Jump to content

How is your 4.3L EcoTec3 V6 Engine working out for ya?

The4thgearkid
 Share

Recommended Posts

Knightfall Enthusiast

Knightfall

Posted
Posted

Always been a fan of the 4.3 since we've had them in S-10 trucks and Blazers (I know the motors aren't similar but still). Now I just want to see a re-envisiominf of the Big-Block V6's from the old GMC trucks. Maybe turbo'd as a base model 3/4 ton motor....

  • Like 1
  • Replies 164
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Popular Posts

corwest
corwest

Couldn't be more true. Most people who speak poorly of things on forums go searching for a place to speak that way. It's very rare you find people who are completely satisfied who go looking for a pla

Brian S.
Brian S.

I had the 4.3l with 4wd/3.42 gears Xcab last year, now have the 5.3l with 4wd/3.42 gears Xcab and agree with what you say.   In normal driving, the 4.3 and 5.3 drive largely the same. The difference

KARNUT
KARNUT

Unlike getting the 6.2 you can get the 5.3 across the board with very little upgrade cost. Then you factor in the added HP can go up to 380 on e-85 it's a no brainier. I have nothing against V6s I hav

Posted Images

cnrtool Enthusiast

cnrtool

Posted
Posted

I have 47,000 on my 2014. I am happy with it, and as a bonus I am getting a 18.9 average mpg since I bought it. Prior to that, I had a very fun to drive 2003 SS, but it couldn't pass a gas station without gulping 50 bucks worth.

BoomBoom19 Enthusiast

BoomBoom19

Posted
Posted

I own a 2014 with 22k miles. Honestly couldn't be happier. I had a 2013 prior to this with the v8 and I really cant tell much of a difference. I towed a uhaul (6x12) loaded up to the max from Wisconsin to New York and other than averaging 13-14 mpg, it handled the weight really well and had power to pass when needed. I went for the v6 because i rarely tow, and mainly like a truck because I could throw whatever I want in the back and I sit up above traffic. Plus I feel more safe. Didnt ever feel the need to have the v8 plus I got an amazing deal on my truck.

  • Like 1
  • 4 weeks later...
Baldy_81 New Member

Baldy_81

Posted
Posted

I drive a 2014 DC with the 4.3 and Z71 Package. Absolutely love the truck. I modified the Airriad MIT for the 5.3 to fit the 4.3 engine. Currently planning on doing a black bear tune as well. I don't really tow anything, but i have had 1200 lbs of Concrete in the back a few months back, and truck drove like there was nothing there. I would recommend this engine to anyone.

 

 

Just curious how much modification was required for the MIT to fit and wether it made a difference or not.

obrien19 Enthusiast

obrien19

Posted
Posted

Not much modification. Just need a 4 inch to 3 inch coupler for the throttle body and a half inch PVC plug. Hard to say how much of a difference it made. I feel like it did, but others on here would argue that it won't make a difference

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  • 1 month later...
Tw1tch New Member

Tw1tch

Posted
Posted

Other than the trans fluid temp running higher than I'm comfortable with, my 2015 4.3L is doing fine. Little over 3000 miles. I'm going to add a Tru Cool Mini Max trans cooler to it very soon & be done with the high fluid temps.

 

 

How did that TruCool work for you? Mine still hasn't jumped over 195F, but to be honest I'm a little sketched out by such a high reading on the highway.

Imcrazy Senior Enthusiast

Imcrazy

Posted
Posted

I used to have the 4.3 ECO TEC, with 13k miles on my new 5.3 ECO TEC, I'd pay the $800 all day long to get the bigger motor. The 4.3 does the job but, it's nice to have that little extra in the V8. FWIW I had the 4.3 truck for about 30k miles and only a few times did I want more power, mostly on the highway, both trucks are 4x4 3.42 rear end double cabs. If you find a screaming deal on 4.3 don't hesitate they're good motors and I would buy a truck with one again IF it was about 2k less than a comparable 5.3L truck but, new, your talking less than 1000. Also I get the same MPG with this truck as I did the V6. 19 mpg without a trailer hooked up.

11bDad Enthusiast

11bDad

Posted
Posted

 

 

How did that TruCool work for you? Mine still hasn't jumped over 195F, but to be honest I'm a little sketched out by such a high reading on the highway.

Installed it in Dec, but it didn't do much because of the Thermal Bypass Valve they have used since 2014. Install was fairly easy and I was real pleased with the way it turned out. I modified the valve (easy & free), and it really cooled it down. I can run the interstate in 95 degree SC weather at 145 degrees, or sit in heavy traffic at 175. I used the Tru Cool Mini Max 20k btu cooler. Well made. Torque converter and pump went out at 10k miles, so after dealing with that ordeal I feel better about the tranny running cooler. Cooler%202_zpsu08mwo4s.jpg

  • Like 1
Baldy_81 New Member

Baldy_81

Posted
Posted

I have nearly 80000 kms on my 4.3 and so far my only complaint was towing a 4000 lbs camper with some stuff in the back of the truck. The issue was not being able to keep it in 6th gear so I had to run at 105 km/h @ 2800 rpm in 5th. Would like to know how the 5.3 would fare with that extra HP. Other than its been good.

newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

Posted
Posted

I've driven one for 300 miles (double cab 4x4) so no ownership experience...but I do have a relevant question for you 4.3 owners. Anyone run the Range AFM delete on theirs? Interested to see some mileage differences between leaving it active and disabled.

