Why do people say the 5.3 Vortec is slow?

[MartyMcFLy]

i recently picked up a used ‘05 Yukon SLT XL 4wd. By all means, it’s not a Camaro, but for an SUV, it goes. Granted, I only use it for my daily driver and don’t tow, but it has more than enough acceleration and passing power. The torque is great and I can just tap the gas and cruise at 1.5k rpms all day.

How different is the 6.0 motor? Moreover, what exactly is the difference between the Denali and SLT besides the engine, AWD drivetrain and Denali body trim? In my SLT, I seem to have all the bells and whistles the Denali has including the DVD player, power everything, etc. All in all, it seems the SLT is just like the Denali with a 5.3.

 

[Doubeleive]

trim is just trim, but there is a noticeable difference in power

 

[MartyMcFLy]

trim is just trim, but there is a noticeable difference in power

I used to have a ‘05 Ram w/ the 5.7 hemi, so I assume it has similar “get up and go.” My point is, that I don’t think the 5.3 is a slouch like everyone says it is.

 

[Scottydoggs]

i had a 03 gmc 2500 HD with a 6.0. it was listed at that year for like 270 ish hp.

this 05 tahoe i have has a 5.3 and at least 300 hp.

the 4.10 gears and 80e tranny likely gave the truck all its balls. not that hoe is dog really. not a rocket ship, but neither was the 03 HD.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I used to have a ‘05 Ram w/ the 5.7 hemi, so I assume it has similar “get up and go.” My point is, that I don’t think the 5.3 is a slouch like everyone says it is.

I think people say it's slow once they become used to it. Just like anything else, once your used to it, isn't that impressive--to you. But to anyone else, it seems quick, or peppy.

 

[swathdiver]

Why do people say the 5.3 Vortec is slow?

Because enough is never enough for many folks. Or they just stepped out of a 6.2 Yukon Denali or 2009 Tahoe LTZ with the 6.2! LOL

The six liter motors make more horsepower, but more importantly, more torque. Torque is what gets the truck moving.

 

[S33k3r]

My wife has a 5.3 Tahoe and I have a 6.0 Suburban. In all honesty, I don't see a marked difference in power between them.

 

[Pilot]

My wife has a 5.3 Tahoe and I have a 6.0 Suburban. In all honesty, I don't see a marked difference in power between them.

Of course the Suburban probably weighs 500lbs more than the Tahoe.

 

[Doubeleive]

lol, no the 5.3 is not a slouch, but if you can't tell the difference between a 5.3 and 6.0 or 6.2 then it needs a tune up or you need to mash the pedal harder I can tell a big difference the 6.2 is a beast

 

[swathdiver]

Of course the Suburban probably weighs 500lbs more than the Tahoe.

lol, no the 5.3 is not a slouch, but if you can't tell the difference between a 5.3 and 6.0 or 6.2 then it needs a tune up or you need to mash the pedal harder I can tell a big difference the 6.2 is a beast

In this instance, the LQ4 makes about 40 more horsepower than the LM7 in the Tahoe which weighs 500-600 pounds less. They are probably geared differently so it's not surprising that they would feel the same.

But if it had a 6.2 with 80+ more horsepower, you'd know it no matter the weight!

 

[MCAT069]

My wife has a 5.3 Tahoe and I have a 6.0 Suburban. In all honesty, I don't see a marked difference in power between them.

My wife drives '12 z71 5.3 and I drive an 8.1 Suburban and can see a marked difference in power. Drop the 6.0 and put in the 496.

 

[adventurenali92]

The Denali has quite a few more options than the SLT, besides having the 6.0 and AWD. The Denali has a slightly beefier trans to handle the larger motor. Denali package also has auto leveling rear air suspension package, bigger rear end gears over the SLT, and also a transmission oil cooler.
When I was test driving a handful of full sizes, in the long wheel base trucks, the 5.3 felt like it wasn’t putting out enough power to pull the weight of the long body truck. At least to me that’s what I felt like. Then when I drove the Denali with 6.0 it just felt better. Now that my 6.0 is tuned, it definitely has a lot more get up and go power.

