Questions about AFM delete tune

[13yukonNJ]

I have a 2013 Yukon 5.3 with 72,000 miles. It doesn't really consume any oil, but the engine does tick when it's cold outside, and it does vibrate and otherwise act annoying when switching between 4cyl and 8cyl mode. There a tuner shop close by that specializes in GMs (mostly Corvettes, SS, and Pontiacs) that I asked for an estimate to tune the engine so it always stays in V8 mode. I am not interested in plugging in a Range device. I've read everything there is to know on them, but it's not something I want to do.

The estimate came back for almost $2,700.00 (before sales tax). The breakdown was $562 for the AFM delete kit, $1,250 for labor, $125 for miscellaneous stuff, $70 for oil and filter change, and $650 for tuning the vehicle. Is this a fair price? I am going to call the shop back to discuss the estimate and learn more about everything, as I'm not particularly that engine savvy aside from changing my oil and filters, but before I call I wanted to learn some more so I know what I'm talking about with the guy.

The $650 to tune the vehicle was the most startling thing to me. From what I have read, both on this forum and others, it seemed like $50 to $150 was a fair price range for the engine tune. Any idea why this would cost so much? I haven't had any lifters collapse and my truck runs completely fine with no check engine lights or anything. Do I need to have the delete kit installed or can I get by with just the tune? Or should I just save all the money and keep driving it the way it is? Do you think a normal mechanic would be able to do any of this instead of going to this specialty shop?

Some background, it that helps: I'm the 3rd owner. It was a rental car for 0 to 15,000 miles and I don't know the maintenance history during those 10ish months. From 15,000 to 61,000 miles it was owned by somebody in very rural PA and they maintained it very well, with oil changes roughly every 3,000 miles at the dealership. It's got some minor rust on the bottom but it's been undercoated twice, both by the middle owner and me. There's also some minor rust in the engine.

 

[Ilikemtb999]

$50-150 sounds like they’d just be tuning out afm. It’s sounding like they’re quoting you for a performance tune at $650.


Is this quote for a stock style camshaft or aftermarket?

 

[13yukonNJ]

$50-150 sounds like they’d just be tuning out afm. It’s sounding like they’re quoting you for a performance tune at $650.


Is this quote for a stock style camshaft or aftermarket?

I definitely don't want or need a performance tune. As for the stock style camshaft vs. aftermarket, I don't know, I will have to call and ask. I'm leaning towards not doing any work right now, unless there's a much cheaper way of doing it.

 

[Ilikemtb999]

I’m sure you can talk to them about your simple goals and they could accommodate you. Their estimate doesn’t sound too crazy to me though. I’d go for a larger camshaft and tune though (which are plan I have when I delete afm but keep vvt)

 

[BlackBearPerf]

For your vehicle, 2013 Yukon 5.3, we can do a single item tune, we will ONLY disable the AFM. That would be $125, and you would have to send in your ECM in and we disable it, and send it back.

Now if you wanted a full tune with AFM disabled within the tune, for that vehicle it would be our AutoCal, you would keep the hardware, the AutoCal will allow us to see your vehicle data and provide custom tune files via email, that option is $599.

 

[13yukonNJ]

Okay so I spoke with the guy at the tuning shop. He said I can get just the tune to get rid of AFM done for $250, but he recommends doing a full tune for $550 because he said if he gets rid of the AFM it will change the way the engine behaves so he suggested correcting that with a full tune. Does anyone have any insight on this? He said the reason just getting rid of the AFM would cost $250 is because he has to pay for a license on the tune.

 

[TJ Baker]

I was just noodling around and came across this.....

https://www.onallcylinders.com/2017...ble-active-fuel-management-afm-on-gm-engines/

My Yukon is an 05 without AFM but I found the writeup enlightening.

 

[Ilikemtb999]

Okay so I spoke with the guy at the tuning shop. He said I can get just the tune to get rid of AFM done for $250, but he recommends doing a full tune for $550 because he said if he gets rid of the AFM it will change the way the engine behaves so he suggested correcting that with a full tune. Does anyone have any insight on this? He said the reason just getting rid of the AFM would cost $250 is because he has to pay for a license on the tune.

