Rough Idle Crank No Start Extended Crank Or Misfire Due to Excessive Carbon On Top of the Valves or Sticking Valves – GM Passenger Cars & Trucks

SEOCONTENT-START

Service B n
Bulletin No.: 16-NA-383
Date: May, 2020

TECHNICAL
Subject:
Information on Rough Idle, Crank No Start, Extended Crank or Misfire Due to Excessive Carbon on Top
of Valves or Sticking Valves, Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) Illuminated – DTC P0300, P0301,
P0302, P0303, P0304, P0305, P0306, P0307, P0308 Set

This bulletin replaces PIP5029H. Please discard PIP5029H.

Brand:

Buick Cadillac Chevrolet GMC

Model:

GM
Passenger Cars and Trucks (including LCF MD)
Model Year:
from to

2000 2020
VIN:
from to

Engine:

Gasoline Engines Only

Transmission:

Involved Region or Country

Condition

Cause

North America
Some customers may comment on the following conditions:
• Rough idle
• Crank no start
• Extended crank
• Engine misfire
The technician may find one or more of the following DTCs set:
• P0300
• P0301
• P0302
• P0303
• P0304
• P0305
• P0306
• P0307
• P0308
SI diagnosis may or may not isolate the cause of the misfire depending on whether the
intake/exhaust valves are sticking at the time of the diagnosis.
This condition may be caused by major carbon build-up on the intake and/or exhaust valves due to
fuel contamination or incomplete burning of the fuel as shown below, so the misfires should not
have appeared until accumulating at least 8,000 km (5,000 mi)
or more.

Note: Fuel oxidation and volatility concerns can often cause these issues as well, however they
cannot generally be checked in service. Trying a different, high quality Top Tier fuel and regular
oil changes is sometimes the best diagnostic. Additional gasoline retailers are added to the TOP
TIER list when their gasoline meet the TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline Standards. For the most up to
date list of fuel marketers that offer TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline, refer to this website:
www.toptiergas.com.

Information
Important: A new reformulated Top Engine Cleaner has been released by CCA Parts and is recommended
and approved to use in the GM vehicle line.
The graphics below may show typical carbon build-up during engine disassembly and inspection of the
cylinder heads:

2836273
2857954

2836275
2857955

2857957
2857956

When the engine is cold, the compression on multiple cylinders may be at 0 kPa (0 psi).
The engine also may pop through the intake or exhaust while cranking and the spark plugs may be
fuel-fouled when inspected.
Some engines may also experience valve damage or cam followers that are out of position as a result
of this.
If this concern is encountered, perform SI diagnosis. If the SI diagnosis leads to a compression
loss due to a valve sealing concern and/or eliminates everything else external to the engine, the
following information
may help:

• If there is no sign of valve damage or cam followers that are out of place, perform the
following procedure to free up sticking valves and to remove carbon from the valves and pistons.
• If valve damage is present or if there are cam followers that are out of place, perform engine
mechanical repairs as necessary to correct the concern and then perform the procedure below to
prevent the concern from returning.
• Perform an upper engine and valve cleaning procedure.
• Below are examples of valves that have gone through a Top Engine cleaning procedure.

Before Cleanup After
Cleanup

3979074
3979169

Before Cleanup After
Cleanup

4791643
4791651

4791647
4791652

Before Cleanup After
Cleanup

4791649
4791655

Video Training (U.S. Dealers)
There is also a related training video on this subject that was included in the January 2013
Emerging Issues Video that technicians should consider viewing.
Because the training video does not mention this, please note that it is acceptable to use
equivalent tools

Service Procedure
Warning: Please follow all safety instructions noted on the bottle and service tool. Ensure safety
glasses and gloves are being worn during the procedure.

and the engine oil and filter should also be replaced to complete the repairs. The training video
is available at the GM Center of Learning Website and can be viewed by following this path:
⇒ Go to www.centerlearning.com
⇒ Enter Training ID
⇒ Click Resources
⇒ Click Service Know How / Tech Assist
⇒ Click Emerging Issues
⇒ Click 10213.01D – January 2013 Emerging Issues (VOD)
⇒ Click the Topics Tab on Upper Right
⇒ Click Link for PIP5029: Decarbonizing Valves in SIDI Engines

