New C7 Owner
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,495
Likes: 3,298
From: Hartford WI
Thanks all! I look forward to many happy trails in this section!.
I did see the Range device on Amazon but I opted for a more inexpensive one. This particular company said they strive for customer satisfaction so if I’m not happy, they’ll give me my money back and I can go get a different one. I didn’t see any reason for something like that to run $200 but we’ll see. I only paid about 50 bucks.
I’m also looking to get a matching red Grand Sport real soon here within the week, so I am going to be needing two of these. I figured $200 each is a bit much. $50, not so much.
If it turns out to be crap, I’ll just pony up for the Range device. No harm, no foul.
Thanks for your input guys.
I did see the Range device on Amazon but I opted for a more inexpensive one. This particular company said they strive for customer satisfaction so if I’m not happy, they’ll give me my money back and I can go get a different one. I didn’t see any reason for something like that to run $200 but we’ll see. I only paid about 50 bucks.
I’m also looking to get a matching red Grand Sport real soon here within the week, so I am going to be needing two of these. I figured $200 each is a bit much. $50, not so much.
If it turns out to be crap, I’ll just pony up for the Range device. No harm, no foul.
Thanks for your input guys.
I sold the thing after I found out how it works. Went with a programmed solution and improved the shifts, got ECM improvements and the AFM stopped without having to remove the dongle a month before for emissions testing.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 578
Likes: 426
From: Bay Area
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,495
Likes: 3,298
From: Hartford WI
It's the placebo effect. It only goes into V4 mode when you aren't placing demands on the engine like cruising.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 578
Likes: 426
From: Bay Area
Besides, I never push a new car that I’m not used to and I’m not eager to start throwing parts at it just yet either. I gradually work up my comfort level so the car doesn’t ever get away from me, learn its quirks etc. Gotta respect the power or it will snap you back to reality but quick.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,495
Likes: 3,298
From: Hartford WI
Yeah, I see where you’re coming from on that. The thing is though, around here the speed limits are so low, and this car runs through the gears so quickly that it don’t take but a moment and I’m already up to speed and relaxing on the throttle. So it did seem like a noticeable difference almost right away. There’s a lot of “cruising” involved driving around where I live so I was plagued by this feature quite constantly. I didn’t realize how much until it went away.
Besides, I never push a new car that I’m not used to and I’m not eager to start throwing parts at it just yet either. I gradually work up my comfort level so the car doesn’t ever get away from me, learn its quirks etc. Gotta respect the power or it will snap you back to reality but quick.
Besides, I never push a new car that I’m not used to and I’m not eager to start throwing parts at it just yet either. I gradually work up my comfort level so the car doesn’t ever get away from me, learn its quirks etc. Gotta respect the power or it will snap you back to reality but quick.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 578
Likes: 426
From: Bay Area
Didn't change much for me. I bought it on advice of a speed shop. More I dive in, less I believe that this can do anything. One argument is that not engaging AFM will solve the problem. Another is that exercising it for a bit will solve the problem. None of which can be proved. If the lifter is weak and problematic, maybe the best way is to remove that thing altogether and put another cam in.
Geez can GM make a Z06 that isn’t a ticking time bomb?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,495
Likes: 3,298
From: Hartford WI
Apparently not. Other companies have tried and successfully done it though.
Last edited by aklim; May 12, 2025 at 09:35 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 181
Likes: 67
From: BR, LA
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,495
Likes: 3,298
From: Hartford WI
Or blame GM for failing to do it well? My wife's A8 has DOD/AFM but is it a problem or a proof that it can be done right?
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 181
Likes: 67
From: BR, LA
The DOD/AFM system sucks, and it's no doubt GM could have done better. But again, what is the driving force for manufacturers to employ these dubious technologies?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,495
Likes: 3,298
From: Hartford WI
Your A8 is living on borrowed time just like my 2019 A8 C7 Z06. The DOD lifters will fail eventually, will you be alive or own it at that time? Who knows. Yes if you drive 1k miles per year, the system might never fail....
The DOD/AFM system sucks, and it's no doubt GM could have done better. But again, what is the driving force for manufacturers to employ these dubious technologies?
The DOD/AFM system sucks, and it's no doubt GM could have done better. But again, what is the driving force for manufacturers to employ these dubious technologies?
Define dubious? It does save fuel. The amount might not be meaningful to you or I but it adds up in the grand scheme of things. This isn't a "one off" system for the C7 alone. It allows them to spread the benefits from the scale of enterprise all over. GM cheaped out and messed it up. Volkswagen seems to have made that engine for several platforms as well. The government never told GM to make it crappy or even use the system. It works for others so GM had it's own flavor and screwed it up.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 181
Likes: 67
From: BR, LA
Has Audi had a class action lawsuit like GM had? Everything fails sooner or later. Will I own it at that time? Hopefully not. Still, the EA825 engine has been said to be pretty solid. I have owned it since Feb of 24 and it had 22K and now I am about to do my 50K service.
Define dubious? It does save fuel. The amount might not be meaningful to you or I but it adds up in the grand scheme of things. This isn't a "one off" system for the C7 alone. It allows them to spread the benefits from the scale of enterprise all over. GM cheaped out and messed it up. Volkswagen seems to have made that engine for several platforms as well. The government never told GM to make it crappy or even use the system. It works for others so GM had it's own flavor and screwed it up.
Define dubious? It does save fuel. The amount might not be meaningful to you or I but it adds up in the grand scheme of things. This isn't a "one off" system for the C7 alone. It allows them to spread the benefits from the scale of enterprise all over. GM cheaped out and messed it up. Volkswagen seems to have made that engine for several platforms as well. The government never told GM to make it crappy or even use the system. It works for others so GM had it's own flavor and screwed it up.
While the government didn't dictate the use of these systems persay, the government has made unrealistic demands of the manufacturers via the CAFE requirements. Manufacturers have to scrounge for every fraction of a MPG to try and get their overall average up.
The use of these technologies is 100% driven by manufacturers trying to meet governmental regulations.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,229
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Every manufacturer has had problems with these displacement on demand systems and long term reliability. It's crappy technology that offers marginal fuel savings while sacrificing a huge amount of reliability. Unreliable vehicles that need constant major repair and early replacement have an environmental cost also.
While the government didn't dictate the use of these systems persay, the government has made unrealistic demands of the manufacturers via the CAFE requirements. Manufacturers have to scrounge for every fraction of a MPG to try and get their overall average up.
The use of these technologies is 100% driven by manufacturers trying to meet governmental regulations.
While the government didn't dictate the use of these systems persay, the government has made unrealistic demands of the manufacturers via the CAFE requirements. Manufacturers have to scrounge for every fraction of a MPG to try and get their overall average up.
The use of these technologies is 100% driven by manufacturers trying to meet governmental regulations.
Not for us, but future owners.
Just this morning, I read that the gov't has been directed to look into the crazy start/stop programs.
MAYBE, these insane programs that directly effect reliability and longevity will stop.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,020
Likes: 3,429
From: Plymouth Massachusetts
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C7 of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
Congrats and enjoy the beast!
Last edited by Always Red Dave; May 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM.