I think a tune is a beneficial thing even on a stock vehicle.

At $250 I’m guessing they’re using hptuners to tune. I kind of thought if you had the shop version you didn’t pay for more licenses though. That’s about the price if you had a personal version of it and wanted to add credits for another vehicle.

 

[kbuskill]

Diablo charges $150 for an extra license.

You could probably pick up a used Diablo I2 and pay for the extra license for not much more and that would allow you to change other parameters as you please, when you please....

As long as the original tune was returned to the Diablo tuner before it's sold then it isn't married to the original vehicle any more and you wouldn't need to pay for an extra license.

My brother paid $175-$200 for his a couple years ago.

My 2 bits.

 

[Doubeleive]

ya you can easily pick up a used umarried canned tune off of ebay for $150

 

[iamdub]

$650 is around what custom tunes cost. For deleting AFM with a stock, non-AFM cam, you'd just need a stock, non-AFM tune. There's a guy that deletes AFM from the stock tune for $50 but you have to send him your PCM. If you can have your car down for a few days, this would be a cheap start. Then, if you decide to mechanically delete the AFM components later, which I strongly suggest, you would just need the parts swapped out and no tuning will be required. A competent mechanic familiar with the LS engine should be able to handle this and likely for less than what a performance shop would charge.

 

[swathdiver]

Your truck has all of the updated AFM parts. Vibrations from engagement are caused by weak or busted engine mounts and or a failing VLOM. Check those out and fix as needed and keep driving it.

On the other hand, the BlackBear tune's greatest benefit is not just turning off AFM but in tuning the transmission, for me anyway.

If you prefer to physically delete the AFM components, you do not need a big fancy lopey cam that will kill your bottom that seems all the rage these days. Crane and Cam Motion and Vinci all have very mild, low lift camshafts that don't even require valve spring changes as their lift is still within the tolerances of the stock springs. Google around here for my posts and others on the subject. I was going to do it but just left the AFM disabled through the tune. Motor and trans run like a dream.

 

[la silver bullet]

Your truck has all of the updated AFM parts. Vibrations from engagement are caused by weak or busted engine mounts and or a failing VLOM. Check those out and fix as needed and keep driving it.

On the other hand, the BlackBear tune's greatest benefit is not just turning off AFM but in tuning the transmission, for me anyway.

If you prefer to physically delete the AFM components, you do not need a big fancy lopey cam that will kill your bottom that seems all the rage these days. Crane and Cam Motion and Vinci all have very mild, low lift camshafts that don't even require valve spring changes as their lift is still within the tolerances of the stock springs. Google around here for my posts and others on the subject. I was going to do it but just left the AFM disabled through the tune. Motor and trans run like a dream.

So you just tuned the AFM off and that’s it no extra parts like a cam etc?

 

[PG01]

So you just tuned the AFM off and that’s it no extra parts like a cam etc?

Yup, failure can still happen tho but its a better feeling knowing its tuned out.

 

[buck91]

For your vehicle, 2013 Yukon 5.3, we can do a single item tune, we will ONLY disable the AFM. That would be $125, and you would have to send in your ECM in and we disable it, and send it back.

Now if you wanted a full tune with AFM disabled within the tune, for that vehicle it would be our AutoCal, you would keep the hardware, the AutoCal will allow us to see your vehicle data and provide custom tune files via email, that option is $599.

This is very interesting to me. My wife has a 2011 ‘hoe in great shape but I’d like to disable the afm. No need for a performance tune on this vehicle. Should I PM for details?


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[swathdiver]

This is very interesting to me. My wife has a 2011 ‘hoe in great shape but I’d like to disable the afm. No need for a performance tune on this vehicle. Should I PM for details?

What BlackBear does to the transmission is so worth it! More fun, more efficient, increased durability.

 

[BlackBearPerf]

This is very interesting to me. My wife has a 2011 ‘hoe in great shape but I’d like to disable the afm. No need for a performance tune on this vehicle. Should I PM for details?


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We would be happy to help. You can email [email protected] or call 877-809-4070, and you could PM as well.