4.3l V6= How Durable/good Is It Really?

DeppvomDienst · April 12, 2009

Hi-

The truck is a 2006 GMC 4.3L auto with 3.23 rears.

I am pretty obsessed with this question and apologize if it is annoying. I really wanted the 5.3L E-85 capable engine but was a blockhead and let the salespuke talk me into the V-6. I have been unhappy with the truck ever since. It is a regular cab stripper, but after driving it for 3 years, mostly commuting with an empty bed to and from work, I still feel that it is way too small an engine for a full size truck. It would then follow that it would wear out prematurely.

Supposedly this is just a 350 that is missing two cylinders and we all know how bulletproof the 350 was (and is). What is the experience of forum members on the durability of the 4.3L six in full-size trucks? Mine has 33K on it now. I change the Castrol GTX and the NAPA clone of the Wix filter every 3K miles, but still wonder if the engine is going to last.

That 350 in my 74 C-10 spoiled me: What can I say?

Thanks, Vinny

2000DV4.8 · April 12, 2009

From everything I've heard, they are damn good motors. Not going to get you anywhere fast, but they'll get you there over, and over, and over, and over again.

TexasAl · April 12, 2009

Good reliable engine. Life is too short. Enjoy the truck or trade it in (if financially possible)

superjim · April 12, 2009

I have had several of the 4.3L V6.

All of the previous ones have went well over 150,000 before trading.

One of them had over 200,000 miles on it.

The engines and trans were still running strong with no issues.

The one I have right now is a 2006 with 60,000 miles on it and (so far) I have had ZERO problems with it.

Zembonez · April 12, 2009

Swap the 3.23 gears for 3.73s. It'll make a lot of difference in a V6 truck. You'll think you added a turbo!

4.3 is a solid long life engine.

ALange · April 12, 2009

I know people that put obscene amounts of miles on them. I too prefer a V-8, but the 4.3 is a good engine.

ryan_hermanutz · April 12, 2009

I had a 4.3 and I put 150,000 miles on it. I've been known to be a little rough on things and that little motor was way better to me than I was to it. For a while there I went through tires faster than oil changes and I literally drove it like I stole it. While it was down on power compared to a V8 a V8 would probably have killed me. Great engine, re-gear.

mikevmax · April 13, 2009

I had one in a s 10 that had 199000 miles. I trade in is still ran great.

DeppvomDienst · April 14, 2009

All:

Thanks for your comments. I guess I have to learn to like the truck.

Vinny

ZZ327 · April 14, 2009

well, I can tell you my issued work truck with that engine wont die. 2 quarts low on oil and ran up the interstate at 70mph in first gear. And its still kicking! It just wont die. and I WANT A NEWER TRUCK!

Just get yourself a louder muffler

don0442 · May 2, 2009

Had this engine in a 98 ex cab w/ 3.73 gears. great truck, still running strong!

txab · May 2, 2009

192k and still running strong

superjim · May 2, 2009

All:

Thanks for your comments. I guess I have to learn to like the truck.

Vinny

Vinny,

If you can afford it..change the rear end gears to a lower ratio...maybe a 3.73

The 3.23 you have may be good for fuel mileage, but it is not good for performance.

With the lower gears...it will run a lot better.

Ranger · May 2, 2009

My buddy had over 250k on his V6 (in a 2500 LD) and he beat on that thing hard...He pulled motor homes, bigass flatbeds, and was in mudholes about half the time...You'd think he had a 454 in it...Finally sent a rod through the block after he went through every mudhole at the local trails and only gave up the ghost about 10 feet from the road after he went into the ditch....They are a super strong motor and I wouldn't hesitate to run one if I didn't tow a lot and heavily...A V8 is better but the V6 will pull its own.