Afm
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Pro
Joined: Mar 2021
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Afm
I have a m7 gs that has never been in eco mode therefore never been in v4 mode. Is it better to keep it that way or allow v4 once in awhile to activate the afm lifters? After my warranty should I have the afm lifters removed and what would that cost? I don't really need more power but a mild cam and head work might be a good idea.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,035
Likes: 931
From: Bonney Lake Washington
Hmmmmm.....
Well, I did it three times, going into eco/four cylinder mode on my M7 and each time there was a real clunk so I've not used it since then.....
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: North Texas
My understanding is that AFM opeation does cause some vibration in the drivetrain. Apparently this vibration can shorten torque converter life. I use the Range Device and remove it for trips to the dealership.
Missed the M7 part. No wonder I repeated the 3rd grade.
Missed the M7 part. No wonder I repeated the 3rd grade.
Last edited by TxLefty; Mar 25, 2023 at 02:36 PM.
@C7GSM7VERT
Joined: Mar 2014
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From: S.F. Bay Area,CA
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
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I think the focus of the OP is whether or not it is detrimental to use ECO with a manual (M7), or advantageous to work it out once in awhile. I, too, am curious as I have only used ECO once on a long trip to Reno, NV.
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Pro
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My concern is is it more dangerous to keep the car out of v4 mode or allow it once in awhile. Someone said the afm lifters need to be used occasionally for lubrication. Like I said I have never used eco mode so I have driven the car for 3 years without activating the afm.
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Following this. I have used the Range AFM Eliminator device on my car ever since I bought it 4+ years ago so it has not gone into 4 cylinder mode during that time. If it is better to at least let it go into 4 cylinder mode every now and then, I will have to take the Range device off every so often.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,359
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From: Kingston, Ontario
Zero reason to go into eco mode to exercise the lifters. If you never use eco mode then you will never use the lifters meaning they will never break, because you never use them.
Its pointless to remove them after warranty when the easiest and cost free solution is to simply to never go onto eco mode.
Stay out of eco mode on M7s and never have a worry for as long as you own the vehicle.
Its pointless to remove them after warranty when the easiest and cost free solution is to simply to never go onto eco mode.
Stay out of eco mode on M7s and never have a worry for as long as you own the vehicle.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,349
Likes: 552
From: MN
Zero reason to go into eco mode to exercise the lifters. If you never use eco mode then you will never use the lifters meaning they will never break, because you never use them.
Its pointless to remove them after warranty when the easiest and cost free solution is to simply to never go onto eco mode.
Stay out of eco mode on M7s and never have a worry for as long as you own the vehicle.
Its pointless to remove them after warranty when the easiest and cost free solution is to simply to never go onto eco mode.
Stay out of eco mode on M7s and never have a worry for as long as you own the vehicle.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2021
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Zero reason to go into eco mode to exercise the lifters. If you never use eco mode then you will never use the lifters meaning they will never break, because you never use them.
Its pointless to remove them after warranty when the easiest and cost free solution is to simply to never go onto eco mode.
Stay out of eco mode on M7s and never have a worry for as long as you own the vehicle.
Its pointless to remove them after warranty when the easiest and cost free solution is to simply to never go onto eco mode.
Stay out of eco mode on M7s and never have a worry for as long as you own the vehicle.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,211
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From: Georgetown, Tx
I've seen plenty of videos that show the carnage of ECO mode or AFM across many GM platforms. But I've never seen a video that claim the lifters failed from not using ECO/AFM mode. So mine is never used.
Also, my M7 gets great gas mileage without ECO/AFM; 20+ in town and 30+ on the highway. There is no amount of fuel savings ECO/AFM offers to cause me to use it, especially knowing the damage failed lifters can cause.
AFM and Skip Shift should have never been installed on the Corvette. GM did so to appease the greenies in Washington and we all have to pay for it.
Below is one example (fairly recent) of many videos you can find that illustrate the damage from ECO/AFM.
Also, my M7 gets great gas mileage without ECO/AFM; 20+ in town and 30+ on the highway. There is no amount of fuel savings ECO/AFM offers to cause me to use it, especially knowing the damage failed lifters can cause.
AFM and Skip Shift should have never been installed on the Corvette. GM did so to appease the greenies in Washington and we all have to pay for it.
Below is one example (fairly recent) of many videos you can find that illustrate the damage from ECO/AFM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 150
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From: WA State
Damage to engines with AFM is not exclusive to GM cars. Honda/Acura has the same thing (VCM) with the same exact issues and sometimes even worse. I had a Acura TLX and it stayed in Sport mode all the time to keep it from going to a 4 and eventually a 3 cylinder. You could feel it shudder and run rough every time it did it, although you could get 40 mpg on the way to the repair shop.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,126
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From: North Texas
If ecco mode or using the AFM lifters to shut on and off cylinders is good then why does GM make the system shift out of ecco mode and back into normal 8 cylinder mode for a period of time before reverting back to ecco mode when the driver changes nothing in driving or speed, ie highway driving at a steady speed? Hummmmm.
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Pro
Joined: Mar 2021
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I've seen plenty of videos that show the carnage of ECO mode or AFM across many GM platforms. But I've never seen a video that claim the lifters failed from not using ECO/AFM mode. So mine is never used.
Also, my M7 gets great gas mileage without ECO/AFM; 20+ in town and 30+ on the highway. There is no amount of fuel savings ECO/AFM offers to cause me to use it, especially knowing the damage failed lifters can cause.
AFM and Skip Shift should have never been installed on the Corvette. GM did so to appease the greenies in Washington and we all have to pay for it.
Below is one example (fairly recent) of many videos you can find that illustrate the damage from ECO/AFM.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmhK6P13FRE
Also, my M7 gets great gas mileage without ECO/AFM; 20+ in town and 30+ on the highway. There is no amount of fuel savings ECO/AFM offers to cause me to use it, especially knowing the damage failed lifters can cause.
AFM and Skip Shift should have never been installed on the Corvette. GM did so to appease the greenies in Washington and we all have to pay for it.
Below is one example (fairly recent) of many videos you can find that illustrate the damage from ECO/AFM.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmhK6P13FRE
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,809
Likes: 615
From: Blacksburg Va
My 19 M7 is 3+ years old now. I tried eco once and it made a horrible sound and jerked around a little. So I drive in Sport mode. Heck on interstate trips I get 30-31mpg, my overall MPG in 20,000 miles of driving is 25.8. What the heck would I want an eco mode for? We also have a 19Mustang GT Performance Package w/ 6 sp manual and a 21 Honda Pilot. My Stingray is the mileage champ in our family beating even the pilot overall mpg by 2.