2014 Chev 1500 LT 4 x 4

[MNice]

Maybe a dumb question.... but.. can the AFM system be turned off? With all the aftermarket controllers out there, I would guess this would be possible.

[CaptainMusky]

Torque curves look great on paper. If you tow a ton then yeah an eco boost may be for you the ford lover. For most people however the additional cost far outweighs and perceived performance benefit. If they were the same price then sure go for the eco boost.

[ESSGuy]

Afm can be turned off. I have one on my 07, just plugs into diagnostic plug. The various super tuners also will disable afm. I lost on avg. 1.5-2 mpg.

[Down2Earth]

Torque curves look great on paper. If you tow a ton then yeah an eco boost may be for you the ford lover. For most people however the additional cost far outweighs and perceived performance benefit. If they were the same price then sure go for the eco boost.

Not a Ford Lover but I'm sure you know best. Actually a Chevy Lover until about 2010. Just I don't have rose colored glasses on and have to own one certain brand. Some people would continue to buy Junk in any brand because they are that loyal. AFM is junk plain and simple. They have been trying to get that system to work since way back in the Cadillacs of the 80's. The business I own has 1 2012 Dodge Cummins, 1 2012 3/4 ton Chevy, 1 2012 ecoboost, and 1 2014 Ford Power Stroke. All have been great trucks with employees driving them (which we all know how employees treat things)......knock on wood.

[Down2Earth]

I know when I asked me dealer they said it could but would void the warranty. However that was a few years ago.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

Torque curves look great on paper. If you tow a ton then yeah an eco boost may be for you the ford lover. For most people however the additional cost far outweighs and perceived performance benefit. If they were the same price then sure go for the eco boost.

There is no "perceived" performance benefit.

[fish_eat_sleep]

If you're set on GM thats great. You should buy a Silverado, if its the truck that makes you smile. Every Brand has their followers, their issues, and their selling points. I know the MPG is a concern for you, but there isn't an accurate way for anyone on here to predict that. EPA numbers are just numbers. Gasoline puts out the same BTU's regardless of engine or who made it. Tuning helps manufacturers work around the EPA test cycle. Thats why power is on a curve, with 6 gears and AFM.

Longterm costs, if you hold onto it are far more important. Things like, insurance, tabs, tune up costs, electronic and mechanical repairs. Something like a single unexpected repair cost could offset that 2 mpg you've been saving for 5 years. That is where you get guys, including myself saying things about the AFM or the fact that GM is in a pinch for money, I read a window sticker that said MADE IN MEXICO, 40% North American parts. Not anything about USA. Its not bad, but its clear they need the cheapest suppliers to max profit margins.

Im a huge fan of Fords product cycle, update 1/4th of the truck every 2-3 years, 7-11 year cycle and lots of interchangeable parts. The ecoboost idea seems logically superior in terms of mastering EPA cycles, longevity, thermal management, and lubrication. Honda, dodge, and GM used AFM to buy time and save on R&D costs in the short-term. All have similar issues.

Ford and even Toyota have an edge in the long run. That tundra has terrible EPA numbers but anyone that has one LOVES it. Made in USA, and will tell you the real world mpg is just fine.

If I was truck hunting, would wait 2 months for that new F150 and the 2.7EB. It will put the GM 5.3 the Ram ecodiesel to shame. Trust me.

If you don't care for the ford, toyota argument you should buy the chevy and ignore us chevy is good too, if you find the truck you love for the right price with a good dealer, the rest is history.

[huntnfish]

I think Harvey just doesn't want his Ford buddies getting the last laugh after he's been playing the Chevy Parady on youtube for them all the time . Yeah I'm talking from experience as that was a tough pill to swallow. Hahahahaha

Those videos were the funniest things I'd seen in a long time. A guy drives a jacked up Ford so he doesn't get his dress dirty when he gets out.

I bought a 2013 Ford with the 5.0 last year and love it. This was the first Ford I had ever owned, before that everything I'd ever owned was GM. I went with the Ford because they had the biggest back seat for hauling the kids in carseats and I could get the 6.5 box. A buddy didn't think the longer box was an issue until shortly after he bought his Chevy he slammed one of his Loomis rods in the tailgate. Now you can get the longer box with the GM's and I still don't regret my purchase.

[harvey lee]

I did a lot of research on the 5.3 engines with AFM. From what I could find, a very small percentage of the owners of the AFM 5.3 have had some oil consumption issues. Seems it related to the truck going from V* and to V$ dropping those 4 cylinder's.

If one is to be real concerned about the small chance of this oil consumption if it were to effect you. you could drive the truck in cruise control on the hwy and that stops the motor from dropping 4 cylinders and it stays in a V* mode.

Other option, purchase one of the Range systems to plug into the truck and that also will keep the motor running on all 8. Going to a dealer for service, you must unplug it and it does not leave a trace in your computer.

With all the good luck I have had with Chev Silverado's over the years, I purchased another as I really like the truck. I am more than willing to take that small chance for the truck I like.

What's the worst that can happen, I may have to add a little oil in the future if I were that unlucky.

With that said, there is not a motor out there that is 100% a good to go engine with no fears of any issues in the future, none. It's a motor.

As far as worrying about any other issue, I purchased an extended warranty to 140,000 miles so I am sure I will be good for some time if I keep the truck that long. 100% bumper to bumper.

[harvey lee]

Maybe a dumb question.... but.. can the AFM system be turned off? With all the aftermarket controllers out there, I would guess this would be possible.

