Over a year ago, this blog described the problems related to the Active Fuel Management system, specifically excessive oil consumption, hydraulic lifter failures and subsequent engine destruction.
The detailed explanation of this troubling situation is included right here, thus, there is no need to go into the details once again.
Although the AFM related engine problems tend to appear at about 50k miles on +General Motors pick up trucks and SUVs equipped with this disaster, the same problems, first happening to base Stingray cars, started making their appearance on the newest Corvette flagship, Z06, considerably sooner that expected based on the pick up truck applications.
As expected from GM, the AFM related engine failures, remain unaddressed the great automaker since mid 2000's, costing pick up and SUV owners thousands of dollars and even more aggravation while dealing with the GM dealers.
The AFM problems already appearing on Z06 are only on the surface surprising. The conditions leading to these problems and engine failures are greatly accelerated (pun intended) under sustained high RPM driving conditions-something expected from the MOST CAPABLE CORVETTE EVER (at least according to +Tadge Juechter ). Still, the situation where almost brand new six figure flagship starts blowing blue smoke, clattering the lifters and eventually collapses the lifter can be super frustrating to the car owners.
As it is, there are already a few of these failures, with the dealerships facing engine replacements or rebuilds, leaving the fresh buyers with the loss of vehicle use and logically expected extra resale depreciation, all because GM still refuses to acknowledge the problem.
As with the base Stingray, the flagships equipped with the automatic transmission are most susceptible but of course, this disaster will happen to all flagships, just sooner to some than others.
It does make sense that the AFM problems would pop up sooner on the Vette, since the motor in the car application would go to the 4 cylinder mode more often due to less drag, weight, and gearing. Of course the truck guys tend to actually use the throttle, were as the old farts in the vettes just idle around. The old farts that drive these cars most likely are wearing adult diapers and they have enough problems with bowel control without sudden acceleration.
ReplyDeletei am actually surprised it comes out so soon but if it does, it is a sign of serious problems with the hastily applied technology, without considering the application. Lucky for Corvette buyers this comes out so early, otherwise second hand buyers would be really screwed although since the fix addresses the effect not the cause, future used car buyers will be really screwed. Apparently this must be one of the reasons why GM limited the warranty mileage on the new Corvettes this year. Should be interesting to see when this happens on a modified car, including someone who turned off the AFM and removed the cam phaser, LOL.
DeleteAFM = Another Fucking Mistake
ReplyDeleteI am proud owner 2015 ZO6 with bad lifter and camshaft damage that dealership is fixing under warranty with 3300 miles any advise they tell me they are replacing all lifters on 1 side camshaft and the AFM. Advise needed
ReplyDeleteDeactivate AFM permanently or better yet if you have the money and inclination and do not mind losing warranty, have the AFM lifters replaced with regular lifters and matching non AFM aftermarket camshafts and remove the AFM hardware.
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