5.3 Liter Chevy Engine Problems & 5.3 Engine Oil Pressure Controlling Tips!

With the 5.3 Liter Chevy Engine Problems that people face, it’s quite difficult for most to trust the Chevrolet brand. Deciding on what brand of vehicle to get usually involves a lot of checks, checks which for many this engine model falls short.

While there may be many other brands with their faults and issues, the numerous existing reports about this engine model experiencing leakages and even blowing up makes it a tough sell and far choice for buyers.

If you are looking to increase the performance of you Chevy you should take a look at these articles as well – Best Programmer For 5.3 Silverado, best cold air intake for Chevy Silverado, best running boards for Chevy Silverado and best exhaust system for Silverado 1500.

Different Type Of Chevy Silverado Engines

If you are a Chevy Silverado fan, then you are just going to fall in love with this article. As in this article, we are going to have a look at the different types of Chevy Silverado engines.

But before heading towards the main point, let us first have an in-depth look at Chevy Silverado trucks and some facts about these trucks. The company initially introduced these Chevy Silverado trucks in 1999, and from that time, they have been in the news forever.

The reason behind it is that they are made so strong, highly durable, plus they offer better performance than any other truck range.

Let us have a look at some unknown facts about Chevy Silverado trucks,

• These Silverado trucks replaced Chevrolet’s line of C/K trucks. Moreover, they were directly in a fight with Ford and Dodge company’s truck range.
• These were the first of its kind that offered its users a good amount of luxury during driving. Before these trucks were introduced, no truck user was satisfied with the luxurious and performance-wise value.
• With these Chevy Silverado trucks, the company always tries to provide the best and come out with the highest possible engine value.
• Chevrolet also released a series of Intimidator SS special edition Silverado trucks to honor the NASCAR legend.

Various Chevy Silverado Engines

They have a total of 5 types of different engines that are being installed in the 2019 Chevy Silverado trucks. Let us have a look at them one by one-

• The first and starting range of the engine is the one that comes with Chevy’s 4.3-liter V6. With this engine, you would be able to get-
  • AFM and 6-speed automatic transmission support.
  • This engine can produce 285 horsepower and 305 lb of torque.
• The second one is 2.7L I4 Turbo engine and here are some specs that you would be able to get with this one-
  • It offers 310 horsepower and 348 lb of torque.
  • Capable of going from 0-60mph in less than 7 seconds.
• The third one is the 5.3L ECOTEC3 V8 engine, and here are some specs of this engine-
  • There are two versions of it one with AFM and another with DFM.
  • It offers 355 horsepower and 383 lb of torque.
• The fourth in the list is 3.0L DURAMAX I6 TURBODIESEL engine and here are some specs of it-
  • It’s a 3.0 lt turbodiesel six-cylinder engine.
  • It offers 240 horsepower and 420 lb of torque.
• The fifth one is 6.2L ECOTEC3 V8 and here are some specs of it-
  • It offers DFM technology.
  • Hydra-Matic 10-speed engine.
  • Produces 420 horsepower and 460 lb of torque.

That said, before we jump into how you can manage 5.3 Chevy engine problems, let’s talk about the engine itself.

The 5.3 Liter Chevy Engine

First introduced in 1999 by General Motors, the 5.3 liter Chevy engine could either be in an iron form or made from aluminum block depending on the year produced and model.

Earlier models of this engine type usually produced between 285 to 295 horsepower and 325-335 pound-feet of torque.

The engine was built based on the small block v8 platform which was also used in the production of the LS series engines used in Corvettes and other performance cars alike.

The5.3 liter Chevy engine, unlike the LS series engines, was designed for use in trucks and SUVs.

Although there are about nine separate versions of the 5.3-liter engine, they are all divided into two separate generations of the v8 platform; Generation III and IV.

The major difference in models from both generations is in their block design, as the newer generation models have been built in such a way that allows for active fuel management which works by turning cylinders off when not in use.

The 5.3 Liter Chevy Engine Problem

By now it is very clear that the 5.3-liter engine is a highly faulted one. Below are examples of faults and problems to look out for with this engine type;

Presence Of A Ticking Noise or/and Misfires

This is a common 5.3 liter Chevy engine problem reoccurring mostly in cylinders 1,4,6 and 7 of General Motors 2005-2014 models of it. The cause of this problem is usually an active fuel management (AFM) lifter.

The ticking noise problem occurs when the AFM lifter is mechanically broken or stuck. Low compressions would be found on such cylinders affected as well as a recurring tick noise and misfires.

