Are all 6.2L's ticking time bombs?

Discussion Forum
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Shopping for a new vehicle… I don’t need one, but I want one and can afford it right now. I found a 2024 Suburban with a 6.2L that the dealer is prepared to compromise on pricing. But, even with a discount, are these engines worth choosing over the tried-and-true 5.3L? I feel like I’ve heard nothing but horror stories about these grenades exploding at various distances ranging from a few hundred to around 100,000.

Is all of this an indication of AFM? If it comes to it, I intend to get an AFM deletion the moment I buy the vehicle.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

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The 6.2L is simply a 5.3L with a bigger bore; both contain DFM.

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No, not all of them are ticking time bombs. As with anything, the small minority speaks louder than the vast majority.

My family had two with no engine or transmission problems for 150k miles before they were sold. No changes, just routine maintenance.

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I would guess that deleting the AFM would void your warranty. The best course of action would be to wait out the warranty, replace the engine if necessary, and then delete the AFM once the warranty expires.

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It’s the same hemi bs… both are good engines that go millions of miles each day… You’re definitely going to hear about every setback these days…

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My 2022 Duramax is 32000, and everything is fine. SIDE NOTE: Consider negotiating an Onstar agreement. When you buy it, you get a trial period. For the most part, it is not worth it. The lower level of Onstar (which is owned by GMC) is useful for locking/unlocking and remote starting your car while you are out of range of your key fob. GM wants you to pay $20 per month after you just spent $70,000 on a new Burban. Fuck them for trying to get more from their clients. Ford does not do it.

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OnStar is what reports your driving to the insurance agencies, delete all that shit

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Not worried, “I drive 55” Ford does the same with their telemetry.

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They removed that feature so not anymore

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An AFM deletion is not a panacea. The AFM works with a hydraulic system that uses engine oil as a working fluid to activate and deactivate the lifters as the ECM turns the cylinders on and off. This hydraulic system breaks, resulting in collapsed lifters and a large repair bill.

All the “AFM delete” modules do is deceive the ECM into not turning off the cylinders. They do little to slow the progression of failure because the engine undergoes no mechanical modifications. The mechanism is still operational, pressuring the lifters to open and close the valves.

If you have your heart set on one of these vehicles, go in with a gloomy attitude, estimating a four-figure repair price of around $100,000, and plan accordingly. These items cost $60k, $70k, or more when new; at $100k, they’ll still be worth a third to half that, and will undoubtedly be worth fixing.

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The software update alone doesn’t solve the problem, but new mechanical parts and lifters are available that do.

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Yes, a ‘delete’ is when the mechanical parts are swapped. A ‘disable’ is when the electronic control is turned off.

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I’m quite confident the OP was referring to one of the several OBD-II dongles on the market that delete disable AFM.

Actually mechanically “deleting” AFM DFM (the OP is looking at a 2024, which has the newer Dynamic Fuel Management system) from the truck would require firing the parts cannon at it, at a cost roughly equal to that of the repairs needed when the AFM DFM eventually sh—s itself. It would also require an ECM tune, or at least a module, so the ECM doesn’t throw codes when the cylinders don’t shut off.

You’d be a fool to proactively do all that to a brand new truck that still has the totality of its 5 year/60k powertrain warranty ahead of it. Wait till it dies on its own.

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