What if your new Chevy was more of a ticking time bomb than a car?
Many Chevy vehicles have major problems, especially if they have a 5.3 liter engine. Unfortunately, drivers often don’t know about these 5.3 liter Chevy engine problems until it’s too late!
Want to protect yourself and your family from these common engine problems in Chevies? Keep reading to learn about the problems you must watch out for!
Coolant Loss
There are different models of 5.3 liter Chevy engines over the years. And in cars made between 1999 and 2007, one of the most common issues had to do with coolant loss.
This coolant loss occurred most often due to a cracked cylinder head. Chevy outsourced production of these cylinder heads to a third party, resulting in a common manufacturing defect.
The issue didn’t affect every Chevy made during those years, but it affected very many of them. And this is something you should definitely watch out for if you decide to buy an older Chevy!
Major Oil Consumption
Major oil consumption is one issue facing many Chevies made between 2010 and 2014. The issue is bad enough and widespread enough that it actually led to a class-action lawsuit.
These engines consume so much oil in part because of faulty valves and in part due to the Active Fuel Management system in the car. Basically, the car is taking oil out of the valvetrain and putting it into the intake before the oil can be burned up in the vehicle’s combustion chambers.
According to the lawsuit, there were also issues with the piston rings and the oil pressure relief valve. Put it all together and some Chevy drivers were burning through an entire quart of oil in as little as 1,500 miles!
Misfiring
You may notice that your 5.3 liter Chevy engine sounds pretty loud. In some cases, this may be due to a problem with misfiring.
In certain Chevies, there are problems with the Active Fuel Management Lifter. This can result in the occasional unexpected misfire.
On top of that, problems with the Active Fuel Management Lifter can also lead to problems with low compression. Like other engine problems, this can be very expensive to fix if you have to take it to a local mechanic.
Problems With Intake Manifolds
Your 5.3 liter Chevy may have problems with both the intake manifolds and the intake manifold gaskets. Over time, the gaskets will wear down on any vehicle. However, gaskets in certain Chevies seemed to degrade quicker than average.
Additionally, the intake manifolds are made of plastic. That means they can crack very easily, leading to further problems.
If your car is having issues with the intake manifolds or manifold gaskets, you may not be able to immediately tell. But if you are experiencing issues with rough idling, power loss, or frequent “check engine” lights, then the intake manifolds and manifold gaskets may be to blame.
Fuel Pressure Regulator Issues
One of the most common 5.3 liter Chevy engine problems has to do with the fuel pressure regulator. And problems with the regulator can lead to a host of other issues.
For example, your Chevy may be hard to start. In some cases, it may not start at all. This issue can also lead to rough idling and poor acceleration, stuttering, and other issues.
The one “bright side” to this problem is that the fuel pressure regulator is relatively cheap and easy for a professional mechanic to fix. But it’s important to have your vehicle repaired as soon as you notice these issues.
Engine Sludge
Some of the 5.3 liter Chevy problems are pretty straightforward. For example, many Chevies have major problems with engine sludge.
How does this sludge happen? Over time, the oil mixes with both the air and carbon dust within the engine. This creates a nasty sludge that can cause numerous malfunctions with your engine.
Engine sludge can happen with any vehicle, but it is a more prominent problem in the 5.3 liter Chevy engine. If you’re worried about sludge building up inside your own engine, you can always establish a regular maintenance routine for your car to keep the sludge at bay and keep your warranty active.
Spark Plug Issues
Many cars eventually experience issues with their spark plugs. However, certain Chevy models suffer from this problem more than other cars.
For certain Chevies manufactured before 2011, the PCV pullover for the valve cover had a bad design. Incidentally, this is one of the main causes of the oil consumption issue we touched on before, and it can cause the spark plugs in your vehicle to foul up prematurely.
As you can tell, the class action lawsuit against Chevy is motivated by just how comprehensive some of these 5.3 Liter Chevy Engine Problems can be.
Malfunctioning Sensors
We touched on the fact that certain Chevy engines experience an annoying build-up of sludge. The interior of these engines may also suffer from another problem: malfunctioning sensors.
In some ways, a problem with your car’s sensors is one of the worst problems you can have. That is because such sensors may issue various false reports. For example, your car may have an oil consumption problem, but you get a warning light for something else altogether.
It’s important to get your sensors repaired as soon as possible. If you can’t trust what the sensors have to say, there is no way of knowing what your car’s actual condition may be.
5.3 Liter Chevy Engine Problems: What To Do Next?
Now you know some of the 5.3 liter Chevy engine problems your own car could have. Even worse: it’s entirely possible that the person who sold you the Chevy knew about these problems ahead of time!
In that case, you may have been sold a “lemon.” Instead of just accepting what happened, this is your chance to fight for your rights against shady dealers.
Do you need a lemon law fighter in your corner? To begin getting justice, all you have to do is contact us today.Â
Learn more about PA Lemon Law, NY Lemon Law, and NJ Lemon Law.