4.8L or 5.3L in Silverado Ext Cab 2WD SB

ckulus

Hello,
I am thinking of ordering a 2WD Silverado Ext
Cab Short Bed with locking rear differential.
Today I test drove two ext. cab 4WD, one with a
4.8L and the other with a 5.3L engine. If I were
going to buy a 4WD I would get a 5.3L. But I am
not buying a 4WD. I could not test drive a 2WD
since the dealer did not have any, but the dealer
told me that I would notice quite a difference
between the 4.8L 4WD and the 4.8L 2WD with the one
in the 2WD having quite a bit more acceleration due
to its less weight and one less drive train to
turn. The dealer thought that a 5.3L in a 2WD
would be overkill and that the 4.8L would do fine.
What does anyone think?

Thanks,

Chet Kulus

mgdvhman

...you can always buy too much engine and not use it....and you can buy too little and wish you had bought more...

I'd go 5.3
- Tim

k0hb

I have a 2001 2WD LT Extended Cab. It comes standard with the 5.3. I drove an LS 2WD with the 4.8 and it was "just OK". The 5.3 is a whole different truck -- order a 5.3, or have a "just average" rig.

Hans

ryanbab

5.3 hands down

superjim2000

If there isnt much price difference go for the 5.3. They are basically the same engine with either a different crank or a smaller bore.

Its roughly 30 cubic inches, the difference between the 4.8 and 5.3. Almost makes you wonder why GM went bothered making both when the 4.8 doesnt offer a signifigant improvement in mileage.

And the new 4.2 straight 6, which I'm sure will replace the 4.3 makes almost as much power as the 4.8.

ckulus

Would any of you know the difference in gas mileage between the two engines? What interested me at the GMC dealership is that in the 4X4 trucks the EPA gas mileage was the same for both engines. How about in 2WD?

Chet

drgrosz

I have a 2000 2WD LS Extended Cab 4.8 and very much like the truck. However I do not intend to tow or haul extremly heavy loads. Regarding the gas mileage I pretty consistently get 16 mpg overall. A couple of times I got 18 due to tail winds or ?.

Looking at postings under Silverado gas mileage topic it seems with the 4wd 5.3 people are only getting about 15 mpg. The larger difference is the initial cost however many people note the resale value will also increase.

Dave

mledtje

I have Silverado 4wd with the 4.8L and I have put 27,000 miles on it. Most of those miles were with a popup camper and running right at 6400lbs.

I averaged 15.4 mpg for all of those miles with the camper. The power and mileage greatly improved after the first 5000 miles.

If I had it to do over, I would still order the 4.8L and 4wd and never regret it.

Mike L

mgdvhman

but you also have other trucks available to you when it won't do the job.....

get a 5.3

- Tim

mrurl

in an X-cab 2wd with a 3.73 rear. Averaging 16.5 at about 25% highway at 65 mph and the rest stop and go at 30 mph.

On a pure highway trip at 75 mph I peaked out at 19.6 mpg. I doubt you would get more than 1 mpg more with the 4.8l. Couple that with the fact that most of the x-cabs are built with the 5.3, and you'll have a bigger selection at the dealer.

Go with the 5.3.

Peter

mledtje

But, I've never had to use the 2500 because the 4.8L wouldn't do the job. Only because the wife thinks that we shouldn't run right at the GVWR.

Don't get me wrong, I really like the 2500. I just don't think I needed the 6.0L in it. Actually, a 4.8L and some 4.56's would work just as well in the 2500 for me.

Mike L

mgdvhman

...but we have different Idea's on how to get the end results.....

I believe a lot of room to breathe is the way to go...

- Tim

krausee

i have the short bed, regular cab, 5.3 with a 3.42 rear end. this truck hauls butt.. mileage? best yet was 22.0 (mobil one 10w30) on a road trip. i towed a 5,500 pound boat/trailer from detroit to miami and got 14.5 mpg at 68 to 73 mph. wonderful power reserve in the hills too

silv

that the 5.3 will last longer because it can take more stress.

Thats if you actually pull or haul anything occasionally. But I'd still recommend the 5.3 because then the power is there if you ever need it. I also noticed that there was no or little difference between the gas mileage of the two. But I'm sure the 4.8 will average a mile or two better.

So, IMO the 5.3 is well worth the extra $700.

ryanbab

extra $800 (they increased it $100 after the 99 model yr due to an increase in hp)

Ryan

dmdbit

i would think the 4.8 would have the potential to last longer due to it having a shorter crankshaft stroke compared to the 5.3. they each share the same bore. i do agree that the 4.8 does get 1-2 mpg more. i have been averaging 22 with my 2wd ext. cab 4.8/5spd. for what it's worth,if i could have gotten the 5.3 with a 5spd i would have chosen it. i have found the 4.8 to have plenty of power with the 5spd.if i needed more pulling power i probably need a 3/4 ton anyway. sorry so long.

mike

glenc1

i agree with silv. my fleet has both-both get used for pulling as well. with no load and normal use driving, the 4800's will get .8-1.3mpg
better than the 5300. However, if there is any need for quick acceleration the 5300 will walk away-with a trailer, hands down the 5300. One thing i dislike about both is the torque curve is too high-need to wind out to get the power.

sierrabudd

I had this delema when purchasing my 2001 GMC Sierra.

