Is the LS3 the Best engine GM ever built?

[redcoats1976]

best in what respect?what of all those old 283s,350s,and 396s.some of them ran for a lot of miles without needing much.

[sscamaro]

I have a 2017 Silverado with the 5.3 LT engine which has 355 hp. It has a 342 rear in it and accelerates very rapidly.

[JerTM]

Originally Posted by gringo

No, it's probably not. Lifter problems/failures and oil pump woes.

I bet you'll say the 3.6L, after all it's all tech and stuff and have more power than old v8s, right?

The LS engines are solid engines, but I would have to agree with pyroguy. The 3.8L v6 is a m-f'n tank. One came into the shop years ago with the engine seized solid, couldn't turn it by hand. I removed the spark plugs, and coolant had filled two cylinders to the point of hydrolock. The intake gasket had been leaking coolant internally for some time. The coolant was nearly empty. I removed all the coolant from the engine and cranked it over. I replaced the intake manifold gaskets and spark plugs. The damned thing fired right up and ran like nothing happened. It came in for regular oil changes after that.

[redcoats1976]

kind of surprised to hear you say something good about V6s.as a matter of curiousity what changed between the 3.8 and 3.6? im aware of timing chain issues in the earlier 3.6 engines,has this been fixed with the LFX,or should i start saving now?

[SecondZ28]

I would disagree. Of the LSx series, I'd say LS6

It had the best combination of power & mpg.

They lost too much efficiency once they started getting up to 6.0/6.2

[Avenging Orange]

GM has had many. They continue to push the boundaries of the naturally aspirated push rod engine.

[gringo]

Originally Posted by JerTM

I bet you'll say the 3.6L, after all it's all tech and stuff and have more power than old v8s, right?

The LS engines are solid engines, but I would have to agree with pyroguy. The 3.8L v6 is a m-f'n tank. One came into the shop years ago with the engine seized solid, couldn't turn it by hand. I removed the spark plugs, and coolant had filled two cylinders to the point of hydrolock. The intake gasket had been leaking coolant internally for some time. The coolant was nearly empty. I removed all the coolant from the engine and cranked it over. I replaced the intake manifold gaskets and spark plugs. The damned thing fired right up and ran like nothing happened. It came in for regular oil changes after that.

No, the 3.6L is not either. And, from what I've read on these forums and others, yes the 3.8L is one solid piece.

[lbls1]

Its definitely good but I couldn't give it the reins by itself. Quite a few powertrains were responsible for developing the ls3, with the momma of them all being the ls1. In addition, we also have had quite an array of ls engines from the super duty (vortex), the super powerful (LSA and LS9), super versatile LS4, and a couple of honorable mentions. It is safe to say that the LS engine family may have been the best engines and technology of the Chevrolet line. LS engines combined power, efficiency, adaptability, environmental friendliness, and familiarity. I can't think of any other engine line that has done more and have had greater success than the LS family.

[anth331]

Originally Posted by JD555

5.7/350. Maybe not the most powerful but a great engine and is pushing many of boat still.

I’m old school, I agree

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by stickwiggler13

I’ve read some articles that say it was. What do you guys think? :

Define 'best':

Most durable? Easiest to mod? Most powerful? Most powerful ... after modding? Least maintenance? Cheapest to buy? Most efficient?

Or do you mean some combination of all the above, along with other factors? In which case, how to compare the importance of cost vs power vs fuel economy.

Originally Posted by rshelar

He didn’t ask about most powerful, he asked about overall best engine for the LS series.
And would say yes. The 5.3, 6.0, 6.2 LS3, and now the 6.2 LT1.
I have the 5.3 in my 2004 truck. There’s a ton of the 6.0 plants in HD trucks and for two years in the Vette. I had the L99 in my 2015 and just bought a 2017 with the LT1 auto.
One word: DAMN! Chevy engineers really got it right. I just ran into a guy who dropped in a 5.3 in his 68 green stepside. Did it with his buddies and also cut the springs. California truck with original paint. He wouldn’t take $10k for it. Awesome!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He never said anything about the LS or even V8s in general. He just asked if it was the best engine from GM ever.

[pyroguy]

Originally Posted by redcoats1976

kind of surprised to hear you say something good about V6s.as a matter of curiousity what changed between the 3.8 and 3.6? im aware of timing chain issues in the earlier 3.6 engines,has this been fixed with the LFX,or should i start saving now?

I'm not sure of the differences, but the 3.8 and 4.3 V6's were super reliable engines. The 4.3 was used until this model year beginning in the VERY early 80's. The 3.8 I've known many of them to hit 200k miles without batting an eye, one was almost at 400k before a deer hit the car it was in. The 4.3 was said to literally be a 350 minus 2 cylinders.

[George-CZ]

The LS3 engine is a big disappointment for me.
Not performance.
But with regard to the aforementioned problems - lifters, oil pump, broken timing chain tensioner, broken valve springs....
The 40 year old LM1 engine in my 78 is far more reliable.



But I still like this car.

As people in my country say.
If you love it, there is nothing what to solution

[Cheap Guy]

Like some people mentioned above, my vote would be for the 3.8 V6, but I also like the pre fuel injected 350 small blocks and the LS engines too.

Now the worst engine is an easy call - the 90’s LT1. That engine almost made me stop working on cars. I laughed when I was watching some car show on TV and they just ripped it out of some car they were working on and threw in a LS.

[BMR Sales]

I guess my question is, the OP is asking about LS3 and people chime in with 5.3 Truck Motor Reviews.