2018 6.2 Chev gasoline engine failure

That vacuum pump is for the brake booster, needed during AFM activation for vacuum. It can be bypassed. Remove the belt and run a tee fitting and some hose to the booster off the PCV line for about $10 and 15 minutes. If you want to remove the pump totally, they sell plugs for the oil holes. Few videos on youtube. I did this last year when my nephew's 6.2 ate its lifters and I did his AFM delete.
is it just standard procedure to replace the pump when doing the job? If the pump was weak would it throw a check engine light or other codes? Is it possible it was only this pump that needed to be replaced, & nothing wrong with lifters?
 
I recently submitted oil analysis report for a sample that was pulled 4500 kilometers after this job. It is showing some fuel dilution, & higher levels of Iron and Chromium than I would like to see, I suggested he replace the oil at an early OCI, and possibly follow up with another oil analysis. Hoping its just some wear in metals from rebuilding top end.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: D60
is it just standard procedure to replace the pump when doing the job? If the pump was weak would it throw a check engine light or other codes? Is it possible it was only this pump that needed to be replaced, & nothing wrong with lifters?

Sorry, I worded that poorly. It has no roll at all in the AFM/DOD system. Its sole purpose is to give the brake booster vacuum. There was concern the booster did not get enough vacuum when the engines were shutting off cylinders, so the pump was used.

My nephew's pedal got hard and the brakes barely worked moving it in and out of my shop but did not set any codes. That is why I bypassed it. There were no wires on the pump. May have been a sensor on the booster but it was over a year ago so not sure.
 
I’ve had friends with the lifter issues here too. RAM has lifter issues. ford has timing guide issues, Chevy has lifter/cam issues. I’ve worked on my 2.7 eco some and it’s my least favorite vehicle to do anything under the hood on. The body mechanics to just keep your arms in there is like yoga. Ideally, a simple V6 naturally aspirated would be a more economical truck to live with in terms of upkeep. man, for 9k one can buy a decent used car.
 
I’ve had friends with the lifter issues here too. RAM has lifter issues. ford has timing guide issues, Chevy has lifter/cam issues. I’ve worked on my 2.7 eco some and it’s my least favorite vehicle to do anything under the hood on. The body mechanics to just keep your arms in there is like yoga. Ideally, a simple V6 naturally aspirated would be a more economical truck to live with in terms of upkeep. man, for 9k one can buy a decent used car.
Yeah, Its getting to be all about horsepower.
In my case a straight 6 engine would be ideal. I rarely pull large loads.
Currently I have the 2018 F150 3.5 Ecoboost, XLT with all the options I ever would want. Maxtow option with the 136 liter tank. I have had no issues with it yet. Almost 140000 miles on it. I will drive it until its end. Its already paid off and owes me nothing. If it does break down I have no issues throwing parts to it. Turbo's and transmission would be pricey too. They have always had timing issues, and my previous 2007 with the 5.4 engine would rattle and shake that somedays it sounded like an old diesel engine.


Years back we had an old 1970 F150 with the 300 cu inch straight 6. We worked it hard. It would pull a bale wagon hauling straw or hay bales home from the field. It was a 4 speed standard transmission and I know there were a few times when climbing slight incline on the back trail out of the field I'd just have to throw it in low gear and lug it up the hill. Seemed like the torque was there. Never gave any issues with the engine. Body had completely rusted away from the frame and it was scrapped. Motor would have gone twice as long.
 
Don't forget about the Toyota whole engine replacement issue.

You know, I had a friend who knew nothing about cars. He bought a brand new Tahoe last year (they don't just give those things away). They had the truck totally packed to travel to a relative's house on Thanksgiving last year, it was about a 7 hour drive. About halfway through the thing puts up warning lights and completely stops. Engine had gone. My assumption was that it was the usual lifter taking a dump stuff. GM of course put a new engine in it and everything. But when he was relaying this to me he said the problem is that "he has a harder time trusting it ever again." I can see why, car packed, wife and kids by the side of the road, cold weather, overall nasty scene. I sent an email to Mary Barra and the Chevrolet brand manager just saying they really needed to get this under control, they are turning off customers left and right. This guy knew nothing about cars and was really disappointed. A GM Executive communications lady called be back later and I relayed it all to her. I obviously didn't expect my phone call or email to have any effect, but I'm totally dismayed that they still haven't taken the necessary steps to fix this problem. It's been years now. It's like when you get GM TSB's and a new one comes out and the reason for the new bulletin is "Added 2024 Model Year" to the same bulletin that has been out since like 2021. I guess it's too much to hope that they would just fix the problem. But then again, I keep buying GM trucks, so maybe I'm the fool.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom