Re-posted because I hit the reply before i finished editing)

Hi - My first time posting. I am posting because my 2008 Silverado 5.3L truck (110,000) is at the dealer now for a failed lifter. Dealer just called and said that camshaft is scored and needs replacing. He has suggested a new engine replacement as the cost to repair is within $1000.00 just to replace the whole engine. I am astounded that a failed lifter would create a situation where I need to replace the engine. To fellow posters, does sound possible? Reasonable? Thank you

 

Welcome to the forum...
As I understand it when the lifter fails it damages the cam shaft lobe(s)...
A good deal of the cost of the repair is the labor time, so swapping out the whole engine is overall more cost effective from that stand point....
A sure sign of the impending failure of the AFM is oil consumption, were you seeing your oil level regularly needing to be topped off?

 

I had noticed oil consumption, but not a lot. About 150 miles previous to the failure I had the oil and spark plugs changed at my local leasing dealer (not a Chevy dealer). Somehow, I can't help but think that this may have contributed to the failure. But, of course, I cannot prove it.

 

Its a known problem, so short of the folks servicing your vehicle driving it around without any oil in it, its most likely coincidental and nothing they did.
You could try opening a case with GM via Chevrolet Customer Service and see if you can get any "help" to cover some of the cost, but its going to take time...
And sadly its possible the new engine could suffer the same fate....

 

Thank you for your reply. Your comments suggest that an engine replacement is an expensive, but reasonable approach.

 

If you plan on keeping the vehicle for some time, the new engine is probably the way to go... if you are are considering trading it for something new... I'd consider having them put it all back together, change the oil and sell it....
6k goes a long way for a down payment....

 

This thread is getting more and more annoying be the month.

A select few out of the MILLIONS of 5.3 AFM engines are going south so that means Chevy Trucks and their engines all Suck........

Freaken Ridiculous............

 

For the thousands of us who have been impacted by this, and the miniscule amount of support that GM has offered, we completely agree with the last two words of your post. Most of us are not saying all GM products suck, just that there were far too many lifter failures on the 5.3 AFM system for it to be a coincidence. Trolling is not helpful.

 

And what makes it worse, is its not a $500 or $800 repair or part that could be somewhat manageable, but a $2400 to $6000 one

 

Thanks for the heads up & link. Maybe Fiat & GM should merge afterall.