How do you like your 4.8?
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frater secessus
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The general position on the forum is "MOAR POWER!!!" I don't hold that view.
You won't be blasting up mountains at 80MPH with the 4.8 but running at full output is fine. It's not a race or competition. American vehicles in general are overpowered so marketers can say stuff like "Class leading 350hp will shred your tires! Biggest engine available in its class can tow the Eurasian subcontinent! Your friends will stand with mouths agape and their wives will swoon!"
Folks also say that MPG is the same either way but user data on Fuelly suggests smaller engines in the same vehicles generally get better MPG. If the vans you like come in 4.8 I'd say go for it.
You won't be blasting up mountains at 80MPH with the 4.8 but running at full output is fine. It's not a race or competition. American vehicles in general are overpowered so marketers can say stuff like "Class leading 350hp will shred your tires! Biggest engine available in its class can tow the Eurasian subcontinent! Your friends will stand with mouths agape and their wives will swoon!"
Folks also say that MPG is the same either way but user data on Fuelly suggests smaller engines in the same vehicles generally get better MPG. If the vans you like come in 4.8 I'd say go for it.
If you don't intend to pull a heavy trailer, (or carry 3000 pounds payload) the 4.8L will be fine everywhere, especially with the 6 speed auto.
I can get 21 mpg (highway) with my 4.6 Ford...if I cruise at 65 and not pulling a trailer.
With a small trailer that drops to about 16 mpg, and with a larger trailer, it drops to about 11-13 mpg.
I can get 21 mpg (highway) with my 4.6 Ford...if I cruise at 65 and not pulling a trailer.
With a small trailer that drops to about 16 mpg, and with a larger trailer, it drops to about 11-13 mpg.
user 37446
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+1. Nothing wrong with that motor and 6 speed combo. Most fleets (cargo) buy the 4.8 as it was standard and does fine, so that’s what most people will find...
An Expediter Online forum post from wayyy back in 2010 said: “[font=OpenSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]2005 4.8 in a 3500 extended....282,000 miles as of today...the transmission puked at 274,000 and its the same trans that is behind the 6.0.......i'd buy another one for a CV that is 9660 gvw.....[/font]
[font=OpenSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]NOW....if you are talking about buying NEW. you can get the 6.0 with the new 6 spd trans and a 3:42 rear axle ratio...that i would buy on a heart beat......”[/font]
End of quote
Those expediters push their vans pretty hard, put on a lot of miles and need reliability and fuel mileage. So if they will use them I think you are pretty safe. One of their earlier comments was that the 6.0 got 3 mpg less.
An Expediter Online forum post from wayyy back in 2010 said: “[font=OpenSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]2005 4.8 in a 3500 extended....282,000 miles as of today...the transmission puked at 274,000 and its the same trans that is behind the 6.0.......i'd buy another one for a CV that is 9660 gvw.....[/font]
[font=OpenSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]NOW....if you are talking about buying NEW. you can get the 6.0 with the new 6 spd trans and a 3:42 rear axle ratio...that i would buy on a heart beat......”[/font]
End of quote
Those expediters push their vans pretty hard, put on a lot of miles and need reliability and fuel mileage. So if they will use them I think you are pretty safe. One of their earlier comments was that the 6.0 got 3 mpg less.
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I have the 4.8 and spent last September in Colorado and I was entirely happy with the 4.8. It's not a power house up the hills but I was never disappointed with it either. I had the 350/5.7 in my last Express and the 4.8 is stronger than it was in the mountains
user 37446
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Gearing and 6 speed closer ratios help a lot. 4.8 is about 270-280 hp and 290 ish to, depending on years. The 2000 5.7 vortec was like 255 hp but 325 tq so kinda tossup engine wise however the closer ratio 6 speed made the difference, given the same rear axle ratios.
