2008 5.3 Motor Under Powered

[MotorTribe]

Very disapointed. That sums up my first month with my new 2008 silverado 1500. Ok my butt likes the ride but my heart is broken with the powerplant. It started this weekend towing a 5X8 Uhaul across the flats of northdakota with a one bedroom set in it. Any type of grade the transmission had to shift down to pull up the hill. By the time I finished my trip I put in three tanks of gas and averaged 11.4 mpg. I know I was towing a 5X8 trailer "girly" but come on.

 

Tonight comming home a delta 88 pulled up next to me on the highway. The first light we hit he gunned it off the line. I didnt run with him I just watched and laughed. I came to the next light and he gunned it again, So did I. He got me off the line by about two car lengths, I started to pull on him at about 50. The closest gap I got was one car behind him when he pulled from me again. I didnt go over 75 but to that point I was embarrased to pull up to the next light with my tail between my legs.

 

Comming off driving a dodge the looks and feel of a chevy are hands down much better. But the chevy is so gutless it hurts. It hurts to have spent this kind of money and have a hard time towing a small trailer.

 

If I could do it over I would have just got the larger motor and paid the gas. The 20 miles a gallon on the Hwy the advertise. HAHAHAHA. I wish I could hit 14 on the highway.

 

Could there be something wrong with this truck or is this what everyone elses truck acts like?

[Daniel T]

what gears....

 

4x4 or 2wd?

 

need more information.....to give you any feedback.

 

these are trucks, not dragsters, what sleeper motor was in the Olds?

 

I get 11mpg pulling an almost 8,000# RV that has a lot worse aerodynamics than a uhaul trailer, not to mention a hell of a lot more weight.

 

Plus my 5.3 is hauling around over 6,000#s just for the truck itself.

 

and mine is one of the originals at 285hp.

[HawkeyeOC]

14 hwy is on the low end for the 5.3l engines. Yours is brand new which means it will improve with age

The 5.3l gives you the best overall combination of mileage and towing ability. With over 300hp and over 300lb of torque it's no slouch. It's also not a stoplight truck with monsterous low end torque. The 6.0 and the 6.2 are far better with that aspect.

 

If you are running 3.42 highway gears, change to 3.73 or 4.10s. You will notice a huge difference at stoplights and towing.

 

As for the Delta 88. what year?

[fbachman]

sounds like a custom tune is in order .....

[MotorTribe]

14 hwy is on the low end for the 5.3l engines. Yours is brand new which means it will improve with age

The 5.3l gives you the best overall combination of mileage and towing ability. With over 300hp and over 300lb of torque it's no slouch. It's also not a stoplight truck with monsterous low end torque. The 6.0 and the 6.2 are far better with that aspect.

 

If you are running 3.42 highway gears, change to 3.73 or 4.10s. You will notice a huge difference at stoplights and towing.

 

As for the Delta 88. what year?

 

Im running 373 right now. I have a 4X4. As far as the 88, its something from the 90s. Im just still used to the hemi right now.

Maybe someone in Minnesota doesnt want their 6.0 liter because its to much on the gas. I'm up for a trade.

[alaska511]

tune it, you will be amazed

 

nelson

wester's

blackbear

wheatley

wait4me

 

hemi be damned

[sbodi4d]

I was actually impressed with the power of mine. 2007 5.3L AFM 2WD 3.42gears. I haven't towed anything yet, but I don't see it being a problem. I had a Ford try to pull past me after we left the light, but I just punched it and left him way behind. The response from a standstill is weak because of the torque management, but once you get rolling it perks right up. I have been getting between 17 and 19 on the highway. I installed the DIC mod after 15,000 miles and the average said 16.7mpg and I was running it pretty hard before that. There is a stretch of road I drive on that has a speed limit of 55mph, I set the cruise control to 59 and watch the V8 switch to V4 and the mileage go from 21mpg to 34mpg, that is kind of nice.

[Rocco715]

Your in the first month? how many miles? The thing is brand new and still needs to break in. I'm surprised your already towing and gunning it.

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

I'm able to keep up just fine with the Hemi's and as far as the Delta88 goes, if its the 90s mid size 4 door model, probably has the 3.8L in it or even a modified Quad-4. Of course it will walk away from you.

[SilveradoLAX7]

Your in the first month? how many miles? The thing is brand new and still needs to break in. I'm surprised your already towing and gunning it.

Agreed. I'm not going to say you should baby it while you break it in... There seems to be as much debate as far as 'drive it like you stole it' vs. 'nothing crazy for the first 1500 miles' (perhaps even more so than the synthetic vs dino argument). But I will say that from the responses I've seen on this board, people seem to experience better mileage and response after the truck is "broken in".

-Jay

[svensk]

I don't feel so bad narrowly losing to an '03 buick GS now. He took me hard off the line but I was reelin him in 2nd gear got to his back bumper at 70 and I was still coming. Course if he was tunes as well would be different story...

 

lol a delta 88... you need a tune.

[FREAKENHYE]

My .02 Cents is this, the engine needs to break in, and yes the TQM is a bitch on these trucks. stock for stock thes things are capable of a 15.8 1/4 times on a ECSB 4x2 on the 5.3L

 

With headers, intake, Exhaust, and a tune you will be tearing up the roads.

[DocHolliday01]

My 5.3 seems to take off pretty well. Ive got 7,000 miles on it now and it feels decently quick for a QC 4x4. I tend to stay away from driving like that much though as it gets about 4mpg's when doing so.

[wlvrn1215]

I have 14000 on mine now and it has gotten a lot better with time. Of course with the tune now and the vette servo, she runs like a raped ape.

[jmhornz71]

i towed a 6x12 uhaul from florida to Va trailer was loaded along with the bed of the truck. I was able to get 14mpg. Truck was an 2000 Z71 5.3 engine dont remember what gears were in that truck. It pulled without a problem