Engine replacement . Ecoboost and GM 5.3

All my vehicles are paid off so doing a motor just makes sense over dropping all that cash on a newer one.

tchil wrote:

librty02 wrote:

MARK VANDERBENT wrote:
Have 330,000 on my 2009 suburban 5.3 . Pricing out New motor for the future . Can get New motor installed for around 6500. My mechanic had a 2012 f150 he was replacing ecoboost motor on, and he told me that motor replacement was 11,500 with new turbos . Was thinking that was crazy expensive! Is that really a realistic price for replacing those motors?

Seems like way too much considering a new 3.5 from Ford themselves is 4500 and new turbos from ford are 400 a piece. And there are many other places you can get these parts new a bit cheaper. That's ALOT of labor charge. That is also considering Ford dealers charge 10k for a newly installed 6.7 diesel in the Superduty and that includes turbos too.

The 10K for a 6.7 must be just the labor charge. They run about 27K with the motor included. The 6.4 was 21K installed. I just got a quote this summer for one of those.

Well the 10k is for the engine itself most 6.7 replacements Ive seen run anywhere from 12 to 15k labor included

Fordlover wrote:
The last 10 or 20 years (or longer), just about any engine should run 250K+ miles with proper care. The reality is typically by the time the engine gives up the ghost, the rest of the vehicle is pretty worn out.

Yep - I have 180k on my Avalanche. The 5.3 and the rest of the powertrain is rock solid. If I lived where there was no snow and road salt I'd replace the engine if it were to go bad. But, the body is rotting through in the usual places, can't tow with it anymore because there's nothing left of the receiver or where it mounts to the frame, front stabilizer bar mount is torn loose from the frame (common on these as they rust), air suspension is toast because everything that holds the air pump in place is gone, I had to rewire the tail lights because the part of the frame where the ground was attached rotted away...I could go on and on. It's a shame because the interior is perfect, too. The body and frame just didn't hold up. I keep it around for snowy days and truck-type chores. If/when the 5.3 quits it's going to the scrapyard - that is if it doesn't fall apart first.

I would think with the EcoBoost there would be additional labor for any trash that went through the the turbos. I know the price includes turbos. But they're just part of it. What about inter cooler, plumbing,etc? You can't just throw stuff back on after an engine failure when there's debris.

Get a second opinion. Just had a 5.3 replaced at the dealer for half what you were quoted.

librty02 wrote:

MARK VANDERBENT wrote:
Have 330,000 on my 2009 suburban 5.3 . Pricing out New motor for the future . Can get New motor installed for around 6500. My mechanic had a 2012 f150 he was replacing ecoboost motor on, and he told me that motor replacement was 11,500 with new turbos . Was thinking that was crazy expensive! Is that really a realistic price for replacing those motors?

Seems like way too much considering a new 3.5 from Ford themselves is 4500 and new turbos from ford are 400 a piece. And there are many other places you can get these parts new a bit cheaper. That's ALOT of labor charge. That is also considering Ford dealers charge 10k for a newly installed 6.7 diesel in the Superduty and that includes turbos too.

The 10K for a 6.7 must be just the labor charge. They run about 27K with the motor included. The 6.4 was 21K installed. I just got a quote this summer for one of those.

My opinion is that, he is very high on both quotes. Giving you the outrageous price on the echo-boost, makes the “raping” with the 5.3, seem like a good deal!

The last 10 or 20 years (or longer), just about any engine should run 250K+ miles with proper care. The reality is typically by the time the engine gives up the ghost, the rest of the vehicle is pretty worn out. I never consider the cost of an engine replacement with a gas vehicle purchase, I simply have no interest driving a vehicle with >200K miles.

My neighbor ran into this on his Honda Accord, at about 200K the motor went (15K mile oil change interval) and he considered replacing it, but then what's next, A/C?, Transmi$$ion? He sold as is and bought something with less miles.

There are a couple of complete 3.5 ecoboost engines on Ebay for $4,500 or less and a few companies on the internet advertising new engines with guarantees but you have to call for prices and give them the specifics. I was really kind of surprised how little turned up when I Googled "3.5 ecoboost replacement".

Hmmm, a basic push rod, port injected, gen IV 5.3L with a narrow band VVT making 315hp/338lb-ft for $6,500.

VS

A direct injected, turbocharged, gen I 3.5L with a wide band cam phasers making 365hp/420lb-ft for $11,500.

Both estimates seem fairly high, but there is not doubt that an older gen IV LS 5.3L should cost less than a 3.5L Ecoboost. For one it has less tech, and for two there are so many out there that you have multiple rebuilders selling them bringing the cost down. Quote a modern direct injected 5.3L to an Ecoboost and the difference will probably be a lot closer.

Just be sure he is quoting you the right 5.3L. Many of those lower priced 5.3L's on Jegs that some of these people are talking about are not the same gen IV engine you have.