2011 Sierra 1500

Stevens03 · November 6, 2011

Keep in mind, you only read about the few that have issues, not the thousands that don't...

yamahas · November 6, 2011

Keep in mind, you only read about the few that have issues, not the thousands that don't...

Yes I know. A lot more problems get posted on forums. Rare to see a post saying everything is all good

BlackZ71Silverado · November 6, 2011

you might want to do a little reading about all the problems guys have had with the 5.3 and the AFM system. Many seem to burn oil too. That made me buy a 4.8. It will tow a 3000lb trailer with ease... I average 17.6 l/100km (over the last 16,000km) I do a lot of light towing and 50% city 50% hyw. Plus I have and overuse my remote start....

No problems at all with any of our AFM trucks on my end.....If you do read through the topics, you will notice that it's mostly the same people over and over again bashing, many of them have also NEVER owner an AFM equipped truck, or even drove one, they just need something to complain about without any first hand experience.

OP, get the 5.3 and don't look back!

yamahas · November 6, 2011

Looking like the 5.3 is what I will be getting pending avalibility.

Can someone tell me more about the transmition and this touch up and down. Is it like tiptronic in cars?

Is it a good transmission?

mike94silverado · November 6, 2011

I pull 6200 lbs. short distances with my 4.8 rated at 7200 lbs. It does it, It struggles a bit but it does the job. I get about 8 mpg towing with that weight.

When I bought my truck, the only way to get the 5.3 with power locks/windows and chrome was to get an LT. It cost a few grand more and I was satisfied with the LS content, (I've got a car with a moonroof and blingy wheels for that) and actually happy with the steel wheels. (Never had alloys I could keep air in with winter temp. changes) I wanted power locks and windows and chrome bumpers so the W/T was out. Between the 4.8 and 5.3 it wasn't worth the cash just to get the engine. NOW, If they had a 6.2 option for the LS that didn't add useless (TO ME) stuff like foglights and auto climate I may have been interested in it.

I know for a fact that 4.8 will feel a lot more powerful than the 5.7 you have now.

I usually get flamed for sticking up for the 4.8 and with what I tow i've also been called cheap because I didn't go with the 5.3 or 6.2 but when the 4.8 is adequate for what I do, and you can't get the larger engines without paying for fluff like foglights, plastic liners, aluminum wheels, etc.... It's been a choice that works for me.

wavery · November 6, 2011

I pull 6200 lbs. short distances with my 4.8 rated at 7200 lbs. It does it, It struggles a bit but it does the job. I get about 8 mpg towing with that weight.

Mike,

8MPG is awful. I towed my brother's 28' TT to Bridgeport (8,000') once. It did struggle at high altitude, on steep grades but I still got 11.5MPG on that trip. I wouldn't do it again...... but only because of my gear ratio. If I had 3.73s, think that I would be fine with it.

KMGZ400 · November 6, 2011

you could definatley get away with the 4.8.... it will tow 2 snowmobiles with no problem... anything more, i would reccomend the 5.3.

anyway, like many others have said, depending on price i would much rather get a 5.3 then a 4.8... i have both and the 5.3 is much better to drive

rog_ski · November 6, 2011

OP, get the 5.3 and don't look back!

Justin

If I could do it all over again I would have spent the extra dollars and picked up the 5.3.

I am not sure about the configuration of the 2011 - 4.8 over the 2006 4-8 for HP, Torque, gearing and shift points but mine struggles when I tow a couple of sleds and have to pull it up a decent hill. Even if I am running along a highway empty and start up a good sized hill in cruise the ole dog will keep gearing down to the point I have to click off cruise and drive it up the hill with the gas pedal because it has down shifted 3 times. I have heard and stand to be corrected is that the 5.3 and 4.8 gas mileage is similar as the larger engine doesn't have to work as hard.

Realize that I could have mine running better with a tune but had I spent the extra 1500 or so dollars 6 years ago I might not have to baby it up the hill. Take that cost and average it over however many years you are going to have the truck and the fact that your truck will likely sell quicker or be worth slightly more on a trade in when it comes time to part ways. I have heard and stand to be corrected is that the 5.3 and 4.8 gas mileage is similar as the larger engine doesn't have to work as hard, as blacksilveradoz71 says get the 5.3 and don't look back

yamahas · November 6, 2011

Thanks Roger. My sled trailer is an open trailer so its not heavy but the salt guard is like a big wall moving at 100 km/h.

You may be the guy to ask since where both in ottawa and tow sleds. I do run up hw 17 a lot up to north bay. Will the 4.8 struggle up those hills pulling a open or closed sled trailer with a sled in the box of the truck.

GM says the 5.3 uses less gas. So I would only be looking at the initial cost for this upgrade.

rog_ski · November 6, 2011

You may be the guy to ask since where both in ottawa and tow sleds. I do run up hw 17 a lot up to north bay. Will the 4.8 struggle up those hills pulling a open or closed sled trailer with a sled in the box of the truck.

Justin

Same as you; open trailer with the salt guard. I haven't been to North Bay but we often drop in Arnprior.

As I have said the configuration may be different in the 2011 4.8 but mine struggles. When you're headed west on the 417 Just past Kinburn side road there is a long gradual hill that climbs towards Arnprior, this is one of the hills I have to kick it out of Cruise or it will downshift three times. Alot of times I will see a hill, get a run of speed hitting the bottom of the hill and I am running a decent speed at the top of the hill.

Buy the 5.3

yamahas · November 6, 2011

Thanks Roger,

I think that if it struggles up that hill I will have a hard time once I get even just part Deep River then, its another 2 hours of just hills!

