Is the 5.3 a good engine?
CK5
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How reliable is the 5.3 motor? Is the 5.7 a better engine?
- Thread starter wazzabie
- Start date
a little bit.
There is simply no comparison. 5.3L owns the 5.7L in absolutely every possible aspect.
shiner2001
Registered Member
I have 200K+ on my 2001 and it amazes me how great it still runs. It still gets up and goes!
xpndbl3
1/2 ton status
more reliable due to better fuel control which means less wear and tear on the engine and by products into the oil. Also low tension rings, etc etc. so many improvements, so happy I did the swap, now if the truck only didn't ride like a bucking bronco everywhere lol
63chevyll
1/2 ton status
Yes, great engine. GM nailed it with the LS series IMO.
Ill never get another one... lol. The water pump on mine split in half going 30 downtown when the bearing seized up ripping the alluminum housing in half and sending the fan right through the radiator. I fixed it and sold the sob.
But i can garauntee you that i am prolly one out of a million that thats happened too. The odd thing is that was the 2nd water pump on it, and it only had 20k or so on the pump. Eff alluminum IMO, Steel all the way lol
But i can garauntee you that i am prolly one out of a million that thats happened too. The odd thing is that was the 2nd water pump on it, and it only had 20k or so on the pump. Eff alluminum IMO, Steel all the way lol
xpndbl3
1/2 ton status
How long was that water pump weeping coolant out the front before it failed? Maybe you never noticed the leak...? Either way it had to make a LOT of noise before it locked up, although the newer engines don't have a clutch fan, only electric fan so that wouldn't have happened.
Nope 2001 with clutch fan, and no it didnt leak at all, i would have noticed, i always park on concrete driveway so i can recognize leaks, im honestly guessing it was a bad casting/bearing from factory in that single water pump and im sure it was a very random occurance, but one of those things that got a 17 year old kid pissed enough to never want another haha. Ill take pics of it sometime, i kept it, ive told the story many a time and keep forgetting to snap a pic of it.\
It was the freakiest thing, just driving then BOOOOM!!!! No power steering, cranked it into the nearest parking lot and turned it off. From now on its old school steel for me, cooler anyway IMO
It was the freakiest thing, just driving then BOOOOM!!!! No power steering, cranked it into the nearest parking lot and turned it off. From now on its old school steel for me, cooler anyway IMO
63chevyll
1/2 ton status
Every engine has their inherent problems or issues. These are minimal compared to their competitors.
They are still machines.
My story,
I kid I knew in the Air Force had over 450,000 miles on his 2000 chevy K1500
They are still machines.
My story,
I kid I knew in the Air Force had over 450,000 miles on his 2000 chevy K1500
Yes dont "not" get one because i had bad luck with mine lol. The motor ran great, the water pump just pissed me off. Funny cuz it had 170k on it and it was my gpas truck before who drives like.... well an old man haha. And 130k of it was highway from driving to kansas several times a year since he owned it. I will add that at 170k miles it still had plenty of power and got up and gooooeeed.
my 4.8 has 224k miles and is going strong...same motor as a 5.3, with a smaller bore...stroke is the same.
the LS rocks. I would have loved to have had the "little" 4.8 in my 79 Camaro...5.3 even better
the LS rocks. I would have loved to have had the "little" 4.8 in my 79 Camaro...5.3 even better
xpndbl3
1/2 ton status
my 4.8 has 224k miles and is going strong...same motor as a 5.3, with a smaller bore...stroke is the same.
the LS rocks. I would have loved to have had the "little" 4.8 in my 79 Camaro...5.3 even better
actually you mean same bore, but less stroke.
to bump compression guys put in the 4.8L flat top pistons into a 5.3L instead of the dished pistons they come with.
Cornfield creations
1/2 ton status
The LS engines crave air flow. They are great engines, but like anything, they need servicing and maintenance.
The L31 5.7L was a great end to a long traditional small block. It's a shame the intake sucks so bad. They would be so much better with improved induction, but the options are so few due to a lack of demand. Kind of stuck with factory style, intake and carb, or going to a marine intake with higher PSI injectors.
The L31 5.7L was a great end to a long traditional small block. It's a shame the intake sucks so bad. They would be so much better with improved induction, but the options are so few due to a lack of demand. Kind of stuck with factory style, intake and carb, or going to a marine intake with higher PSI injectors.
COCHEV
1/2 ton status
From what I've read, the only drawbacks for swaping an LS motor are cost and wiring/programing...
In my experience the LS engines are awesome 
. Our company owns 2 2500hd's an 03 (my fathers) and an 02 , both have been used as "trucks" their entire lives and have been super reliable. My fathers truck currently has 360,000 miles 
on it, engine wise , it has been untouched other then a water pump and an alternator, and normal maintenance items of course. The truck still runs great, gets the same fuel mileage and really doesn't feel as though it has lost much if any power, I would not hesitate to drive it anywhere anytime, his is a 6.0 , but it's still an LS.
. Our company owns 2 2500hd's an 03 (my fathers) and an 02 , both have been used as "trucks" their entire lives and have been super reliable. My fathers truck currently has 360,000 miles on it, engine wise , it has been untouched other then a water pump and an alternator, and normal maintenance items of course. The truck still runs great, gets the same fuel mileage and really doesn't feel as though it has lost much if any power, I would not hesitate to drive it anywhere anytime, his is a 6.0 , but it's still an LS.
I would LOVE to have a 6.0 in every truck I own! The LS series is a perfect follow-up to the previous "greatest engine ever"; the small block Chevy. . .
yep, my s10 would love it and get better fuel mileage too
And it would be FFAAASSSST!!!!!
