GMC/CHEVY Pick up thoughts

[wish98was87]

Hey guys. I was looking at picking up for my next daily driver (and some light loads) either a GMC Sierra or Chevy Silverado 1500. I want to get the 4 wheel drive for the snow and such so that is a must. I will be doing probably 80% highway driving. I was looking at the 2000-2006 models with the 5 speed manual also. I guess what I want to know is what experience do you guys have with the reliability of the 4.3 vs the 4.8 motor (and 5 speed if you have it)? For my type of driving what would be most efficient? I want to get decent MPG was thinkin around 20-22hwy? I have heard there is almsot no difference in MPG between the two motors is that true? Any input is great, thanks guys!

-Rich

 

[Little6pack]

My son bought a 1999 Silverado 2500 4x4. Has the 6 liter v-8. Hiway milage is not great maybe 18 to 20. Around town he says 15.

Member PRONTO here has a 4.3 v-6 in a 1993 Silverado long bed 2wd.
Boy that gets EXCELLENT milage. I use it on ocationally & am amazed at the milage it gets.
I have stopped borrowing it because it breaks down everytime I borrow it LOL

 

[wish98was87]

Thanks

Yea I figured any of the bigger v-8s would get maybe 20 MPG or so. I had heard that with the higher gearing on the 4.3, the mileage is almost identical to the 4.8. Anyone else out there have any experience with these 4.3 or 4.8s? Reliability, MPG, or any other input is greatly appreciated. Thanks again fellas!

-Rich

 

[DailyDrifter]

I work on cars for a living and the trucks that I HAVENT really seen in for major repairs are Chevys and GMC's. If you get anything with an "LS" series engine you should be good to go as far as reliablility. Just keep up with maintence and dont beat the hell out of it.

Edit: I believe some of the in-line 4 cylinders have problems with headgaskets and or warping the head.

 

[georgewe4]

I have a 4.8 in my Chevy Express work van. The van weighs in at a little over 6300-6500 pounds. Its a 2004 with 137,000 miles on it. I ordered the van with all the good stuff like CD, cruise, PW and Locks. I wanted to get the 6.0 but the salesman talked us out of it because he said it would drink the gas so he suggested the 4.8. Well...the 4.8 is what I got. With all the weight I get about 12 MPG average city/highway. I would be better off with the 6.0. Its a dog as far as take off and passing but I understand its pushing a lot of weight. Once you get to cruising it does just fine. It stays in overdive and doesn't constantly drop out of overdrive at the smallest incline.
I will have to say the reliability of the whole van has been awesome. It was 123,000 miles before any brake work was performed. I had the plugs and wires changed "just because" at the same time the brakes pads and rotors were replaced. It has also had the injectors cleaned and one injector was replaced. Thats it other than one transmission flush. Same original battery is still under the hood, and the thing doesnt use a drop of oil or leak for that matter. That engine is put through heck every day with the weight and all of the stop and go driving I do. I am amazed at the reliability. We have a Chevy heavy duty at the shop with a 6.0....NICE GET UP AND GO!
I know this post doesn't help with my opinion about trucks. I am just giving the reliability of the 4.8 out in the driveway. No junk there.

 

[turboc87gn]

I have a 4.8 in my Chevy Express work van. The van weighs in at a little over 6300-6500 pounds. Its a 2004 with 137,000 miles on it. I ordered the van with all the good stuff like CD, cruise, PW and Locks. I wanted to get the 6.0 but the salesman talked us out of it because he said it would drink the gas so he suggested the 4.8. Well...the 4.8 is what I got. With all the weight I get about 12 MPG average city/highway. I would be better off with the 6.0. Its a dog as far as take off and passing but I understand its pushing a lot of weight. Once you get to cruising it does just fine. It stays in overdive and doesn't constantly drop out of overdrive at the smallest incline.
I will have to say the reliability of the whole van has been awesome. It was 123,000 miles before any brake work was performed. I had the plugs and wires changed "just because" at the same time the brakes pads and rotors were replaced. It has also had the injectors cleaned and one injector was replaced. Thats it other than one transmission flush. Same original battery is still under the hood, and the thing doesnt use a drop of oil or leak for that matter. That engine is put through heck every day with the weight and all of the stop and go driving I do. I am amazed at the reliability. We have a Chevy heavy duty at the shop with a 6.0....NICE GET UP AND GO!
I know this post doesn't help with my opinion about trucks. I am just giving the reliability of the 4.8 out in the driveway. No junk there.

I have two express cargo vans and i would recomemd either 4.8 or 6.0 actually get the 6.0 if you want ur truck to have balls..My 4.8 is a 2006 my 6.0 is a 2007 the 4.8 has 240,000 miles the 6.0 has 293,000 miles i bought both new both have original plugs both are running amsoil synthetic and motorkote with an oil change every 25,000 miles both had to have waterpumps fairly early under warranty..the 4.8 gets 560 miles to the tank if you drive slow 60mph...The 6.0 500 at the same speed but also remember my vans are 2500 series my 4.8 van scaled at 6850 the 6.0 van 7100lbs definately use synthetic and motorkote 2 weeks after i added the motorkote my engine temps dropped my gauge used to sit on 210 now its two notches below that all the time and also i had a trans go bad after replacing the tailshaft seal in autozone pk lot cause it popped out on the highway i drove from kentucky to mich at 50mph in second gear and in the process i burned a $hitload of oil normally i have to add 1 Qt during the 25,000 between oil changes well because the tranny went bad i wasnt thinkin bout my oil well i was drivin down the hwy and heard a lifter tick pulled over checked my oil and nothin on the dipstick...I just happen to have a case of oil with me and it took 4 41/2 quarts to fill it up which means there was only 1 1/2 in the engine Once i filled it up it quieted down and now its still quiet as a church mouse either motorkote or amsoil saved my engine..and now its back to its 1 qt in 25,000 self Iwould have had to give my gn and my chevys away to one of you guys and go buy a mustang and a prius if i had blown up my motor with a case of oil in the back:biggrin:..Neway i got a lil off topic but i hope this helps

