Question about GM 5.3 Engine
 

For the last 2 years I've been hunting all over the net and locally for a Suburban that would suit me. Anyway I found one locally the other day that should work for me but I need some advice. The one I found is a 2000 with the 5.3 engine and I guess a 4L80E Trans. I do not know anything about the 5.3 GM engines and I know a lot of you folks have daily drivers with that engine in it. My question is is the 5.3 as good an engine as the old 5.7 TBI and 5.7 Vortec engines? Does anyone have a 5.3 they have put 150 to 200,000 miles on cause I'd like to know how its standing up. Thanks...

Re: Question about GM 5.3 Engine
 

I had a 2000 pickup with the same motor/tranny (tranny should be a 4L60E). Anyways, had 127k on it when I sold it, never a problem. Sold it to a friend, they've easily put another 50k on it with no problems. They are good motors, but with anything it depends on how they've been taken care of. I personally think they are better than the 350 they replaced, in a longevity sense among others.

Re: Question about GM 5.3 Engine
 

Thanks Melvin: I'm going over this afternoon to check it out a little more as the guy was away for the weekend and I just saw it sitting in his driveway. I'll check out the RPO Codes to see if its a 4L60 or 4L80. Its a 4x2 and I'm hoping it'll have 3:42's with posi.

Re: Question about GM 5.3 Engine
 

I've had 4 cars with LS1s in them (aluminum 5.7L vs iron 5.3L) and my crew cab has the 5.3L in it too. I've never had an engine related problem with any of them. If you keep them stock they are pretty much ultra reliable. I know of guys that have big cams, heads, other mods which have made them less reliable under race conditions, but in stock form they're great (reliability wise) even when pushed hard (I've raced all of my LS1 cars :)

In contrast I had a 97 Tahoe with the Vortec 350 in it. I had some issues with intake manifold gasket, heater hose fitting on the intake, coil/distributor problems, and a bad water pump. Not that any of them were big deals, but not as good as the genIII engines. And the 5.3L has more power and gets better fuel mileage.

I guess there is a reason my 68 has a genIII in it :D

Re: Question about GM 5.3 Engine
 

I've got a 99 GMC with the 5.3 and 4L60E in it. Starts perfect every morning. No strange sounds and nothing but routine maintenance has ever been done. Posi clutches have gone out but thats because of my love of burning rubber smell.

Re: Question about GM 5.3 Engine
 

The 5.3 and other ls motors are miles ahead of the older motors.We already have customers pushing 300k on some and have never done anything but a tune up.

Re: Question about GM 5.3 Engine
 

I drove a 2000 GMC Z71 EX CAB w/ the 5.3L for 2.5 yrs and never had an engine problem...it was very reliable and strong. Now keeping the check engine light off was another issue, that truck had electrical issues! Never left me stranded and I took exceptional care of the vehicle, but it had some bugs.