Zach H

Hey guys,

I have a 2018 Tahoe with 78,000 miles has a tick coming from what sounds like the area around cylinder #1. It’s not showing any trouble codes or MILs, and the sound has become less severe over the past few weeks. I recently put some Sea Foam in my oil as a last ditch effort to clean things out.

I want your input on how to proceed:
1) pay the dealer $6500 to have it pulled apart and fixed
2) go somewhere else
3) have the AFM/ DOD removed and install normal cams and lifters
4) do nothing and not worry about it

im about to move to Alaska and really don’t want to worry about having an engine failure in the winter up there

cheers

repairman54

If you were doing regular oil changes then there is no need to put anything in the oil. Cleaners only dilute the oils bearing protection.
A lifter tick would need inspection of the cam and lifters. Worn cam only would get worse not better.

Zach H

Ok thanks! so you recommend getting it inspected and repaired over doing nothing - would you recommend having the AFM components removed for regular ones so it runs V8 all the time?

repairman54

Run it, could just be a sticky lifter since it's gotten better. I have had a Range AFM eliminator module plugged into my '11 5.3 for 110k miles now so it stays in V8 mode always, no issues now at 143k miles.