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4.3l compared to 5.3l

Brian S.

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pickmeup Enthusiast

pickmeup

Posted
Posted

I bought the 5.3 more for towing . But the little six shooter is more than enough for everyday commuting and light to moderate towing. Really it is a proven little engine without doubt.

  • 1 year later...
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Knightfall Enthusiast

Knightfall

Posted
Posted

I love my 4.3. I'm starting to think these engines take alot longer to break in than the older ones, because mine has about 21k on it now and I've noticed for the first time just this month, if I go from putting along to about 3/4 throttle it WILL snap down a couple gears and it definitely puts me back in the seat. I was very surprised. If y'all don't believe me, test drive one with at least 20k miles...

Donstar Senior Enthusiast

Donstar

Posted
Posted

I love my 4.3. I'm starting to think these engines take alot longer to break in than the older ones, because mine has about 21k on it now and I've noticed for the first time just this month, if I go from putting along to about 3/4 throttle it WILL snap down a couple gears and it definitely puts me back in the seat. I was very surprised. If y'all don't believe me, test drive one with at least 20k miles...

I have similar mileage on my 4.3 and I have never found it lacking in acceleration. Prior to getting new tires I had problems with wheels spinning when stepping on the gas but I definitely can get that "pushed back in the seat feeling" when required!

dasimmon Enthusiast

dasimmon

Posted
Posted

So what's the difference in fuel economy for those that have had both 4.3 and 5.3

friend of mine just made the switch. said there was only a 1-2 mpg difference around town.

Brian S. Enthusiast

Brian S.

Posted
  • Author
Posted

friend of mine just made the switch. said there was only a 1-2 mpg difference around town.

17.4 for one year on 4.3, 16 over 2 years on two different 5.3s, all same model, same transmission.

xkvator Enthusiast

xkvator

Posted
Posted

the dealer gave me a 4.3 to drive while they had my '15 5.3 in for recalls, and to fix the flexing drivers seat...I had it over a weekend, so I drove it on the flatland of Ohio, and the hills of Pennsylvania...

it actually ran better that I thought it would...although it downshifted more on some long hills...

I didn't notice it being much better on mpg...I run 70+ for over 100 miles on the turnpike, and my '15 gets over 20mpg, and this one was a few 10ths more...

 

I've noticed more 4.3's on dealers lots than I have before...maybe due to CAFE standards or something...

xkvator Enthusiast

xkvator

Posted
Posted

I have similar mileage on my 4.3 and I have never found it lacking in acceleration. Prior to getting new tires I had problems with wheels spinning when stepping on the gas but I definitely can get that "pushed back in the seat feeling" when required!

I noticed that on the loaner I had...when starting out, especially on gravel...

tnchevy Senior Enthusiast

tnchevy

Posted
Posted

The opposite has happened in my neck of the woods. In 2014 a couple chevy dealers in my area had mostly 4.3's or 5.3's with the 3.08 gear. They couldn't move them while the other big dealership in town carried only 5.3's with the 3.42 rear gear. The next year those two dealers only had the reg. cab short bed work trucks with the V6, everything else had the 8 in it. One of our company trucks is a 2016 with the 4.3 and the few times I have driven it I was very impressed. More get up and go than my 2002 with the 4.8 and 4.10 gears. If I new the V8 sounded like crap with an aftermarket exhaust (in V4 mode) I may have gone with a V6 myself.

  • 1 month later...
2017_whitez71 Enthusiast

2017_whitez71

Posted
Posted

I went from 2014 with a 4.3 to a 2017 with a 5.3 there is a difference in power but not a blow your doors off difference. If you want fast buy a vette.

Brian S. Enthusiast

Brian S.

Posted
  • Author
Posted

 

 

I went from 2014 with a 4.3 to a 2017 with a 5.3 there is a difference in power but not a blow your doors off difference. If you want fast buy a vette.

I would say the same of my 4.3 to 5.3 experience.

 

I think the biggest problem the 4.3 has is overcoming 100 years of perception V6 trucks are underpowered. I honestly think if the 4.3 had come out with more power than the old 5.3l 90% of us had last gen most people still wouldn't give it a chance because it's a 6.

 

That and the fact the old 4.3 was so terrible that anyone who ever drove one never wanted to again. That engine had 195hp and 260ft lbs torque and in a Silverado that made for some "hey, I've got my foot on the floor but that kid on a bicycle is pulling away" performance.

 

The new 4.3 has 285hp and 305ft lbs on E10 and bears very little resemblance. (and 297/330 on E85) I guarantee that no one who had a Gen IV 5.3 could tell the difference between that and a new 4.3 on E85, the specs are almost identical.

Knightfall Enthusiast

Knightfall

Posted
Posted

I would say the same of my 4.3 to 5.3 experience.

 

I think the biggest problem the 4.3 has is overcoming 100 years of perception V6 trucks are underpowered. I honestly think if the 4.3 had come out with more power than the old 5.3l 90% of us had last gen most people still wouldn't give it a chance because it's a 6.

 

That and the fact the old 4.3 was so terrible that anyone who ever drove one never wanted to again. That engine had 195hp and 260ft lbs torque and in a Silverado that made for some "hey, I've got my foot on the floor but that kid on a bicycle is pulling away" performance.

 

The new 4.3 has 285hp and 305ft lbs on E10 and bears very little resemblance. (and 297/330 on E85) I guarantee that no one who had a Gen IV 5.3 could tell the difference between that and a new 4.3 on E85, the specs are almost identical.

The biggest benefit of the old 4.3's is that they were totally indestructible, one of the most reliable truck engines you can get. I've been in a few 1500's with them, all 4x2's but some had an extended cab, they weren't fast but they also weren't unbearably slow in my opinion, they probably had 4:10's. However, those motors were great in S-10 trucks and blazers.

Donstar Senior Enthusiast

Donstar

Posted
Posted

I did go from a previous generation 5.3 to a current 4.3 in essentially the same truck. The difference in power was not noticeable. The sound difference is missed. The old GM 4.3 and the Ford 300 cu.in 6cyl truck motors were great workhorses! Many of us spent a great portion of our work lives behind the wheel of such vehicles. We know and appreciate their capabilities. The 100+ extra horsepower offered in current 6's well exceeds needed power and offers much of the enjoyment factor previously reserved for V8's!

Knightfall Enthusiast

Knightfall

Posted
Posted

if it maked everyone feel better, my 2016 2500hd 6.0 is slow and gets bad gas mileage too!

 

Have a nice day

 

Yes, but if you were to knock a few holes in the muffler or just straight cut the exhaust off, then you'd realize why you buy the 6.0. If GM brings back the 8.1 I'm ashamed of myself to admit how bad a financial decision I'd be willing to put myself in to get a truck with that motor. Especially in a WT with no upgrades at all except 4x4 and a locker.

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