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DoD disable...but why?

A

Altairus

New member
As a GXP noob, I’ve been researching where to start as far as mods. I’ve come across a lot of posts recommending that DoD be disabled, and how to do it, but not a lot of solid info on what effect disabling it has. Most say something like, “Do it, because.” The most specific reasons I’ve found say 1. Because DoD sounds funky with aftermarket exhaust, and 2. it will reduce oil consumption. As of right now, I have stock exhaust, and I haven’t had the car long enough to know if I have an oil consumption problem. I am interested to know if there are any other advantages/disadvantages to disabling the DoD. Are there any performance gains? If so, would it only be when accelerating while cruising when the DoD would normally be active? Or is there an overall performance boost? What about disadvantages? I realize that it would result in a reduction in fuel efficiency, but how significant? Is it really going to have much of an effect on an otherwise stock vehicle (figure I’ll throw some sort of air intake setup on it pretty soon.)

Secondy, I am interested in the method of disabling it. I understand that using a tuner seems to be the best method, but I’ve read that simply unhooking the oil pressure sensor will disable DoD as well. Does disconnecting this sensor have any other ill effects (other than causing the MIL to come on)? The reason I am interested in this method is because I figure rather than just disconnecting the sensor, I could wire a toggle switch into the circuit which would enable me to enable/disable the DoD with the flick of a switch.

I appreciate any help anyone can provide, and if any of this has been covered elsewhere, please let me know where.
 


No perfomance gains or loss by disabling it. The reason to do it to prevent a possible a lifter failure as that is the number one failure on the early AFM/DoD cars. It can still happen with it turned off but less likely because it's not causing the DoD lifter to activate.

Mileage loss will be little to none depending on how you drive, maybe 1-2mpg if you are unlucky on the freeway.

Do not unplug the oil pressure switch, then you'd never know if you lose oil pressure for a different reason. Use a tuning software to disable.
 
Thanks for the replies. Just so I can put the issue to bed though...assuming that I plan on putting in an aftermarket oil pressure gauge, would there be any advantage to being able to toggle on/off the DoD via the oil pressure switch? Most of my driving is short city commute (where I imagine DoD wouldn't be very helpful), with occasional long highway trips out of town (where it might make a difference). Would switching be pointless?
 
I get poofs of smoke when I have mine enabled. I use my hp tuners to turn it off. I'm pretty sure something is wrong with it now just haven't had time to check into it.
 


Because it blows and it's stupid and no one wants it.

No one wants a Harley sounding fart box on the highway when it kicks into four banger mode; especially if you have aftermarket exhaust on the car.

SgtMarshal said:
I get poofs of smoke when I have mine enabled. I use my hp tuners to turn it off. I'm pretty sure something is wrong with it now just haven't had time to check into it.
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It's time for new lifters and probably needs the pistons re-ringed.
 
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Originally Posted by SgtMarshal
I get poofs of smoke when I have mine enabled. I use my hp tuners to turn it off. I'm pretty sure something is wrong with it now just haven't had time to check into it.



lola
It's time for new lifters and probably needs the pistons re-ringed.

SgtMarshal


I got an extended warranty when I bought the car, and it's in the shop now. they are saying the harmonic balancer is delaminating and that's the cause of the puffs of smoke. I'm not sure if I believe that, but my extended warranty is covering it and an ac compressor, and a couple engine mounts, so I can't complain too much.

I'm pretty sure they are wrong on the diagnoses because when I turned off the dod I had no puffs of smoke, so when it does it again I'll take it back to them for them to fix it right.
 
lola said:
Because it blows and it's stupid and no one wants it.

No one wants a Harley sounding fart box on the highway when it kicks into four banger mode; especially if you have aftermarket exhaust on the car.



It's time for new lifters and probably needs the pistons re-ringed.[/QUOTE

Stupid? Sure, if you like wasting money. It got deactivated on my Monte Carlo, and I went from 22 mpg to 13. I know, I know, no one worries about mpg with a V8 car. Speak for yourself. I have better things to spend money on. Also, it sounds nothing like a Harley, and I have a Magnaflow.

Yes, it wastes oil. Replacing a quart of oil per month is cheaper than replacing half your engine, or buying a tuner, or 13 mpg.
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I deleted my dod/afm and my fuel economy remained the same. I recently had to change the cam and lifters, and it still gets the same gas mileage.

I wonder if something else is wrong with your vehicle.
 


Something else is wrong if you lost that much mpg with AFM/DoD disabled.

I'm on my 3rd vehicle with that system and all of them have been disabled from when I took ownership. I only lost 1-2 mpg in the city and can still get the same mpg on the freeway.

My current truck is rated at 16/22mpg by GM and the EPA. I disabled the system and still get 14-15 city and almost all the time still can achieve 22-24mpg without issue on the freeway. I've have 25 mile and 50 mile stretches of 26-27mpg (it has a fancy mpg screen for this data). Plus my truck weight 5,500lbs and that's nearly 2,000lbs more than a grand prix.
 
Yeah, dude, you got other issues if you are losing that much mpg. DoD isn't saving you 9mpg. So why did you revive this thread? You need help with something?
 
bandook said:
Yeah, dude, you got other issues if you are losing that much mpg. DoD isn't saving you 9mpg. So why did you revive this thread? You need help with something?
Click to expand...

And not a word about the expense of disabling DoD.

What is "wrong" with my Monte is that it was hit by a semi nine months ago.
 
Sorry for your loss. Still wondering how you lost almost 50% mpg by disabling dod. You are the one commenting like it's an expected loss.
 
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