Learn about the legendary GM Vortec 5300 in Chevy and GM trucks and suburban’s. Our team has endless hands on experience and knowledge with the 5.3 Vortec. Check out some of our detailed guides like the best 5.3 Vortec fuel economy mods and the ultimate 5.3L engine guide. Scroll down for more awesome content on the GM Vortec 5300 engine.
The 5.3 Vortec V8 engine inside General Motors’ 1999-2013 light duty trucks and SUVs is one of the most popular engines to modify. From the factory, GM rated the engine at 275-325 horsepower and 315-350 lb-ft of torque. It was an extremely popular engine choice, and buyers loved it for its performance and reliability. Yet,…
The 5.3 Vortec V8 engine was one of the mainstays in the General Motors lineup for over fifteen years. It powered various generations of Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban 1500, and Tahoe, alongside their GMC counterparts the Sierra 1500, Yukon XL, and Yukon. Depending on the model and year, the 5.3 Vortec (Vortec 5300) produced 275-325…
General Motors/Chevrolet produced the Vortec 5300 V8 engine for nearly two decades from 1999–2014. It spanned two generations of their small block V8, and was finally succeeded by the 5th Generation EcoTec3. Known for its reliability, performance, and stout design, the 5.3 Vortec engine was hugely successful for GM/Chevy. Though it was discontinued nearly a…
The Chevy 5.3 Vortec engine has steadily gained a reputation over the past two decades as one of the most reliable and capable motors in the GM/Chevy line. The 5.3 L V8 engine is also known as the Vortec 5300. It has powered many Chevy and GM trucks and SUVs over the years, including versions…
AFM or active fuel management is a GM/Chevy technology meant to improve gas mileage. AFM works by deactivating half of the engines cylinders under certain circumstances to reduce fuel usage. It essentially turns your V8 engine into a V4 which saves fuel. GM claims fuel improvements ranging from 5%-15% depending on the engine. So why…
The fuses are the heart of your Chevy’s electrical system. Nearly every system in a car that requires battery or electric power (windows, door locks, lighting, stereo, etc. etc.) is wired and powered through a fuse. The battery sends power to the fuse which then transfers it to the specific system on the car. The…
Gas mileage is notoriously poor on all trucks, not just Chevy’s and not just the 5.3 vortec. Every smart alec’s response to “how do I improve my trucks gas mileage?” is “buy a Prius”. But for a lot of us, we need a truck either for work or for hauling things around. A smaller and…
The Vortec 5300 is a small-block V8 GM engine that was produced from 1999 until 2013. While the 5.3L Vortec is based off of the LS engine platform, it itself is not technically an LS engine. The engine went through two different variations during its lifespan, Gen III and Gen IV. Across both generations the…
The brake lines in 1999-2007 GMT800 Silverado’s, Sierra’s, and Suburbans are very prone to rusting out and needing replacement. For individuals who live in “salt” states, where cities commonly salt the roads to prevent ice, the brake line rusting is even more common. In 2010, a class-action lawsuit was filed as rusted brake lines were…
The 2nd generation, dubbed the GMT900, Silverado’s and GMC Sierra’s were produced from 2007 to 2013 in regular, extended, and crew cab. Unlike many trucks today, all trucks in the GMT900 platform had small-block Vortec V8 engines, ranging from 4.8L to 6.2L. The GMC Sierra is an identical platform to the Silverado, using the same…
