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Things To Look For With The 5.3l

sixspdz28

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sixspdz28 Enthusiast

sixspdz28

Posted
Posted

Looking at buying a '99-01 with a 5.3L V8. Milage will be somewhere between 90 and 120k miles probably.

 

What should I expect and look for? What's the code for the towing package and where is it found? Does that give it 3.73s?

 

What kind of fuel economy should I expect out of the 5.3? Any common problems with the cars? famous oil leak places? etc.

VMax2007 Senior Enthusiast

VMax2007

Posted
Posted
Looking at buying a '99-01 with a 5.3L V8. Milage will be somewhere between 90 and 120k miles probably.

 

What should I expect and look for? What's the code for the towing package and where is it found? Does that give it 3.73s?

 

What kind of fuel economy should I expect out of the 5.3? Any common problems with the cars? famous oil leak places? etc.

 

I drove a 2000 GMC Sierra from new until this march. It had the 5.3 and 3.73 gears. Not sure about codes, but I can tell you my truck was a GREAT truck (My brother now owns it). I averaged about 14mpg, a little less (13) in the winter (here in MN).

 

One common problem (perceived problem anyway) is "Pistion Slap", you can expect this, it happens at start-up, especially when cold out. It lasts anywhere from 10-60 seconds, until the pistons warm up and expand. This is an annoyance, but it has not been shown to create any mechanical issues or failures. There is NOTHING you can do about it. Other than that, I know of no other issues. My truck never leaked a single drop of oil or any other fluid. But I maintain my vehicles meticulously, oil changed every 3000 miles, whether it "needed" it or not. Cheap insurance to always have clean oil in there.

 

Good Luck!

pwall Senior Enthusiast

pwall

Posted
Posted

As VMax2007 has said, common problem is 'piston slap'.

I solved that issue in my truck but adding a remote start. Now I start it up when I'm putting on my shoes so that it can run for 1 minute before I drive....no more piston slap. ;)

Other than that, it's a great motor. I tow a 6000lbs travel trailer and it does a great job (of course, I have a wait4me tune....more about that stuff later).

 

For the towing package, do a search on RPO codes. There used to be a link on the left-hand side of this form for the RPO codes, but I don't see it now. All the RPO codes for the truck will be on a sticker on the inside of the glove-box.

For gear ratios: GU6 = 3.42 Ratio

GT4 = 3.73 Ratio

GT5 = 4.10 Ratio

 

I don't recall the code for the towing package.

 

And welcome to

GM-Trucks.gif

Valsport Enthusiast

Valsport

Posted
Posted

one maintenence issue i'd look into is whether the coolant has been flushed and replaced, and if the original water pump is still on there. with those miles thats about the time to do those things. if the pump is bad it will be weeping from a hole on the front of it, causing coolant to slowly flow down the underside of the block and onto the passenger's side cv's and other components.

 

chances are if the truck comes with a factory hitch platform it has all the tow package items, tow/haul mode on trans, trans cooler, ect.. but i think Z82 or Z85 gives you towing suspension. if you look at the radiator from the grill you'll be able to see the trans cooler in front of it if it has one.

 

next thing is pull the dipstick on the trans and look at the fluid color, it should be bright red and not smell burnt. if its orange or brown or really really dark red and smells a little burnt i'd walk away from the truck.

sixspdz28 Enthusiast

sixspdz28

Posted
  • Author
Posted
For the towing package, do a search on RPO codes. There used to be a link on the left-hand side of this form for the RPO codes, but I don't see it now. All the RPO codes for the truck will be on a sticker on the inside of the glove-box.

For gear ratios: GU6 = 3.42 Ratio

GT4 = 3.73 Ratio

GT5 = 4.10 Ratio

Cool, I figured GU6 meant 3.42 because that's what my Z28 has. 4.10s are too steep for me, don't plan on hauling much. And I was kinda aware of piston slap on the newer lsx styled engines. Is this something I should worried about?

