4.8 vs. 5.3

OnBelay · May 16, 2005

Have had a number of 5.7 and 5.3 , even a 7.4 in a K2500 Crew in my experience with GM trucks.

If you'll forgive me for lengthening this post, let me set the scene: I am a travelling salesman, road warrior type. I live in the midwest, and average 1800 miles per week in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, and South Dakota. I currently do most of my (fair weather) travel in an '00 Monte Carlo SS, which is a great road car: comfortable ride, great stereo, good mileage (28.5 mpg with a 80 mph average on the highway), and it looks pretty good if I might say so. Problem one is that the Monte is about ready to need a lot of $$$ invested to keep driving it; front suspension and rear struts, already had to rebuild trans (at 130k miles) but it's paid for, so there is room in the budget for a car payment.

I miss being in a truck, however. I don't really need the room in a bed, but I'm a good sized guy (6'4, 260 lb) and I see enough bad drivers/avoid enough accidents I'd feel safer in a pickup because of more sheetmetal and sitting up higher. I'm thinking I'm even to the point where I'm willing to sacrifice the $ for gas mileage to get back into a truck, but I'm wondering (yeah, finally getting to the point):

1. What kind of mileage do you see with the 4.8 compared to the 5.3?

2. Running fairly empty, how is the power availability on the 4.8 for passing, hills, etc.?

3. 4.8 have same issues as 5.3-intake manifold gasket, etc?

I'd really appreciate comments from folks that have had both...

TIA

mudbug660 · May 16, 2005

not sure if this helps but my 5.3 has been getting 21.5 mpg lately but the average speed would be more around 65.

KG4LHQ · May 16, 2005

I think you will be pleased with both engines. 4.8 or 5.3 - The 4.8L which I have in my truck has excellent power - When ya need to pass someone you can do it with no problems at all..... I am getting around 18 mpg per tank on my truck and thats driving 2 lane highways most times and hardly ever any city driving. The 4.8L is 285 HP and the 5.3L is 295 HP and alittle more torque. I can recommend that for your 1800 mi/week driving you state it would be a good idea that if you purchase a new truck to go ahead and get an extended warranty for an extra grand or 1,500 dollars as it will be well worth it in your scenario. My truck has currently 29k and its only been in the shop one time becuase of a flat tire and thats it. It is very important to change your oil at the recommended 3 - 5,000 miles and only use Mobil 1 Fully Synthetic and you will see it is recommended strongly by others in this forum. It may be 20 dollars for the 5 quarts but I see it as a cheap insurance for potential engine problems. I think you will be fine with the 4.8L as long as you don't tow very heavy items behind it and if you do you will need to add a Transmission Aux Cooler. I don't even have a trailor hitch on mine but only the ball on the bumper and I have yet towed anything w/ it.

John

ril850 · May 16, 2005

I had to take my Tahoe for a minor warranty repair (5.3)and I got a 4.8 Tahoe for a rental and found it had decent powerand excellent gas milegae way better than my 5.3l.

MS3DALE · May 16, 2005

I have had both...A 4.8 in my '99 and a 5.3 in my '04 and there is no difference in mileage and both have plenty of power.

Some say that towing is where you notice a difference (due to the torque difference) and that may be true,but I don't tow so I don't know.

Cheekster96 · May 16, 2005

i have a 03 Sierra with the 4.8L and is plenty for whatever i ask of it.

it seems to pull alot better than my 87 K20 with the 350 TBI and get s near 20 mpg out on the highway. i havent towed yet with the new truck..probably wont.

the ride is awesome...at least my opinion and when compared to the K20 truck. this is my first newer truck and when i experienced first hand that the new trucks ride like a new car....i was shocked.

my only complaint thus far is the brakes..i think they could be a little beefier. not a fan of the rear disks and rotors in the back..i like drums.

as long as you keep on top of maintenance like you seem to do, than the 4.8L is all you need. mine is the extended cab 4x4 and like i said, i get just below 20 mpg cruising at 70-75 mph on flat highways. mine has the 3.73 gears. if you got the 2wd version and regular cab, you may see slightly higher numbers.

good luck in your hunt.

Lee

asilverblazer · May 16, 2005

Sounds like the 4.8 will serve you fine. (I had both the difference is noticed only when towing.)

obbop · May 22, 2005

2004 long bed 4x4 auto with 4.8. Got the 3.7 or somewhere around there gears.

On a trip from southern Missouri to Omaha, travelling around 1/2 the way on 2-lane roads running through towns and 1/2 on limited access highways and Interstate I obtained 20.5 mpg.

Freeway speeds were 65 to 75 mph while the 2-lane roads were from 60 to 25.

If I had opted for the non-scenic route and had chosen limited access the entire route I believe I would have gotten perhaps 1 mpg more, maybe a wee bit more than that.

A 4x2 with a little less weight to haul would get what? 1/4 to 1/2 mpg more? And, with a 4x2 sitting a little closer to the ground there may be a little more aerodynamic slickness that improves mpg but I'm just guessing about that.

If gas prices keep climbing I'd sure consider going for a vehicle that gets mileage in the high 20s. But, that's just me.

In town the Silverado gets around 15 mpg.

One nice thing is the 34 gallon (or is it 36?) fuel tank. A cruising range of around 700 miles is nice.

I am not a speed demon and do not display my "manliness" by mashing on the gas. I find the power to be more than adequate. Of course, I am aware that passing on 2-lane roads can, in the long run, save a few minutes on a trip. I weigh those minutes against the possibility of a fatal wreck resulting in an eternity of lifelessness. Thus, I tend to not pass much.

However, when stuck behind grandma who shakes in fear at exceeding 40 mph even in the 60 mph zone passing is easy with the 4.8.

I am 5' 10" so you'll have to judge for yourself if the seat/cabin is large enough for you.

Federal crash tests show the driver to be fairly well-protected but the passenger side, for some reason, gets a lower rating. No problem if you travel solo.

I would likely have gone Toyota for what I perceive to be better reliability but I am trying to move/live/work in a very rural area. A Chevy pickup is good to have if parts/repair are needed. Even the most rural places can tend to a Chevy (well, Ford, too). In the midwest foreign cars can still be a problem, though folks on the west coast may be surprised to know this. Foreign cars have not made total inroads to the heartland as has been done on the coasts.

Hope this info helps.

mmmikkke · May 22, 2005

Even though I don't own a 4.8, I get a sense from the things I have seen here in this forum and elsewhere that the 4.8 is less prone to CSK (Cold Start Knock) than the 5.3, and the 5.3 is less prone to it than the 6.0.

So that might be one thing further in favor of the 4.8 over the 5.3.

paymepunk · May 23, 2005

I have a 2000 4.8l Sierra ext cab. I find that in normal driving situations that it has more than enough power to downshift and get you past a car or five driving on an old farm road. The biggest difference i see is in towing and gas mileage. My father has the same truck as me except with the 5.3L. I noticed while taking turns towing a 21' ski boat through the Texas hill country, that my fathers 5.3 certainly spent less time down shiftin to get tup some of the hills, even at 70mph. With both of our vechicles in or out of tow mode. Mine really down shifted a lot more than i would have liked it to (eating gas).

My fathers actually get better mileage, but i think this is b/c 2 reasons. Yes the engine is larger and burns more, but i dont think it has to work as hard under normal driving situations (hill country) as the 4.8 does. Second, my father has an ARE fiberglass cap (not camper shell) on the back which i think helps his wind resistance.

I see anywhere from 325-360 a tank, where as my father see much closer to 400 a tank on average. Keep in mind, we both dont exactly take off slow, and we kinda have lead feet.

sledr · May 27, 2005

Go for the 5.3 whether you tow or not. The difference in fuel mileage is not that great. It will help keep your resale up and you now have the flexibility to pull something down the road without having to upgrade the truck. My 2 place Triton enclosed could be pulled Ok with a 4.8 but my wife and I now want to get a midsize travel trailer to use on camping trips. The ones I have looked weigh in the vicinity of 5000-6000 pounds so the extra grunt the 5.3 will come in handy.

My .02 cents

Jansen · May 27, 2005

You want the 5.3L V8. You'll get the same mpg as the 4.8L because the 5.3 produces more power naturally. You'll have lower RPM's at the same speed. I currenlty drive 300-400 miles a week (11,000 miles purchased new Dec/29/2004) almost pefectly split between city and highway. With an ext 4x4, 4.10 gears i'm averageing 17 to 17.5 (65-70mph on highway, sometimes 80 if i'm in a hurry)

Jansen

sablowme · May 30, 2005

i had both as well i had an 01 reg cab w/4.8 5spd my buddie has a 5.3 reg cab and honesly if you give one or the other a fender head start you can predict the race, the 5.3 does seem to have a little more tourque and will pull on a 4.8 in i guess thats 3rd. but w/4.8 5spd you can still catch up. i guess if they made a 5.3 in a 5spd that would be out of controll. i have a 04 seirra and its a 5.3 but being ext-cab i wouldnt have it any other way just too much truck for that motor. but i do belive you can get a ex-cab 4.8 w/5spd but you will be redlining the hell out of it

vhato · May 30, 2005

1. What kind of mileage do you see with the 4.8 compared to the 5.3?

2. Running fairly empty, how is the power availability on the 4.8 for passing, hills, etc.?

3. 4.8 have same issues as 5.3-intake manifold gasket, etc?

I'd really appreciate comments from folks that have had both...

TIA

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