The 4.8 V8?

[Easyeight]

So how do the 4.8 engines hold up?

I just bought a government surplus 2005 K1500 4x4 with like 73,000 miles on it in really decent shape. has the 4.8 liter engine which wasn't my first choice of engine...as I was hoping for a 5.3 powered truck.

But alas...no.

My favorite dealer dragged up two of these guv 4x4 trucks for me to choose from...the first was a 2003 Z71 with 5.3, however it was higher miled...rougher shape...fancier truck for sure. I went for the newer plainer 4x4 truck that's nice and clean and 4.8 engine equipped.

I'm just curious what issues a 2005 4.8 4x4 truck might have down the road.

What transfer case did GM use for the floor shifted transfer case models?

Thanx..Easy

[crazy longhorn]

I have a 4.8 in my 02 silverado(170,000 on the clock),& she still runs like a swiss watch? Other that the piston rattle on startup(quiet after a few seconds running), I have seen the truck go 4-5000 on an oil change , & be a pint low on oil ! Try that on a gen I, with that many miles The 4.8 is basically a shorter stroke version of the 5.3....the 5.3 does have more power, but @ 73,000 miles methinks you spent the right money vs the high mile 5.3? I cant help with the transfer case ? Mine is 2wd....best of fun, crazyL

[biggsteve97]

I have the 4.8 in my 2002 reg cab long bed 4x4 with over 220,000 miles on the clock. Also have a cold air kit and cat back exhaust and it runs strong! Other than spark plugs and a fuel pump only real issue weve had were 2 sets of clogged catalytic converters. The second set we think was caused by poor welds where the exhaust shop had cut out the stock converters and put in the aftermarket converters. Had real bad exhaust leaks start only 20,000 miles after they were installed and within 15,000 miles after that performance started to fail. So if you eventually need converters the best choice is the factory y pipe with converters or find a more competant exhaust shop than we did. I will say the 4.8 is much easier on drivetrain components than the 5.3 so you should have less cost of ownership because of that. Good luck. I think you will enjoy your truck.
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[Skid99]

I've owned two, and I honestly can't see why people put them down. Probably just because they're the small v8. My 04 rcsb 4.8/auto GMC with a homemade cold air and long tubes ran extremely well for what it was. I now own a 99 rcsb Silvy z71 4.8/5spd truck and its been completely trouble free in the time I've owned it other than a wheel bearing and my tranny tail shaft seal went out. And I always run Mobil full syn in them for 5,000ish miles and always end up changing it before the change oil light comes on. The 99 does have a little piston chatter now but it quits after a few seconds. Its @ 288,xxx miles on the odo. I daily drive it 100 miles a day and it gets 19-20 on the highway.
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[kenbob87]

i have an 02 1500 wit the 4.8l and it has 193,000 on it and i have had no problems with the engine other than a cracked flex plate, and like other said a little bit of piston rattle at cold start up which goes away after a couple seconds and i drive mine like a race car most of the time lol. and if memory serves me correctly the 4.8 is only like 15 or 20 hp anyway and i get between 17-21 mpg on the highway depending on how cold it is when it gets REALLY cold up here like -15 and lower my milage really suffers but i kinda doubt you will have any problems with that! lol

[Easyeight]

I must say mine is running fine...seems to have plenty of beans. Fuel economy?...not too bad really..considering this truck gets driven up and down dirt/mud roads...short hauls to town etc. I calculated it at 15.5 MPG last tank full. The 1997 K1500 Z71 this 2005 K1500 replaces got similiar mileage with a 5.7 engine(I gave the Z71 to my kid)

[GCncsuHD]

As for the mileage, that 4.8 isn't even nearly broken in, just like any other LS based truck motor they pretty much last forever. My brother sold his a few years back with just shy of 400k on it, still ran great, the truck itself was falling apart around the engine. The only real weak point is the 4l60e transmission, don't beat on it and it will survive fine though. As far as wear parts, the fuel pump and water pump are getting towards the end of their lives above 70k mi, but that's pretty normal with many vehicles, a little rattle is normal when they are cold, it's piston slap, won't hurt anything, be careful washing the engine bay, water tends to get caught under the intake and rot out the knock sensors, easy but tedious replacement, if it uses more than a quart of oil between changes, take a look at the PCV valve, your 2005 SHOULD have the updated orifice style, but there is a chance the PO replaced it with a parts store rattle style PCV valve, they were updated to the newer style to reduce oil consumption, makes a big difference.

As far as the transfer case, it is a NP261 for the floor shifted application.