 

 

I have nearly 80000 kms on my 4.3 and so far my only complaint was towing a 4000 lbs camper with some stuff in the back of the truck. The issue was not being able to keep it in 6th gear so I had to run at 105 km/h @ 2800 rpm in 5th. Would like to know how the 5.3 would fare with that extra HP. Other than its been good.

 

5.3 would run in 5th with tow/haul on with that load.

  • Like 1
  • 3 weeks later...
NYSierra4 Enthusiast

NYSierra4

Posted
Posted

Has anyone done anything with the exhaust? I know most 5.3 owners just say to get a 5.3 but I'd like a little more throat when I hit it on the highway. Thx

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

tmo Enthusiast

tmo

Posted
Posted

I wanna know how everyone is getting 20+ mpg with their trucks. I have the 4.3 and the closest I've ever gotten to that is 18 when babying it. Normally I get around 15-16 highway.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

NYSierra4 Enthusiast

NYSierra4

Posted
Posted (edited)

I wanna know how everyone is getting 20+ mpg with their trucks. I have the 4.3 and the closest I've ever gotten to that is 18 when babying it. Normally I get around 15-16 highway.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So there is a big difference between what the computer tells you and what your actual mpg is. I was averaging around 20-22 with a max of 25 b4 my lift and tires but when I plugged the numbers into a mpg app it was more like 18. After my lift and tires I'm getting around 14-16.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited by NYSierra4
azsundevil Enthusiast

azsundevil

Posted
Posted

I wanna know how everyone is getting 20+ mpg with their trucks. I have the 4.3 and the closest I've ever gotten to that is 18 when babying it. Normally I get around 15-16 highway.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Yep, that's spot-on for me with my 4.3L. I think a lot of people who brag about high MPG are being a little dishonest with themselves and maybe not telling the whole story. When I calculate my MPG by hand, I usually get around 18 if I've been driving economically, and I've seen as low as 14-15 if I've been driving REALLY aggressively (I live in Socal, our freeways are a free-for-all deathmatch).

So there is a big difference between what the computer tells you and what your actual mpg is. I was averaging around 20-22 with a max of 25 b4 my lift and tires but when I plugged the numbers into a mpg app it was more like 18. After my lift and tires I'm getting around 14-16.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Yeah same here, the computer is waaay off on mine. And I'm running stock tires with no lift. Computer is off by as much as 3-4 mpg sometimes.

GMC2015 Enthusiast

GMC2015

Posted
Posted

I wanna know how everyone is getting 20+ mpg with their trucks. I have the 4.3 and the closest I've ever gotten to that is 18 when babying it. Normally I get around 15-16 highway.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

It boils down to how you drive and what type of truck you drive. Heavier tires and a level will decrease you mileage quite a bit when you have a v6. What did you average when the truck was stock?

 

This is what I've averaged so far with mine. 70% highway driving and 30% stop and go city driving. Also mixed with some spirited driving (Single cab, 2WD, 3.23s, bone stock)

 

post-162162-0-43158400-1476147727_thumb.jpg

post-162162-0-43158400-1476147727_thumb.jpg

post-162162-0-43158400-1476147727_thumb.jpg

post-162162-0-43158400-1476147727_thumb.jpg

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • RyanbabZ71
      Gas Prices

      By RyanbabZ71 · Posted

      Wawa and Meijer here have ethanol free (88 & 89) I use for my mower and lawn equipment.  Its not much more than reg.  I paid $3.29 a few weeks ago.  
    • Atlas
      Wow I'm in a pickle. (Broke down truck) and a story.

