Calling Silverado owners this time.....

"jkm7680" (jkm7680) 03/29/2016 at 19:46 • Filed to: None

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Has anybody got any experience with a 5.3 equipped 2008+ Silverado 4x4? Reliability problems? Things to know?

Also, judging from the my last truck hunt post, I’m not sure if a 5.7 Ram would be a reliable and rust free choice.

I’d probably look into something with the Z71 package, except I don’t like body color bumpers on trucks.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > jkm7680 03/29/2016 at 19:51

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The active fuel management on GMT900s like to fuck up and cause serious oil consumption. Some 5.3 (the ones built in Mexico I believe) had issues with piston rings or something as well.

In conclusion: buy a GMT800, far more reliable.

jkm7680 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 03/29/2016 at 19:56

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I like the GMT800, but I’m not a huge fan of how they look stock. They just look too low to me for some reason....

Like even in Z71 form they look kinda off to me. Then there’s the 2500, which are waaaaay too expensive.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/…

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > jkm7680 03/29/2016 at 19:56

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They are strangely cramped inside to me. I’m only 6' and drive with the seat all the way back and my knees are still bent. I would go GMT800 and just have a rainy day fund for a trans rebuild(we got our 4L60E rebuilt for $400).

jkm7680 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 03/29/2016 at 19:57

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Good to know, I’m a bit over 6' so that’s something to consider.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > jkm7680 03/29/2016 at 20:00

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I mean, the AFM on the GMT900 can be fixed (like, genuinely fixed) to the tune of $1,000 or something along those lines. The Mexican built 5.3s have a TSB for their issues as well. So if you wanted to go 900 route you’d just have to put a little aside to fix those two issues and you'll have a solid truck. Hell, most have probably been fixed by now honestly.

GMT800s do sit low stock. But at the same time that makes it a little more car like.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > jkm7680 03/29/2016 at 20:00

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It may just be a regular cab thing, but I think our crew cab is the same.

jkm7680 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 03/29/2016 at 20:04

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That’s true.

I’d be using it for a fair amount of off road use, so I’d like more ground clearance. Plus, if somebody rear ends me, I want it to fuck their shit up, not mine.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > jkm7680 03/29/2016 at 20:07

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The vortec engine alone is pretty good. Pretty much everything around it leaves much to be desired.

Go with a GMT800

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > jkm7680 03/29/2016 at 20:09

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There’s always the option of a slight lift on the 800.

Honestly though, a 900 is a safe bet if it’s had that work done to it. I’m wanting one after having a go in my shop teacher’s ‘09 1500 4x4.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 03/29/2016 at 20:10

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I did some digging on that myself a while ago, and I seem to recall that got fixed after the first year or two.

Conclusion: buy a GMT800 or a LATE 900.

jkm7680 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 03/29/2016 at 20:14

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How about the 2500?

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/…

Firewrx234 > jkm7680 03/29/2016 at 20:17

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As far as the body colored bumpers, those are only on the custom edition, I believe. And just an FYI, the Z71 is an off-road package with rancho shocks (newer models at least), high capacity air box, and off-road trans cooler. Appearance mods on the Z71 really only has to do with Z71 stickers.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > jkm7680 03/29/2016 at 20:17

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They’ll ride a little more harsh, but otherwise a VERY safe bet. They have a stronger transmission that should last longer than the 4L60-E and they have the more powerful 6.0L. Gas mileage won’t be stellar, but it’s a big ass truck that’s a no brainer.

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > jkm7680 03/29/2016 at 20:27

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http://bullshift.kinja.com/gm-full-size-t…

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > jkm7680 03/29/2016 at 20:29

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Our 2500's seemingly handle better due to the stiffer suspension. I’m quite fond of our 900 2500 4WDs.

ly2v8-Brian > jkm7680 03/29/2016 at 20:39

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Zero problems. Of course I went for the 4.8L and RWD on mine. 5.3s can consume oil on occasion, but no real issues for these I know of.

boxrocket > jkm7680 03/29/2016 at 20:43

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I’ve driven and serviced a lot of them, so as a result, not an owner and never will be.

Why?

Short version: The F-150 is better in so many practical and functional ways (save the rear extended cabs where the doors fold against the bed, but new F-150s have those now, too) there’s no reason I can really give to recommend against it.

Long version: The 5.3 in up-to-2010 builds are known to burn oil. It’s a relatively easy fix of a new intake manifold and valve covers (with built-in PCV on the right side), but it’s a dumb design. The interior door handles on the front are located next to the lower seat cushion, which means you have to reach between your thigh and the hard-ass plastic to do something every. Damn. Time. You need to get out. On some models it’s located in just the right place to bang the side of your knee. The ergonomics are terrible. I mentioned the terrible plastic already, but all the interior materials are awful. The headlamps aren’t that great. Wind noise is considerable. There’s so much more, but TL;DR, get an F-150 FFS

ly2v8-Brian > jkm7680 03/29/2016 at 20:45

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Not sure what he’s talking about (it's an upright seating position, your legs are supposed to be straight like in a car). I’m 6'3" no issues at all.

jkm7680 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 03/29/2016 at 20:57

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I get 40 mpg highway in my daily, so a truck with bad MPG is fine in my book. :P

Thanks for all the advice!

jkm7680 > boxrocket 03/29/2016 at 20:58

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I honestly don’t like the F-150 at all though.

ly2v8-Brian > jkm7680 03/29/2016 at 21:03

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About the bumpers, most Z71s don’t have that option. They’ll look similar to mine.

nermal > jkm7680 03/29/2016 at 21:17

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I have a ‘15, but not the Z71.

