GM 5.3 Liter engine

[EDT]

I am looking at getting a GM rig with a 5.3 liter engine, I have never had a vehicle with this engine, but I have heard great things about it.  Any experienced opinions out there about this engine, and any problems with it?

[washelkhunter]

Been very happy with mine. Strong runner and very dependable. Only issue i've had is a head gasket went south along with an injector. Sitting 120k now I expect to hit 200k. The 5.3 is the old reliable 327.

[MarkyMark]

I have two. One with 120k noisy lifters at cold start up. The other 136k and is absolutely bomb proof. I love them both.


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[syoungs]

The 5.3 and its big brother 6.0 are one of the biggest go to motors for swaps in all sorts of applications, bombproof setup factory, and huge power can be made cheap. Om considering putting a 5.3 into my 90 suburban this summer. Smooth dependable motors.

[Wazukie]

I have a 03' Yukon XL with the 5.3  I toad a car home from Yellowstone and found it a little under powered, but then again, I'm running 35's on it.  All and all I am very happy with the motor, it has about 150k on it now.

[EDT]

What kind of gas mileage do you guys get on it.  Im thinking the EPA 13/18 will probably be pretty accurate.

[Wazukie]

I get about 13 with the 35's

[MarkyMark]

17 hwy. 4x4 silverado with 285/65/18s


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[Rick]

Been very happy with mine. Strong runner and very dependable. Only issue i've had is a head gasket went south along with an injector. Sitting 120k now I expect to hit 200k. The 5.3 is the old reliable 327.

The 5.3 has about zero in common with the old 327.

[Slimdog350]

What year are you looking at? I would steer clear of  early 2007.  The first AFM engines (active fuel management). They had LOTS of oil consumption issues. They are good motors though.

[hambone]

I have a 20 13 chevy crew cab around 17 is what I get with my set up I pull a 26 foot trailer with mine does a great job the 5.3 is a good engine

[EDT]

What year are you looking at? I would steer clear of  early 2007.  The first AFM engines (active fuel management). They had LOTS of oil consumption issues. They are good motors though.

Looking at a 2006 Tahoe

[Rick]

The 5.3 is a late model small block. If you're afraid of rpm to make power you won't like it.

I've had a couple, and like all GM small blocks they're pretty bulletproof.

[JKEEN33]

I have a 99 Sierra. Put 290,000 on the 5.3. Just put a new one in. It's a great motor.

[EDT]

The 5.3 is a late model small block. If you're afraid of rpm to make power you won't like it.

I've had a couple, and like all GM small blocks they're pretty bulletproof.

what do you mean about the rpms?

[demontang]

The 5.3 like s high rpms. Its where it makes its power and it makes me nervous pulling and the motor singing at 4500+  ive pulled with them and wasnt impressed. In a empty truck its a runner but with a bed full or a 22ft jet boat in tow it just didnt perform like id like.

[MarkyMark]

My 01 Tahoe is mediocre as a puller but my 04 Silverado does very well. Way more powerful. Same gear ratio.


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[demontang]

The crew cab short box is what I drove

[jackelope]

I have two. One with 120k noisy lifters at cold start up. The other 136k and is absolutely bomb proof. I love them both.


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I'm going to assume your noisey one is a 99-03. That noise is "normal". I use that term loosely. Weird, unacceptable almost, but normal. I think GM calls it piston slap. They fixed the noise in the '03's(maybe) or the '04's for sure. I have an '02 with 198k miles on it. It's been making that noise on every cold start since I bought the truck at 28k miles. It hasn't gotten worse or better, just the same every time. I pulled a 21' boat with it for a while and it did ok, but the need for high rpm's to make power is a little terrifying on snoqualmie pass. I was usually running 45mph in the right lane in that scenario because I felt like I was watching my motor grenade before my very eyes.
Anyway... I average 13.6mpg during normal every day driving, probably around 16 on the highway.  I replaced the transmission in mine at 120k miles. I've replaced front hubs 3x on each side but mainly because I was using the junk aftermarket ones.
It's a good truck and a good, reliable motor. Don't expect massive pulling power. I love my truck and will drive it across the country and expect no issues with it, even at +/-200k miles.

[270Shooter]

If you don't tow they are very nice trucks to drive, my dad has an 02 and it does have the piston slap noise at startup. Never towed with it. They only thing I worry about in these trucks is the transmission as I hear they are not all that great.

[elkoholic1]

02 Tahoe 167k still rock solid just went to Montana 1500 mile round trip averaged 16mpg

[jackelope]

Been very happy with mine. Strong runner and very dependable. Only issue i've had is a head gasket went south along with an injector. Sitting 120k now I expect to hit 200k. The 5.3 is the old reliable 327.

