OK, a few days pass by, no luck so I took it to the shop I use when I don't wish to work on a car myself. Bad lifter.
So, options.
#1 - The shop will do the entire job, replace all lifters, valve guides, valve job, head bolts, gaskets, tuneup, etc for $7400...
With the mileage and a bad lifter perhaps damaging that lobe on the cam, you're possibly in line for a new cam, Variable Lifter Oil Manifold (VLOM), and some other things that you didn't mention in your first post.
If you haven't already done so, reading this thread may give you information to help you choose a course of action.
Our engine is going out in our 2017 5.3 Tahoe. It’s at the dealer now since they just put in a new transmission for $5700. Then they diagnose the engine .Chevy said it’s a lift arm and needs the whole top taken off to replace it all. Best to just change engine. They quoted me $11,000 for a...
www.tahoeyukonforum.com
I've heard that the head(s) have to come off to remove the lifters. I don't know why. I've also heard that the cam can be turned over by hand by turning the crankshaft to turn the cam to push the lifters up in their bores. After pulling the failed lifter, the cam lobe can be inspected while continuing to rotate the engine.
With all the stuff in the valley between the heads, pulling at least the one head to remove the lifter(s) on that side may be necessary.
Getting a service manual might be a good investment in information to help you make your decision.
Personally, I believe that GM should be liquidated if they sell any more of these engines with the current DFM version of cylinder deactivation. Unless they sell the vehicle with a 200K transferrable unlimited time warranty covering a reman engine if the cylinder deactivation system messes up. GM is asking an owner to play roulette on whether the system will go bad while the owner owns the vehicle. And, as you know, with the labor, the cost is pretty darn high unless a person contributes their own time and working space.
A big part of the labor is disassembling the top end and front end of the engine and then reassembling it. A person has to have the time, knowledge, tools, and a place to do the work over a period of time to be able to do it themselves. And then you have an engine with a top overhaul that is 160,000 miles old. The probability is that the short block will last if not abused. But, one never knows.
Unfortunately, with the way our friends in Washington are spending money they don't have like there is no tomorrow, the invisible tax of inflation is making our dollars worth less every day. My retirement savings will buy 15-20% less than they would three and a half years ago. So, when you consider that you bought cars for $6,000 a few years ago, the question is how much car would $6000 dollars buy today?
I wish you good fortune as you work through this situation.
