If you own a Chevy Silverado with Active Fuel Management (AFM), also known as Displacement on Demand (DOD), you may have experienced increased oil consumption. This article discusses one owner’s experience with disabling DOD and its impact on oil usage.
One Silverado owner noticed a sudden increase in oil consumption after owning their truck for a while. It went from barely using any oil to needing two quarts added before even reaching the halfway point of an oil change interval. The solution? Disabling the AFM system with a handheld tuner. After this simple modification, oil consumption returned to normal levels, requiring only about a quarter of a quart every 5,000-6,000 miles. Interestingly, fuel economy remained unchanged or even slightly improved.
Even with the AFM disabled and mileage increasing to over 200,000 miles, the truck still required some oil, needing about a quart added midway through an oil change. This, however, was attributed to the high mileage and minor leaks common in older vehicles. All original AFM components remained installed, though deactivated via the tune, and the truck continued to run smoothly.
While this experience suggests a correlation between AFM and increased oil consumption, it’s important to note that other factors could contribute to this issue, such as a leaking valve cover. This article solely recounts one owner’s personal experience and doesn’t guarantee disabling DOD will solve everyone’s oil consumption problems.
Finally, regarding other potential issues, the same owner confirmed their original O2 sensors were still functioning well over 200,000 miles. Even the original spark plugs, though heavily worn, didn’t significantly impact performance before being replaced. This highlights the durability of some components in these trucks.
