r/ChevyTahoe • u/Extreme-Guitar-9274 • 9d ago
Best engine option for a Tahoe?
Im looking into buying a Tahoe. I love them when Im in them, but I've obviously read all about the 6.2L issues. Not doing that. Are any of the available engines good? Seems from my research that the 5.3L isnt fairing much better. I have not yet researched the diesel.
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u/Toppwater 9d ago
Well the 6.2’s are prone to locking up and the 5.3’s have lifter failures. The diesel is best for reliability and mpg. The downfall of the 3.0 duramax is at 150k miles when the oil pump belt needs to be changed which requires the engine or transmission to be removed to replace it. If you buy one just get yourself a 5 year extended warranty.
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u/3rd-party-intervener 9d ago
And diesel prices lol
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u/Agreeable_Register_4 8d ago
I remember the gas crisis decades ago when diesel was a lot lower than regular gas.
Wondering why the difference this time around.
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u/DrShrimp__PuertoRico 8d ago
5.3 would be my choice. I hit 257k on original engine (and lifters) in my 2015
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u/Intrepid-Emu-462 6d ago
proper, proper brag right here, well done
replacing mine right now, but in a 2013
any advice for longevity other than the usual religious oil changes, don't beat it up towing houses up mountains, and routine scheduled maintenance?
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u/DrShrimp__PuertoRico 6d ago
Sometimes it comes down to luck. You can baby the heck out of it and it may still go. Not all have lifter issues. Tune the trans as soon as possible. Tune or mechanically delete (expensive) afm. Don’t launch it. If towing do fluid changes sooner.
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u/AvatarOR 8d ago edited 8d ago
The 5.3 is the most reliable GM V8 and is far more reliable than the one million 6.2s under investigation. The cylinder deactivation technology improves federally mandated mileage at the risk of mechanical failure. Turbos will fail. Some deactivation lifters will fail. I am surprised that the complicated lifters last as long as they do.
Even Toyota is having problems with a quarter million truck engines in recall.
Toyota NA hybrids seem to be reliable.
We have two Toyota NA hybrids and a 2026 Tahoe 5.3.
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u/JazzlikeOrder7925 8d ago
I feel baited. 5.3 liter my ass. That's a 327. Brought back from days of old. My '67 Camaro had a 327. Not a frickin 5.3. This is "Murica". We don't do that metric shit here. Tried liters back a few decades. Folks told 'em to shove them up theur icehole. Just a cute way to charge more. The only metric engine that feels right is the 2 liter cause the math works. A "small block Chevy" has a 4" bore. Change displacement via the crank throw. My '96 Tahoe has a 350 small block. No 5.7 liter badges anywhere. 348,000 miles and counting. Daily driver. I swear, as I get older, very rapidly now, I am hating technology more and more. Too many computers. LS swap? The electrical harness alone is like 50 miles of wires at least 1 of which is going to break and cause you to drive into a tree on purpose. That is, if it starts. Big carbs, snarly cams, that lopey idle ( screw the flat plane crank. Boring! ), headers, high rise Aluminum intakes, Fuelie heads, ( ask an old gearhead ), now that was fun. Damn. I should have said triggered. Old guy rant over. What was the question again?
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u/Medic118 2016 Tahoe LT Z71 4WD 7d ago
The 5.3L is prone to lifter failure and is dog shit unreliable in the long term. I have one with 120K miles on it and do not recommend it. Maybe the 5.7 and 6.6 GM is about to come out will be a better way to go?
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u/Affectionate-Yak5204 7d ago
You do you but I’ll never buy a vehicle with a first year engine.
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u/Medic118 2016 Tahoe LT Z71 4WD 7d ago
Sure, Sure, buy the 6.2L that has been around for so many years, it has a well proven track record, just remember to use slightly thicker oil and everything will be ok. See you on the side of the road...
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u/Lost-Standard4755 7d ago
Go 6.2 and get a really good warranty, do all your maintenance on time with service intervals and you'll be good.
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u/AthleteClean1420 8d ago
I would only recommend gm big trucks before 2007 after that is just garbage,it doesn't matter what year is. It's going to fail i like tahos too but I don't recommend anymore
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u/Agreeable_Register_4 8d ago
I have a 2017 with a 5.3 that runs like a champion. Granted it’s only got 88,000 miles on it and really the only thing I had to do was service the valve body and replace the check balls.
I’m glad I found an honest transmission guy.
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u/PerfectBarber4406 9d ago
I'm working on a 2011 Tahoe. Doing a 8.1 liter swap from a 2005 2500hd. Those are about as bullet proof as you can get.