Hi,

In 26 years of driving I've always been a Ford man with an occasional
Chrysler product tossed in here and there. I recently rolled my Ford Ranger
in the middle of MO. ( http://home.comcast.net/~jgibson1 ) While looking at
a Dodge dakota the other day I was about to leave when I saw a 2001 Medium
Charcoal Gray Chevy K1500 Silverado LS, 4WD, automatic trans, 4.8L Vortec
engine, 8000 LB towing capacity, extended cab, 4 door (the extended cab
doors open), and composite box, with bed liner and nice color matched cap.
For cheap.

My brother in law has a '98 K1500 with the Z1 package and only 73,000
miles. I asked him his likes and dislikes. His complaints were: DexCool
causing leaks and damaging head gaskets, rough, noisy shifting in and out of
4WD, and the 5500 LB towing capacity.

Will the truck I'm looking at, being 3 years newer and with a different
engine, also have these problems? Anything I should watch for besides the
normal/obvious? I'm especially concerned about the Dex Cool as I'm used to
the green stuff, not the orange.

Thanks
Jay

You can use green stuff AFAIK. If you keep it fresh too, it will be allot
happier.
The 4.3 has intake gasket problems - period. There are updated gaskets, so
if it's already had it done that's good. It may still be under
warranty(just)?
The 4.3L is a good engine otherwise, except in full-sized trucks. GM makes
spectacular vehicles, especially trucks, but this isn't a good combination.
Buy one with either a 305 or a 350 (there was like 10HP difference at that
point). Or if it's got the "new engines" (I don't think so) the 4.8L or the
5.3L are good choices. Not much difference between any of those four sizes,
they all haul just fine.
Also, just DON'T get a push-button 4x4 system. They work exactly as they are
designed, which is to look pretty and put a "4x4" sticker on the side of the
truck. Get one with a floor shifter.

GMC Gremlin

"Jay" <jgibson1 AT COM CAST . NOT> wrote

Inline....................

"GMC Gremlin" <death (AT) becomes (DOT) me> wrote

NO! Not unless he gets ALL of the old Dex out. And I mean ALL. This means
draining the radiator via the petcock AND pulling the block drains, then
filling with water, and repeating this cycle till it comes out clear. Then
the water can be drained and the green stuff put back in.

It's the 4.8L.

Not available in 2001. Just 4.8, 5.3 and 6.0

Nothing wrong with them. Just a matter of personal taste.

Doc

"Jay" <jgibson1 AT COM CAST . NOT> wrote

Jay,

Dex will mess the works up IF, and ONLY IF:

1) It's more than 50K miles old
2) Rad cap isn't working correct allowing air into the system
3) Rad isn't full due to #2 or empty reservoir.
4) Tap water is used to fill the rad (you must use distilled water).

That being said, if you use distilled water and change rad cap + coolant
every 50K you won't have any problems. The Dex doesn't "eat the head
gaskets." These trucks do not have any head gasket problems. The 98's and
older Vortec's (5.0 and 5.7) did have intake manifold gasket problems, but
this was a faulty gasket design and not the fault of Dex. The newer motors
(4.8, 5.3 and 6.0) do not have this problem.

Yours might be a piston slapper, but Ford and Toyota have just the same
issues with their newer motors as well. Do a google search and read up.

Doc

"GMC Gremlin" <death (AT) becomes (DOT) me> wrote

I'd have to disagree with you. Although some people have had a lot of
problems with their 4 x 4 switch or encoders etc. my 1999 K1500 goes in and
out of 4 wheel drive faster and smoother than a manual shift does. I've
never had any problems with mine at all.

Brian

""Doc"" <noway (AT) nope (DOT) com> wrote

So yes, you CAN USE IT. That's all I was saying.

Duh. Now I feel like a re-re....

Hmm, what year did that start? Because if I come to think about it my friend
has a 98 with the 4.8L.

Ya, the encoder motor dies, etc. No motor if you use yer arm.
IIRC the electronic T-case also uses clutch packs like an auto tranny, while
the stick shift is either an all-gear or gear/chain transfer case.

GMC Gremlin

""Doc"" <noway (AT) nope (DOT) com> wrote

Actually, we got the new engines with the new body styles...1999
H

"Hairy" <hairy411 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote


Depends on which body style you got in 1999. Mine is an early (looks like a
1998) and considered a K1500 so it has the 5.7 liter motor. The late 1999
trucks (new body style) were all Silverado's and came with the new 4.8 liter
and 5.3 liter motors.

Brian

"el Diablo" <nomail (AT) spam (DOT) not> wrote

It doesn't "depend" on anything. The new engines came out in 1999 with the
new body style.
H

"Hairy" <hairy411 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote

Blah Blah Blah