4.6 vs. 5.3- potential buyer

Doublebase · June 2, 2018

1 hour ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Not the point. Even 15 seconds is more than enough to negotiate any on ramp you have to contend with. I didn't say it did 15 on 87 octane. The driver of the truck produced the time slip. Evidently he is a better driver that C&D OR more likely it's a different truck package. KARNUT adds to my 'real life' examples at 383 Roadrunner to my 350 Corvette these RCSB V6's will dispatch with ease.

Are you confusing 'want' with "need' or maybe with 'greed'?

Now this is a realistic statement. If you going whole hog CCLB 'Top O' the Line" 6.500+ pound optioned out school buss AND hauling/towing then the V8 makes not just sense, it actually may be more efficient. I've experienced that myself. But for a WT there is simply not need past greed that demands it. I'll add this. Ain't a 5.3 on the planet that will use fuel more efficiently than Peppers 4.3.

Tell you what, go out to your truck right now, take a picture of your fuel economy read outs and I'll take a picture of mine (V8 4wd double cab). I think you'll be a little surprised. Haha.

Grumpy Bear · June 2, 2018

3 hours ago, Donstar said:

I personally prefer the 4.3 but if the other truck is better equipped, then I'd choose the V8. You will read claims by some forum members about the V6 lacking power. It is an exceptionally good engine and the only time you may wish for more power is if you're on the dragstrip or pulling well beyond your limits. I currently own a '15 4X4 CC Std.box Sierra with the 4.3. I also pull a 22' travel trailer through hilly terrain and I've never "wished for more power".

Saw a fella yesterday pulling a bass boat with Ford Explorer Gen III and their 4.0 Cologne V-6. Asked him if he thought it was enough power.

His reply?

"And day, all day anywhere at any legal speed you care to tow, does just fine". Mileage? "A bit over 20". And these are only 210 hp and 245 torque.

WHITESSTOWPIG · June 2, 2018

I have the Ecotec 4.3 and on flex fuel it walks all over the previous gen 5.3.I have also driven the Ecotec 5.3 on multiple occasions and it is snappier on the bottom end but neither of these motors even in a regular cab is going to feel like a hot rod.If the price is the same on both vehicles there are no real downsides to the Ecotec 5.3 and if the price difference is significant I wouldnt be afraid to take a look at the Ecotec 4.3 either.Regarding transmissions I would stick to the 6 speed seeing as the 8 speed is mainly on higher trim trucks and tends to have alot of issues

Donstar · June 2, 2018

4 hours ago, Doublebase said:

Tell you what, go out to your truck right now, take a picture of your fuel economy read outs and I'll take a picture of mine (V8 4wd double cab). I think you'll be a little surprised. Haha.

I can't imagine how such a comparison could provide any useful information. There are too many variables to make such a random snapshot meaningful. My average fuel consumption per 100 kilometers of driving can range anywhere between 10 to 22.5 litres and this is with the same engine and driver!

Grumpy Bear · June 2, 2018

6 hours ago, Doublebase said:

Tell you what, go out to your truck right now, take a picture of your fuel economy read outs and I'll take a picture of mine (V8 4wd double cab). I think you'll be a little surprised. Haha.

That's over 200 miles into the tank. It isn't a error ridden DIC either. This tank finished over 30 mpg logging 720 miles on my 'little' motor 26 gallon tank. Did it twice in a row. Last 5,491 calibrated speedometer miles consumed a measured 191 gallons of fuel for an HONEST 28.7 mpg average.

Okay so lets see your 5.3 result.

Imcrazy · June 2, 2018

For the tiny up charge get the v8.

The regular cab v6 guys posting insane mpg numbers have a serious weight advantage and I bet aren’t running 75-80 mph to get these numbers. If I keep my 5.3 at 55 on the flat land highways I can get 26 mpg too.

The 4.3 is a good fleet motor. Not good for the average joe IMO.

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Grumpy Bear · June 2, 2018

49 minutes ago, Imcrazy said:

For the tiny up charge get the v8.

The regular cab v6 guys posting insane mpg numbers have a serious weight advantage and I bet aren’t running 75-80 mph to get these numbers. If I keep my 5.3 at 55 on the flat land highways I can get 26 mpg too.

The 4.3 is a good fleet motor. Not good for the average joe IMO.