 

[adriver]

Its about 15% more HP, and 10% more ft lb of tq. The Denali should have a better trans behind that 6.0 with a better torque curve down low. Interior trim, exterior body, leather, not sure if that has second row captains or if that's just esclades.. Full time AWD gets a hair worse mpg, but if you were to tow, or be in an area where that mattered, you should notice it.

Wheels, stereo... headlights?

 

[adventurenali92]

Its about 15% more HP, and 10% more ft lb of tq. The Denali should have a better trans behind that 6.0 with a better torque curve down low. Interior trim, exterior body, leather, not sure if that has second row captains or if that's just esclades.. Full time AWD gets a hair worse mpg, but if you were to tow, or be in an area where that mattered, you should notice it.

Some Denali trucks have a bench and some have captains in the second row. Have seen both. Mine has mid row captains seats.

 

[S33k3r]

The Tahoe is running 3.73 gearing, the Suburban is running 4.10. But, yeah, I don't tend to step on the skinny pedal. The one time I really stepped on it was my wife's Tahoe, and it got up and moved with 6 adults in it. I haven't had the need to do so in the Suburban.

I would say I notice a large difference on the trips to the gas station, however...

 

[Massfloefi]

I have a 2005 XL Denali and my wife’s family has a 2005 suburban 5.3. Both have 3.73 gears. I don’t feel much of a difference between the two during every day driving with just myself. Probably at full throttle but I don’t go there as much. I can’t comment with a full load or when towing. I’m sure the Denali is more capable with the 6.0 and slightly beefier transmission. Many of the members can attest to that.

Blackbear tune in my truck does make better use of transmission shift patterns even though I only use 87 octane.

 

[bottomline2000]

The 5.3 has a lot of mod potential. On boost it will kill a lot of smaller sports cars. They feel like dogs because of the factory tuning and torque management. Once you free it up and open the tuning it will no longer fall on its face at 4k rpm and rev out to red line like the ls based motor it is..

Forget the stronger Denali transmission. It may have more pinion gears but for the most part there's not much difference in the 4l60/65/70 transmissions and a stock 5.3 can kill them all.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T377A using Tapatalk

 

[swathdiver]

The 5.3 has a lot of mod potential. On boost it will kill a lot of smaller sports cars. They feel like dogs because of the factory tuning and torque management. Once you free it up and open the tuning it will no longer fall on its face at 4k rpm and rev out to red line like the ls based motor it is..

The other night I was next to some jelly bean shaped SUV at a light to get onto the highway. Light turned green and we began to move, the jelly bean SUV starts to get ahead as he is on the inside of the turn onto the ramp. I give her a little more gas and the transmission startled me when she shifted to 1st gear, lifted the front end up into the air and I mashed the throttle and passed that jelly bean SUV like he was sitting still. The truck was heading north of 80 before I knew it and eased off the gas upon entering the highway with the jelly bean SUV way back there somewhere in the distance.

Still stock with a BlackBear tune.

 

[RST Dana]

The other night I was next to some jelly bean shaped SUV at a light to get onto the highway. Light turned green and we began to move, the jelly bean SUV starts to get ahead as he is on the inside of the turn onto the ramp. I give her a little more gas and the transmission startled me when she shifted to 1st gear, lifted the front end up into the air and I mashed the throttle and passed that jelly bean SUV like he was sitting still. The truck was heading north of 80 before I knew it and eased off the gas upon entering the highway with the jelly bean SUV way back there somewhere in the distance.

Still stock with a BlackBear tune.

Nice.

 

[Tonyrodz]

The other night I was next to some jelly bean shaped SUV at a light to get onto the highway. Light turned green and we began to move, the jelly bean SUV starts to get ahead as he is on the inside of the turn onto the ramp. I give her a little more gas and the transmission startled me when she shifted to 1st gear, lifted the front end up into the air and I mashed the throttle and passed that jelly bean SUV like he was sitting still. The truck was heading north of 80 before I knew it and eased off the gas upon entering the highway with the jelly bean SUV way back there somewhere in the distance.

Still stock with a BlackBear tune.

NICE!