How GM Dealers Handle Engine Valve Lifter Issues
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A few days ago, we published a report highlighting the valve lifter issues some General Motors customers were experiencing in certain vehicles equipped with either its 5.3L V8 L84 gasoline engine or 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine. In light of this article, we’ve decided to provide some insight into how GM typically handles valve lifter issues on vehicles still covered under warranty.
If a customer brings their vehicle to a GM dealership and reports a valve lifter problem, the dealership will first determine whether or not the customer has experienced a previous valve lifter issue with this particular vehicle. If they have not and the vehicle has less than 8,000 miles on the odometer, the dealer will replace the lifters on both cylinder banks. If the vehicle has more than 8,000 miles, only one bank of lifters will be replaced.
5.3L L84 V8 engine
If the customer has experienced prior valve lifter failures, dealers can choose one of three options: replace one bank of lifters and offer the customer a 60-month, 100,000-mile Powertrain Component Coverage Letter, replace the entire engine, or reach out to the District Manager of Aftersales for further guidance. The solutions are similar for a customer that has experienced valve lifter issues in the past and had one bank of lifters replaced. In this case, the dealer can replace one bank of lifters and offer a 60-month, 100,000-mile Powertrain Component Coverage Letter or reach out to the District Manager of Aftersales.
The aforementioned valve lifter problem affects 2019-and-later model-year Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 pickups, as well as 2021 model-year full-size GM SUVs, including the Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Suburban, Chevy Tahoe, and GMC Yukon. More information on the issue is available in our dedicated report.
GM Authority intends to follow the valve lifter story closely and report on further updates as we receive them.
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Hey Gordo… Acting kinda tough. Who elected you god ?
GM just doesn’t care about their customers any more. Mary and her crew will be the death of GM and if they don’t kill it the EV’s will! I have a 2016 C7 Corvette w/40m miles on it and purchased the Rang device to kill the 4 cylinder mode. Hardy any difference in MPG on thw highway. Purchased an additional extended full coverag warrenty just last week. Piece of mind. The qualiy control has gone away.
Think I’ll add a comment to the rest of them here regarding lifters. I own a 2019 Silverado Trail Boss. Bank one lifters replaced after 10,000 miles due to faulty lifters . Covered by warranty. That was all they did. Vehicle now has less than 75,000 miles and the entire engine needs to be replaced. The lifters on the other side went out. Camshaft almost completely destroyed. I’m looking at nearly $10,000 here. There is a class action lawsuit filed I believe in New York on behalf of 5 owners. Does anyone know of any other lawsuits pending against General Motors over lifter problems?
Does Anyone have a update on this? – Just paid $4,319 for the lifter repair.
I was told when my lifters went out on brand new GMC Sierra 1500 Denali with the 6.2L V8 L87 gas engine (about 5000 miles) that it was because of how I was driving the truck. Long trips on flat surface roads caused the truck to drop out 4 cylinders for gas savings. The cylinders continue to leak oil by and if a prolong stretch of road there can be a considerable build up. Upon engaging the cylinders again for climbing a hill the inability to compress a liquid causes damage to the lifters. My dealer advisor advised me to add an aftermarket chip to avoid the gas savings mode but take off before servicing to avoid losing warranty. Since adding I have not had a problem with lifters. However, now about once a month my onboard computers crash (everything stops working) and I have to disconnect the battery for a minute. Probably bc of the chip. Wife wants me to sell it but I sure like the ride. Anyway, just FYI.
This is a new one…. had an oil change last week. Told the Service counter that the low Oil light came on recently & when checking it it was pretty low. They say, OH GM sent a bulletin this last week or so that a qt. every 2,000 miles is acceptable. This is a 2021 GMC with the 5.3L with 40k miles. Left bank of lifters went out under 10k miles and the right side shortly after…… This is close to becoming a “lemon”???
Just got my 2021 Silverado with less than 13k miles into service due to issues with lifters. It was less than 10 days from oil change. Had to interrupt my trip short, and rent a car on my own for two days until they completed the diagnosis. I did get a loaner after that. One that i cannot take long trips with. Service personnel has been very helpful.