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Boy O' Boy are you on point Imcrazy. We do have a serious weight advantage and we don't drive 75-80 mph. Both are choices.

To quote the OP:

I''m looking at the 2018 Silverado LT, and my dealer has one with the 4.6 (V6) and 5.3 (V8). I'm also not sure which speed transmission comes with each, so any insight as to which direction I should lean would be greatly appreciated. I'm not planning on towing much/if any with the truck, and if I did it would be a small trailer. I'm also curious to hear what everyone has to share regarding gas mileage on both.

Anyone can operate in a wasteful manor.

Everything else is choice!

I'm sharing what can be done not what the majority do. He asked for his options. Any moron can be average.

Imcrazy · June 3, 2018

It maybe a choice where you’re at but, many of our highways here have speed limits of 70 mph or better. I suppose if you like driving dangerously and aggravating your fellow drivers going below the limit would be a choice albeit a poor one. My point is: driven in the same manner the 4.3 and 5.3 get more or less the same ( within 1 mpg) fuel mileage. My old 4.3 2014 dbl cab SLE Gmc got the same mpg my 2016 dbl cab LT 5.3 gets.. 20-21 at 70-80 mph, 25-27 at 50-60 and about 17-19 around town. I don’t drive it like I stole but, I’m not hyper milling either.

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Jaychevy81 · June 3, 2018

I had the 4.3 in my 15 only thing I ever pulled was a jetski. Never really missed anything or wished I had a V8. But now I have a 18 now with the 5.3 and it’s def a big change if I had to do it again I would do the V8 all day long. But it’s your preference and needs. Also the 15 I had had good options in it so I went with that at the time.

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Doublebase · June 3, 2018

2 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

That's over 200 miles into the tank. It isn't a error ridden DIC either. This tank finished over 30 mpg logging 720 miles on my 'little' motor 26 gallon tank. Did it twice in a row. Last 5,491 calibrated speedometer miles consumed a measured 191 gallons of fuel for an HONEST 28.7 mpg average.

Okay so lets see your 5.3 result.

Well this is 533 miles into my fill up, computer says I have another 140 miles to go. Generally get 640 miles out of a tank. Once the weather officially warmer up here it’ll go up. Pretty satisfied with it overall. I suppose I could boost it a bit if I kept my highway speed a little lower but I try to keep with the flow of traffic (at least 68-70 mph).

Imcrazy · June 3, 2018

You’d be surprised how quickly you can exceed the towing capacity of the 4.3 or even the 5.3 really. Even a midsize back hoe with a trailer is pushing 10k with the trailer.

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Grumpy Bear · June 3, 2018

50 minutes ago, Imcrazy said:

You’d be surprised how quickly you can exceed the towing capacity of the 4.3 or even the 5.3 really. Even a midsize back hoe with a trailer is pushing 10k with the trailer.

Again on point. Your good! Nearly a 2,000 lb. haul rating even on the 4.3 6.5 bed. Does anyone remember how much a HALF TON is? You need more? Buy more truck.

2 hours ago, Imcrazy said:

It maybe a choice where you’re at but, many of our highways here have speed limits of 70 mph or better. I suppose if you like driving dangerously and aggravating your fellow drivers going below the limit would be a choice albeit a poor one. My point is: driven in the same manner the 4.3 and 5.3 get more or less the same ( within 1 mpg) fuel mileage. My old 4.3 2014 dbl cab SLE Gmc got the same mpg my 2016 dbl cab LT 5.3 gets.. 20-21 at 70-80 mph, 25-27 at 50-60 and about 17-19 around town. I don’t drive it like I stole but, I’m not hyper milling either.

There are two "T's" in BUTT. Ours primary highway limits are 55 mph. This state does not have a minimum limit on anything but Federal Interstate Highways. That is 45 mph. It's not on opinion. It's the LAW.

I don't mind at all and it's provably less dangerous than 15-20 over the limit. Physics. You did go to school? Right? They, or you, don't care, I don't care. It's that simple. Sue me.

70 mph or better eh? Point is without meaning and in point of fact untrue in any other context. You could drop your 5.3 off a cliff with the motor off and not repeat Peppers mileage and NO I don't 'hyper-mile'. I also don't drive recklessly or wastefully. If that offends you...so be it. I couldn't get as low as 17 mpg out of parked 4.3 in the dead of winter if it idled a half hour each outing.

