https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/a...5.4%20Vs%205.3

after a search i found this..... looks like it never came to a conclusion, just that the 5.3 will stomp the 5.4 empty.

 

Hey 'Snag,

Here's another voice of experience. One of our work trucks is a '01 Silverado, extended cab, 2wd, 5.3, and I think 3.73 gearing. Consistently makes 19-20 mpg on interstate at 75 mph, and about 17 mpg at 80 mph. This isn't a one or two time occurence; most of its life has been that type of driving. With a flatbed trailer with low profile load around 2000 lbs. it comes in around 15 mpg. Camping trailer, about 12 - 14 mpg - depends on wind and speed.

It's never lacked for power for anything we've ever done with it.

BTW, most folks I know with the 5.4 whine about the poor mileage. One guy gets about 14 mpg average in a 4x4 SD extended cab. Not too bad.

Regardless of what you drive fuel economy is highly dependant on driving habits.

 

I think the milage can be attributed a little to the overall design of the truck. It seems to be a commom theme with the GM trucks even in the 3/4 and 1 tons. The motors make a little better milage but the trucks are a little lighter and not as high off the ground. Both are pretty nice trucks - I'd take either.

 

A few comments: the 5.3 is now rated @ 310 HP, 335 ft/lbs@4000. There's an optional 6.0 in the 1/2T's that comes in at 345HP, 380 ft/lbs@4000. Ford's 5.4 comes in at 300Hp, 365 ft/lbs @3750.

It's not that far apart, but the F150 in a 4X4 S/C (typical model) weighs 547 lbs more, empty, than it's Silverado counterpart. When you move to the HD2500/SD class, that weight differential balloons to over 1100 lbs empty. Say what you want- it takes more fuel to move additional weight down the road. That extra weight also extracts a penalty off of a stoplight.

 

even though the new 3v makes more hp, it also weighs 500 more pounds....i read somewhere and was verified my a buddy that goes to northwestern ohio mechanical school, and he said that it takes 10 hp to 100 lbs ratio, so if you believe that this means the new 5.4 has 40 more hp, 500 lb heavier which is 10 hp less in hp to weight vs the old 5.4....not like any of this matters, but i really wonder....

 

My daily driver (soon to be sold) is an 03' sierra 1500 w/ the 5.3L Its a single cab with 4x4. I have left a lot of vehicles in the dust with the truck off the line, its quick and has lots of power all the way too 100mph..then it shuts off...but hey its not a race car . The VERY BEST mpg I have EVER gotten with the truck is 17 highway. On average it makes 14-15. I also found for some reason I got worse mpg with the tailgate off....anyway Be proud of me...I'm ordering a brand new F350 this month. I had a 97 250 before the GM and I will never buy another GM again.

 

I'm sure you're aware of this but I saw an ad last night for the new Silverado with the 6.0. They're advertising 10,000 lb. trailering capacity. I saw somewhere on FTE the other day that the F-150 has a trailering cap. of 9500 lbs. Maybe there's your 547 weight difference coming into play?

EDIT: this was the 1/2 ton Silverado.

 

My mom has the 5.3L with a little over 115K on it. Still runs great, no problems to speak of, just did the regular oil changes and stuff like that, will still beat a 5.4L off the line without a second thought.
Not to mention all the ricers around here *rolls eyes*.

 

Look if you want to compare two trucks to each other; then take one of each' back them up to each other' put a tow strap in between them and see that the '04+ F150 5.4 will drag the '04+ Silverado 5.3 around all day and won't have to risk blowing the engine at 4000rpms doing it!
After all in a fullsize truck what I want is something that is going to pull

 

The 5.4 would most definetly win that, all other things being equal, due to extra weight and height.

 

Actually the F150 when properly equiped is rated for 9,900lb, thats why Gm has bumped it up to 10,000lbs. Personally no halfton is up to the task of a 10000lb trailor, They may say it is but how many have tried this. I think these numbers are a bit rediculas, lets just think about this, my 03' SD V10 is only rated somewhere around 10,000-10,800lbs and its a heck of a lot more truck than any half ton. Now my F250 may be a bit under rated if anything but 9900 or 10000 is overrated for any 1/2 ton pickup. It may do it once if it was needed but if this was a regular habit I wouldn't even consider a half ton. I thik these manuf. are in such a "I've got the biggest wee wee" contest that just about every thing is becoming overrated, these companies keep upping the power and decreasing economy even when fuel seems to be as volatile as ever. I have no Idea how many diesel owners I've heard say they're happy with the current power output but would welcome better fuel economy, ecspecialy at 3.29 per gallon!!! But what do we get, more power and less economy, and they wonder why they're in such finacial trouble, if I made decision like that I'd be in trouble too!!!

 

Oh and by the way, hooking two trucks together proves nothing more than who has better traction, who is heavier, and who is the better driver! It proves nothing about low end torque or power!! If you feel like breaking stuff go ahead, its not my wallet.

 

I concur....


-Paul

 

Me too. Though I wouldn't say 4K is gonna blow the 5.3L. Yes the 5.4L could pull the 5.3L truck around due to the extra weight, but without the trucks, that perchance is another story.

 

Good grief, I'm glad I'm not the only one to think that. I don't need a thousand horsepower and the ability to tow my house down the street- but 25 mpg out of a full-sized truck would be attractive.