Tech 2 or Range AFM Disabler?

[SpineDock]

Sounds good. Give us a call 877-809-4070 or email [email protected] if you have any questions.

I’m also interested in a Blackbear tune over the Range but I wonder about leaving the stock setup in the top end of the motor and not swapping out the hard parts instead of just the soft(ware) parts… thoughts?

 

[SpyShops212]

Hardware or no-ware. I seen on Cadillac Forums and GM-trucks that people that use the Range AFM still having AFM failure. I have not seen people that get the tune have a issue but maybe I overlooked. I wouldn’t do it unless I changed out the camshaft and lifters from a non-AFM. It is very involved but it is the correct way. What you should do is change the VLOM for the updated part and if you really want to be safe then change the lifters on 4 & 6. You should also replace all the gaskets and bolts on the parts you remove.

 

[BlackBearPerf]

I’m also interring a Blackbear tune over the Range but I wonder about leaving the stock setup in the top end of the motor and not swapping out the hard parts instead of just the soft(ware) parts… thoughts?

You can do it either way, its split down the middle with our customers just disabling the AFM, or doing the DOD delete kit as well.

 

[SpineDock]

Ok I appreciate the advice and guidance.

I didn’t know what VLOM was so I looked it up and found this article from Melling Engine Parts:

TECHNICAL BULLETIN
GM LS AFM Deactivation Lifter Issues
We have noticed an increase in the issues surrounding the replacement of deactivation lifters in GM LS engines with Active Fuel Management or AFM. After installing new lifters the original issue may not have been corrected. Most lifters returned for analysis are found to be good.
We have found that most lifter faults are caused by oil pressure issues, or control issues.
The AFM activation and deactivation is controlled by the Valve Lifter Oil Manifold or VLOM. The VLOM consists of 4 electronically operated solenoids and is bolted to the top of the engine block beneath the intake manifold assembly. Its job is to direct the flow of pressurized engine oil to the active fuel management intake and exhaust valve lifters. VLOM applies pressurized oil to the AFM lifters when cylinder deactivation is requested, and shuts off that supply of oil to reactivate those cylinders. Cylinder activation and deactivation are both supposed to occur on the base circle of the cam lobe, making the transition from four to eight cylinder mode unnoticeable to the driver. To control contamination a small replaceable oil filter is located in the VLOM inlet oil passageway.
The AFM oil pressure relief valve regulates the oil supplied to the VLOM and is located in the oil pan near the oil filter housing. The AFM system has an operating range from 27 PSI to 66 PSI of oil pressure. At higher engine speeds the high side of this operating range is controlled by the AFM oil pressure relief valve. At low engine speeds the low side of the operating range will depend on the engines ability to produce oil pressure using the flow of oil from the oil pump.
The AFM lifter bores in these engines have a spec of .843-.844, and the deactivation lifters require 22 PSI of pressure to release the locking pins. Taking these two things into consideration a lifter bore that is even slightly worn could bleed off enough oil pressure to prevent the lifter from unlocking. In addition it has been reported that it is common to find the VLOM oil filter plugged and needing replacement on high mileage engines with miss-fire fault codes.
Melling has received AFM DEAC lifters back for warranty claims where the lifter has been stuck compressed, this condition can be caused by the VLOM commanding activation or deactivation at the wrong point in the cam’s rotation, either in the ramp, or at the lobe peak.
Any time an engine has failed AFM lifters the lifter guides must be replaced, the lifter bores must be measured, and the VLOM must also be tested for proper operation, or replaced. In addition the VLOM oil filter must be replaced as well.

THOUGHTS??

Can you help me find the updated part you mentioned earlier? Is this something the average do-it-yourselfer could tackle?

 

[SpyShops212]

Ok I appreciate the advice and guidance.

I didn’t know what VLOM was so I looked it up and found this article from Melling Engine Parts:

TECHNICAL BULLETIN
GM LS AFM Deactivation Lifter Issues
We have noticed an increase in the issues surrounding the replacement of deactivation lifters in GM LS engines with Active Fuel Management or AFM. After installing new lifters the original issue may not have been corrected. Most lifters returned for analysis are found to be good.
We have found that most lifter faults are caused by oil pressure issues, or control issues.
The AFM activation and deactivation is controlled by the Valve Lifter Oil Manifold or VLOM. The VLOM consists of 4 electronically operated solenoids and is bolted to the top of the engine block beneath the intake manifold assembly. Its job is to direct the flow of pressurized engine oil to the active fuel management intake and exhaust valve lifters. VLOM applies pressurized oil to the AFM lifters when cylinder deactivation is requested, and shuts off that supply of oil to reactivate those cylinders. Cylinder activation and deactivation are both supposed to occur on the base circle of the cam lobe, making the transition from four to eight cylinder mode unnoticeable to the driver. To control contamination a small replaceable oil filter is located in the VLOM inlet oil passageway.
The AFM oil pressure relief valve regulates the oil supplied to the VLOM and is located in the oil pan near the oil filter housing. The AFM system has an operating range from 27 PSI to 66 PSI of oil pressure. At higher engine speeds the high side of this operating range is controlled by the AFM oil pressure relief valve. At low engine speeds the low side of the operating range will depend on the engines ability to produce oil pressure using the flow of oil from the oil pump.
The AFM lifter bores in these engines have a spec of .843-.844, and the deactivation lifters require 22 PSI of pressure to release the locking pins. Taking these two things into consideration a lifter bore that is even slightly worn could bleed off enough oil pressure to prevent the lifter from unlocking. In addition it has been reported that it is common to find the VLOM oil filter plugged and needing replacement on high mileage engines with miss-fire fault codes.
Melling has received AFM DEAC lifters back for warranty claims where the lifter has been stuck compressed, this condition can be caused by the VLOM commanding activation or deactivation at the wrong point in the cam’s rotation, either in the ramp, or at the lobe peak.
Any time an engine has failed AFM lifters the lifter guides must be replaced, the lifter bores must be measured, and the VLOM must also be tested for proper operation, or replaced. In addition the VLOM oil filter must be replaced as well.

THOUGHTS??

Can you help me find the updated part you mentioned earlier? Is this something the average do-it-yourselfer could tackle?

Yes it is easy to change. I would call your local dealer or gmpartsdirect.com and ask for the updated vlom. I have a 2018 Escalade now and when I get rid of it I will buy a low mile 2020 platinum than the first thing I would do is change the vlom and use Dexo 1 gen. 2 or gen.3 Mobil 1 oil with OEM oil filter. The 2021 and up has not grown on me yet. I love the rear solid axle truck frame k2xx suv. This is the last with the solid axle. I would invest in a torque wrench and when you reinstall the vlom I would torque to spec and use tread lock on the bolts for the vlom. You should also change the oil pressure sensor and filter as well. If you want to take it a step further than replace lifters at cylinder 4 & 6, lifter guides and rods. I am going to post here the receipt on the parts Cadillac changed when they did my truck.

Here is the part number they used in my 6.2 Escalade. 19433052

 

[SpineDock]

Yes it is easy to change. I would call your local dealer or gmpartsdirect.com and ask for the updated vlom. I have a 2018 Escalade now and when I get rid of it I will buy a low mile 2020 platinum than the first thing I would do is change the vlom and use Dexo 1 gen. 2 or gen.3 Mobil 1 oil with OEM oil filter. The 2021 and up has not grown on me yet. I love the rear solid axle truck frame k2xx suv. This is the last with the solid axle. I would invest in a torque wrench and when you reinstall the vlom I would torque to spec and use tread lock on the bolts for the vlom. You should also change the oil pressure sensor and filter as well. If you want to take it a step further than replace lifters at cylinder 4 & 6, lifter guides and rods. I am going to post here the receipt on the parts Cadillac changed when they did my truck.

Here is the part number they used in my 6.2 Escalade. 19433052

View attachment 400165View attachment 400167View attachment 400168View attachment 400169

WOW!!
I appreciate you sharing the service reports!
It looks like they changed the VLOM while replacing the lifter. And then the upper oil pan started leaking?
We are nearing 60k miles on our 5.3L and trying to convince my wife to be preventative about this…
So first steps are to change out the VLOM? Then….?

 

[SpyShops212]

WOW!!
I appreciate you sharing the service reports!
It looks like they changed the VLOM while replacing the lifter. And then the upper oil pan started leaking?
We are nearing 60k miles on our 5.3L and trying to convince my wife to be preventative about this…
So first steps are to change out the VLOM? Then….?

The oil pan seal was because there was a tiny leak which they found. I didn’t see any oil on my driveway but they did show me. Whenever they tell me something, I make them show me. There is an upper and lower oil pan seal on the k2xx. When I left the dealer and was driving home I saw the message to add oil. I panicked and thought they didn’t put oil in my truck. I found out there is an oil level sensor that tells the computer if you’re low on oil. I actually had oil in the truck so I am lucky there. I guess they must have damaged the sensor or whatever, so the dealer fixed it which required removing the oil pan again. The dealer didn’t charge me for it. So if you ever replace the oil pan seal then it would make sense to replace the sensor while your there and o-ring for the pickup tube. When doing major work I show up to the dealer and tell the service guy I left my wife’s diamond earrings or medicine so that they take me to the truck to get it. I will meet the mechanic working on my truck and hand him a $50 for lunch so he treats my truck right. I would recommend you replace the vlom to prevent this from happening to you.

 

[SpineDock]

You can do it either way, its split down the middle with our customers just disabling the AFM, or doing the DOD delete kit as well.

Hardware or no-ware. I seen on Cadillac Forums and GM-trucks that people that use the Range AFM still having AFM failure. I have not seen people that get the tune have a issue but maybe I overlooked. I wouldn’t do it unless I changed out the camshaft and lifters from a non-AFM. It is very involved but it is the correct way. What you should do is change the VLOM for the updated part and if you really want to be safe then change the lifters on 4 & 6. You should also replace all the gaskets and bolts on the parts you remove.

BlackBear - when SpyShops mentions those with the Range still getting failures compared to not seeing those tuned have failures… does this apply to what you guys do? Tune vs. just a Range AFM override?
How does the tune differ from what the Range does?
Thanks in advance!

 

[BlackBearPerf]

BlackBear - when SpyShops mentions those with the Range still getting failures compared to not seeing those tuned have failures… does this apply to what you guys do? Tune vs. just a Range AFM override?
How does the tune differ from what the Range does?
Thanks in advance!

With the Range AFM disabler, it must be plugged in at all times in the OBD-II port as it does not reprogram the ECM. With our tune, we reprogram the ECM to never go into V4 mode and our AutoCal does not need to be plugged in at all times. It will only need to be plugged in when flashing in the tune. The Range will also only disable the AFM while our tune will provide other benefits such as increased throttle response and performance along with improved shift patterns.

 

[SpyShops212]

BlackBear - when SpyShops mentions those with the Range still getting failures compared to not seeing those tuned have failures… does this apply to what you guys do? Tune vs. just a Range AFM override?
How does the tune differ from what the Range does?
Thanks in advance!

I would think that the tune and the range do the same with disabling the AFM. I am not an expert on the Tune and maybe someone could explain to us what the difference is between getting the tune or range does different. Does the tune change other parameters that the range doesn’t and that is why we don’t see many posts about people getting the tune having issues like the range afterwards? Has anyone that got the tune done have AFM lifter failure down the road. I would invest in the updated VLOM vs getting the range or tune done. I know I am correct about the updated VLOM because GM specifically says to replace the VLOM with the updated part after fixing the lifter problem.