'Seems Fine:' Man Drives Chevy Silverado for Work. Then His Boss Says It’s a Lemon—Should He Buy It for $1K?

"You will eventually have transmission and engine issues, but..."

Photo by: bingbongfkyalife3 & Hill Country

By: Nina Hernandez

Nov 3, 2025 at 10:00am ET

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A man asked the internet for help deciding whether to put in a bid for his Chevrolet Silverado work truck. He wants to know: Is the $1,000 price tag proof the truck isn’t long for this world? Or is this the deal of a lifetime?

TikTok user Goofy Guy (@bingbongfkyalife3) posted a video with his question on Oct. 22. “Quick question,” he says, explaining that his work truck is a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab with work truck specs. “They’re sitting there saying it’s a lemon and they don’t trust it enough to drive it. They’re saying give us $1,000 and you can have it. Should I? Honest, I might.”

Goofy Guy says the truck has a 5.3-liter engine and a six-speed transmission. He drives it comfortably, but his job told him its lifters are going out and therefore the car is no longer drivable. Apparently, when other drivers operate the vehicle, it stalls out when they hit the throttle too hard.

“I drove it an hour away, no problem,” Goofy Guy explains. “Seems fine to me.”

Viewers React to the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Work Truck Proposal

In the comments, viewers weighed in on the merits of the deal. Many suggested that Goofy Guy take the offer on the Silverado.

“That’s a steal,” said one viewer. “Sounds like a fueling issue or high-pressure fuel pump going bad, maybe. You will eventually have transmission and engine issues, but at that price I would take it even just to part it out.”

“For $1,000, you better get it,” agreed a second person. “Even if it doesn’t have a motor. You can get your money out in parts. Or drive it until it dies.”

“It acted weird when they gave it too much throttle because the [Active Fuel Management] didn’t know what to do with the sudden demand for a lot of fuel,” wrote a third person. “Get an AFM bypass that plugs into your OBD 2 port and roll out. You didn’t dog it when you drove it, so that explains why it didn’t freak out on you. Ten year mechanic, by the way.”

Gallery: 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss

Source: Chevrolet

Is the Silverado 1500’s Problem Related to Active Fuel Management?

Lifters are an integral part of your car’s engine, because they are the component that allows its valves to open and close. If your lifters are bad, the timing and function of the entire engine are imperiled. You’ll notice the vehicle is running rough and you may even hear knocking or ticking sounds from the engine.

What do you think?

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Active Fuel Management is a technology that enhances fuel efficiency by turning off some cylinders depending on how much power the truck is currently using. Drivers might choose to disable or even delete this function from their trucks due to personal preference or lifter failure. That requires a kit and installation of new, standard parts.

Motor1 contacted Goofy Guy via TikTok comment and direct message for comment to find out his final decision. We’ll update this if he responds.