You may have noticed the small V8 sign beside the speedometer turning into V4 in certain driving conditions. The V4 mode shuts four of eight cylinders in your Chevy Silverado to improve mileage. But this prevents you from getting the full potential from your mighty V8.
So, how to disable V4 mode on Silverado? You can disable V4 mode by going to Settings in your truck’s dashboard in a few easy steps that I’ll discuss in detail. You can also use the AFM disabler tools to cancel the mode without any big deal!
I will tell you more about how you can do that conveniently in this article. So, let’s get started.
What Is V4 Mode on Silverado?
V4 mode on a Chevy Silverado is a sign of Active Fuel Management (AFM), which ensures the truck uses as less fuel as possible under light driving conditions. For example, suppose you are roaming around the town with an empty truck at under 75 mph.
In that case, the Active Fuel Management system will deactivate half the cylinders of your V8 engine to maximize fuel economy. This is known as V4 mode on your Chevy Silverado.
When the V4 mode is enabled, the truck will automatically switch between V8 and V4 modes depending on your driving conditions. You will see a small sign beside the speedometer in the display showing what mode you are in.
How Does V4 Mode Work?
Unlike other engines, your Chevy Silverado will have special valve lifters to keep intake and exhaust valves closed when necessary. These lifter plungers are controlled by Lifter Oil Manifold Assembly (LOMA) solenoids.
When the V4 mode is on, the solenoids get data from the Engine Control Module (ECM) and send pressurized oil flow to the valve lifters to keep them closed during intake and exhaust cycles.
This prevents cylinders 1, 4, 6, and 7 from getting air for combustion, hence deactivating them. The firing order of the engines can vary. You can check the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 5.3 firing order.
Why Should You Disable V4 Mode on Silverado?
Though the V4 mode can be highly fuel efficient, you might not want your truck to automatically switch to the V4 mode. In certain driving conditions, you need complete control over the engine output to get out of difficult situations. The truck automatically getting into V4 mode will cause issues.
Apart from that, you might want to enjoy the full potential of the V4 under the hood. The V4 mode prevents the truck from using full power by deactivating certain engine cylinders. So, you need to disable that mode on your Silverado.
How to Disable V4 Mode on Silverado?
Disabling the V4 mode can be tricky if you don’t know the right setting. And sometimes, it may require additional tools. I will break down both techniques so that you can quickly disable the V4 mode on your Silverado.
Disabling V4 Mode Using Dashboard Settings
This is the most straightforward technique and requires no additional tools. Check the steps below to disable the V4 mode.
- Turn the truck on. You need to make sure the V4 mode is enabled before disabling it. This can be checked by going to the V4 option in your dashboard setting. If the vehicle is in V4 mode, a disable button will appear. Otherwise, you will see the enable button. But if you already know the truck is in V4 mode, you can skip this test.
- Directly go to Settings using the buttons on your steering wheel.
- Select the V4 option from there.
- Select Disable option and confirm by pressing OK.
- That’s it. A message will appear on the dashboard to notify the V4 mode has been disabled.
Using Range AFM Disabler
If the previous technique doesn’t work on your Chevy Silverado, you can follow this technique to disable V4 mode. To do this, you need the Range AFM Disabler.
- Once you have the AFM disabler, you need to plug it into the OBD2 port of your vehicle. The port is located under the steering column.
- Right after you plug the device in, it will disable the V4 mode on your Silverado. You can now enjoy the full power of your V8 engine.
Sometimes, you might need to use the OBD2 port to diagnose specific issues, including many misleading error codes such as the b2aaa code Chevy Silverado. If you remove the AFM disabler from the port, the truck will return to factory settings.
FAQs
You may still have some questions in mind regarding the V4 mode. I will try to clarify them below.
Does disabling V4 mode affect the ECU?
No, disabling V4 mode won’t affect the ECU as it doesn’t reprogram the computer in your truck. So, once you enable V4 mode again, the truck will perform as required without any issues.
Will disabling AFM void the warranty?
Many Silverado owners fear disabling V4 mode in case it voids the warranty. But as long as you don’t bring any change to the computer, there will be no issues with the warranty.
How fuel efficient is the V4 mode?
When the V4 mode is enabled, the engine needs a lot less firing for every power cycle. So, your truck will show better fuel economy. You may see about a 7% improvement in the fuel economy while staying in the V4 mode.
Does AFM cause lifter failure?
As lifter plungers need to work very often in the V4 mode, they will wear out quickly. Sometimes, they can fail to close the respective valve when required. If you disable the V4 mode, lifters will work fine for longer.
Conclusion
Though the V4 mode is beneficial when you roam around at low speed or don’t tow anything, the automatic mode switching can be a hassle while driving offroad. So, you should know how to disable V4 mode on Silverado.
The easiest way is to do it from the dashboard settings. If that’s not possible, you can use additional tools like an AFM disabler to turn off the setting. Once you disable V4 mode on Silverado, it will unleash the full power to be the beast you deserve.