What is it with you people. You don't mine minimizing, marginalizing and dismissing with prejudice a point of proven fact but boy are you quick to invoke your entitlement (believed to be a right) to break law, endanger others in the world and act with abandon and disregard for the laws of both man and God (physics or moral). Because why? Your a majority? Then tell me why you can't change the law to reflect your blatant disregard?

I'm not telling you what can be done....I'm not telling you what I think can be done....I'm telling you what has been done, what IS being done. and challenging anyone to repeat it with a 5.3. Not a single tank running down hill with a 30 mph tail wind but day in and day out for tens of thousands of miles. Currently 65,000 miles of proof. The result of a relentless pursuit of 'better'.

Here's something you might consider. Proof is something I offer willing but not out of necessity. Proof is something one offers when they deem it necessary to 'convince' someone else of the validity of a thing. I DONT CARE if you believe it, accept it or even care about it at all. Why? This will frost you mustache:

I BENIFIT FROM IT. I'm selfish like that. And you think I['m] (drive) slow???

You could benefit but it matters not to me. Your not spending money out of my wallet. The OP asked so I offer what I know. What I have done. What I can prove. Your not him...so...……...

Imcrazy · June 3, 2018

Wtf?

Blatant disregard for what? It’s unsafe to travel much below the speed limit it impedes the flow of traffic? You’re awful defensive of your v6, sure your satisfied with your missing two cylinders truck?? You’re trying awfully hard to convince others or maybe yourself that the 4.3 is a good choice?

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Colossus · June 3, 2018

10 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Saw a fella yesterday pulling a bass boat with Ford Explorer Gen III and their 4.0 Cologne V-6. Asked him if he thought it was enough power.

His reply?

"And day, all day anywhere at any legal speed you care to tow, does just fine". Mileage? "A bit over 20". And these are only 210 hp and 245 torque.

The Ford Explorer V6 1, 2, and 3 gens never got 20 MPG when NOT towing. It was not until they stuck the Ego Boost in them that they broke over 20 MPG.

Doublebase · June 3, 2018

14 hours ago, Donstar said:

I can't imagine how such a comparison could provide any useful information. There are too many variables to make such a random snapshot meaningful. My average fuel consumption per 100 kilometers of driving can range anywhere between 10 to 22.5 litres and this is with the same engine and driver!

Well I think you bring up a good point, a comparison of what two guys can get for fuel mileage, with two different trucks...on two different roads, going two different speeds, means next to nothing I suppose. But it is interesting.

I think you can assume (based off what grumpy bear) is saying, that he drives slow and his roads are a lot flatter than the roads I'm driving on in New Hampshire/Massachusetts. But his fuel mileage is impressive nonetheless.

Now I generally average around 26mpg in my 600 plus mile weekly commute. Now going to work everyday I get my "best" mileage. I live in NH, commute to Mass. The roads tend to grade more downward (believe it or not) in THAT portion of my commute. So when I pull into work my "last 50 miles" of fuel economy generally reads between 26-27 mpg. However going home (going more uphill) it reads 25-26 when I pull into my driveway. Now I'm generally going between 65-70 mph on the highway during the commute...there isn't more than a mile of flat surface both ways (but if you climb a hill you also coast down the other side, I think it evens out a little bit), but ideally if it was flat I'd get better fuel economy.

The weekends is what hurts my weekly/tank mileage. This is what sometimes drops it down or keeps it at 26mpg...the stop and starts, the short errands to Home Depot, the idling in weekend traffic, going food shopping, going out to dinner. All the short trips and heavy traffic where you just can't get this thing up to a constant speed. I imagine the V6 would handle this a little better. I do think I'd get better mileage out of a 6 overall, but how much better? And I don't know enough about Grumpy's truck...is it 4wd? Mods? Tires? Is he using it on the weekends as a grocery getter, dropping kids off to soccer or driving 100 miles a week up mountains to go mountain biking (like I do every week)? He'd probably still be above what I'm getting if he was keeping it at 60 mph most of the week (around here they'll drive you right off the road if you try that. I mean it'll get ugly, it'll get dangerous). Try having 40 cars pass you every minute and a half, while beeping their horns and giving you the finger, with some attempting a brush swerve into your lane to really piss you off. Or worse...have someone drive their car right into the back of you. People drive like animals around here.