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Silverado 4.8 vs. 5.3?
Any opinions on the Silverado 4.8 vs. 5.3 V8? I'm
looking to buy a 1500 LS 4x4 ext. cab, mostly for
light hauling, snowy roads, (not much off road or
towing), short family jaunts (two young kids).
looking to buy a 1500 LS 4x4 ext. cab, mostly for
light hauling, snowy roads, (not much off road or
towing), short family jaunts (two young kids).
0
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Comments
If you want an auto, take what comes, either the 4.8 or more likely, the 5.3L.
That's my opinion and I'm,....sticking to it!
I read up on some magazines that talked a little about the two engines and their performance. The 5.3 has 15 more horses than the 4.8 and much better torque but unless you are doing heavy pulling, go with the 4.8. They did a road test on 0-60 acceleration and the smaller V8 came in .2 seconds behind the larger 5.8 liter. I am going with the 4.8 because i am only doing light towing and have no need for the extra torque.
I am very happy with my 4.8, operating at 7,000 feet, pulling a 5,000 lb trailer.
If the 4.8L is so gutless, you'd also probably be disappointed in the 5.3L. But either engine will pass your old 5.7L where it hits you in the wallet, at the pump. If you have to thrash it, well it's your truck.
I suppose that it's all in waht you're expecting.
I have the 3.73 gears and the 4.10's would give it even better pulling power.
I have never pulled over 4000 rpm and rarely over 3000, it just isn't neccesary, the engine has plenty of torque.
I'm averaging just over 16mpg fully loaded and at speed (6400lbs, 60-75 mph).
lots of b**ching and moaning by Ford and Dodge diehards about the "car engines" and no torque, but from the few times I've driven these engines, they pull great.
But maybe you're trying to pass when you shouldn't on those small roads, in a big truck.
Agree that Chevy/GMS are optimistic in their power claims, but Ford and Dodge are guilty to a lesser extent. It's a ratings game, and if it's that important, you wait for the side by side comparos before making a decision based on performance. Where GM/Chevy didn't lie is the fuel economy ratings...best in class. That one hits you in the wallet.
personally, i've driven a 4.8, and thought it was a very nice driving engine, wouldn't want to pull every weekend with it. i've pulled with the 5.3, and been very impressed with its performance. it gets the job done much better than my current old 350. i would love to pull with one of Fords new upgraded 5.4s to feel a load on it for myself.
BTW, just my 2 cents: I have the 4.8 litre, if I had it to do over, I'd get the 5.3. No complaints, but I'd take a few more horses for essentially the same gas mileage. I'm getting an average 16.5 to 17.0. with a low of 15.5 (towing a light boat) to 20.1 on a trip.
Make sure you can use the 3 series carrier with the 4.10 gear. I think so, but check with the parts counter. If you have to change carriers, it screws things up $$$. Also, stick with the Chevy gear set...no Richmond Gears, or you could end up with gear whine, fine for a race car, but terrible for a daily driver. The speedo re-flash...well the dealer would not/could not do this on my Camaro. I had to purchase a Hypertech programmer to do it myself. $$$. But it's an option. No, it's a necessity if the dealer won't because your transmission shift points will change also. Do you have the locking axle? May be hard to get the dealer to reflash for a 4.10 since it's not offered from the factory for 2wd. One thing I'm sure, you'll love it! Make for a hard charging 1/2 ton.
If you get something big to haul later on you'll be glad to have the 5.3. Or you'll lose a $grand on a trade-in of your 4.8 truck, on a bigger engine truck. I would skip some other options (bucket or power seats -there's $800) before saving on the engine and trailer pkg.
If you still go with the 4.8 get the trailer pkg, as you'll still be able to tow - just with a little less ease. I wouldn't want an aftermarket trailer pkg. installation.
I bought the Z-71 package. I testdrove this and it is firm, but not harsh at all. The Z-85 HD suspension is also avail. and not as costly - just a shock change. There are plenty of Z-71's on the lots - try one. No worse than my '96 Subaru Outback, but feels much more solid.
One more thing, don't compare the engines by comparing horsepower. Horsepower matters if you plan on racing (i.e. pushing it to near redline rpms). Torque is the number people should be looking at for everyday driving (even passing while going up a hill, the average driver doesn't go above 4500 rpm with a V8). Good luck!
With only about 2,500 miles and some conservative driving with a 50/50 city/highway driving my best tank to date averaged 17.8. I was impressed.
A friend with the same basic package averaged 19.5 on a 75 mph cross Michigan cruise.
I just added a new Gibson low restriction stainless exhaust and am checking the mileage now. Will update later in the week when I have to fill up next...
So, you can't really go wrong with the 5.3.
We have 19,000 miles on our Silverado and the 4.8 engine has much more power today than it did for the first 5-10,000 miles. Fully loaded (at max GVWR -6400 lbs) we can pull up hills in 5th that used to require a downshift. Cruise 70-75 into the wind with the camper. And still average over 15mpg with the loaded camper. Without the camper we are over 20mpg. We really like this little engine and see no reason to spend the money to get a 5.3.
Mike
If your transmission starts doing a lot of shifting back and forth, engage the "tow/haul" mode which will keep it from locking the torque converter. Towing in tow/haul mode whenever towing is the safest bet. I don't use the tow/haul mode in the city much when towing light loads because it isn't necessary, but with heavy loads or on the highway, you can't go wrong using it. It takes the guessing out of it.
These transmissions are better lubricated and cooled as well as designed with lighter but stronger parts that dissipate heat better so unless you are exceeding your tow capacity, I can't see anyone hurting these tranny's.
all honesty I could not notice much of a difference in performance, however I would think
the difference shows up when you are pulling a
good size load (due to the difference in torque
ratings). If you do not plan to pull heavy loads,
and money is a concern - go with the 4.8, I was
pleasently suprised!!
I have a 4.8 Reg Cab Sportside on order. I am not going to be pulling anything over 2000 pounds so the 4.8 liter was perfect for me. I have test drove them both and there is definetly not much of a difference. I agree with gracz statement...if you dont plan on pulling heavy loads go with the 4.8
is the real thing to look at when deciding which engine. There's a saying among racers that goes like this: "Torque is what you feel, horsepower is
what you read about".
-powerisfun
Torque = a twisting moment = (Force * radius)
You can have gobs of torque, but if no rpm, HP=0.
To have horsepower, you must have both torque and rpm together. A winch has lots of torque, but very little rpm, so torque alone isn't very useful to racers. Real racers want horsepower, because having more of it properly expresses what it takes to go fast.
For torque to be useful to the racer, he has to consider torque and rpm together. That's what horsepower is.
In truck terms, a diesel has high torque and low horsepower, because the torque peak occurs at low rpm. That's fine for easy, relaxed towing. A gas engine has low torque but high horsepower, so the work gets done at a higher rpm. That makes for strained towing, but either gets the job done with the proper gear selection.
Torque gets you going, horsepower keeps you going. Torque is better for towing, horsepower is better for speed.
I got off topic. The real difference between the 4.8L and the 5.3L is not torque or horsepower, but which transmission you prefer, since the 4.8L is the only way to get a manual, and a 5.3L is available only with auto. A 4.8L with an auto should be very close to the 5.3L. What it gives away in performance should be made up with economy. Either one good.
Of course you may want a standard, so yes you get the 4.8. And if you're really that tight on money, drop some of the other options, instead of the engine. Now to everybody who says that the 4.8 is usually adequate - you're probably right. But the price difference isn't that great, and if you plan on selling it in a few years, you'll get most of that difference back. You can't have enough power, only too little.
As Chris Berman says, "That's why they play the game!"
I got the 4.8/manual 'cuz it was about $1300 cheaper than the 5.3/auto. That extra money would have come out of my mutual fund, so I went for the less expensive choice.
I don't want to know people's finances, etc. My point is you pay $25K + sales tax, registration, and insurance. If you can afford all that, what's another $1.3K? Also if you trade it in, you'll get most of that back.
I am not speaking in particular about anyone, but I have seen so many people (especially right out of school) buy a new vehicle, and then not have money to go thru Mcdonald's drivethru.
quite a while. I didn't know about the gmpowertrain site. It's funny that all my internet searches didn't find it.
On paper, the 7.4L (L29) looks the most impressive. What a beautiful flat torque curve!
I hope the new 8.1L retains that.
Thanks again,
-powerisfun