I choose a 2001 GMC Sierra 2wd, short bed, extended cab, locking diff, 4.8 V-8.

I knew that I would NEVER be towing anything. I wanted better gas mileage. When my Brother-in-law bought his 2000 Chevy Silverado, all that he could find was the small V-8. When I went shopping for my 2001, I had a hard time finding a small V-8. I drove both the 4.8 and 5.3 V-8 with 3.42 rear ends, and could not tell any difference. (I have noticed that at 75 MPH, I do not have neck wrenching acceleration if I need to pass someone.

Traditionally, a smaller engine gets better gas mileage than a larger engine, so I choose the small V-8. I actually had to find one, and the dealer had to travel 300 miles to get my truck.

I can burn rubber at a stop light, (not that I do that often, but it happened a couple of times), and I can still tow about 6000-7000 lbs if I wanted to.

I think I get good gas mileage (Last tank was 17.5 mph, and I have less than 3000 miles on the truck).

It seems that two trends I have noticed in this forum are that the large V-8 gets about the same mileage as the small one, and that the engine gets better after 5000 miles or so (from what I have read).

Now here is something else to consider. The SMALL V-8 (according to the published spec's) has MORE horsepower than the LARGE V-8 from FORD, the LARGE V-8 from DODGE, and the ONLY V-8 from Toyota. I do not know about the Torque.

I think the jury is still out on the "better gas mileage" with the small V-8 though. It certantly does not hurt though.

Now, the 5.3 will probably have a better resale value.

A unique comment listed above about the 4.8 potential to have a LONGER engine life due to the shorter crankshaft stroke. I hope so!

Of course, the 5.3 is also more expensive! Drive them both and see what you think. I drove them both and could not tell any difference.

Check out a 3.73 vs a 3.42 rear end, and you should feel more power with the 3.73. However, "They" say (whoever they are) that the 3.73 is not a fuel efficient and is a little louder at highway speeds.

If you ever had the need to tow more that 6800 lbs (I think that is what the limit is), you could always put in a different rear end (3.73 or even a 4.10), put on a flowmaster or whatever muffler (supposed to give you a couple of more horsepower, and a little better mpg), put in a K&N air filter (a couple of more horsepower), use a full synthetic oil (again an additional horsepower or two).

It seems that they are really close, in terms of MPG. Horsepower is 270 vs 325.

ryanbab

When i went out truck shopping i test drove about a dozen silverados for the heck of it. Never seen or driven a 4.8.

You commented on the expense. Whats $800 when your spending 30K. Thats how i looked at it.

Ryan

markbuck

Ryan, $800 invested for 40 years at around 10% is like....$25,000.

Might be the difference between eatin' catfood and filet mignon when you are retired....

ryanbab

Ok another way i think of it

Gotta do it while i am young cause in a few yrs i wont be able to (yes i will who am i kidding)

i would spend the $800 on accessories anyways. Seriously though whats $800 (not an investment cause i wouldnt save it) when you spend 30K.

Ryan

ryanbab

Oh my 5.3 was $800 msrp

Ryan

k0hb

On my "Anti-Social Black" LT 4-door the 5.3 was standard. [grin]

Hans

azauto

Anyone have any reliable information that the new straight 6 will be in the Chevy/GMC ext. cab pickup? Sure do miss that old workhorse 250 cu. in. straight 6.

johntymn

Regardsing Power. First everyone seems to be focused on HP. But what makes a truck move down the road is torque. As you can see the longer stroke of the 5.3 has more torque. Secondly, GM is playing games with the HP. You need to look at the power curve. It peaks out and is measured at 5000 rpm. Most people do not rev their engines this high. So , the available HP (good for top end, not for off the line speed) for the Fords and GM are about the same as normal driving ranges.

In regards to the enginer reliability, the question is type of material for the crank shaft. Forged or cast steel cranks. since GM has the same engine block, changes are they are using the same crank and rods material. So, they will last as well as the owen takes care of them. I would me more concerned with the drive train. Rear Axels, Differential and trans. Go for the OD automatic unit. The first gears are truly low. This allow anyone to pull trailers. The auto will handle more than the manual because of torq converter slippage. Also the auto will hame more torque multiplication. Any way. sorry for the lecture. just an old drag racer talking.

Make sure you get the OD transmission. This will give you better gas milage. I personally like the 4.8. If I want power I would put on a Paxton blower and get some true power....400 hp at 4500 rpm. It bolts on and is Calif Legal.

johntymn

Go to Trucks Mag for Dec. They have new write up of the new in-line 6. It develops the same power are the 4.8 and a lot more torque. The gas mileage is the same.

markbuck

HP is the number you put in the engineering equation for moving a load down the road.

Agree that at relatively low engine rpm's, the pipey motors don't perform that well. I think you and I agree that a relatively high HP (high torque) at low rpm motor is best for low rpm towing.


But it is HP that does work per unit time. Compare HP at 2400 rpm's to give indication of performance.


PS. My 4.8 at 4400 rpm tows up hills dang good!

pocahontas

Being that it's been inactive here for quite some time, this discussion is going to be closed. Please join other participants in one of our active Silverado discussions. This discussion will be deleted or archived in several day.

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