replacing the lifters and cam would pretty much put you in good graces for it to last going forward. Would still be less than a brand new vehicle, which they all seem to be made with lesser quality now a days.

[Grumpy Bear]

On 7/17/2025 at 10:20 PM, TQUAP said:

So just picked up a 2018 Escalade

 

1) disable AFM via tune

2) absolutely religious OCI of 3,000 miles

3) BG EPR once per year and seafoam on non-BG oil changes 

4) use high detergent synthetic oil such as Mobil 1 Extended Performance and high quality filters

 

If I'm planning to own the truck up to 120k miles so you guys think I'd be pretty well protected from AFM failure with a regimen like that or should I continue shopping for extended warranties?

 

#2 is a must if #4 is your choice. If you stick to #2 & #4 then #3 is redundant. 

#1 is meh. IMO. It ain't that fragile. Getting good parts from the get is always a toss of the coin, but once you have 20K miles or so, it isn't metallurgy anymore. It's the lubrication regime. Enough viscosity, enough AW and clean and I mean clean. Not some varnish, NO varnish. My 2 cents. If they are going to break from being broke it happens early. If they break later they got deposit issues messing with oil flow and pressure. How many miles you have on this thing?

 

Warranty, dealers etc. like to keep a guy scared and broke. 

 

Talk to Nick. Poster right above me. Get a membership and use a oil with some solvency. AMSOIL SS is such an oil. 5W30 minimum.

Edited July 21, 2025 by Grumpy Bear

[KARNUT]

All but #3. I use a hand held tuner on all my trucks. The last one turned off cylinder deactivation. If it ain’t activating it’s less likely to wear out, right? 5K oil changes should do the trick. My brother in law has a 13 Tahoe with 170k. 5K oil changes. My Odyssey had 8-10k oil changes until 127K. Now at 161K it gets 5K oil changes. I’m convinced it’s more of a part problem than an oil problem. Unless you’re a mostly highway cruiser 5K oil changes are probably a good practice for longevity. Transmission fluid changes are a good idea too. No not a flush, drain and fill. 

[mikemcclain]

I have a '15 Suburban that is sitting at 240k miles.  I bought it with 62k.

 

1.  I used a Range AFM device

2.  Regular oil changes at 5k miles.

 

I've had 2 issues I had a shop do -- A/C system and transmission (at 220k).

Other issues I've done myself are thermostat, shocks, brakes.

 

I think it's luck of the draw.

[Grumpy Bear]

8 hours ago, mikemcclain said:

I have a '15 Suburban that is sitting at 240k miles.  I bought it with 62k.

 

1.  I used a Range AFM device

2.  Regular oil changes at 5k miles.

 

I've had 2 issues I had a shop do -- A/C system and transmission (at 220k).

Other issues I've done myself are thermostat, shocks, brakes.

 

I think it's luck of the draw.

 

I think you didn't drink the 7.5K OCI Kool-Aid, got one that hadn't any defective parts and likely drive and maintain like an adult that cares about how long the equipment last. I'd say the truck got lucky getting you as an owner. But, hey, it's just a guess. Could be the draw, sure.  

[mikemcclain]

7 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

 

I think you didn't drink the 7.5K OCI Kool-Aid, got one that hadn't any defective parts and likely drive and maintain like an adult that cares about how long the equipment last. I'd say the truck got lucky getting you as an owner. But, hey, it's just a guess. Could be the draw, sure.  

Perhaps it's a little of both.  I need to add that I did plugs and coils last year.  Not nearly as daunting as I expected, especially by accessing through the wheel well.  BUT, that #8 was not fun.