GM 5.3 Liter engine

[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.