2011 Silverado on 2nd motor going on 3rd?

ohiosteve · Nov 23, 2011

My work truck is a 2011 Z-71 Silverado with the new 5.3 flex-fuel motor and traction control and all that B.S. and at 35k miles the motor took a dump(Heads were all carboned up, burning oil like crazy), the dealership warranteed the motor and put a longblock in it which was never right from the get-go now I've got 80k on it and same thing is happening, it's idling rough and the motor light is always on and she is starting to smoke and the lifters are chattering. I drive about 250 miles a day and Idle quite a bit, the truck runs non-stop about 12-14 hrs a day and someone told me these motors don't like to idle that much. Anyone have any similar experiences or ideas on what is happening? My 2000 Silverado which is almost identical to this new one is still running strong at almost 300k.

Anonymous · Nov 23, 2011

New motors run lean because od new epa laws. When idling they carbon up. Try running seafoam thru it once a month. Should be a noticable difference

1wlimo · Nov 24, 2011

why not stop it idling, turn the motor off?

My Parents have a Landrover Freelander with a deisel motor, it turns the motor off after a few seconds at trafic lights, sitting in trafic etc. Starts the motor when you clutch to drive again. Strange until you are used to it, but saves a lot of fuel.

Brute 23 · Nov 24, 2011

I have a 2010 1500 Z71 w/ 5.3 flex and use it kind of like you. When I leave the house in the morning I usually don't turn it off except to get gas. No problems so far on my 10 or the 08 I had. I do around 150mi per day. Only thing I have noticed is the exhaust blackens the chrome on the bumper from the heat when idling.