So this happened today. The RAM was giving me a few issues and I was a little tired of having a pick up. Any words of wisdom about newish Suburbans?
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
My new to me 2013 Suburban
- Thread starter hammermachine
- Start date
I had a 2013 Sub a few years back. Same color as yours, but mine was the base model. I dunno about words of wisdom, but my wife loved it. On the highway so many people thought it was unmarked cop vehicle and would slow down and move over. 
I traded it for a pick-up, cuz it was hard to haul thing with a Sub unless you didn't care about the interior.
I traded it for a pick-up, cuz it was hard to haul thing with a Sub unless you didn't care about the interior.
I had a 2013 Sub a few years back. Same color as yours, but mine was the base model. I dunno about words of wisdom, but my wife loved it. On the highway so many people thought it was unmarked cop vehicle and would slow down and move over.
I traded it for a pick-up, cuz it was hard to haul thing with a Sub unless you didn't care about the interior.
I had the opposite problem. I always had stuff to move on rainy days. LOL!
Wife has a '12 Yukon Xl , 5.3 I didnt know about the problems with the valves sticking from the cylinder drop out feature. Hers starting using a couple quarts between oil changes. Shop said they do at least one fix a week on those motors usually starts around 100,000 miles. Which is when ours started using the oil.
I bought a thing that plugs into the OBD2 plug that deletes that function. I know the damage is done just trying to keep more from happening, hopefully. Lost some mileage of course running on all 8 all the time.
I think I figured out hers had it by the RPO codes in the glove box.
When I have to fix it I'm thinking of doing the delete kits I just need to look into it more.
I bought a thing that plugs into the OBD2 plug that deletes that function. I know the damage is done just trying to keep more from happening, hopefully. Lost some mileage of course running on all 8 all the time.
I think I figured out hers had it by the RPO codes in the glove box.
When I have to fix it I'm thinking of doing the delete kits I just need to look into it more.
IF the Burb has been maintained like it should, problems should be minimal. Common things I see is the HVAC buttons rub through the outer layer exposing the button color underneath, it don't affect the function just looks crappy.
The Engine is pretty solid actually. The DOD system gets overblown in my opinion, but can have it's issues that I normally see caused by excessively long maintenance intervals. The system uses oil pressure to turn off oil pressure to 4 pairs of lifters. This is done in the Valve Lifter Oil Manifold that sits in the valley under the intake manifold (and also why the knock sensors got relocated back to the block where they should have been). The key part here is a $5 oil screen on the main feed to the VLOM (and oil pressure sending unit). Run that oil long on the maintenance and guess what? The filter gets full, starts bypassing oil without filtering and the garbage that should have been caught in the filter makes it's way to the stupid little screen. A couple of symptoms can happen due to this. One the oil pressure readings go low. You'll have a gauge reading on or near zero with warnings coming from the DIC. Keep in mind the engine isn't making any death noises from loss of oil pressure. The other issue will be DOD specific codes and a check engine light on. If the system isn't getting oil, it won't work when commanded. Typically the oil pressure symptom hits first before the DOD stuff acts up. It's a simple fix. We usually check the oil pressure with a gauge at the block and verify the reading is off. Check the wiring and if it's ok, recommend the sensor and screen. From there it's pulling the intake to access and the parts change out easy from there.
A 13 will have a 6 speed trans, which other than busy shifting due to more gears to go to is solid as long as it's been maintained.
The rest of it is down to being 6 to 7 years old and having normal wear and tear. The platform itself was getting old by then since it was out since 2007, but in a lot of ways most of the kinks were worked out. I'd rather by the last year of a platform than the first of the new by what I've seen.
DM me the VIN and I can run it to see if it had any major repairs in warranty, recalls and such. I'll give you the scoop.
That’s a damn awesome reply!
Thanks for the advice. So basically stay on top of the maintenance and treat her good.
Yep. Fix stuff as it comes up and stay on the maintenance. No goofy high mileage, go for 10-15-20k oil change once a year garbage either.
This is my first experience with these motors.
I'm guessing that there is no outward indicator that anything may have been previously done to these motors? Mine had 90k on it when we bought it.
If I have to have it fixed in the future is it worth having the delete kit installed? I believe it's a new cam etc.
https://www.texas-speed.com/p-7379-dod-afm-delete-kit-for-536062-engines.aspx
She has been changing the oil every 3000 miles since we have had it and oil pressure stays in the middle to above on the gauge, is that a good interval with these motors?
Last edited:
It's more about filter life as previously mentioned. They make oils that work for 10-15k, but the filter won't last that long.
In my opinion, 3-5k is the longest I'd keep any type of oil in an engine of any kind, so I also think folks that will change filters without dumping the oil are just as bad as folks that go 15k between filter/oil changes.
Keep on the 3(ish)k interval and you'll be doing good.
In my opinion, 3-5k is the longest I'd keep any type of oil in an engine of any kind, so I also think folks that will change filters without dumping the oil are just as bad as folks that go 15k between filter/oil changes.
Keep on the 3(ish)k interval and you'll be doing good.
On the surface it's hard to tell. If the full blown delete kit is installed you won't see any clues from the outside.
My opinion here, if it's working I won't screw with it. I'm saying that based on what we see in our shop. It is a very small sampling compared to larger dealers or the rest of the internet says. We very rarely have to do repairs to the DOD system. It's not to say we haven't, but not at the volume the internet would have most believe they are failing like.
Intervals for oil changes would be between 3000-5000 miles. Not going by the oil life monitor either. Just get it changed regularly.