I hope the dealer will be able to find me a 5.3 without all this Bluetooth stuff I don't need!

This is great info everyone thanks!

fbachman · November 6, 2011

Have a buddy that has a 5.3 Sierra with the 6-speed (2010 I believe). I have the '07 Sierra/5.3.

He regularly tows a race-car trailer. It's pretty hilly around here. With the six speed, he claims he can easily get 20mpg on the highway if he light-foots it (no trailer). He has had zero problems with the tranny, the engine, oil consumption or the AFM. He's got about 40,000mi on the clock (he drives a lot more than I do). He raves about the tow/haul mode with the 6 speed while towing his trailer.

Not a big tower myself... so I am just the messenger here.

My humble opinion would be go spring for the 5.3. I think you will be happy (ier) with it, and the fuel economy hit is almost negligible as you will get the 6 speed with the 5.3 over the 4 speed with the 4.8.

I am not saying folks haven't had issues with the AFM, etc.. My truck, however, (Iron block 5.3 with the 4 speed auto) burns no oil. 54,000miles and no real issues (certainly NONE with the powertrain). A few annoyances here and there, all covered under warranty, and to be expected.

Go wit the 5.3 ..... if you ever decide to do more, you'll have the extra ooomph of the bigger engine.

Disclosure Satement: My AFM is turned off via a custom tune. I turned it off not because I was having problems or anticipating them. Due to my exhaust (aftermarket), the 4 cyl mode drone was obnoxious to me, so I turned it off. No noticable change in fuel economy at all. Actually, I now prefer it off as I get a little more engine braking coasting down from highway speeds than with the AFM on.

yamahas · November 6, 2011

Thanks for the reply's guys. Prety much decided I will be going for a 5.3. Got to wait to talk to the dealer about avalibility.

scz71864 · November 6, 2011

Have a buddy that has a 5.3 Sierra with the 6-speed (2010 I believe). I have the '07 Sierra/5.3.

He regularly tows a race-car trailer. It's pretty hilly around here. With the six speed, he claims he can easily get 20mpg on the highway if he light-foots it (no trailer). He has had zero problems with the tranny, the engine, oil consumption or the AFM. He's got about 40,000mi on the clock (he drives a lot more than I do). He raves about the tow/haul mode with the 6 speed while towing his trailer.

Not a big tower myself... so I am just the messenger here.

My humble opinion would be go spring for the 5.3. I think you will be happy (ier) with it, and the fuel economy hit is almost negligible as you will get the 6 speed with the 5.3 over the 4 speed with the 4.8.

I am not saying folks haven't had issues with the AFM, etc.. My truck, however, (Iron block 5.3 with the 4 speed auto) burns no oil. 54,000miles and no real issues (certainly NONE with the powertrain). A few annoyances here and there, all covered under warranty, and to be expected.

Go wit the 5.3 ..... if you ever decide to do more, you'll have the extra ooomph of the bigger engine.

Disclosure Satement: My AFM is turned off via a custom tune. I turned it off not because I was having problems or anticipating them. Due to my exhaust (aftermarket), the 4 cyl mode drone was obnoxious to me, so I turned it off. No noticable change in fuel economy at all. Actually, I now prefer it off as I get a little more engine braking coasting down from highway speeds than with the AFM on.

so you get 21 roughly on the highway still?

fbachman · November 6, 2011

Have a buddy that has a 5.3 Sierra with the 6-speed (2010 I believe). I have the '07 Sierra/5.3.

He regularly tows a race-car trailer. It's pretty hilly around here. With the six speed, he claims he can easily get 20mpg on the highway if he light-foots it (no trailer). He has had zero problems with the tranny, the engine, oil consumption or the AFM. He's got about 40,000mi on the clock (he drives a lot more than I do). He raves about the tow/haul mode with the 6 speed while towing his trailer.

Not a big tower myself... so I am just the messenger here.

My humble opinion would be go spring for the 5.3. I think you will be happy (ier) with it, and the fuel economy hit is almost negligible as you will get the 6 speed with the 5.3 over the 4 speed with the 4.8.

I am not saying folks haven't had issues with the AFM, etc.. My truck, however, (Iron block 5.3 with the 4 speed auto) burns no oil. 54,000miles and no real issues (certainly NONE with the powertrain). A few annoyances here and there, all covered under warranty, and to be expected.

Go wit the 5.3 ..... if you ever decide to do more, you'll have the extra ooomph of the bigger engine.

Disclosure Satement: My AFM is turned off via a custom tune. I turned it off not because I was having problems or anticipating them. Due to my exhaust (aftermarket), the 4 cyl mode drone was obnoxious to me, so I turned it off. No noticable change in fuel economy at all. Actually, I now prefer it off as I get a little more engine braking coasting down from highway speeds than with the AFM on.

so you get 21 roughly on the highway still?

If you were asking if I get the same mileage with AFM off vs. "on", I did NOT see any change in fuel economy with the AFM OFF what-so-ever vs. with it on..... and I do monitor that with every fill-up.

I don't consistently get 20 (lol).... My buddy with the '10 and the 6-speed says he can easily get hwy 20 consistently if he babies it and runs 60-65mph...

I have gotten 20 doing 60-65mph once, but my real hwy mileage with the tune, and all, doing 70-75mph and the 4-speed is on the order of 18-19mph. I also have the 3.73, which I believe is no longer available in the later model years.

As I said in posts some years ago ref AFM, I am convinced the AFM was strictly an "EPA cycle" tool that GM used to eeek every last mpg out of the test when they rated the vehicle. It probably helped in the lab when the cycle was run. As for its viability on the street after production started......

I think my buddy also has a taller rear axle which helps that (hwy fuel economy).