GM Small-Block Family (Gen III)
This page is still under construction, and may not have complete information.
Table of Contents
LS Engines
LS1
Problems
Not Problems
- MY00-01: oil consumption above 4000 rpm is not a concern
Usage
- Chevrolet Camaro (Gen 4)
- Chevrolet Corvette (C5)
- Mosler MT900
- Pontiac Firebird (Gen 4)
- Pontiac GTO (Gen 4)
LS6
Problems
Certain Vehicles
- MY02-03: broken valve springs – these fail without warning, but are relatively simple and cheap to replace prior to failure compared to most engines, and they should be treated as a maintenance item
Usage
- Cadillac CTS-V (Gen 1)
- Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C5)
- SSC Ultimate Aero TT
Vortec 4800
LR4
Usage
- Chevrolet Express (Gen 1.5)
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (GMT800)
- Chevrolet Tahoe (GMT820)
- GMC Savana (Gen 1.5)
- GMC Sierra 1500 (GMT800)
- GMC Yukon (GMT820)
Vortec 5300
L33
Aluminum block version of the LM7 with pistons from the LR4 and “799” cylinder heads.
Usage
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4WD (GMT800)
- GMC Sierra 1500 4WD (GMT800)
L59
“Flex fuel” (E85-friendly) version of the LM7.
Usage
- Chevrolet Avalanche Z71 (Gen 1)
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (GMT800)
- Chevrolet Suburban (GMT830)
- Chevrolet Tahoe (GMT820)
- GMC Sierra 1500 (GMT800)
- GMC Yukon (GMT820)
- GMC Yukon XL (GMT830)
LM4
Aluminum-block version of the LM7.
Usage
- Buick Rainier
- Chevrolet SSR
- Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
- GMC Envoy XL (Gen 2)
- Isuzu Ascender
LM7
The “standard” Vortec 5300.
Usage
- Cadillac Escalade RWD (GMT820)
- Chevrolet Avalanche (GMT805)
- Chevrolet Express (Gen 1.5)
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (GMT800)
- Chevrolet Suburban (GMT830)
- Chevrolet Tahoe (GMT820)
- GMC Savana (Gen 1.5)
- GMC Sierra 1500 (GMT800)
- GMC Yukon (GMT820)
- GMC Yukon XL (GMT830)
Vortec 6000
LQ4
Usage
- Chevrolet Express (Gen 1.5)
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500HD, 2500HD, 3500HD (GMT880)
- Chevrolet Suburban (GMT830)
- GMC Savana (Gen 1.5)
- GMC Sierra 1500HD, 2500HD, 3500HD, C3, Denali (GMT800, GMT880)
- GMC Yukon Denali (GMT820)
- GMC Yukon XL Denali (GMT830)
- Hummer H2 SUT (GMT820)
LQ9 “VortecMAX”
Usage
- Cadillac Escalade (GMT820)
- Cadillac Escalade ESV (GMT830)
- Cadillac Escalade EXT (GMT806)
- Chevrolet Silverado SS, Vortec HO Edition, Performance Edition (GMT800)
- GMC Sierra VortecMAX, Performance Edition (GMT800)