Your opinion of the 4.3L 6cyl

biggerred · May 13, 2013

What do you think of the 4.3L 6cyl found in the chevy S10's?

Anonymous-0 · May 13, 2013

have a 2002 Blazer with the 4.3 Vortec - 125k been real good.

Tom in Mo. · May 13, 2013

It ranks right up there with the 350 v8. Terrific torque for a v/six .

Old-F20 · May 13, 2013

its just a 350 with two cylinders chopped off

Anonymous-0 · May 13, 2013

272,000 on my 1988 Chevy Astro daily driver. I guess it's not too bad!

I know I have jump started many 1-2 year old vehicles in the parking lot at work.

Glenn

Anonymous-0 · May 13, 2013

The best and really reliable.

johnlobb · May 13, 2013

Its probably the best most reliable engine GM ever built in my opinion. I had 2 Astros and never a problem with over 260K out of each one. Plus 27 mpg out of the last one.

todd hamilton · May 13, 2013

had four of them over the years in mini vans used for service business, never had a manifold or head off of any of them, all ran over 100K miles, two of the 175K miles, never used oil

Anonymous-0 · May 13, 2013

I've got mixed feelings about the 4.3. I've heard that you either get a good one, or a bad one. The one in my 1996 Chevy Silverado didn't even quite make 100K before it developed problems. Ended up buying a rebuilt 4.3 from Advance Auto, and paid a professional garage to change it out. That rebuilt engine went 400 miles before it developed a serious knock and had to be pulled. So... technically my truck is now on it's 3rd 4.3 V6. No, I don't beat on my truck and the oil is kept changed. I've just had bad luck with them. The power is good for a V6, but the gas mileage isn't very good.

My parents have got an older 1998 GMC Envoy, and that one is still going with over 220K miles on it. They just had to replace the intake manifold gasket, but other than that, it's been relatively trouble free other than the usual items that wear out, such as the water pump and alternator.

Pair-a-dice farm · May 13, 2013

I've got 2 of them, One is in a s10 blazer and the other is in a 1/2 ton. Both have been pretty good but in the 1/2 ton I've replaced the intake gasket, flywheel and 3 starters in 140K. The blazer has 178K and needs a front main seal but no other problems. They are pretty good engines in sub standard trucks imo

DaveK(IN) · May 13, 2013

I just replaced a 93 half ton with that engine that had over 300K, didn"t burn any oil and never had any engine work except for a water pump and a couple of alternators. The 83 before that one had 250K also with no major engine work. I"ve been pretty satisified with that engine.

Ronald Anderson · May 13, 2013

I have a 95 S-10 with the 4.3 HO with the crab injection system. That injection system will fail about 125,000 miles and need to be replaced. I have 275,000 miles on it and had to replace the starter once and that crab system twice. otherwise it goes about 2500 then down a quart of oil, Reverse is going on the tranny so either find a used one or rebuild time. Getting a little rust but it has had some rough use. The transfer case leaks some fluid into the transmission which is commom. I understand they will make 325,000 before they are done. I would get another one.

farmer boy · May 13, 2013

I think for the the earliest ones(pre-90's) had some problems but after that they were great. Had 2 94 Safari's that made it to 350,000km+, and would have gone a bit longer, but the body was gone.'96 got CFSI and '02 got upgraded MPFI fuel system. (basically new injectors) the early spider injectors(CFSI) would clog and cause cylinder flooding and poor mileage. '96+, like all Vortecs, have fuel pump issues, so reliability is reduced compared to pre '96. '96+ also have lower intake manifold gasket that need replacing occasionally. Parts aren't that expensive, around $50, but labour will be $300ish. You want to get this taken care of, because there's only 3 places for the coolant to go, and one of those places is the crankcase.

Rick Kr · May 13, 2013

Have had nothing but great luck with every one I have been around. As good as the 350 chevy. IIRC it uses the same rods. It is a 350 with two cylinders lopped off.

Rick

AndrewFromNS · May 13, 2013

Depends what its in. Generally a good motor, especially in a small S10 or blazer. Underpowered slightly in a silverado or cargo van (especially the 3/4 ton cargos). Ive had three 4.3 vortec powered blazers, and they were great. Decent on fuel for a small truck/4wd, but powerful enough and well enough equipped to be an enjoyable motor in front of a GM slushbox.