It's called a RANGE plug in unit that will keep the motor in V8 all the time, they say along with many reviewers, they have not lost any mileage using this product. It also does not leave a trace or track in the computer.

Other way to eliminate the dropping of cylinders, drive on the HWY in CC. Least in the 2014 models this works.

There is a online company that sells this unit for $169.00, rest are $219.00 form what I saw when I searched them.

[Down2Earth]

Setting the cruise control has nothing to do with AFM activating or not. I believe there is a speed of 72 or 73 where it will not activate and mostly based on engine load torque in V4. A small percentage of 2014's may not have this problem of oil consumption but not many of them out there with a bunch of miles. Their time will come, hopefully not yours. This is a big problem and Chevy knows it. Just a quick google and it's guy after guy after guy page after page, with this problem. People online, if telling the truth, who run a fleet of GM trucks say about 20 percent have the problem. GM has been trying to figure this out since the 80s and haven't done so yet. I think in Chevys case the long extra warranty Harvey purchased was a smart decision.

Adding a little oil is not the worse that can happen.

[ESSGuy]

I have the range plug in. Works as advertised, although I got it at 60k and has helped some my 07 with 71000 still uses Around 1qt every 1000-1400 miles.

[harvey lee]

Setting the cruise control has nothing to do with AFM activating or not. I believe there is a speed of 72 or 73 where it will not activate and mostly based on engine load torque in V4. A small percentage of 2014's may not have this problem of oil consumption but not many of them out there with a bunch of miles. Their time will come, hopefully not yours. This is a big problem and Chevy knows it. Just a quick google and it's guy after guy after guy page after page, with this problem. People online, if telling the truth, who run a fleet of GM trucks say about 20 percent have the problem. GM has been trying to figure this out since the 80s and haven't done so yet. I think in Chevys case the long extra warranty Harvey purchased was a smart decision.

Adding a little oil is not the worse that can happen.

I would agree it could be an issue for the smaller percentage of owners who have had this oil consumption issue. People who do not have these issues, do not go online and complain, only the ones that have had it. If you take the total amount of trucks with this motor sold versus the percentage of users who have had an issue, is it really that big? As I said, for the ones that have a little oil issues it is but I believe that percentage is small. Yes, lots of people online with issues but how many with no issues?

Not trying to call anyone out, just sayin.

From what I have found with the RANGE unit, the engine will stay in V8 mode and never go into V4. When you put the CC on, the truck also does not go into V4 mode, stays in V8. My understanding is, the AFM in the truck drops the cylinders when AFM is activated.

I have driven the truck at 75 mph and when there was very little load like going down the hill, it does go to V4 mode, if I put CC on, it will not go to V4 mode or if the RANGE unit is plugged in.

This is what I have found while trying these methods.

What am I missing or not understanding?

[Down2Earth]

I don't think anyone is calling anyone out? At least I know I'm not. Just a discussion. IF it's 20% I'd say that is a lot when you shouldn't have to add any oil between oil changes. Plus GM states that it is ok if your engine uses 1qt/2000 miles and they won't do anything. Well that wouldn't be ok with me. Especially now when they talk about 10,000 miles between oil changes. If my wife was told that she would run that thing out of oil because she would never check it.

If you are doing say 55 with the CC on and going down hill and it doesn't switch into V4 mode I'd say you have a faulty ECM. It could just be learning your driving style. Maybe it needs some new computer code. Maybe every time you switch to CC the wind resistance picks up because God is trying to help you keep it in V8 mode. It should have nothing to do with being in CC. IT should have everything to do with how much torque/power your engine is requiring for the given task. I do know mine always said V8 mode at idle though.

[harvey lee]

Its too bad that you have had bad luck.

The truck is working as it should be, I have discussed this with the dealer since this subject went the way of issues with the AFM.

God has nothing to do with the CC and or it going from v8 to v4, nothing at all.

Other thing I would NEVER do is not change oil for 10,000 miles. I explained to the dealer I run synthetic oil and asked how often I should change it, he said 7,000 miles maximum. The fellow that told you 10,000 is stretching the limits of the oil big time, I am a firm believer in changing my oil very often, oil is a lot less than any motor out there.

What you have been told and experienced and what I have been told and experienced to date, we have 2 different trucks I would say.

I would have to believe the ones with issues is far less than the 20% you suggest, far from it.

[TR21HP]

My across the street neighbor is a dyed in the wool GM guy who happens to be a GM mechanic with a local dealer and we discussed the 5.3, as my bro in law just got a 2014 GMC Sierra SLT. Beautiful truck but the mechanic, although he says the 5.3 is a strong motor, will use oil at a rate of 1 Qt. per 1,500 miles usually and he says it is directly related to the AFM. He says that's just the nature of the beast and says it occurs far more than what is reported and suggests to most of the people who own them that they change oil at 5K to protect yourself and with the 2 year free oil change program why wouldn't you?

[Macgyver55]

07 and 08 were the main years they had problems. My last truck had 178,000 and used 0 oil in between changes (5000 miles) and same thing with my current 2011 with 67,000.

[harvey lee]

Well, 9 months down the road, I could not be happier with my 2014 Chev with the 5.3. Truck rides quiet, smooth and the mileage is fantastic.

 

Hwy mileage at best was 28.8 on a 150 mile run. When I went up to Rainy Lake over Memorial weekend, 350 miles towing the boat, got 16.8, was overjoyed.

 

This truck has been nothing short of awesome.