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2009 flex fuel 5.3 in a Tahoe

Will L.

Will L.

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Location
Boulder City Nv
Anybody have knowledge about good vs bad on these? Wife is looking at one for her dd. Been trying to put her in a 6.5 suburban or Tahoe, but its not flying. She wants something newer and less clatter.
 
They are good but get efi live and disable the 4cyl mode. Otherwise they are solid.

Biggest issue is emission equipment causing oil usage.
 
It's not the emission equipment, it's the lifters and DoD cam, Some use a lot of oil, some use none. I have a similar setup in my G8, and I don't really burn any. However, my DoD (displacement on demand, shuts off the 4 cylinders) is also shut off now.

We have a 2011 Suburban, only issues have been a leaky front axle seal, and we had the trans rebuilt under warranty (hard part broke, causing the clutches to slip bad, don't remember what) after 75k. Otherwise they're good trucks.
 
There are more good than bad but when one goes bad (as far as the engine goes) they go really bad.

Like I said shut off the 4cyl mode. It is part of the emission equipment on the engine.
 
The oil consumption is due to the cylinder no longer taking in air on the intake stroke, and the cylinder going under more of a vacuum than it would see under normal use. Without the combustion event to keep the cylinder hot, and the gases to help push the oil down, it gets past the rings easier. It is simply a byproduct of the DOD design as I believe DODGE had simliar issues with theres. So it's not the lifters or cam, but just the nature of a DOD design. Some actually prefer the DOD engines because many have a cam phaser in them to vary the cam timing during operation. This allows for a much broader powerband, and even bigger gains through tuning and cam swaps.
 
Makes sense. IIRC, the L92 (6.2L in Sierra/Yukon Denali & Escalade) has VVT but no DoD? Either way, DoD is more trouble than it's worth. The lifters are also known for failing...
 
Bought an '07 LTZ Tahoe for the wife when the new body style was introduced in mid '06. It has pretty close to 100k on it now and I've been running Mobil1 since about the 2nd oil change. It uses very little oil. The engine setting is all stock and has been no trouble since day one. Troubles are air bag sensors and transfer case sensor. I'm pretty satisfied with it except I wouldn't want the air suspension again. The compressor is making a ton of noise and I need to remove it and put all new gas shocks in it. She has a heavy foot so the DOD isn't in 4 cyl mode all that often. I can see another 50k or more.
 
I know of several 2008's and 09's that have over 150,000 miles on them. They have been run hard and idle all the time. There have been some problems like a rear end went out on one and other things that would be associated with high miles. Seems like after they get close to 150,000 miles they start having moe issues.

I drive a 2011 that has been pretty solid so far with 54,300 miles on it. I think it has dod, but I have only noticed it when in sixth gear. I usually use the manual mode and keep it in 4th or 5th gear. I think that locks out the dod. It has the six speed tranny and the best fuel mileage I recall getting was about 17.5 mpg on flat ground and usually 15 something in the mountains if I keep my foot out of it. It has the 3.08 rear gear and I will tell you that sixth gear is useless unless you live in the flatlands. The older tahoes had the 3.73 gear and the 4 speed tranny and did real good in the mountains.
 
My cousins '13 6.0 was using oil by 50k, my wife's gma has a 07 that had a warranty motor, and my brother in law has '10 w/ 90k and no issues. There are also a lot of gm oil field trucks running around here w/ a lot of miles. Some had bad luck, others seem fine.

Shut the dod off and don't worry about it IMO
 
The 5.3 doesn't have the grunt a well modified 6.5 does. You will want to add more power if you ever have to drive it. :rolleyes: The 5.3 is better than the smaller V-8's GM shoved in those year dependent.
 
Thanks for all the help everyone. Going today to look at this one up for sale and we'll see.

This is to replace her '01 suburban with a 6.0 in it. I told her it's still worth some more life out of it, but don't have her convinced yet. It has about 200,000 on the clock, neglected, and I destroyed the back interior of it a couple years ago hauling a couple of 6.5s in it like a pick up.
I guess some females are picky about the oil & diesel smell that does not come out of the carpet and back of 3rd row seating for some reason.?. So she doesn't exactly want my opinion on how much I like the feel or power of it, I think the less I like it the more she will out of self preservation of her own ride.
 
Will L. said:
Thanks for all the help everyone. Going today to look at this one up for sale and we'll see.

This is to replace her '01 suburban with a 6.0 in it. I told her it's still worth some more life out of it, but don't have her convinced yet. It has about 200,000 on the clock, neglected, and I destroyed the back interior of it a couple years ago hauling a couple of 6.5s in it like a pick up.
I guess some females are picky about the oil & diesel smell that does not come out of the carpet and back of 3rd row seating for some reason.?. So she doesn't exactly want my opinion on how much I like the feel or power of it, I think the less I like it the more she will out of self preservation of her own ride.
Click to expand...
Only 200k, its got alot of life left in her. those early ls engines seem to run forever.
 
You need to be looking at a pickup then. Just hose the diesel leaks out of the back. Everyone needs a 20+ year old pickup in their driveway... You are always hauling something that will ruin SUV carpet!
 
I have owned two Tahoe(s) one 2006 and one 2010. I have owned one 2011 Chevrolet 1500. All three had the 5.3. I never had any issues with the motor on any of them. But, I never got any of them above 100k miles. For my wife they were perfect.
I have also had a 2009 Traverse. It was nice but had more blind spots than a fat lady. That probably explains why it comes standard with a reverse camera. It also came with those helper mirrors in both mirrors.
She currently has a 2010 Equinox LTZ with the V6. It has been a good small SUV, very peppy for what it is.
On the 2006 I only changed the oil with royal purple. I used amsoil on the Traverse. On the others I went to Mobile 1.
 
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