vortec engines

MurrayE · Oct 22, 2009

Looking at a used chevrolet 1/2 with a vortec engine. What type of engine are these? Did ask a couple of questions last week on these engines. This one is 8 cyl. (5.3 I think) Thanks, Murray

twopop · Oct 22, 2009

in the 80s or 90s chevrolet redesigned the heads on there engines,these were named vortec engines.
the 305 is a 5.0 and the 350 is a 5.7 personnally i dont know about a 5.3 but the v6 is a 4.3.
they are good engines

Anonymous-0 · Oct 22, 2009

Five or six years ago, I was looking for a used pickup. Four out of four with vortec engines I looked at had antifreeze leaks at the intake manifold.
K-Mo

buickanddeere · Oct 22, 2009

Too often it's the fault of the orange crap GM puts in the cooling system. And the fault of the owner for not flushing and re-filling. At or before 5 years when the corrosion inhibitor is depleted.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 22, 2009

I've got a 2000 Silverado, 190,000 miles with a 5.3. No problems. Just sold a 92 Blazer with a 4.3 145,000 miles it still runs great and no problems.

Bob · Oct 22, 2009

If he is correct about it being a 5.3 there will be NO water leaks at the intake manifold as those engines no longer have water passages between the head and intake manifolds as the 5.0's and 5.7's had.

Bob · Oct 22, 2009

The 5.3 is a member of the LS1 engine family is is generally a GOOD engine.

Some DO suffer from the dreaded GM piston slap at cold startup, which is more of an annoyance than a longevity issue.
Slap Unhappy

MurrayE · Oct 22, 2009

Hi again, thanks for all the previous information. Another couple of questions, fuel consumption ? Ability to handle trailer with tractor. Thanks, Murray

Old Ford Mechanic · Oct 22, 2009

I beleive the first Vortec engines appeared in 1995.I bought a new 1994 Chevy 4x4 and it still had the older style 5.7 liter 350 in it.The 4.3 was the older syle also up through the 1994 model year.The Vortecs were used up though 1998 and maybe longer in some applications.They were good engines but,they were prone to intake manifolds leaking water to the crankcase.Improvements have been made in gaskets to help with the problem.

cjd12000 · Oct 22, 2009

Have a 03 with the 5.3 in it. Fuel consumption on highway is 18+ back roads 11-13 mpg. I pull full hay wagons and on occasion have pulled a round baler trailer with 8 baleage bales on it. Braking lacks al little with that much weight. The truck does hold back excellent on hills though with full hay wagons behind it. Have a goose neck in it and pull the stock trailer. It’s not as snappy as the 6.0 but will pull it. I bought it new in 03 and put 115k on it so far and never lacked power getting something where I wanted to go. Many trips from NC to NY when I was in the marines. After I got out moved to OH and pulled an 8x16 enclosed with all are house hold effects in it and know that I am back in NY and own a small dairy farm I use it like a 1 ton and don’t have any complaints

vortec engines

MurrayE

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twopop

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Anonymous-0

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buickanddeere

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Anonymous-0

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Bob

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Bob

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MurrayE

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Old Ford Mechanic

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cjd12000

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