Scotty, I have a 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3. I've read the Diablo tuner is pretty decent...it can shut of the "v4" mode, help with the lackluster throttle response, and help with some power increases. What do you think?
Unless you have experience using scan tools, I would be very, very careful about plugging a Diablo scanner into your truck and making software changes.
It would be cheaper for you, since you have a GM, to look into OBD-II solutions that have been proven to disable AFM and that do not require any programming input on your end. Realize that you are not going to get a power boost. You're just going to have all 8 cylinders running at the same time, but the motor will still output the same amount of power. It is a good idea, I believe and it is pretty much universally agreed here on the forum, to eliminate the AFM system. You just need to know that disabling it via software does not get rid of the AFM hardware components in the motor. To do that, you would need to open up the engine, replace the AFM lifters, replace the AFM camshaft, and have a professional tune done to make it work right. It is about a $3000 job all told.
@DayWalker has mentioned a lot of the GM guys have had success with Range Technology's device. I would look into it if you just want to disable the system and leave the components alone.
I'm sorry, I don't totally understand what you are saying the solution is. Are you saying I can pay GM to disable the afm?
No apology needed. I can explain. The dealership won't disable it, but you can buy third party software that can or take it to a third party shop that can remove all the AFM parts from the motor and basically make it like it never had AFM at all. I would read up on the device from Range Technology and see if you think that would meet your needs. 🙂
Thank you for your help on this!
You're welcome! 🙂
With respect to cylinder deactivation, Range Technology (which is an OBDII dongle that does NOT re-tune the ECU) is proven, and one of the very few manufacturers I can recommend for disabling AFM if you didn’t want to go through the cost and effort to remove the AFM hardware (by a reputable shop). The C7 Corvette guys and also Chevrolet Silverado truck owners have been using that device for many years to stay in V8 mode the whole time and it has worked well with hardly any issues. It won’t even drain your battery when plugged in like some other devices might. On some cars you might be able to defeat cylinder deactivation by driving in a certain mode (but you have to be in that mode the whole time), but the Range Technology device makes it so it disables cylinder deactivation no matter which mode you are in. I would only buy direct from Range Technology in order to get the latest firmware.
https://www.rangetechnology.com/products/afm-dfm_disabler/
So what I'm getting is that range technology is the safer way to go since all its doing is disabling the afm? That's all I want really, the truck has plenty of power as far as I'm concerned
@Arushton79 that is correct. It just plugs into your OBDII port and disables the AFM.
@DayWalker Thank you for clarifying this. Cheers. {blackemo}:hotdrink:
@Arushton79 Here is a video with overview of the Range Technology AFM Disabler:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OXw1nzFPr8s&feature=youtu.be
Thanks for your help!
Yea Scotty has said several times that he like this and if you can get it done it will help extend the life of the engine and it was a silly design from the start. You're never going to get great gas mileage with a 5.3l anyways and I know people don't buy em for that so turn that stupid V4 mode off for good.
Yeah I'm definitely not looking for better gas milage, that would be ignorant 😂...i just want my motor to last as long as possible - especially since I use my truck for pretty hard off road adventures