4.8 vs 5.3

[dutchman]

Looking at a new 07 model. If I go with the 4.8 I can order the 3.42 axle ratio over the 3.73 that comes with the 5.3. thinking about fuel economy as I am empty 80% of the time . I currently have an 02 with a 5.3 and like the power. What difference will I notice.Anyone have a 4.8?

[SilveradoLAX7]

I've got the 4.8 in my '05 Silverado. I think the new generation of engines are tweaked a little different now. That being said I've got no complaints with my 4.8. It had pleanty of grunt when I towed a car from Denver to North Texas over the summer. I also have no trouble merging or passing on the freeway. You should note that I've got a regular cab, so that's a little less weight to move than the other models. As far as gas milage I'm getting a combined in the high teens, and avg about 23+ on highway road trips.

 

hope this helps

 

-Jay

[4doorluv]

when i bought my 07 classic i test drove the 4.8 and the 5.3 not to much difference in the two, but i have a 5.3 with the 3:42 rear (which i will get rid off) and i love it, i belive it just has more get up and go the the 4.8

[shorepatrol2]

With the price of these trucks , get the biggest motor you can and 3:42's if you don't tow and 3:73's or 4:11's if you do tow, just my 2 cents

[dutchman]

With the price of these trucks , get the biggest motor you can and 3:42's if you don't tow and 3:73's or 4:11's if you do tow, just my 2 cents  

 

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Thanks guys. I would prefer to go with a 5.3 but on the gm website under "build your own" you cannot get the 3.42 ratio when you choose the 5.3. Does anyone know if you can special order the 3.42 ratio with a 5.3 engine?

[Buggle_96]

With the price of these trucks , get the biggest motor you can and 3:42's if you don't tow and 3:73's or 4:11's if you do tow, just my 2 cents  

 

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Thanks guys. I would prefer to go with a 5.3 but on the gm website under "build your own" you cannot get the 3.42 ratio when you choose the 5.3. Does anyone know if you can special order the 3.42 ratio with a 5.3 engine?

 

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Just go with a 5.3L and 3.73 option. Trust me i have the configuration you are looking for and usually have no load 90% of the time, but just for driveability get the 3.73's.

 

With my 3.42s it will have a very wide range of mileage. Once while following a semi to Denver doing 85-90 the time the DIC said I was getting 23 mpg! That was with a tail wind also so everything was in my favor. On the way back hit a 25+mph head wind and couldn't even break 16 mpg at 70-75. The 3.73's will put less stress on the engine. Its nice when the conditions work out in your favor with 3.42's but when they dont you will be wishing you had 3.73's or in my case wanting 4.10's. With the tune I shift out of 2nd gear at around 92mpg, it does make highway racing fun and can easily pull on HEMI's.

 

Now that I have a 91+ hot tune from Jesse and a cat-back exhaust and intake on the way, the chip is tuned for these, the situations are much better. But again I have spent $1000+ just to get where it is tolerable. Sorry for the book, my 2 cents.

[Deep Blue]

Is the output of these engines underrated like the LS1?

[keebler]

I just bought a 2006 1500 2WD Crew Cab with the 5.3L engine and 3.73:1 axle. I couldn't be happier with the performance.

 

The very first tank out of the showroom got 18.6 MPG with about 50% highway miles and the remaining miles in town.

 

The second tank of gas was 16.4 MPG which was entirely in town with a few hours of hot rodding on Thanksgiving to show off the truck to the in-laws. After the first 500 Miles to break it in a bit, I was doing a lot of full throttle starts to see what this new toy could do. Needless to say, I was a little bit shocked at the mileage I got but it was still better than the window sticker predicted.

 

The truck motors down the interstate at 70 MPH with the tach right on 2,000 RPM. It's more RPM than I've seen any of my other vehicles turn at the same speed, but it sure feels light and powerful behind the wheel.

 

The identical truck I drove with 5.3L and 3.23:1 axle was awful -- not the same vehicle at all. It seemed like it had no power and you had to really stick your foot into the accelerator to get it to move.

 

Other than cruising at steady speeds, I've got to believe that I'm using less fuel with the one I bought because it requires so much less pushing on the accelerator and there's seldom any down-shifts required.

 

I recommend 3.73:1 from my experience.

[flatlander]

3.73 is the best gear ratio and I wish I had it. Have the 4.10 gears and while it has lots of snap with the 4.8 engine, the rpm's are higher than with my previous pickup with the 3.73 gears. Would not want the 3.42 gears unless you were never going to drive where there were any hills as it would be shifting up & down constantly.

Looking at a new 07 model. If I go with the 4.8 I can order the 3.42 axle ratio over the 3.73 that comes with the 5.3. thinking about fuel economy as I am empty 80% of the time . I currently have an 02 with a 5.3 and like the power. What difference will I notice.Anyone have a 4.8?

 

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[04silverado1500]

i have 3.73s with the 5.3 and love it. I get 15 city not to shabby. I love the power but couldnt imagine what it would be like without that high of gearing. The 4.10s in my mind would run to high on the highway for goood mileage but im sure it wouldnt sownshift. For that reason i like the 3.73 there great i rarely have to down shift. With the 3.42s i would bet money you would be downshiftsing nonstop unless your completely flat ground (not worth it) in addition if i had a car for highway driving i would have 4.10s i love power and that would be sweet. But at the same time it would not be good for highway considering i run at 80 mph (2,300 rpm on the 3.73s)

[thecraft]

The truck motors down the interstate at 70 MPH with the tach right on 2,000 RPM.

 

Huh, that's exactly what my 3.42s churn out going 70mph. What size tires do you have?

[mc4life27]

do the 3.73 that is what i have with the 5.3 and i am sitting on 33 i wish i had the 4.10' now but when it was stock it was great all around grearing. the 3.42 will be to high and you will not have any low end.

[cerbomark]

i have 4.8 with 3;42 and noticed a little less low end but just ran over 150 miles up the NYS thruway (no at all flat) and at 65-75 mph only downshifted 2-3 times. What trans is in the new 07 silverado because it s a smoother yet more firm shift then i remember? Whats involved in a swap to a 3;73?

[subgenius]

I purchased the 5.3L with 3.73 and noticed a substantail difference from the 4.8. 5.3 with 3.73 rear has a lot of pep. I don't think the 4.8 that I test drove did. Another plus was the first 600 miles I averaged between 19-20 mpg which was a mix of freeway and local driving.

[cerbomark]

when talking about 4.8 and 5.3 you also need to be specific about the year of the vehicle. Even the 07 classic is a differnent 4.8 or 5.3 than a new style 07. The new geneartion iv engines put out more power than the former ones.