AndrewFromNS · May 13, 2013

Depends what its in. Generally a good motor, especially in a small S10 or blazer. Underpowered slightly in a silverado or cargo van (especially the 3/4 ton cargos). Ive had three 4.3 vortec powered blazers, and they were great. Decent on fuel for a small truck/4wd, but powerful enough and well enough equipped to be an enjoyable motor in front of a GM slushbox.

cumminspuller · May 14, 2013

I had a 2000 model 2wd S10 with a 4.3 in it. Great motor for a little truck. I drive 45 miles to work every day. It averaged 23-25 most of the time. Daily driving is about 15 mile of interstae out of taht 45 and the rest is back roads. I bought it with 91k miles and drove it until it had 146k on it. I put a fuel pump and tires on it and that was it. Only reason for not still have it was I totalled it in January and went back to a 3/4 ton truck every day.

patiolant · May 14, 2013

Have had two Astro vans with the 4.3, well over 200K each, and never a problem. Also have an 02 S10 and a 04 Blazer with the 4.3. No major issues, but the rear main is starting to leak on the S10 after 100K. The bigger issue with the Blazers and S10 in the early 2000"s is the ridiculous number of oil cooler line leaks (replace every 2-3 years, and various axle seals (front and rear) that are always starting to leak. Fixes aren"t that difficult, but a PITA.

mkirsch · May 14, 2013

Had a 1997 Cheyenne C1500 with the 4.3 and 5-speed stick.

Shortly after I took delivery it developed a slight "buck" every once in a while, like a misfire. You could just barely feel it in the seat of your pants.

I took it back, "can't reproduce the problem." Got in the truck and buck... buck... buck...

Finally the check engine light came on. They replaced cap, rotor, plugs, wires. It ran smooth for about 5 miles then buck... buck... buck... Didn't bother taking it back.

A year later, check engine light again. Again replaced cap, rotor, plugs, wires. It ran smooth for 5 miles, then buck... buck... buck...

Long story short, it left me on the side of the road 3 times. Two ignition coils and then two fuel injectors quit firing altogether.

6.5 years and 96000 miles, I'd had enough. I bought my 2003 with the 4.8L V8 in it and haven't looked back.

dej(Jed) · May 14, 2013

(quoted from post at 17:42:24 05/13/13) What do you think of the 4.3L 6cyl found in the chevy S10's?

MPG is terrible.

Fullers Farmalls · May 14, 2013

Often hear of head gasket problems. And if it has dex cool drain and replace it about every 2 years and NEVER mix green with it. Been there done that. Guy at the local garage did it on accident, needless to say I need a radiator boiled, or a new one. I also have the problem mkirsh described. Mine is sitting at a shop now. I have an 03 s-10 crew cab. Has 113000 miles one it and started what he said. Its also awful on gas. around 14.5-16.5 mpg and I check mine on every tank I run through it.

T in NE · May 14, 2013

I had one in an 06 4x4 half-ton, good motor. With 3.73s and automatic I could run tow mode, keep it about 60-65, and get 21-22 MPG all day long. One tank got just shy of 24.

Seems to me the 350 uses a small bore and long stroke, which is good for torque production, so with that carried over to the 4.3, yes, it pulls a lot harder than you would think. It would run circles around the 318 Dodge I traded in on it, stop faster, and get half again the gas mileage doing it.

BAnNC · May 14, 2013

I have a 91 S10 pickup with 4.3 w/throttle body injection and 160,000 miles. You can pull anything with it, gets 22-24mpg, and will burn the rears OFF.

Also,98 S10 Blazer w/268,000miles. Gets a little less mileage but is dragging 4WD and heavier body. Hope to keep both til they are worn to nothing.

Texasmark1 · May 15, 2013

I had an '89 Jeep Cherokee with a 4.0 L inline 6. They said it replaced the GM 4.3 that the series previously used. Hmmmmmm?

Mark

dej(Jed) · May 15, 2013

(quoted from post at 18:40:43 05/14/13) I had one in an 06 4x4 half-ton, good motor. With 3.73s and automatic I could run tow mode, keep it about 60-65, and get 21-22 MPG all day long. One tank got just shy of 24.

Seems to me the 350 uses a small bore and long stroke, which is good for torque production, so with that carried over to the 4.3, yes, it pulls a lot harder than you would think. It would run circles around the 318 Dodge I traded in on it, stop faster, and get half again the gas mileage doing it.

Stop faster???? How does the 4.3 help with stopping??????????

T in NE · May 15, 2013

Just some observations about the truck vs the one I traded off to get it.

Only complaint is that it ate a front wheel bearing at around 42-43,000 miles. Most weight it ever saw in the box was about 700-750 pounds.

The little motor didn"t help with stopping the day I went and bought a trailer brake controller. Guy pulled across in front of me pulling a trailer like he was the only one around. Front tires squealing on my way by his door, trailer still covering half my lane, looks at me like "what"s you"re ********* problem?!??".

Your opinion of the 4.3L 6cyl

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads