Changing out 5.3L to 6.0L 2004 Yukon XL

[criddy72]

Hi all,
I have a 2004 AWD Yukon XL with the 5.3L (non flex) SLT. I have just rolled over 102000 miles and it would appear the engine is on its way out. We have owned since new but with the hard times cant afford to upgrade. We live in an extremely cold climate and have always maintained the vehicle as per recommendations using good quality oil & filters. Have changed the coolant when advised.
Well the engine has started blowing smoke on start up but then goes away which i would normally say is the valve stems seals but i can put up with that. The engine has also now started using water at an alarming rate, it is not leaking out on the floor but more than usual condensation has been noted coming out of the tail pipe.
I have no water in the oil & vice versa, i am usure of what my plan of attack should be.
My wife swears it has never got hot and it still doesnt get hot now either.
Can i swap the engine out to a 6.0L from a denali or 2500 truck? Is everything else the same? Does anyone have a 5.3 or 6.0 for sale?
Thanks in advance.

 

[vatahoelt]

i didn't think the condensation from the tailpipes came from the motor?

 

[waxworkz]

do a search on this in google. there was a big to do about these trucks loosing water. dont remember exactly though

 

[JonnyTahoe]

What a hassle!! Just have the 5.3 fixed. Or are you tired of 300 horsepower?? Unless the condensation is the color of your coolant probably not making it"Out the Pipe"

 

[Jay]

Head gasket? Not sure what else would get coolant in these engines unless something is cracked (highly unlikely).

FWIW, I've had two 5.3s go over 300k miles (one to 320,000 miles, fleet trucks) and both were still running well when I sent the trucks off to auction. I routinely take 5.3s and 6.0s to 250k miles, usually problem free. Properly maintained, they last a long time.

The swap to the 6.0 should be a drop-in affair. Get the PCM programmed for the 6.0... any tuner that works on these trucks will have the factory 6.0 tune on file. Good time to swap to electric cooling fans also.

 

[07Burb]

I still find it odd that the motor is 'on it's way out' with only 102k on it.... just doesn't add up to me. Most 5.3's are just getting started at that mileage.

 

[chevy_man]

Have a shop do a leak-down test on the heads. That should tell you if your head gasket has a major problem. Sounds like it may have a crack in the gasket between a cylinder and a water passage that's not leaking enough to pollute the oil but still burning/using coolant.

It's normal for quite a bit of water to come out of the tail-pipes, especially in cold climates.A little water may be from ethanol, but that's another topic really.

And 100K miles is nothing for these motors. This isn't the 70's, you don't need a new vehicle every 50K miles. Hell, at 165K my yukon is still tight as ****. No rattles/random noises and it's got enough power to make ricers look at you stupid as you pull away from them with their fart can going full bore.

 

[Sickblutahoe]

Lol fart can I'll have to remember that one!!!

 

[yukondenali]

I still find it odd that the motor is 'on it's way out' with only 102k on it.... just doesn't add up to me. Most 5.3's are just getting started at that mileage.

i agree that motor is still a baby....

 

[07Burb]

i agree that motor is still a baby....

...and the OP hasn't come back to post and give us clarification. If the thing is "using water at an alarming rate" but it's not leaking on the floor or showing up in the oil then.... ....Also, what color is the "smoke" on start up? If it's just white or gray then don't worry about it my motto. I think it's a bit premature of the OP to think his "motor is on it's way out" just based on what was original stated.

 

[M3PO]

I don't believe post count=knowledge, but when the person has one and only one post and the story doesn't add up, might be a troll. If the motor is using "water" at an "alarming rate" in an "extremely cold environment", the water has to be going somewhere at an alarming rate; out the tail pipe, leaking, or in the oil pan. Or maybe the motor needs a mixture of water and some sort of antifreeze?

 

[07Burb]

And that's another thing....who uses water in an 'extremely cold' environment??? I like in Mo and I still use mostly antifreeze

 

[TWITCH101]

does anyone have the link to the 6.0 conversion???I searched google for a while but came up empty handed.....Can I use the stock tranny with the 6.0?

 

[bkboatnsleds]

Google Castech Heads - could be a crack in the head (common).. thats what I had.

---------- Post added at 05:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:52 PM ----------

does anyone have the link to the 6.0 conversion???I searched google for a while but came up empty handed.....Can I use the stock tranny with the 6.0?

Yep. I did the 6.0 swap, stilll stcok tranny and all. If you have questions drop me a line.

 

[TWITCH101]

Does anyone know if the 6.2 will bolt up same as the 6.0???? I'm still curious and shopping around and thought what the hell....if the 6.2 will bolt up might as well go big.

 

[mmeachem]

cant find anything man but whatever you do change all of the gaskets

 

[John gypsy]

I agree with chevy_man-
All healthy motors do in fact throw out water from the tail pipes, I also have a 2004 Yukon all-wheel-drive, but with only double your miles! Yes- if you take care of it, ( as you already do ) the truck runs and performs fine? Drives great? Has great power throughout low & hi speeds? If it does? You are fine!
No need to upgrade, no need to spend the extra money on it, how ever,,,
Step 1).
( if water is disappearing from radiator) check to see if you have a leak at the exhaust Manafold?
Step2)
check to see if your water pump has a minor leak? Sometimes they will only leak when the vehicle is at hi rpms! It will leak threw a small hole under the bottom of the water pump!
Step3)
but if? You really want to upgrade? ( like I do ) go to a really good junk yard ( LKQ ) and do your private I RESERCH, and make sure you do find a really good motor for it, but only if you can see it in the car with the correct mileage, so u know what u are buying? Not a company 5.3 with 300k miles, they usually go for 400-750, but no more then that, unless it's new! Sell yours for 300-400 and it might cost you less then you really want to give!
Step4)
upgrade you said to a nice 6.0 liter- you need a full swap over, from computer, monts, wire harness, plus down to all the gaskets, from excaust to the rear main seal! ( yes hundreds ) but end result? More power, more fuel cost! Unless your pulling a boat or a trailer? Your Yukon u have is a cruiser, not speedster! As everyone here will say the same! Drive it like a Cadillac, and use it as a bull dozer to do the job!
I myself also wanted to upgrade to! We all do here, but then we think? Do we really want more power? And then more gas? It will be good! But all and all, just put 500 in a exhaust sys, free flow air raid sys, and or a power programmer, another 300 dollars, and a few other mods! And now it's way more powerfully then a 6.2, let alone a 6.0 liter, with lower mpg!

All and all! We here all believe your motor is good! Take care of it and it will out last you!
God bless!
A YUKON LOVER SINCE 2004