New to the LS engine...needing advise!
#1
New to the LS engine...needing advise!
Greetings all, I am new to the world of the LS series engines, I have a 2009 GMC 1500 with the 5.3L. I got in to this truck from diesel ¾ ton truck, so I have been used to a little more go than the 5.3 offers. I do tow a bass boat on a regular basis, and would like to not have to work the truck so hard. Then I am just a gear head at heart, I have a supercharged mustang coupe, which I built from a shell up, so I can spin a wrench. I just have never messed with the LS series of engine; however as I read more I am starting to think the old blue oval in the stang may need to take a vacation, while a turbo’d 5.3 fills in.
Anyway, back to the truck, I installed a BullyDog tuner and ran it like that for a year. It did wake it up a little, and I stress little, but now the truck has developed a “pop” that I can hear in the exhaust when the truck is under load. I am worried that I may have a lifted HG, but I have not been able to confirm that as of yet. Pulled all the plugs they all look good, maybe a touch on the lean side, but over all they look good, no water in the oil, and no oil in the coolant that I can detect. So this weekend I will do a leak down test, one other thing is that this “pop” only occurs once I get to operating temp.
With all of that being said, I am just trying to learn as much as I can about what options I have if I end up tearing into this engine. Do I swap it for more cubes, repair and mod a little? I am open to suggestions and all input will be welcomed.
Thanks to all
Anyway, back to the truck, I installed a BullyDog tuner and ran it like that for a year. It did wake it up a little, and I stress little, but now the truck has developed a “pop” that I can hear in the exhaust when the truck is under load. I am worried that I may have a lifted HG, but I have not been able to confirm that as of yet. Pulled all the plugs they all look good, maybe a touch on the lean side, but over all they look good, no water in the oil, and no oil in the coolant that I can detect. So this weekend I will do a leak down test, one other thing is that this “pop” only occurs once I get to operating temp.
With all of that being said, I am just trying to learn as much as I can about what options I have if I end up tearing into this engine. Do I swap it for more cubes, repair and mod a little? I am open to suggestions and all input will be welcomed.
Thanks to all
#4
That is the odd thing about it, No smoke at all that I can detect. Of course it only happens under load, I feel like I am driving around looking backwards all the time trying to catch a glimpse of something. It really sounds like a dead cylinder, but I can't find one that looks to be dead. Truck seems to be a little down on power as well when this is happening.
#7
Not sure how much of a diesel junkie before, but bully dog is not a very favored name in that game. Canned tuning can be nice in some cases but most the time you'd spend about the same for an actuall one of tune. If you have a blown headgasket the top end rebuild on these things is a cake walk seeing as you already know how to spin a wrench. If i remember correctly you have quite a bit of room in there to work as well which is a big plus. The big thing to watch is the header bolts, spray those things with penetrating lube a couple of times and let it sit before you pull it apart. Good luck, hopefully this is not a large problem.
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#8
my guess is you have a exhaust valve that is not seating correctly some times.when doing the leak down test listen for rushing air from the exhaust and the throttle body.you could bore and stroke your current block to get a 383 .if you do a cam swap consider comp 54-455-11 for good towing power.
#9
TECH Resident
an STS kit for a 5.3 with a dyno tune would wake that thing up COMPLETELY... roast the tires at will and with the rear mount turbo it will greatly help out your towing