5.3l w/ 3:08 rear

scott19677 · October 16, 2015

Don't take the salesman word. Check the window sticker and code in the glove box!

redwngr · October 16, 2015

Got the 3:42 rear.....salesman said "it's part of the Trailer Equipment Package"....I told him "that's good, because that would of squashed the deal". This truck does seem to have a fair bit of giddy up.....not sure the budget manager (Wife) will allow the higher octane

3.42 isn't part of the trailer equipment package.

Trailering equipment, includes trailer hitch, 7-pin and 4-pin connectors

base sierra - Includes (G80) locking rear differential.

sle - Includes (G80) locking rear differential on 2WD models. Included with (GAT) All-Terrain Package, (NHT) Max Trailering Package, (PDA) Texas SLE Value Package (PEC) Carbon-22 Edition or (PDU) SLE Value Package.

STD on SLT

afireinside7444 · October 17, 2015

I have a 3.08 wanted to hate it. At 5k miles runs great now after break in and trans has learned. Dosent bother me

Brian S. · October 17, 2015

That's not the best gear to tow with.

It drops the tow rating to 6600 pounds.

So that's even less once you start adding in things like the passengers and cargo.

How much tow weight do most people need though?

21' Ranger bass boat with a 250 motor- 3000lbs

http://www.boattest.com/review/ranger-boats/3016_z521-comanche

20' camper- 3000lbs

http://gulfstreamrvtrailers.com/amerilite/specs.php

Snowmobiles- 400-700lbs each

http://www.snowgoer.com/snowmobiling-features/2010-snowmobiles-weights/0304/

The things most of us tow with half ton trucks are nowhere close to 6600lbs..

I tow a pretty typical lake boat for the Midwest, 17'8", 150hp outboard. The whole rig loaded full and full of gas probably only weighs 2000lbs, and the 4.3l Silverado with 3.42 gears I had last year towed it easily. I was never thinking,"Oh man this sucks, why won't this thing go?!?".

jrob56 · October 22, 2015

I ended up with the 3.08, father in law bought the vehicle new and I got too good of a deal buying it from him to pass it up. Thought it would bug me but has a good bit of get up and go and i mostly commute with it anyway. The few times a year I tow something it will be sufficient.

Txjose · October 26, 2015

don't get the 3.08 - 90% that do have it wish they got the 3.42 ....just read the forum

Yup.... Here i am about to dump $2K to swap my 3.08s for 4.10s in my 4x4.....and its worth every penny since im om 33s now and planning on 35s

silveradosid · November 1, 2015

I have the 2014 Silverado cc , 5.3 with 3.08. it came with 255/70r17 tires. I do mostly all highway driving and get really good fuel mileage. I tow my 2000 lbs lund probass boat about 20 times a year , as compared to my 2006 sierra cc 5.3 with 3.42 the 2014 would blow the doors off it. whether just driving or pulling the trailer. these new engines have a lot more power and torque than previous 5.3s. if you are leaving it stock they are no problem, if you are going to do a lift and bigger tires you will not like having 3.08 gearas

Brian S. · November 1, 2015

I have the 2014 Silverado cc , 5.3 with 3.08. it came with 255/70r17 tires. I do mostly all highway driving and get really good fuel mileage. I tow my 2000 lbs lund probass boat about 20 times a year , as compared to my 2006 sierra cc 5.3 with 3.42 the 2014 would blow the doors off it. whether just driving or pulling the trailer. these new engines have a lot more power and torque than previous 5.3s. if you are leaving it stock they are no problem, if you are going to do a lift and bigger tires you will not like having 3.08 gearas

Exactly. If a person was planning to put giant mudder tires and performance parts on, the 3.08s weren't the choice to start with. For the 90% of us driving the trucks as is and towing 3500lbs or less, the 3.08s are probably fine.

jrob56 · November 2, 2015

I ended up with the 3.08, father in law bought the vehicle new and I got too good of a deal buying it from him to pass it up. Thought it would bug me but has a good bit of get up and go and i mostly commute with it anyway. The few times a year I tow something it will be sufficient.

So update, I actually have the 3.42 haha. I went to look at window sticker for something else and noticed it listed 3.08 on left side of sticker and 3.42 on right. Thought that was odd so I checked the RPO codes, turns out I have 3.42. Glad towing is a littler higher and not worried about throwing some 33s on there now.

Donvan514 · November 6, 2015

So update, I actually have the 3.42 haha. I went to look at window sticker for something else and noticed it listed 3.08 on left side of sticker and 3.42 on right. Thought that was odd so I checked the RPO codes, turns out I have 3.42. Glad towing is a littler higher and not worried about throwing some 33s on there now.

That fooled me too. I thought my dealer sold me a V6 for a second...lol

ember1205 · November 6, 2015

Running 89 or 91 is almost a must even for the 5.3. They seem to constantly pull timing on 87 and the economy definitely suffers. You won't get 400 HP with 91 but you're almost definitely not getting the power you paid for if you run 87.

What's the actual MPG difference? I run 87 octane in mine and pay about $2.15/gallon currently. If I step up to 89, the price jumps to about $2.45/gallon. 91 runs me closer to about $2.70/gallon. That's almost a 25% increase in cost for the fuel, but I highly doubt I'm going to see a similar increase in MPG. It's all about cost-per-mile. So, while I might get 21MPG with 91, it's way cheaper per mile to run 87 and get 18MPG.

18 miles for $2.15 = 11.9 cents per mile

I would have to achieve almost 23MPG on the 91 octane to break even for putting it in the tank. Anything less, and I'm wasting money.

These numbers are all based on summer blend fuels. Current running total of MPG on my truck is below 18 because we've started getting the winter blend fuel and MPG tanks.