 

 

one maintenence issue i'd look into is whether the coolant has been flushed and replaced, and if the original water pump is still on there. with those miles thats about the time to do those things. if the pump is bad it will be weeping from a hole on the front of it, causing coolant to slowly flow down the underside of the block and onto the passenger's side cv's and other components.
cool, hopefully a water pump will last more than 100k though. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. :tear:

 

 

Also is my price range / ideal truck reasonable? I'd like to get a '99-01 with ~100k (no more than 135k) ext cab 5.3L z71 for under 8k, 8.5k tops.... wouldn't be buying till July - August.

hockeyfan39 Enthusiast

hockeyfan39

Posted
Posted

To get into the 8 range your probably going to have to look more torwards the 125mile range and up imo. Just did a quick search around here and they were going anywhere from 9(8US) to 20(17.5US) thousand canadian for a 99-01. Average seemed to be about 14 thousand canadian or 12US for a your 150km or 90mile truck. The ones that were cheaper 8 to 10 range all had over 200,000km or 125,000 miles. So i dont know maybe they are cheaper where you are but i think your going to have to go for you upper end miliage expectations or expect to pay a litte more for a lower miliage z71. Although these were all just asking prices on the trader they usually sell for a little less but gives you an idea anyways. If you do want a lower miliage unit for that price i'm sure you could fine a regular 2wd for that price, however all depends on what your uses are for it and if 4wd is necessary...good luck..

67ChevyRedneck Enthusiast

67ChevyRedneck

Posted
Posted
For the towing package, do a search on RPO codes. There used to be a link on the left-hand side of this form for the RPO codes, but I don't see it now. All the RPO codes for the truck will be on a sticker on the inside of the glove-box.

For gear ratios: GU6 = 3.42 Ratio

GT4 = 3.73 Ratio

GT5 = 4.10 Ratio

Cool, I figured GU6 meant 3.42 because that's what my Z28 has. 4.10s are too steep for me, don't plan on hauling much. And I was kinda aware of piston slap on the newer lsx styled engines. Is this something I should worried about?

 

 

one maintenence issue i'd look into is whether the coolant has been flushed and replaced, and if the original water pump is still on there. with those miles thats about the time to do those things. if the pump is bad it will be weeping from a hole on the front of it, causing coolant to slowly flow down the underside of the block and onto the passenger's side cv's and other components.
cool, hopefully a water pump will last more than 100k though. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. :tear:

 

 

Also is my price range / ideal truck reasonable? I'd like to get a '99-01 with ~100k (no more than 135k) ext cab 5.3L z71 for under 8k, 8.5k tops.... wouldn't be buying till July - August.

 

 

 

Piston slap really is nothing to worry about, MANY people have well over 100K and over 200K on these motors with no issues with it.

 

Fuel mileage, expect 14-15 city and 17-18 straight highway. A good mix of the two should get you around 16mpg.

 

8.5K is a little low. I still see 99-02 4x4's go for 13-15K on car lots. KBB trade in on one with 100K is still around 10K. For 8.5K you'd probably need to look for a private seller with high miles, or get a regular cab, or a 2wd.

 

I wouldn't sell my 2000 Z71 ex cab that just turned 100K for under 12K

 

Hope that helped some. :confused:

chakis24 Senior Enthusiast

chakis24

Posted
Posted

since its raining and i dont really feel like going outside right now, what do the z-71's usually come with? 3.42 or 3.73?

naterasmussen Enthusiast

naterasmussen

Posted
Posted

Piston slap... so it has a name. Drives me insane in the winter.

 

I didn't see if you were going for a 2x or a 4x. Bought my '01 two years ago for 13,000 with 85,000 on it. I'd assume if you add two years and 30,000 miles to it, it would be in your range.

  • 11 months later...
VMax2007 Senior Enthusiast

VMax2007

Posted
Posted

Bump... :thumbs::P:crackup:

 

Sorry, had to do it!!! I believe this thread has my first post (or one of the first ones?) ever. Tomorrow is my 1st Anniversary here at GM-Trucks and I am starting the party early. :lol:

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