AFM Issues / Misfire

[George Owens]

Turns out I had a loose spark plug no ticks now

 

[avalonandl]

That will do it.

 

[Fless]

And the ticks probably sounded like an exhaust leak.

 

[Peter Tremonti]

Turns out I had a loose spark plug no ticks now

Easy fixes are the best

 

[Peter Tremonti]

Got around to working on this project again. Installed the new pump. Rotor is larger in diameter and thicker too. The housing outlet passages were smoothed out and I filled the gears up with assembly lube before putting the front cover on right before starting it up so I wouldn't have to prime it the hard way through the side of the block.




Got it installed and put back together just to have the oil pressure immediately go up to 50psi cold instead of 40. The oil pressure after driving around and warming it up hasn't gone below 40psi since the new pump.


As it warmed up, I test drove it around the block and down the highway for 2 exits and back. The ticking went away in V4 mode and came back during V8 mode. I was thinking maybe the rocker arm for cylinder 7 was having issues since it was inoperative for so long. So I took off the valve cover and swapped the rocker around (AFM to non-AFM cylinders) just to see if the noise stayed in V4 mode or not. The noise still only happens in V8 mode. I took a video of the engine running with the valve cover off and now the oil is shooting out and over the fender instead of just dribbling out of the rocker arm oil holes.

Do you think the new lifters I got are bad? I thought there was supposed to be a gush of oil instead of long distance squirting. Maybe they're not pumping up like normal and are just letting the oil blow right through.

 

[89Suburban]

Pete nice work here hoping it works out for you. I am not too savvy with the internals on these things.

 

[George Owens]

Got around to working on this project again. Installed the new pump. Rotor is larger in diameter and thicker too. The housing outlet passages were smoothed out and I filled the gears up with assembly lube before putting the front cover on right before starting it up so I wouldn't have to prime it the hard way through the side of the block.
View attachment 266375View attachment 266376

View attachment 266377

Got it installed and put back together just to have the oil pressure immediately go up to 50psi cold instead of 40. The oil pressure after driving around and warming it up hasn't gone below 40psi since the new pump.
View attachment 266378

As it warmed up, I test drove it around the block and down the highway for 2 exits and back. The ticking went away in V4 mode and came back during V8 mode. I was thinking maybe the rocker arm for cylinder 7 was having issues since it was inoperative for so long. So I took off the valve cover and swapped the rocker around (AFM to non-AFM cylinders) just to see if the noise stayed in V4 mode or not. The noise still only happens in V8 mode. I took a video of the engine running with the valve cover off and now the oil is shooting out and over the fender instead of just dribbling out of the rocker arm oil holes.

Do you think the new lifters I got are bad? I thought there was supposed to be a gush of oil instead of long distance squirting. Maybe they're not pumping up like normal and are just letting the oil blow right through.

I’ve never seen a vid where the lil shoots out like that

 

[Peter Tremonti]

I’ve never seen a vid where the lil shoots out like that

Me neither.

I got a used VLOM from someone locally. He said it was working but his cylinder 4 lifter died. Replaced his lifter before driving down to SC from New Jersey and number 4 died again. Got his money back from the parts store and threw in some BTR replacement parts to delete the AFM.

I'm going to disassemble his VLOM because it's a bolt together unit and replace the gasket while inspecting the screens and everything. It does look right now that the gasket is separating from the plastic so maybe that was causing a leak big enough to make the lifter stick?

 

[89Suburban]

Me neither.

I got a used VLOM from someone locally. He said it was working but his cylinder 4 lifter died. Replaced his lifter before driving down to SC from New Jersey and number 4 died again. Got his money back from the parts store and threw in some BTR replacement parts to delete the AFM.

I'm going to disassemble his VLOM because it's a bolt together unit and replace the gasket while inspecting the screens and everything. It does look right now that the gasket is separating from the plastic so maybe that was causing a leak big enough to make the lifter stick? View attachment 267243

You are lucky you have bolts, mine was held together by rivets. I had to buy the whole assembly new. Were the bolts loose when you took it off the motor? Mine were ridiculous lose and it was blowing oil past the gaskets. Ran like a new truck when I put the new piece on. I also had a hell of a time finding the right gasket kit that matched so be aware. I went through a lot of money because these are mostly non-returnable items. Very frustrating.

Also just a heads up, after reassembly and startup mine acted like complete ******* and was throwing all kinds and warning lights and missing and shit. I figured I ****** something up in the install like an intake gasket or crossed plug wire or something. Spent hours trying to troubleshoot it and rechecking everything. I got pissed off and I revved the shit out of it and all of a sudden it just started running perfect. Only thing I can think of was maybe the oil pressure took a while to purge the air out of the VLOM????? No idea. That was over the summer and it still runs fine now. Also got a power increase. The old VLOM and leaking gaskets were putting a hurting on her even running with the Range AFM Delete device.

I wish you luck with this.