[bass567]

My question is simple: Would you guys recommend I disable the AFM on my '23 2SS? I am thinking about getting the Range OBD gizmo.

I understand that I will give up a some (theoretical ?) gas savings.
But the upside may be a lesser chance to run into some mechanical issues with the lifters that I read about on this forum.

Can you please share your views? Will the reliability be helped (I guess again theoretically) if the AFM will not be kicking in?

I mostly drive with a relatively light foot in the city and suburban traffic, and I see the V4 indicator light coming on quite often.

Also, I wonder if any of you guys with a high mileage record experienced troubles due to the AFM mechanics. Or is the danger of a failure simply overstated? Thank you.

[RIPws6]

Lifter damage is well known to happen due to AFM. Probably more documented on V8 Silverados but the same goes for any.
I have range and I love it. My commute to work is 40 miles there and 40 miles back. I can tell you the gasoline difference is very negligible if any at all.
I still average 28 miles to a gallon most trips depending on how spirited I drive…which goes the same whether you have AFM or not. lol!
You literally plug it in and start the car.
You will notice a series of flashes once plugged in. Each flash gives you the version number of your software. So eight flashes would be ver 8. Which I believe is the latest version.
So eight “blinks” followed by steady light. Once the steady light goes out, start the car. There are stories where people have plugged it in while the car was already started and the transmission wouldn’t go beyond 1st gear.
I don’t know if that is true or not, but I’ve never tried it. I’ve never had any issues with mine. It does what it says it’s going to do. V8 all the time.

[havelegs]

Probably won't notice that much difference in fuel economy, maybe 1mpg ~.

But, I have read on some Corvette forums that after not using AFM and then going back to it is where they had issues. I would probably keep the Range plugged in but maybe once a month take it out and let AFM activate to keep things in order.

It's not common for the AFM lifters to fail, but not uncommon. It's been known that if you go with long intervals between oil changes, that can increase the risk.

[2SS Capt]

I've had the Range AFM Disabler since I think may car had about 1,000 miles or so, been plugged in since, now I only have 10,500 miles but no issues... If I ever open up the motor I will definitely replace the lifters with non-AFM lifters...

[KindaOrange]

81,000 miles on my 2018 2SS. Had the range AFM disabler plugged in since ~22,000 miles and never had an issue. V8 all the time like it says. I take it out occasionally to ensure the v4 mode still works... and it does!

[SSShark]

Originally Posted by bass567

My question is simple: Would you guys recommend I disable the AFM on my '23 2SS? I am thinking about getting the Range OBD gizmo.

I understand that I will give up a some (theoretical ?) gas savings.
But the upside may be a lesser chance to run into some mechanical issues with the lifters that I read about on this forum.

Can you please share your views? Will the reliability be helped (I guess again theoretically) if the AFM will not be kicking in?

I mostly drive with a relatively light foot in the city and suburban traffic, and I see the V4 indicator light coming on quite often.

Also, I wonder if any of you guys with a high mileage record experienced troubles due to the AFM mechanics. Or is the danger of a failure simply overstated? Thank you.

I just tuned my car so I'm selling a Range if your interested. I used if for almost a year with absolutely no issues $100

[MT-SS1LE]

I have one plugged in full time as well. MPG difference is 1-2 mpg, if that. I don't plan to ever remove it.

[FH212]

That's interesting that everyone seems to keep theirs plugged in. The instructions on the box when I got mine says to unplug it after every drive? So that's what I do. Granted my car is a weekend cruiser and I do not drive it often. I would say gas mileage is no difference with it.

[KingLT1]

They probably recommend unplugging it to keep from draining the battery.

[SSShark]

Originally Posted by MT-SS1LE

I have one plugged in full time as well. MPG difference is 1-2 mpg, if that. I don't plan to ever remove it.

Mine is a daily driver so it was also plugged in full time. No issues.

[GearheadSS]

IMO, no. We see manual LT1 V8 cars with lifter failures and AFM was disabled from the factory on those cars.

[Abubaca]

IMO, no. We see manual LT1 V8 cars with lifter failures and AFM was disabled from the factory on those cars.

I've tuned it out of both of my Silverados. ...most of my hotrodding is on older cars, so i don't have an in depth knowledge of exactly how the system operates on the LT motors, but I know ALL the LT, and LS motors can potentially have lifter issues. More so than say, SB1 engines. That being said, the problem isn't the lifter failing, but whether or not the system get's "stuck" and is no longer able to switch back and forth. If that happens in V8 mode, no biggie, but in V4 mode, and well........get out the wallet.



...but yeah, if the LIFTER itself fails, then of course it makes no difference.

[MT-SS1LE]

Mine is driven only 2-3 times a month and have never had an issue with the battery draining with the unit plugged in 24/7. I could be mistaken, but I thought I read on this forum that Range fixed the battery draining issue with later firmware revisions?

[RideWithDanger]

Its recommended but there is no guarantee. There are people who have had it disabled and still had lifter issues, and people with 100k miles on a stock engine with no AFM disabled and still going strong.

Personally I had mine tuned out (along with the warranty) but if I ever encounter any issues im going full aftermarket cam with much better lifters.