Misfires occur if the AFM lifter unlocks exactly the same time as when the engine is started. Low compressions would be found on such cylinders as well as the presence of engine misfires in such a case, but hardly ever would there be a ticking noise.

Excessive Oil Consumption

This is a problem associated with the 1999-2017 GM models, particularly the V6 and 5.3-liter V8 engines. These engines consumed above 3 quarts of oil between changes which were a major cause for alarm.

The problem wasn’t that the oil was leaking out, it was that it was going past the piston rings to the combustion chambers resulting in a light blue exhaust smoke from all the oil blowing out of the tailpipe.

Faulty Oil Pressure Sensor

Many owners of the Chevy Silverado can testify to this particular 5.3 liter Chevy engine problem. The reoccurring “low oil pressure” warning signal could be as a result of the very faulty oil pressure switch in truck models older than 2007 or an oil pressure sensor located in an area where it’s not capable of getting a precise reading.

In some rare cases though, the presence of the low oil pressure warning could be because oil pressure is really low. The time, however, spent determining whether it is or not is a big problem for customers.

Engine Knock

This results from a non-frequent change of engine oil. When the oil isn’t changed regularly, it becomes hardened, which causes friction to occur in parts that need oil lubrication to operate effectively.

Once a knocking sound is heard in the engine, it should be checked.

A Transmission Problem

Common in the Chevy Silverado, this starts with shift flares when accelerating followed by the check engine light coming on and then the inability to move forward or/and reverse the vehicle.

Once these symptoms show, it’s already too late for such vehicles as the transmission would have to be removed and then replaced.

Tips For Dealing With 5.3 Liter Chevy Engine Problems

Although this engine may have its faults (just like any other brand), it also has its advantages which may make it a choice for many out there.

Now that you know the problems and signs to look out for, here are some simple tips on how to handle the 5.3litere Chevy engine problems;

• Never ignore any abnormal signs or sounds as these could be indicative of a bigger problem. For example, delaying a knocking sound could eventually result in blowing up the engine.
• Perform regular oil changes and oil flushes to prevent knocking of the engine.
• Have a trusted mechanic or auto technician who specializes in Chevy engines. This is because all engines aren’t built the same way and as this would require knowledgeable and expert hands to fix them properly.

The 5.3 Chevy Oil Pressure

Earlier on, it was stated that part of the problems of the 5.3 liter Chevy engine is its faulty oil pressure sensor. So, this section is dedicated to informing you about the right oil pressure level and ways to control it.

But First, What Is Oil Pressure? 

Just as our bodies need a constant flow of blood for us to be alive and vehicles require gas or fuel to run, so do our car engines require adequate oil lubrication to function properly.

Oil pressure as defined by Total, a leading oil, and gas company is “a measure of the force pushing the lubricant through the oil pump, as well as the distances it must cover, i.e., the meters of pipes, joints, and filters it must pass through, among other parts, which reduce this force.”

Good oil pressure on the 5.3 Chevy is said to be anything from 25 PSI and above at hot idle and with new engine oil. If oil pressure shows 21 PSI or below that with new engine oil, then the pressure is low, and damage could occur. Some of the ways to control oil pressure include;

• Making use of a mechanical oil pressure gauge to check for oil pressure. All engines come with a pre-installed gauge but could be faulty; it is, therefore, necessary to perform regular oil pressure checks but with a mechanical gauge.

It is also advised that these mechanical gauge checks are carried out by an auto mechanic as sometimes, symptoms of low oil pressure could be indicative of a faulty fuel pump.

• One of the most popular reasons for low oil pressure is the lack of enough oil to run the engine, so to control and avoid this problem, regular oil checks and inspections are recommended.
• Qualities and properties of the oil being used in your 5.3 Chevy should be closely monitored as a way of controlling pressure.

This is because certain kinds of oils possess high viscosity, a quality that doesn’t encourage free and quick flow to all parts of the vehicle. Synthetic oils are more advisable.

• Oil filters are a very important part of oil pressure control as a neglected and clogged filter would result in low pressure. As such, the oil filters should be checked regularly and replaced when needed.
• Probably the most common tip in this article- perform regular oil changes and flushes. This prevents constant friction amongst vehicle parts, which in the long run result in wears, tears, and other severe damages.

In Conclusion

The 5.3 Chevy engine, although with seemingly many problems, is still very much in use because these problems are easily manageable.

By adhering to information found in this article and keeping regular checks and appointments with your auto mechanic, you’re set to go with this engine.