Reliable Gas Engine Years?

Reading some of the posts about lifter and cam failures, are there dependable engine years that this wouldn't be a worry in a used Tahoe?

Hey - Hundreds of thousands of 5.3 and 6.2 produced annually in DFM form for Tahoe/Yukon/Pickup. relatively there’s not that many complaints here about the failures overall but you can bet 1st thing when someone has a fail they will find this forum to ask questions & vent.

DFM fails you’ll find across pretty much most model years in both versions

If you find a truck you like I’d check TSB’s for that year/model VIN. see what the scoop is on recalls and bullitins.

You mean the lifter failures associated with the AFM/DOD in the Gen IV? Yes, seems like those engines have an increased chance of having a lifter issue but it tends to be related to lack of maintenance (but not always.)

You can delete that system, however, which basically reverts your engine to a pre-AFM engine like a Gen III.

Even non AFM/DOD high mileage engines can have lifter failures. I think it's one of those items that will eventually wear out on an engine.

Yeah, anything without AFM. Like the two in my sig.

intheburbs said:

Yeah, anything without AFM. Like the two in my sig.

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The '08 and '09?
Actually my '08 - 5.3 deactivates four cylinders.

Look, a lot of people love to hate on the AFM/DOD systems associated with the trucks after the GMT800 generation.. annnnnd … they are not wrong.. AFM sucks big time. IMO it’s a totally worthless concept/design with negligible benefits..

That being said, numbers never lie. There have been over 4 million GMT 900, K2, and T1 Tahoes/Burbs/Yukons produced and sold between 2007 and now. Add in the pickup versions and it’s probably double that. That’s a lot of AFM/DFM/DOD engines Produced and in circulation.. can’t tell you how many GMT 900/K2/T1 trucks I see on the road every day, but it’s a lot.

There’s no shortage of failure stories on this forum, but the total number of complete failures of gas engines likely makes up less than 0.1% of total Tahoe and Burb owners in the country. To add to that, a large majority of the failures you hear about are not from longtime owners/members, but rather from people who had a failure, joined the forum to complain about it, and then disappear forever.

I WILL say though.. the majority of failures we hear about are T1+ with the 6.2.. but again, a minute number relative to the amount produced.

The newest GMT800 is nearing 20 years old… so yeah, you for sure don’t have any AFM related problems.. but you then are susceptible to 20 year old vehicle problems. If that’s what you’re OK with, then… by all means!

saying that to say, I wouldn’t worry about it tbh… find the truck you like, and roll with it, doesn’t matter which generation it is. each gen has pro’s and con’s.. don’t let this forum scare you away from what you really want.

@EddieC , I don't think that there is a definitive answer to your question. As stated above, these issues are real, but they represent a very small minority of all of the engines produced and sold. Your best bet against running into one of these issues is to purchase after doing your due diligence (CarFax, Mechanic's opinion, etc.), and to subsequently delete/disable the AFM, change the oil often with quality oil and filter, and perform regular maintenance using OEM parts.

EddieC said:

Reading some of the posts about lifter and cam failures, are there dependable engine years that this wouldn't be a worry in a used Tahoe?

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intheburbs said:

Yeah, anything without AFM.

Click to expand...

EddieC said:

The '08 and '09?
Actually my '08 - 5.3L deactivates four cylinders.

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If the engine still has
*oil changes over 5000 miles apart, or consumes ANY oil between oil changes
(if it eats a quart every 5000 miles, then change the oil every 4500 miles, gottdamnt!)
*ANY cylinder valve deactivation enabled (disable that horseschidt)
BEFORE you bought it, then YOU are buying those problems; best to prevent them.

Engines that have Engine Half@$$ disabled, are worth more ...
Engines that have Cylinder Confusion disabled, are worth more ...
'Delete' is worth more than 'disable'.

EddieC said:

The '08 and '09?
Actually my '08 - 5.3 deactivates four cylinders.

Click to expand...

My 2008 is a 2500. 6.0 and no AFM.
Ditto the 2009 - the L9H was the last 6.2 without AFM.

intheburbs said:

My 2008 is a 2500. 6.0 and no AFM.
Ditto the 2009 - the L9H was the last 6.2 without AFM.

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The Tahoe also had the 6.2L in 09' although 4x2 only.

I'd also prefer one with AFM with good documented maintenance than one which has deactivation and work done. GM produces a metric, well you know load of these and there's a reason why the consistently are the leader of full size SUVs and the same engine is used in the entire GMT lineup.