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Old 01-13-2008, 11:20 AM   #1
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Join Date: May 2007
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SUN #287
nickster60
Chevy 5.3 l owners

What your experiences with this motor, mileage, reliability towing power?
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Old 01-13-2008, 01:57 PM   #2
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Al in PA
I have a 2003 Silverado 1500 with the 5.3 engine which I use to pull my T-2553, T-2051 and a 14' utility trailer. I'm quite satisfied with it's towing capabity for my trailers. On a trip without the trailer, I get between 16 and 17 mpg. Around town, I get between 12 and 13 mpg. Towing the Sunlines, I get 9 - 10 mpg with the T-2553 and 10 - 11 mpg with the T-2051: There is about 1,000 lbs difference between the two trailers. My only complaint about the truck is that Chevy brakes are almost worthless. I cannot get them to grab enough to even activate the darn anti-lock brakes except on snow/ice at which point they stop working altogether! I recently replace the rotors and pads on all four wheels with very little improvement in stopping power. But, the engine is great.
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Old 01-13-2008, 03:42 PM   #3
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GhettoMedic
I have a 1999 GMC Sierra 1500 (Almost the same as the Chevy Silverado) With the 5.3L V8

It has been great, very few major problems, but as he said the 4 wheel disc brakes aren't the greatest.
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Old 01-14-2008, 06:25 AM   #4
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donreitz
We had an '02 Tahoe with the 5.3. It towed like a champ, although it started running out of steam when we towed our 2499 around the Rockies. The engine simply wasn't up to pulling the trailer up those steep grades. There's nothing wrong with dropping a couple gears and just chugging along in the slow lane, but it's not the most comfortable way to drive.

However, in our trips to the wilds of Michigan's UP and to other relatively flat locations, the engine was perfectly adequate. Even with adequate power though, if the terrain was rolling or the wind blowing, we couldn't always use overdrive as the transmission would endlessly hunt between overdrive and 3rd gear. Sticking the transmission into 3rd worked fine and didn't appear to affect mileage much.

If what you intend to tow is lighter than a 2499, I'd say you're fine with the 5.3 l. If you plan to tow a heavier unit, you probably want more power.
Hope this helps.
Don
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