Description Course Name and Number

Fuel Injector Cleaner Kit J-35800-A

Cleaner Nozzle EN- 35800-20

4630851

Decarbonizing Valves in SIDI Engines
Top Tier Detergent Gasoline Featuring: Bulletin 05-06-
04-022

#10213.01D January 2013
Emerging Issues (VOD)

#10214.10D October 2014
Emerging Issues

4630850

Important: Extreme care must be taken not to hydro-lock the engine when inducing the cleaner,
especially if it is induced without Fuel Injector Cleaner Kit J-35800-A or equivalent. If too much
cleaner is induced at too low of an RPM, or if you

Page 6 May, 2020
Bulletin No.: 16-NA-383
force the engine to stall by inducing too much cleaner at once, the engine may hydro-lock and bend
a connecting rod(s).
1. Fill Cleaner Kit J-35800-A with Top Engine Cleaner, approximately 473 ml (16 oz), and close the
cap of the tool tightly. Set the air pressure to 260 kPa (40 psi) at the service tool.

2. Using GDS 2 or a Scan Tool, command engine idle to 2000 rpm to prevent the engine from
stalling. Typically 2,000 rpm will be sufficient.
Note: Two applications of the Top Engine Cleaner may be necessary to perform a total cleanup
depending on the condition of the combustion chamber.
3. In a well-ventilated area with the engine at operating temperature, slowly/carefully induce the
Top Engine Cleaner into the engine, which should take approximately 3 minutes.
⇒ For best results, it is suggested to induce the cleaner through the throttle body with Fuel
Injector Cleaner Kit J-35800-A or equivalent
and NEW Cleaner Nozzle EN-35800-20, which

has been developed to help atomize the leaner.
e entire contents of Top Engine Cleaner has uced, continue to run the engine for 2
idle.
ngine oil and filter, and advise the use one of the Top Tier Gasoline

https://www.toptiergas.com and/or f Corporate Bulletin Number
ize future deposits. It can add a bottle of GM Fuel
very oil change as

n of Corporate

light
necessary.
use of any me

nents
Parts Information
Description
Part Number
Qty
ACDelco Top Engine Cleaner
19355198 (U.S.)

19355199
(Canada)
19368261
(Mexico)
Fuel System Treatment Plus
– Gasoline
88865595 (U.S.)
5598
(Canada)
19369716
(Mexico)
Fuel System Treatment Plus Flex Fuel
88865596 (U.S.)
88865599
(Canada)

Oil Filter, Engine Oil, Engine

Warranty Information

Refer to EPC
Refer to EPC

1

5 qt

For vehicles repaired under the Emission coverage, use the following labor operation. Reference the
Applicable Warranties section of Investigate Vehicle History (IVH) for coverage information.

Labor Operation

4080148*

Add

Description

Decarbon Engine Using Upper Engine Cleaner
Change Engine Oil and Filter

Labor Time

0.5 hr

0.3 hr

*This is a unique Labor Operation for bulletin use only.

Version

4
Modified
May 21, 2019 – Added the 2019 Model Year, updated the Video Training section to remove Canada and
updated step 6 of the Service Procedure.
January 02, 2020 – Added the 2020 Model Year and part numbers for Mexico parts.
May 08, 2020 – Added information to the Video Training (U.S. Dealers) section and corrected Part
Number to 19369716 for Fuel System Treatment Plus – Gasoline (Mexico).
GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a “do-it-yourselfer”. They are
written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to
provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained
technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and
safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or
that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on
whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.
WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION

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SEOCONTENT-START

 

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NHTSA ID Number: 10137635

Manufacturer Communication Number: 16-NA-383

 

Summary

This informational bulletin advises of a new fuel injection kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves, and explains how toptier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build up.

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1 Associated Document

Manufacturer Communications

Bulletin No.: 16-NA-383
Date: May-2017

https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=10137635

MC-10137635-9999.pdf 1335.514KB