Truck shopping...

[WILMASBOYL78]

I am looking to replace the 04 Suburban [212,000 miles] with a better ride...the rust is winning

Been reading a lot about the 99-06 being the best 5.3 motors...and that the newer motors have issues because of AFM..?? Our 03 Tahoe went 365k miles...never an issue.

Interested to hear some thoughts on the subject. I don't mind an older truck, and I know the transmissions are the weak link.

Educate me and then I'll post the 'truck wanted ad'...

-wilma

[L_e_e]

Look for a leaking transfer case, the internal pump would rub against the case and wear a pinhole in the case and leak fluid out.

[1967 4K]

Probably driving my last GM truck. Now I have a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4. At 4K miles number 4 cylinder intake lifter failed. Of course fixed under warranty and dealer said no issue with the camshaft. Fast forward 2023 with 100K miles, camshaft failure number 4 intake lobe and lifter. I should have sold it when the lifter first failed but hind sight is 20 20.
Replaced the camshaft n lifters with a BTR kit. $3,000.00 it’s doing fine now. I think the AFM contributes to it but the problem is cheap Chinese parts that GM uses to build their engines.
I read about some kind of lawsuit against GM about this but I’ll never see a penny from it.
F150 will be my next new truck.

[Donnie]

looking for new or used?

i just sold my 2018 GMC and picked up a new 24 GMC with the 3.0 inline 6 diesel. getting a little over 23 mpg in the city.

[luzl78]

Originally Posted by Donnie

looking for new or used?

i just sold my 2018 GMC and picked up a new 24 GMC with the 3.0 inline 6 diesel. getting a little over 23 mpg in the city.

That truck’s gotta be 75,00-80,000 with tax.

[COPO]

2024 GMC / Chevrolet is redesigned and a nice truck, but the Denali 4x4 with diesel pushes it over $100K plus tax. I see them all over the place and wonder how the average Joe can afford a $100K new truck.

Agree, a nice used truck is the way to go now that used car prices are coming back to earth.

[Salvatore]

I like my 2023 Silverado Tommy. 5.3 with a 10 speed trans that seems to shift well. $59,000. I lease them and if I really like them I buy after lease. Probably keep this one at my age. Runs real well and 18-19 mpg around town. If I head up your way I can get 22 easy on a trip to the Hudson Valley area. I do not tow anything though.

[Jeff H]

I thought the 2005 or 06 5.3 engines had some internal issue but I can't remember what it was at the moment. I think my cousin had a GMC in that range with problems so I'll ask him what it was.

[markinnaples]

We have a 2015 Suburban with the 5.3, and what I thought was a lifter down was actually a main bearing or something else deep down, so I had to get a Fraser reman'd 5.3. For about $5300, I got a lifetime warranty as well as some other installation parts for a deal from the owner as I caught him one day on the phone. So far, so good, but still, at 145K I didn't think I would have to replace it. One other item of note is that I had them replace a leaking trans fluid cooling line as one of them had a pin hole in it, but the replacement line set thermostat that's built in went bad on my way from FL to KY and the trans fluid heated up into the 260 range for a bit. I went in and eliminated the thermostat and it's running great now with the trans fluid staying below 170 from PA to FL.

[juliosz]

I bought my 2021 Silverado High Country 5.3 when the lease was up. It's been a pretty good truck so far as it has about 40k on it at the moment. Previous to that I was leasing a 2019 Sierra Denali pickup which had the 8 spd auto which I absolutely hated. It seemed to hunt for the right gear on occasion but always at the wrong time like when pulling out or merging into traffic. The 21 Silverado has the 10 spd which is head and shoulders better than the 8 spd drivability-wise. I hear horror stories about the 5.3 DOD motors but I also hear that changing oil at a 3500-5000 mile interval is key to their longevity. Don't know if that's 100% true but I've been changing mine around 3500-4000 miles.