So I've heard the rumblings of the GM lifter issue leading to bent rods and major engine work. How pervasive is it? Is it confined to a year band?

Generally - I like the Silverado price, interior and style but the engine issues has me nervous. Brother had a 5.3 with zero issues on it but sold it last summer for a Jeep and he only had 17k on it so not a real test. I tend to keep my stuff well into 6 figures.

So is there a new Silverado I can buy today that avoids the lifter issue? Are they mostly cleaned up? I do not want a diesel nor larger than the 5.3 in the gasser (unless it's equal or better in MPG)

The issue was some bad lifter parts used to produce motors from Sept’ 20 through Mar ‘21 (https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2021/12/are-there-new-problems-with-gm-v-8-engine-lifters-lurking/ ). The issue doesn’t seem as widespread as it sounds on forums, etc, from what I can gather. I’ve only met one person who had issues, and I’ve talked to 15-20 owners of newer trucks (neighbors, my dad, coworkers, etc). I met the one guy because GM was buying his back and he listed a like new bedcover on Facebook Marketplace.

I have a ‘21 Sierra 1500 AT4 with the 6.2L that was built in June (engine built in May). I had a scare with about 2500 mile on it, electronics went haywire, etc. It turned out to be a bad cell in the battery, replaced it and no issues since (9k miles now, knock on wood).

I’m not brand loyal, have owned 3 Toyotas, 1 Dodge, 2 Chevy’s, 2 Fords and this (my first GMC). So far, I am pretty happy with it. Traded a ‘19 F150 Ecoboost for it, was a nice truck but I am a V8 guy and couldn’t warm up to the ecoboost myself.

Interesting - good to know. Maybe now I'll pay more serious attention to the local dealer and what they have.

Any easy way to tell build dates?

I know one guy that had it happen, engine had to be rebuilt. My brother owns a 2009 and 2028 Silverado and has not had any issues. The 2009 has 250k on it, and he does change the oil at 3000 not 10k like Chevy recommends.

Because of the Chip shortage most new Silverado/GMC trucks do not have operational DFM and you get a 50 dollar credit on the sticker.

No expert at trucks mechanics, but lifters on my 2013 Silverado got messed up due to malfunctioning Active Fuel Management system. That system can be de-activated. Don't know if that will solve all lifter problems or not.

2014 Silverado 4x4, 93K miles. 5.3L. Still does over 20 MPG highway. Fuel management system works fine. No major issues beyond a new A/C condenser last year (at dealer, $350) Engine has always been noisy, due to what they call a "high pressure oil system" and 0W20 synthetic pizz for motor oil.

Oil and filter every 5K miles since new. Been over 20 years since I had a truck with this much mileage, as I was on an every four year swap cycle. Too old and too poor for that now.

The active fuel management crap is the culprit, cuts oil pressure to the lifters on the deactivated cylinders, have had 2 at work recently that went south, about a 2,000.00 fix.
Without AFM they are great engines.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

This

2009 Silverado 1500 with a 5.3 and no AFM. 183K and still doesn't use a quart between changes.

My AFM went out at just over 100K. Worked fine until it didn't.

I have a 2020 Chevy Trailboss with the 5.3L and I am deleting the active/dynamic fuel management on it after it rolls over 20K on the speedometer. I’ve been hearing quite a bit on the topic as well, so I did some research and what I’ve seen goes back to 2019 at least with all 6.2L and 5.3L engines being an issue, with 6.2L being the worst. Another issue of concern, the auto start while sitting at red lights, etc. I’d expect premature wear of starters etc, involved in that as well.

AFM sucks, but I don’t think they use the starter to start the engine with the auto stop/start. I believe they fire off a cylinder that is at it near TDC, but I could be wrong. It doesn’t seem like it would be good for the overall oiling of the engine.

The auto start scares me not at all. Been around a long time. GF has a car with it - zero issues in 9 years

The AFM/DFM lifters are the issue, not the program or how it works, etc. The new ones without chips still have the same lifters, so no real bonus there in my opinion. The only way to fully “delete” it is replacing all of the lifters with aftermarket non-AFM/DFM lifters along with tuning it out of the ECM ($$$).