Reliabilty Questions

CitizenSoldier · August 16, 2009

Hey guys! Hows everyone doing today? I was hoping that possibly you good gentlemen would be able to help me out with a small issue I'm having. I'm looking at buying a 1999 GMC Sierra 1500, with a 4.8L V8 sitting in it. The truck seems to be in very good condition, except the engine is pushing 350000KM. The truck is for a very good price, and regardless of the high kilometres, I am very interested. Alas, I figured I should take a precaution first, and ask this question: How reliable are the 4.8L V8 Engines? Roughly how long do they last? Does this truck sound worth it with 350000KM at the price of $2000? Thank you very much guys, hope to hear back soon.

Zembonez · August 16, 2009

4.8 and 5.3 engines (basically the same item) are very reliable but asking for long term reliability recommendations on ANY vehicle with 350000 KM is a bit unreasonable. Any vehicle with that many KMs on the clock is getting a little gray hair.

At that point it's all about the condition.

CitizenSoldier · August 16, 2009

Apparently the current owner bought if off a salesman about 6 months ago. He told me that the truck was and still is regularly maintained and serviced. The only issue with the truck now is that theres a vibration in the drive shaft, but the current owner has the U-joint needed to repair it. Otherwise there appears to be no problems with the truck, and I can promise that as long as I can afford it, I would be taking very good care of the truck, seeing as it is my first.

Zembonez · August 16, 2009

Very good care of a high mileage vehicle can (and often does) result in high dollar repairs. It's a bit of a crap shoot buying one like that.

Zembonez · August 16, 2009

I don't mean to sound harsh here but you asked for opinions.

A truck with those miles HAS to be on the second or third trans. It's possible that it's on the second engine too. Have somebody qualified do a pre-purchase inspection and go from there.

MS3DALE · August 16, 2009

The guy who has the '99 K1500 4.8 I had has just over 160,000 miles on it the last time I saw it a couple months ago,It still has the original engine and transmission!

(It had 83,000 miles on it when I traded it for the '04 I had)

MS3DALE · August 16, 2009

4.8 and 5.3 engines (basically the same item) are very reliable but asking for long term reliability recommendations on ANY vehicle with 350000 KM is a bit unreasonable. Any vehicle with that many KMs on the clock is getting a little gray hair.

At that point it's all about the condition.

+1 Very true.

Zembonez · August 16, 2009

350000 KM is pushing 220,000 miles. These are great trucks but that is a ton of mileage. All I'm saying is that it should be checked out very well before buying and the buyer might as well be prepared for some major fixes in the not so distant future.

CitizenSoldier · August 16, 2009

Well, thanks very much guys! Your help is very much appreciated. You guys basically told me what I was thinking, but, I just wanted to hear it from somebody else first. Thanks again

cliobogger · August 16, 2009

theres a reason hes getting rid of it after 6 months...just my oppinion.

96chevy7.4L · August 16, 2009

200,000 miles isn't alot if taken care of. My last 1500 GMC I owned had close to 600,000 when I sold it well 571,000 to be exact. Original engine and only the second transmission. Owned it since new. My current 1 ton has 172,000 on it and runs strong.