 

[aminga]

I've had a 99 silverado since 99. A mostly reliable truck with 5.3 LS based engine.

If you get a 2000 or earlier check to see if the valve body has been modified. 1997 to 2000 chevy trucks with the 700R4 and later 4L60E had a valve body problem. The TCC valve rode in an aluminum valve body and wore the VB out caused an internal leakage. On the electronic versions that resulted in the tranny sensing the leakage and raising line pressure to compensate. There is a simple hardened insert that can be put in place but if it's gone too long you'll need a rebuild.

Just put a starter on mine I guess not bad for 150K miles.

I'd trade it in but it has one feature I really like. No Payments.

 

[wish98was87]

Thanks

Thanks guys I appreciate the help.. Just a few questions based on what you guys posted.. Which of the engine options are "LS" based? And is the valvebody problem only up to the 2000 models or some after that as well? Thanks again guys! No one out there has a pickup with the 4.3 in recent years or the manual tranny? I guess all you guys like your big motor trucks to haul :biggrin: cant say that I blame ya!

-Rich

 

[aminga]

Some of them have a piston slap problem, including mine. Appeared at 36000 miles. No problems other than an annoying noise cold.

 

[Daniel Jost]

I would stay away from 4.3s for sure, intake, head gasket and waterpumps are big issues. Also the 4.8 i have always heard get terrible fuel economy along with most 4.3s. A 5.3 has more power better fuel economy most of the time and has better resale. I have had friends that have both the 4.3 and 4.8 and have not been very impressed. Some sold them for 5.3s and some changed vehicles all together. Just my two cents.

I have a 99' gen-III 5.3 and all i have ever needed to do was knock sensors because of the water that builds under the intake because of the foam inserts used on early LS truck motors that allowed water to soak in and not evaporate out, rusts the sensors and wrecks them. Installed the new ones at 178,000 and have 220,000 hard miles on it and its still running like a champ!

,Dan

 

[GNTIM]

I bought my 05 Silverado longbed with a 4.3 auto, 2 wd new and it now has 89000 miles. Not a lot of power is my only real complaint.

 

[wish98was87]

Thanks

Cool. Thanks for the input guys. Much appreciated!
GNTim.. What kinda mileage you get with the 4.3 2wd?

-Rich

 

[Black3]

I'm not positive but I think all 99+ GM 1500s had at least the 4.8 if it was a 4x4 and only 4x2s could get the 4.3. And if you wanted a 1500 4x4 and the 5 speed you had to get the 4.8 as the 5.3 is automatic only. I can't speak for the 4.8 fuel mileage but my wife's Tahoe with the 5.3 will get an honest 21-22mpg highway and about 16 around town.

 

[wish98was87]

Not Bad

Yea I know the 5.3 is a real strong reliable motor. I have just seen a lot of the 4.8's and 4.3s for sale at damn good prices. They do make the 4x4 with the 4.3 I have seen quite a few. Thanks for the help gents

-Rich

 

[chadly]

I've had two 4.3's with no problems (in s-10's). I've also currently have two 5.3's with no problems. Gas milage is not much different between the two motors. But the 5.3 can pull a load where the 4.3 is useless.

 

[aminga]

I'm not positive but I think all 99+ GM 1500s had at least the 4.8 if it was a 4x4 and only 4x2s could get the 4.3. And if you wanted a 1500 4x4 and the 5 speed you had to get the 4.8 as the 5.3 is automatic only. I can't speak for the 4.8 fuel mileage but my wife's Tahoe with the 5.3 will get an honest 21-22mpg highway and about 16 around town.

2WD standard with 4.8. Optional 5.3
4WD standard 5.3.

 

[GNTIM]

Would you think I am crazy if I don't know what the mileage is? I havn't calculated mileage in anything in maybe 20 years because half of the cars I have driven in that time were guzzlers. Chevy is not bad, my Caddy is o/k and the Buick guzzles. Thats all I can tell you.

 

[Little6pack]

SLLLLURP!!!! SLLLURP!! But gives a great ride & comfy

 

[turboc87gn]

Thanks guys I appreciate the help.. Just a few questions based on what you guys posted.. Which of the engine options are "LS" based? And is the valvebody problem only up to the 2000 models or some after that as well? Thanks again guys! No one out there has a pickup with the 4.3 in recent years or the manual tranny? I guess all you guys like your big motor trucks to haul :biggrin: cant say that I blame ya!

-Rich

The LS based motors are the 4.8,5.3,and 6.0:biggrin: