Is GMC ever going to upgrade the 5.3L?

bosro · August 29, 2019

Any rumors out there about either upgrading or replacing the 5.3L?

Its getting a bit long in the tooth....

Everytime Ive driven one Ive been completely underwhelmed,it would be my last choice of V8s out there to buy.

Ive had the 6.2L.....had alot of lifter/pushrod issues but liked the motor,except it needed premium,knocked badly without.

Maybe the newer 6.2L has better programming to allow using regular,but I do not want another truck that needs premium.

No interest in half ton diesel either....

MaverickZ71 · August 29, 2019

Let's see, they upgraded the 5.3L in 2007, 2014, and again in 2019. What more do you want from a company that has been stuck on smallblock pushrod V8's since 1955? EVERYTHING in the automotive world revolves around the EPA's CAFE system. Corporate Average Fuel Economy. Trucks were exempted until Obama got in there. Now for every Silverado crew cab pickup they sell, they need to sell a Trax to even out the fuel mileage situation. There is no way that GM is going to drop the 5.3L or give it a big power (read worse fuel mileage) increase when the 6.2L and 3.0L are available.

If you want something completely new, the General would tell you to buy a new HD with the 6.6L gas engine. Either that or if you only want an LD truck and since you're already against the 6.2L AND the new 3.0L LD diesel, you're stuck to going down the street to talk to the EgoBoost dealer.

Edited August 29, 2019 by MaverickZ71

f8l vnm · August 29, 2019

Updated 5.3 for 2019 ? Yes , Putting in a new CYL deactivation system maybe new compared to its predecessor, but the engine still remains lethargic. Last in its class for small V8 when it comes to HP/TQ

The 5.7 tundra from 13 years ago still makes more power and Torque.

Now dont get me wrong, i love the 5.3

The GM 5.3 is a true workhorse, and super reliable engine. We have a few in my dads business and they run without any issues or concerns. We have a few 2017's and will be getting new 2020's soon, as we get new trucks every 3 years,.

Power wise though is really a let down . The wind up of the RPM's is anemic and takes forever to start moving.

Also you can blame CAFE standards to a certain extent but GM and DODGE are the only ones left really producing these old tech motors still. So you also have to look in the mirror.

Lastly i'm hoping the new GM SUV's that are coming out later this year will have a new updated 5.3 because the EOCBOOST Expedition was wiping the floor vs 5.3 . Acceleration is embarrassing vs the EGO.

Then come 2021 when GM changes this awful looking interior , i believe the new 5.3 will make its way . Same thing with the 6.2 , now that the C8 has been rated at 495 , i could see a slight power bump in 2021 for the 6.2 as well

mattlaney22 · August 29, 2019

What are y'all smoking? My 5.3 pulls just fine. 0-60 in 6.2 sec is quite an accomplishment in a crew cab 4x4.

Plus I average 17.8 mpg compared to my friends Ram hemi that gets 15 if he's lucky.

Plenty of life left in this motor. Especially if you get the 10 speed auto like they are offering for 2020.

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amxguy1970 · August 29, 2019

They don't need to, (ignore the advertised power numbers) as the truck out performs everyone except the 3.7 ecoboost. All numbers from Motortrend to keep them consistent. I really wish people would do a little homework before posting misleading info or regurgitating what a few people incorrectly spout (usually the ego driven 6.2 guys)...

2019 Silverado 5.3 - 1/4 mile 14.9 @ 94.6, mpg 16/22/18 (real not given), power 355/383

2019 Silverado 6.2 - 1/4 mile 14.4 @ 98.3, mpg 16/20/17 (real not given), power 420/460

2017 Titan 5.6 - 1/4 mile 15.0 @ 93.9, mpg 15/21/18 (real 12.6/19.2/14.9), power 390/394

2019 Ram 5.7 - 1/4 mile 14.7 @ 93.7, mpg 15/21/17 (real not given), power 395/410

2015 Tundra (no one tests these same old dogs anymore) 5.7 - 1/4 mile 15.2 @91.8, mpg 13/17/15, power 381/401

2018 F150 2.7 - 1/4 mile 15.5 @ 89.5, mpg 19/24/24 (real is shown as 14.9/23.2/17.7), power 325/400

So the Silverado has less power than all yet is faster (it is two tenths behind the Ram but faster through the traps) and beats them all on MPG (probably 2.7 as well as we all know how it really does). What I think is funny when the 6.2 guys talk about how much of a dog the 5.3 is yet it is a half second slower and less than 4 mph behind at the traps on regular 87. It can also run on E85 giving it a nice power bump. The 5.3 is a sweetheart of a motor, plenty of power, good mpg and a proven reliability rating over the years while running on 87 and being able to get a shot in the arm on E85.

Still think it needs updating?

Tyler

amxguy1970 · August 29, 2019

36 minutes ago, f8l vnm said:

Updated 5.3 for 2019 ? Yes , Putting in a new CYL deactivation system maybe new compared to its predecessor, but the engine still remains lethargic. Last in its class for small V8 when it comes to HP/TQ

The 5.7 tundra from 13 years ago still makes more power and Torque.

Now dont get me wrong, i love the 5.3

The GM 5.3 is a true workhorse, and super reliable engine. We have a few in my dads business and they run without any issues or concerns. We have a few 2017's and will be getting new 2020's soon, as we get new trucks every 3 years,.

Power wise though is really a let down . The wind up of the RPM's is anemic and takes forever to start moving.

Also you can blame CAFE standards to a certain extent but GM and DODGE are the only ones left really producing these old tech motors still. So you also have to look in the mirror.

Lastly i'm hoping the new GM SUV's that are coming out later this year will have a new updated 5.3 because the EOCBOOST Expedition was wiping the floor vs 5.3 . Acceleration is embarrassing vs the EGO.

Then come 2021 when GM changes this awful looking interior , i believe the new 5.3 will make its way . Same thing with the 6.2 , now that the C8 has been rated at 495 , i could see a slight power bump in 2021 for the 6.2 as well

Might want to try being a little more honest in your review. Takes for ever to start moving and wind up of RPM's is anemic? Come one, not even remotely true. Mine runs strong and it shares driving time with a bolt on LS2 GTO. If yours really does what you say it is then something is wrong and it needs to go to the dealer.

Then comparing the 3.7 ecoboost to the 5.3 in the SUV's, compare it to the 6.2 as the 3.7 is the top engine, the 5.3 isn't. The 6.2 in SUV's isn't far behind the 3.7 ecoboost, but compare apples to apples please...

Tyler

BigBadSierra · August 29, 2019

I'll take the push rod V8 over the Cam Phaser Engines all day long. When I have friends who are mechanics and they will not buy anything with those engines what does that tell you.

They pay for their houses fixing them though.

Competitors had to go to turbo engines to meet CAFE but GM and others are doing the same and we don't have to compromise the reliability of the engine and still get the fuel millage out of them.

If it isn't broke don't fix it.

OnTheReel · August 29, 2019

Anyone who says the 5.3 is a dog hasn’t driven one in a 2019. Compared to my 2016 5.3, the tuning is so damn much better, and it is not lethargic at all. Anything but. I would have agreed it’s a lazy engine in years past, but no more. And this is coming from a 6.2 inflated ego guy.

Only thing I can add is that I don’t think either of the 5.3s for 2019 are Flex Fuel so that shot in the arm may not exist.

aseibel · August 29, 2019

57 minutes ago, BigBadSierra said:

If it isn't broke don't fix it.

you beat me to it!

Bohanan23 · August 29, 2019

2014 5.3 here that has long tubes exhaust and tuned. Not too bad but selling to go 6.2. Biggest improvement for 2017+ truck is the 8 speed trans. 8 > 6 > 4

Cpl_Punishment · August 29, 2019

10 minutes ago, Bohanan23 said:

2014 5.3 here that has long tubes exhaust and tuned. Not too bad but selling to go 6.2. Biggest improvement for 2017+ truck is the 8 speed trans. 8 > 6 > 4

10 > 8

Bohanan23 · August 29, 2019

Yup! That’s why the Ford trucks and Mustangs are kicking ass regardless of displacement. Isn’t the 10 speed the same for GM and Ford though?

BringTheRain403 · August 29, 2019

I don't know about the 19 5.3 motors but the one I had in my 14 was SLOW and I had the better (slightly) 3.42 gears.

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Jricharc · August 29, 2019

21 minutes ago, Bohanan23 said:

Yup! That’s why the Ford trucks and Mustangs are kicking ass regardless of displacement. Isn’t the 10 speed the same for GM and Ford though?

There is also a class-action lawsuit being filed against Ford for that transmission and its issues...

OnTheReel · August 29, 2019

At least the GM-manufactured version is perfecto. Haven’t really seen anyone posting about a single issue/ complaint, and people love to complain...