AFM delete question
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45,000
Likes: 586
.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
I had lifters fail twice and the last time my truck was in the shop from early February until June and I got tired of waiting. The parts needed were in China and checking delivery a few times a week, I was constantly finding "Not available" at any dealerships or anywhere. ONE part was on ebay for about 4 times what it should cost. They wanted $1100.00. I called the shop and convinced them to do a delete. I got the truck back in a week and now own a tuner as well. Best move I ever made. It's a stock cam, but it's a truck so I don't care. It has Corvette lifters though .
.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45,000
Likes: 586
The shop that worked on mine gave me some advice between repairs.
Do NOT rely on your oil monitoring for oil changes. 5000 miles PERIOD.
Watch the oil level CONSTANTLY. Be OCD about it because according to them, less than half a quart low is a HUGE deal.
In my case, the lifter rotated in the PLASTIC keeper and the roller was perpendicular to the cam lobe. The first time it failed was caused by the VLOM being "sluggish" from extended use of oil ( I trusted the algorithms). It failed to pressurize / depressurize the lifter at #7 properly and resulted in failure.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
My understanding is this. There are weak/faulty GM lifters and then there are worse lifters available.
The shop that worked on mine gave me some advice between repairs.
Do NOT rely on your oil monitoring for oil changes. 5000 miles PERIOD.
Watch the oil level CONSTANTLY. Be OCD about it because according to them, less than half a quart low is a HUGE deal.
In my case, the lifter rotated in the PLASTIC keeper and the roller was perpendicular to the cam lobe. The first time it failed was caused by the VLOM being "sluggish" from extended use of oil ( I trusted the algorithms). It failed to pressurize / depressurize the lifter at #7 properly and resulted in failure.
The shop that worked on mine gave me some advice between repairs.
Do NOT rely on your oil monitoring for oil changes. 5000 miles PERIOD.
Watch the oil level CONSTANTLY. Be OCD about it because according to them, less than half a quart low is a HUGE deal.
In my case, the lifter rotated in the PLASTIC keeper and the roller was perpendicular to the cam lobe. The first time it failed was caused by the VLOM being "sluggish" from extended use of oil ( I trusted the algorithms). It failed to pressurize / depressurize the lifter at #7 properly and resulted in failure.
I decided to test to know the status of the oil instead of blindly assuming GM's algorithm was the best there was. Too bad it wasn't like MB with an oil quality sensor.
Lifters look like they are here to stay or remove the entire AFM system and have to retune for a rougher idle cam. Too bad we can't have better quality AFM lifters.
Last edited by aklim; Aug 9, 2023 at 09:41 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
My understanding is this. There are weak/faulty GM lifters and then there are worse lifters available.
The shop that worked on mine gave me some advice between repairs.
Do NOT rely on your oil monitoring for oil changes. 5000 miles PERIOD.
Watch the oil level CONSTANTLY. Be OCD about it because according to them, less than half a quart low is a HUGE deal.
In my case, the lifter rotated in the PLASTIC keeper and the roller was perpendicular to the cam lobe. The first time it failed was caused by the VLOM being "sluggish" from extended use of oil ( I trusted the algorithms). It failed to pressurize / depressurize the lifter at #7 properly and resulted in failure.
The shop that worked on mine gave me some advice between repairs.
Do NOT rely on your oil monitoring for oil changes. 5000 miles PERIOD.
Watch the oil level CONSTANTLY. Be OCD about it because according to them, less than half a quart low is a HUGE deal.
In my case, the lifter rotated in the PLASTIC keeper and the roller was perpendicular to the cam lobe. The first time it failed was caused by the VLOM being "sluggish" from extended use of oil ( I trusted the algorithms). It failed to pressurize / depressurize the lifter at #7 properly and resulted in failure.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45,000
Likes: 586
What oil do you use? I'd be curious to see what happens if you test it at 4500 miles. I will have to wait for the oil change after the next to get 5W30 oil in and tested. Right now it is still with 0W40 Supercar since I had to buy more than I needed to do the previous one that I had tested.
Why do you associate the full delete, with an aggressive cam? That is not a given. The cylinders that drop out ar ethe only ones with an odd profile. The AFM delete cam matches those lobes with the non-AFM lobes.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
The places I asked for a quote said so. It was either stockish or aggressive. I prefer smooth running. Supposed to be that the aggressive cams might not pass smog.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45,000
Likes: 586
Is that a recommendation for oil? I think it is 5W-30 or 0W-40. Maybe that is the issue? Again, without a test, we don't know for sure.
The places I asked for a quote said so. It was either stockish or aggressive. I prefer smooth running. Supposed to be that the aggressive cams might not pass smog.
The places I asked for a quote said so. It was either stockish or aggressive. I prefer smooth running. Supposed to be that the aggressive cams might not pass smog.
I don't want to miscommunicate. I am referring to a truck. Even though it is the same system etc. I can't speak to the oil recommendation for a Corvette vs a truck. I guess this disclaimer could certainly apply to a cam as well, but the fact that 4 cylinders already have a specific cam profile, logic dictates matching those will get you a stock cam with a stock idle.
The 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 requires 6.0 q of 5W-30 for the 4.3 L engine and 8.0 q of 0W-20 for the 5.3 L and 6.2 L engines and 8.5 q of 0W-20 for the Sierra Denali.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45,000
Likes: 586
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
I'm not sure who you consulted, but the EXACT match cam can go in that engine. Only the AFM lobes are different.
I don't want to miscommunicate. I am referring to a truck. Even though it is the same system etc. I can't speak to the oil recommendation for a Corvette vs a truck. I guess this disclaimer could certainly apply to a cam as well, but the fact that 4 cylinders already have a specific cam profile, logic dictates matching those will get you a stock cam with a stock idle.
I don't want to miscommunicate. I am referring to a truck. Even though it is the same system etc. I can't speak to the oil recommendation for a Corvette vs a truck. I guess this disclaimer could certainly apply to a cam as well, but the fact that 4 cylinders already have a specific cam profile, logic dictates matching those will get you a stock cam with a stock idle.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45,000
Likes: 586
This is where I would start.
https://sdparts.com/search.html?q=Co...AFM+delete+cam