If budget allows, go for a ‘14 or newer. The engine is great, no problems there. The 4x4 system with auto mode works great, and the interior is vastly improved over the older ones.

The transmission is crap, and nowhere close to as good as the 8spd in the Ram. It just kinda shifts whenever it feels like.

Don’t forget to check the gearing as well, avoid the 3.08 option and at the minimum get the 3.42. You can also get 3.73 with the max towing package, but can’t combine them with the Z71. Make sure you at least get the regular towing package for the added cooling.

jkm7680 > nermal 03/29/2016 at 21:33

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Wish I could. got about $10,000 to get a truck.

I don’t tow at all, but offroad capability is a biggie for me.

boxrocket > jkm7680 03/29/2016 at 21:56

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Pity. I'd take a Ram, Tundra, or Titan over a Silverado/sierra

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > boxrocket 03/29/2016 at 22:13

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I liked the door handles on my 2012, I felt like they were in a good spot...

Your boy, BJR > boxrocket 03/29/2016 at 22:13

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Another boxrocket post bashing GM, what a suprise.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > ly2v8-Brian 03/29/2016 at 22:14

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Yeah same here(-ish. Crew cab, 6'). Plenty’o’room. I also had a bench seat because bench seats are the shit.

Quadradeuce > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 03/29/2016 at 22:42

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I’m 6'5" with an extended cab. No issues what so ever. My seat isn’t even all the way back.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Quadradeuce 03/29/2016 at 23:12

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I guess it’s a regular cab thing. Compared to my Dad’s RAM, it feels extremely small.

ly2v8-Brian > itranthelasttimeiparkedit 03/29/2016 at 23:54

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Hell yeah. So spacious.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > jkm7680 03/30/2016 at 00:50

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its not an F150 F250 or F350. So no bueno

EL_ULY > jkm7680 03/30/2016 at 01:10

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I owned an 09 Z71 4x4 5.3L...... SINGLE CAB!

Issues: handle on seat tilt broke, H11 headlight connectors melt often, glovebox latch broke.

THAT’S IT!!!!!!

It is a total monster and solid as a fucking rock!

I’ve owned 9 Euro cars and 1 American truck. I used that truck hard at work, towing materials for 2 years along the hot Texas Gulf Coast. It gave me 0 issues!

Are they all perfect? No, but mine was!

boxrocket > Your boy, BJR 03/30/2016 at 14:10

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At least I’m consistent :)

When you drive hundreds of different vehicles thousands of miles each year, you quickly rack up experience and a sense of what works and what doesn’t, rather than being constrained to one manufacturer’s mindset of what they think is acceptable. To that end, I’ve discovered - and had reinforced ad infinitum - that gm really does things rather poorly for what they are. It’s a clear bias of quantity over quality, even on their newest and best models. They’ve improved massively since the bailout, but they also had the farthest to go in the NA market.

TL;DR: Justified experience begets opinions and beliefs. The OP requested sharing if experience, and I obliged.

Your boy, BJR > boxrocket 03/30/2016 at 14:20

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Nah it's just a clear bias against GM with you. Not for any reason other than you dislike them.

CaptDale - is secretly British > jkm7680 03/30/2016 at 18:37

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I am 6'2" and have no problem fitting in these personally. I love the trucks. Driven a few and they seem like good trucks. Worked on them here at the shop all the time. All the owners love them. Personally I’d go with the GMC over the Chevy, but that’s just my taste. Only thing is the 5.3 gets “piston slap” kinda sounds like a knock, but really is nothing. Just how the engine is. As long as you service them properly they are amazing trucks.

boxrocket > Your boy, BJR 03/30/2016 at 21:08

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Or, I’m right and...

I grew up in gm vehicles. My parents had an ‘87 Jimmy, ‘85(?) Vandura 2500, and my dad’s self-owned company used a fleet of (red) C/K1500 pickups. By most folks’ experiences and expectations, I should be a dyed-in-the-wool gm man. But, I - like a rational, open-minded being - used my own experiences, reactions, interactions, and perspectives came to a conclusion that, while not finite (I’m open to gm reclaiming their glory days of the mid-20th-century and being a genuinely good and powerful entity that was a go-to for the U.S. space program and military), are currently unseated by any recent developments.

It goes both ways, for what it’s worth. In the ‘90s and ‘00s I was a huge fan of BMW, and searched voraciously for an E30 sedan to call my own. Now? I wouldn’t touch anything with the roundel that doesn’t have a zero-deductible bumper-to-bumper warranty and maintenance plan, and even then I look at a majority of BMW’s models with scorn bordering on derision, with the exception of particular 2-, 3-, and 5-series sedans, coupes, and wagons. Even that all that, I’d still prefer a comparable Jaguar or Volvo, because of how they feel, look, and how I feel in them. YMMV, but it doesn't make my experiences and beliefs less valid or inaccurate.