The 5.3 has about zero in common with the old 327.

I think he was talking in a reliability standpoint.

[C-Money]

We ran an 01 Suburban. Great rig, that I wish we still had. We pulled our ATV trailer with it, and it did fine. Just put it in D, instead of overdrive when towing. With any kid of load, overdrive shifts down constantly. We never had an issue with the 5.3, the electrical power options, turn signals, and cruise went out, so we traded. Should have just fixed it, but lessen learned. 

[swanny]

Another thumbs up from me. I bought my 2002 with 78k on it and just rolled past 178k recently and am hoping for another 100k. It's been great and personally I've felt like it's towed just fine (21ft Malibu). I average about 13.5mpg it seems like, might get close to 16mpg on the hwy if I'm not towing a boat. I do run 285's on it though which I'm sure takes some of the miles away.

[MarkyMark]

Tell me more about this piston slap you speak of.


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[bobcat]

My 2002 Silverado with the 5.3 does not have the piston slap, at least I don't think it does. It's got 130,000 miles and just recently it did start having a slight ticking sound right after starting the engine, when cold. But it only lasts maybe 30 seconds at the most.


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[elkoholic1]

My 2002 Silverado with the 5.3 does not have the piston slap, at least I don't think it does. It's got 130,000 miles and just recently it did start having a slight ticking sound right after starting the engine, when cold. But it only lasts maybe 30 seconds at the most.


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mine does same thing has since day one its pretty normal for them it has to do with the very small skirts that they used on the pistons

[jackelope]

Tell me more about this piston slap you speak of.


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Cold start. Lasts 30 seconds or so depending on ambient temp. Annoying, but doesn't seem to hinder the performance of the truck. Like I said..I've been listening to it in mine for +/- 170k miles and nothing has changed.

[MarkyMark]

Have any of you experienced the in tank fuel pump leaving you for dead?


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[bobcat]

Have any of you experienced the in tank fuel pump leaving you for dead?


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My fuel pump has gone out twice, but the second time was my fault because I let the fuel level get too low, and if you do that it burns up the pump.

A new fuel pump is $300 plus the cost of labor to install it. 

[Wazukie]

Have any of you experienced the in tank fuel pump leaving you for dead?


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Yup!  The fuel pump and sending unit are all one piece, at least in my 03.  Mine used to read 1/4 tank but it'd be empty.  The other problem was that it'd die, and if I let it sit a few minutes it'd start back up.  It cost me $800 to get it fixed, bit that was after 140,000 miles


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[jackelope]

My fuel pump crapped out and left me for dead/strapped to the back of a tow truck 1 time...maybe 50k miles ago? I can't remember for sure.

[300rum]

Yes, on two of them that I have had.  But, the fuel gauge always started to do something goofy right before the pump went haywire.  If the fuel gauge does something weird, replace the fuel pump.  I haven't a clue why they are connected but as soon as I replaced the pump the fuel gauge went back to working just fine. 

[jackelope]

Yes, on two of them that I have had.  But, the fuel gauge always started to do something goofy right before the pump went haywire.  If the fuel gauge does something weird, replace the fuel pump.  I haven't a clue why they are connected but as soon as I replaced the pump the fuel gauge went back to working just fine.

When you replaced the pump, you also replaced the fuel level sending unit, which was probably why your fuel gauge was acting up.

 

[Buckmark]

Just a small tip works most of the time.....
If you have one of those problem fuel pump trucks, tahoes or suburban and find it cranking and not starting, if you think its a fuel pump and you have someone with you, have one person crawl under the truck at the fuel tank, with a rock, or hammer, or piece of firewood etc (your hand might work).
Pound on the bottom of the fuel tank and have the other person crank the engine at the same time...
Works quite often, just dont shut it off after it starts...

[MarkyMark]

I've had to do the tank thumping trick once. Worked well. I suspect my pump failed due to repeated "hey dad the Tahoe is on empty" episodes from my daughter. 


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[EDT]

Got myself a nice 2006 Tahoe.  Man this is a nice rig.  thanks for all the comments, you helped a lot.

[C-Money]

Very cool!! Which body style is it? Glad you got a rig you like!! We love ours.

[MarkyMark]

Great choice. I love my '01 Tahoe. If you can afford it get a sealed AGM battery for it. Regular batteries even though they look sealed aren't. The battery leaks out the top and cause a lot of corrosion to the battery tray and the two window washer pumps and plastic plumbing that lie below the battery. An ounce of prevention so to speak.


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