      By Atlas · Posted

      tl; dr I've now reached the 6th floor of hell. I'm chronicling my journey for my morning readers.   Pulling the top of the intake apart was moderately easy but it involved a lot of parts, connections, and minutae. I was preparing for the new fuel lines to arrive ("nut and bolt kit" it's called). The fuel line connections are notched and held in place by the manifold and a metal plate with a T27 screw.   It's on the back of the intake, under the firewall, with little clearance, and two hard metal fuel lines in the way. I was using Franken-tools (weird combinations of 1/4 inch ratchet with/without an extension, with a bit holder for my T27) to get in there. One of my sockets and bits fell off and has yet to emerge on the floor. I lost a second setup and that's when I almost started throwing tools. But that was the point at which I had gotten traction on the Torx head, and it promptly stripped. No more traction.   I started humming "1-877-kars-4-kids" because I was about at that point. You know what? I'm $1500 into this thing and I can make it disappear just as quickly. This isn't fun anymore. I had spent a lot of time already "tidying" around the engine bay: Fixing all the "someone's been here before!" BS. The truck has been exclusively dealer- and shop- serviced and I'm reminded of why I never let other people work on my cars unless absolutely necessary.   Speaking of dealer service. This truck has a 1" stack of records going back to 1995. I put them all in an excel spreadsheet, date/mileage/description.   The CPI spider has been replaced 4 times in 85k miles. The EGR? Another 4. Multiple, multiple O2 sensors. One Cat. 4? Sets of plugs and wires, and I swear half the stack is diagnosis paperwork for "misfire, runs rough, extended crank, dies at stoplights".   GM was producing some proper crap back then. And it was still well within the era of brittle/crappy plastic. (Windows 95 was released the same month this truck was sold new, we HAD the technology!!)   There (was) a plastic shroud around the evaporator core and HVAC fan in the engine bay. I noticed a chunk of it missing so I poked at it some more and it literally shattered. Touched it some more and pieces were crumbling off. Had a good laugh. Clearly whatever plastic garbage they were using had broken down over 30 years and was literally turning to dust. That was a good half hour of using a shop vac to remove the rest of it.   Back to it.   I was going to give up for the evening but then decided I'm already level 10 pissed off at the stripped screw: G* D* it, give me my tools back -- and my JOY. We'll do this the hard way: The whole intake is coming off.   Blazer won Round II. After finally finding and accessing the 12 intake bolts and using a pry bar to unseat it from the heads, it popped loose in an explosion of gunk and grime raining down into open ports. Awesome.   6 times I reminded myself: Be careful of the temperature sender on the front of the intake.   YEAH, I forgot again and snapped it clean off in the removal. Add another $20 to the ever-growing list of new parts this thing is consuming.   The shame is, long before removing the intake, I had changed the oil in prep for Tuesday's momentous fuel line replacement that was going to be the magic fix and I'd have a running Blazer to tool around in this next weekend. The intake removal, including raining gunk, also gushed dirty coolant all over the valley. Of course it did. Welp, there goes another $35.   I now need an intake gasket set, bolt set, coolant temp sensor, another 5 quarts of oil, some RTV. Don't worry, I've already got 3 new jugs of Dexcool and a thermostat waiting. I'll fill it with clean water first to get it running, dump it, and then add the Dex later on in case... well, let's not go there. I'm only tearing this down once, next time the truck is going on Marketplace for FREE.   Oh, and I'm going to need vacuum hose for all the stupid connections placed at the rear of the engine which have since disintegrated. Come on, GM....tell me you don't do that anymore?   Oh, and the ears on the distributor where the cap screws down are both cracked. I mean, why not put a new distributor in it too. You get a distributor, YOU get a distributor, Everyone gets a new distributor!   This truck isn't out of the woods yet...I'm already questioning how much more time I'm willing to sink in.
    • William Aldrich
      Bent valve in 2025 GMC Canyon Denali - Requires engine swap at 14K miles

      By William Aldrich · Posted

      NewDude, thank you for the suggestions!    I did follow up and the dealer indicates he has an open CX case and is working with DPAC (Dealer Parts Assistance Center).   Per the dealer, GM has had a quality spill and is not providing an update for when a replacement engine will be available.
    • Silver Yeti
      Poll: Does your truck have the rear window leak?

      By Silver Yeti · Posted

      That's interesting.   There was a factory wire-hole in the back, top of the rear cab, which had a wire for the third brakelight assembly running through it, as well as several holes (10 of them I believe) for all of the studs coming off of the 3rd brakelight assembly itself.   I sealed all of those holes with RTV/silicone as well.   I found it kind of odd, that none of those holes, were sealed with any kind of sealant by the factory - if there was any there, it wasn't very much.   That said, I've been out in heavy rain and have ran the truck through high-pressure car-washes a few times now and she has been 100% water-tight to this point.   I feel very confident in the repair, we'll see how it holds up.
    • Jay-22-2500
      2024 Silverado 2500 HD with the 6.6 Gas (L8T) Engine

      By Jay-22-2500 · Posted

      I bought a used 2022 2500hd with 6.6L in February. In March took a 2200 mile trip towing our 6500 lb trailer. Changed the oil day before leaving and when we were arriving at our 1st destination, low oil light came on (roughly 1000 miles) it was 2 qts low. Now it towed like a dream, no issue there, and we did go through the mountains of TN, but still, 2 qts! Luckily I did purchase an extended warranty. Brought it to the dealership in April, oil change and consumption test. Brought it back last week, 1300 miles, no towing, and no oil showing on the dipstick. GM is reccomending a new engine (cheaper than them rebuilding), we'll see if the warranty company comes through. 

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...