Camshaft/lifter failure 2012 Yukon Denali

91RS · Aug 10, 2020

Call some performance shops in your area and ask about a cam and AFM delete. The AFM has to be disabled in the tune anyway after all the parts are deleted and a cam swap is their bread and butter.

Tonyrodz · Aug 10, 2020

Rad03 said:
Hi all,

I recently purchased a 2012 GMC Yukon XL Denali (6.2L) about 9 months ago with currently around 128k miles. The vehicle was running fine until recently when driving home, we hear a "pop", almost sounded like we ran something over (but didn't) and the engine started having some clicking type noises that get louder with acceleration.

I took a quick code from the vehicle and it reporting misfires in cylinder 1. I took it in to the shop for inspection and they diagnosed the issue as camshaft/lifter failure. They are recommending a replacement engine due to time taken to fix headers is quoted around 20+ hours (same or more than engine replacement). New engine replacement is quoted at $9300 from this shop for everything including two motor mount replacements (which are cracked). I just find it tough to consider a full replacement engine at 130k miles opposed to a camshaft/lifter work as they are recommending.

I am pretty out of my element when it comes to an engine replacement and my previous experience with working on cars involve much smaller projects when needed. Quick searching shows that lifter failure is common on this vehicle if it has AFM (which honestly don't know if it has - assuming so).

Rookie type questions below to help me determine best path to take from others who potentially has had this issue on this engine:
Is there a known way to block the AFM that I should consider having done? If so, does anyone know how much of a difference in gas millage this would be? Has anyone who has had camshaft/lifter work done previously have any issues after fixing?

Just curious--did you not get a warranty with the vehicle purchase? Bought it as is? I'd think they'd at least have offered you a warranty. If so--is this warranty work? If so, what's the % that they pay?

08grey · Aug 10, 2020

Its a 6.2 it dosent have afm. It may have affected components but they are not activated

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mikeyss · Aug 10, 2020

08grey said:
Its a 6.2 it dosent have afm. It may have affected components but they are not activated

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2010-2014 6.2 Denali and Escalades DO have AFM... It's called a L94. I believe the OP's vehicle is a 2012 Denali which DOES have AFM.

trailblazer · Aug 10, 2020

Wow this thread makes me cringe. The shop quotes should show you how interested they are in doing the job.
Avionics dealers quote the same way. I had a new Garmin GTN and some other crap installed in my bird and I had quotes from $25k to $35k for the exact same work. That is ridiculous. It is quite common practice though; it’s an industry way of saying “No Thank You” to the customer. I digress...
Last year by buddies Silvy lost its 6.0 and he got a Jasper new/reman installed for $5500 out the door with tax. Yeah it’s not a 6.2 but I can’t see why it would cost $4000 more.

swathdiver · Aug 10, 2020

Rad03 said:
thanks for the feedback!

You're correct, I probably wouldn't have the tools for something like this. I have only attempted smaller projects in the past. This will likely be done in a shop, much to my dread.

AFM delete makes sense, I'll check into this if I just do lifeter/cam work.

In terms of quotes from the shop, there is only a $2k difference between a new engine and fixing the lifters/cams. $9700 for new engine with 6 year warranty/100k miles, or $7500 for cam work. This includes two engine mount replacement and other shop fees. They were explaining to me that there is a improved engine design for these vehicles which solves the original issues with these engines that caused them to fail like this. If the price point is not hugely different, I may consider this.

$7500 does seem high for cam/lifter work and two engine mounts, may see what other shops quote.

That's awfully pricey Ryan. The improved engine is the older one without AFM, the L9H, you can convert yours to that with a new cam and lifters and BOOM!, you have an L9H.

91RS · Aug 11, 2020

08grey said:
Its a 6.2 it dosent have afm. It may have affected components but they are not activated

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk

As stated the 10-14 L94 does have AFM. It's only the very early L92 that has the AFM components in the engine but are disabled in the tune, HOWEVER; just because the components are disabled does NOT mean they won't still break. It should increase their longevity because the lifters aren't locking and unlocking all the time but the lock pin isn't the only way they can fail.

Another thing I forgot to mention in my post above, a lot of performance shops have set prices for a cam swap on a certain vehicle rather than using book time and their labor rate is usually less than a dealership or independent so that could potentially make a cam and lifter swap much cheaper for you and you could even go with an aftermarket cam and come away with some more power.

91RS · Aug 11, 2020

trailblazer said:
Wow this thread makes me cringe. The shop quotes should show you how interested they are in doing the job.

Right but it isn't always just the screw the customer over. Many shops will not do internal engine work because of the liability. Once they crack that engine open it's their baby. If they put a cam and lifters in and then it throws a rod in two weeks they get to replace the engine on their dime or lose customers telling them to pound sand. If they sell a new/reman engine then it's under warranty and no matter what happens to it the warranty will cover it.

donjetman · Aug 11, 2020

My 07 Yukon Denali 6.2 L92 has a non-afm smooth valley cover.

Camshaft/lifter failure 2012 Yukon Denali

91RS

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