Active Fuel Management

[dredd]

2023 Custom with DFM

 

[916 Trail Boss]

I have a 2024 LT TB with the 5.3L and the window sticker says it has the DFM. However, I’ve never seen any indication on the dash when active. Is that normal? On my RAM Rebel it says Eco on the dash when activated.

 

[Keller]

There is unfortunately no way to tell if the DFM is active. Some say you can hear it in the idle exhaust tone "helicopter sound", and others will say you can actually feel the cylinders fire up and drop; but there's no V4/V8 on the DIC like the old AFM vehicles had.

 

[clstark7]

I have a 2024 LT TB with the 5.3L and the window sticker says it has the DFM. However, I’ve never seen any indication on the dash when active. Is that normal? On my RAM Rebel it says Eco on the dash when activated.

The previous generation Silverado's and Sierra's would have a green "V4" logo that would pop up in the bottom right-hand corner of the dash gauge area. But there is no indication on these new ones. If you have stock exhaust, you should hear it as you are coasting to a stop. Many mistake it for down-shifting, but you can hear the engine popping back into full V8 mode at about 10 MPH as you stop.

 

[916 Trail Boss]

The previous generation Silverado's and Sierra's would have a green "V4" logo that would pop up in the bottom right-hand corner of the dash gauge area. But there is no indication on these new ones. If you have stock exhaust, you should hear it as you are coasting to a stop. Many mistake it for down-shifting, but you can hear the engine popping back into full V8 mode at about 10 MPH as you stop.

Thanks! It's a new truck so I have yet to hone in on the engine sound but will start paying closer attention.

 

[buckshot85]

You guys understand that you may not have the control chip for the DFM, but the internal engine parts that can fail are still in your motor, right?

 

[vezePilot]

Everyone posting in this page of the thread apparently have 2022 and 2023 model year trucks. The lifters that might fail were only an issue in the Spring 2021 trucks, like mine. AFAIK, newer trucks have not manifested the problem. Is this still correct?

Were lifter failures ever an issue in more than 20 years (so far) of use in Cadillacs?

 

[Keller]

Lifters can still fail, just seemed to be more likely in the 2021 model year. I know someone who had lifters fail in a 2016 Silverado.

 

[buckshot85]

I've read that 2008 was a bad year for the fail. I bought a 2008 brand new and ran it to 150k then traded it. Still ran strong as could be and no noise. I believe fresh oil is key to making them last. Don't run that shit so long. I changed every 4K miles, max. But, what do I know.

 

[vezePilot]

I've read that 2008 was a bad year for the fail. I bought a 2008 brand new and ran it to 150k then traded it. Still ran strong as could be and no noise. I believe fresh oil is key to making them last. Don't run that shit so long. I changed every 4K miles, max. But, what do I know.

Yup. That is good advice. I changed mine just two days ago. After 5,000 miles mostly highway it really needed it. I'm not going to let it go that long anymore. The Oil Life indicator said 35% left, and the oil is the Mobile 1 Extended Life, supposedly good for 20,000 miles.

No way. I'm going back to every 3,000 miles like I have for years. Even though doing it myself is not getting any easier, and it costs $65 now.

 

[Oggie!]

Everyone posting in this page of the thread apparently have 2022 and 2023 model year trucks. The lifters that might fail were only an issue in the Spring 2021 trucks, like mine. AFAIK, newer trucks have not manifested the problem. Is this still correct?

Were lifter failures ever an issue in more than 20 years (so far) of use in Cadillacs?

I have 2022 Chevy Trail boss LT 5.3L with 29000 miles on it and is at the dealership now with failed lifters on the right bank.

 

[buckshot85]

There are no safe years.

 

[clstark7]

I have 2022 Chevy Trail boss LT 5.3L with 29000 miles on it and is at the dealership now with failed lifters on the right bank.

Sorry to hear it. I went through the same thing myself at 12,000 miles. But now here I am at nearly 51,000 miles without any other issue to speak of, none whatsoever. And I drive my truck pretty hard too, my lightly modified 6.2 is too difficult to resist lol. If that makes you feel any better.

 

[The Raven]

As mentioned a few times, it does not matter if you have the chip-shortage-inactive-DFM motor, you still have the DFM hardware. Every single 5.3l and 6.2l since 2019 has it. It does not matter if DFM is actually working or not, and it does not matter what year you have. If you have a 2019 or newer 5.3l or 6.2l Silverado or Sierra, you are at risk for DFM issues. The "bad batch" trucks from the first half of the 2021 build year are much more likely to experience failures, but all trucks are at risk. A disabler does not change that.

There are only two real solutions - keep it under powertrain warranty for life, or go a get a true DFM-delete done. The warranty is probably a lot cheaper.

 

[buckshot85]

As mentioned a few times, it does not matter if you have the chip-shortage-inactive-DFM motor, you still have the DFM hardware. Every single 5.3l and 6.2l since 2019 has it. It does not matter if DFM is actually working or not, and it does not matter what year you have. If you have a 2019 or newer 5.3l or 6.2l Silverado or Sierra, you are at risk for DFM issues. The "bad batch" trucks from the first half of the 2021 build year are much more likely to experience failures, but all trucks are at risk. A disabler does not change that.

There are only two real solutions - keep it under powertrain warranty for life, or go a get a true DFM-delete done. The warranty is probably a lot cheaper.

This should be reposted weekly.
Not sure why it’s so hard to understand.