What engine do you guys think?

Spurshot · June 27, 2014

My issue with a turbo motor is the longevity and reliability. I put a lot of miles on a vehicle. I would expect a large bill for turbo replacements in the 100-150K miles range. Also, the engine has a likelihood of a shorter life than a naturally aspirated engine. Especially, if you're making boost all the time. I've had turbo vehicles. They are great, but there's no free lunches. You wouldn't want to own a high mileage Ecoboost vehicle.

gmissed · June 27, 2014

Im just curious Ive seen a few post from you stating how happy you were with the EB power and all that. Did they cure the old heat problems that come with gas blown cars and trucks? Even if you start out with a little more power with the turbo when it gets hot the numbers dive. Ive notice even with diesels power dropping as the temps go up.

Sorry, I've never heard of this before and I drove it hard. Never had a problem with my '11 EB and it was one of the first produced. Traded it in on the '14 Denali and got top dollar for the EB as well.

KARNUT · June 27, 2014

Sorry, I've never heard of this before and I drove it hard. Never had a problem with my '11 EB and it was one of the first produced. Traded it in on the '14 Denali and got top dollar for the EB as well.

I just notice your from the great north, I was referring to 95 plus temps. Back when I first started pulling with diesels the different with max payload would be about 5 miles per hour in the afternoon. Now they have so much HP and TQ at max payload you don't notice the heat so much.

Newm · June 27, 2014

My mileage experience in the EB vs the 5.3 is totally different. I was getting about 25 MPG US mixed driving in the EB vs almost 20 MPG mixed in the 5.3

You must of had a good one. We have a couple here at work and they are 17-18mpg mixed driving.

Jon A · June 27, 2014

Cmon a 5.3 max tow is the same as a 6.2??? 355hp 383tq vs 420hp 460tq? even burning corn the 5.3 is only at 380hp. I could go settle for a cheap older used truck with a 6.2 if I wanted that but my budget is already set on a 45k + truck I think 2K isn't much more to get what I want so its not a big deal there.

Keep in mind the official tow rating on paper being similar doesn't necessarily mean there won't be a big difference between the two in the real world. Even with the new J2807 standards, the tests involving the engine are a pass/fail meeting a minimum standard--there are no extra points for doing better. So if GM limits the capacity mainly due to axle/spring capacity as long as both engines pass the minimum acceleration and don't overheat, they could get the same rating, even if one engine passes the tests much more easily than the other.

I saw a response on another board to a similar question from a guy also coming from a diesel you may find helpful:

After having a Duramax, which I loved, and then going BACK to a half ton truck (and reluctantly a 5.3) I can tell you, I loved my half ton for ride quality but I was NEVER satisfied with the 5.3. At all. Not even in the least. Got worse gas mileage because I was used to the umph of the Duramax and drove the 5.3 with a heavy foot. Traded it for a 6.2 truck and actually liked the power and torque but the mileage wasn't all that great, but if I truly wanted fuel mileage I wouldn't buy a full size truck. Got my 14 6.2, and I couldn't imagine going back to a diesel truck. I get better mileage out of this new 6.2 than I got with the Duramax on the same daily drive AND on the highway and get the same as my Duramax pulling my boat. That is impressive.

I had a Duramax because I was pulling my boat every weekend and heavy equipment trailers and excavators and such but got out of the need for it... As it is now, and having this 14 6.2, there is no possible way I'd spend the money on diesel again. Not in fuel cost at the pump and not in additional maintenance cost of the vehicle. I've had a few diesel trucks starting all the way back when diesel fuel cost less than 87 octane gas. I loved my Duramax and it was the pinnacle of trucks in my opinion, but this 14 6.2 is hands down a nicer and better everyday truck that is fun to drive to boot.

I say all of that because in my opinion, and having done that, I'd look for a 6.2 truck. The 5.3 truck that I bought was a NICE truck, but it was my least favorite truck I've ever owned (25 trucks) simply because I went from my Duramax to that 5.3 truck.

I drove a 2014 5.3 truck and it was definitely alot better than the previous generation 5.3, but I didn't tow anything with it. I just drove it because they gave me the keys, a full tank of gas and said have a good day. They were trying to talk me out of getting a 2014 6.2 truck because they couldn't find what I was deadset looking for. They were just wasting their time, I had absolutely no intentions of going backwards AGAIN in the power dept. since I owned a 2013 6.2 truck at the time. I think coming out of a Duramax and going to a half ton you will be alot happier if you wait for a 6.2 truck to come available. Or order a 2015 the way you want it. The power difference going from a Duramax to a 5.3 was just too much for me to handle in 2012 and it was the dumbest car/truck purchase I've ever done. Well... except that Dodge one time... :emb: Oh, and the 4 Door Blazer back in 1998..... :eyes:

Stoddard · June 30, 2014

Well I drove a 6.2 denali and a 5.3 all terrain this weekend both with 3.42's and honestly don't think the 6.2 felt like 65hp more. She definitely had some giddy up but not the 420 I was expecting. The 5.3 all terrain had bigger tires and aftermarket 20's the dealer put on and a leveling kit and some "throttle booster" they added supposed to take the throttle hesitation out. So I dunno if that added any HP kinda doubt it but I think I'll definitely get the 6.2. Kinda dissapointed I couldn't drive a 3.73 truck but hope I could tune the 6.2 to be more responsive. Anyone put headers and tune on a new 6.2 yet?