2004 Chevrolet Silverado Z71

[RollingsFarms]

just curious how many owners of these there are on here. figured i'd ask some "free" questions about proper maintinance for long life. ive had my truck for a little over 3 years(bought new in March '04) and have 42,600 miles so far. only problems were replacing guages(speedometer failure) and a few other minor details, all covered by warranty. i am very happy with the truck, and i hope to make it last for many many years and miles to come. any tips or suggestions to make this happen?

 

[8561]

I have an '03 GMC Sierra Z71 with about 53,000 on it. It's been pretty decent. I tow mine a fair amount so I change the transmission fluid/filter every 25-30K mikes. In case you haven't done it yet, the clunking noise you hear in your steering wheel is an intermediate steering shaft. Some can be lubed, others need to be replaced.

 

[RollingsFarms]

i like the GMC's. when i was shopping, i had it narrowed down to the truck i have now, and a GMC that was identical to my truck. i just couldnt justify or talk myself into spending the extra $$$ for basically the same truck with a different frond end and name on the front. are there any true differences between the two other than appearance? i havent heard a clunking noise in my steering column, nor do i have any "road noise" coming from the window seals as ive heard many people mention. maybe im lucky and got a truck that was made on a Wednesday?lol ill be sure to listen for rattles and squeaks though, thanks for the heads up. the only problems ive encountered were the guages failing at 36,000, and the pedals developing surface rust at 19,000 miles. i change my fuel filter every 30,000 miles, use Mobil 1 synthetic(the one for 4x4 trucks and hard use).

 

[8561]

If you haven't done a steering shaft at 42,000 on an '04, you're one of the very few. You'll hear and feel a clunking in the column. If my memory serves, it has something to do with the routing of the exhaust that causes additional heat and negatively impacts the greasing in the column.

As far as differences Chevy to GMC, I'm not aware of significant differences that aren't appearance based. I went with the Envoy over the Trailblazer for my wife, and I believe they are mostly cosmetic as well. The real reason on the Envoy was because it was the only one in '05 that I could find with the 5.3 V8 during the employee pricing days. Dealer had to go two states away to trade for an Envoy with a V8 for me.

 

[Chuck_Lind]

Have a 2005 Silverado Z-71 with the 310hp engine, tow package, 4WD, 4:10 rear-end, etc.

Great truck...love it!! I've towed over 7000 lbs. 500+ miles and it was easy.

I get around 18-20 on the highway driving 60 mph or so. In towing...around 12-14 mpg.

Only have 14,000+ miles on it so far; plan on keeping it for a long time.

 

[8561]

I can't figure out why I don't get better mileage with mine. Mine is the 5.3 V8 ext cab with a 3.73 rear end and I get 16, maybe 17 with it. I live a couple miles from the Interstate and I do push 75 most of the time, so that's probably why. I tow a 23' hybrid camper in the summer that runs over 6000 lbs loaded and the mileage drops down to 10 or 11.

My wife's Envoy V8 has the 3.42 rear end as well as Displacement on Demand and I get 17-18 with that.

 

[RollingsFarms]

I can't figure out why I don't get better mileage with mine. Mine is the 5.3 V8 ext cab with a 3.73 rear end and I get 16, maybe 17 with it. I live a couple miles from the Interstate and I do push 75 most of the time, so that's probably why. I tow a 23' hybrid camper in the summer that runs over 6000 lbs loaded and the mileage drops down to 10 or 11.

My wife's Envoy V8 has the 3.42 rear end as well as Displacement on Demand and I get 17-18 with that.

i'm in the same boat as you...i generally get 16-17mpg around town. i one of the main reasons i bought an '04 instead of waiting for the 05's was because of the 3:73 rear end. thats the smallest id ever have in a truck since i do some towing around the farm. 4:10 would suit me better, but they are hard to find and i didnt have time to specifically order a truck, and couldnt find one that i liked that had the 4:10 in it.

 

[George2615]

Quote by 8561:
I can't figure out why I don't get better mileage with mine. Mine is the 5.3 V8 ext cab with a 3.73 rear end and I get 16, maybe 17 with it. I live a couple miles from the Interstate and I do push 75 most of the time, so that's probably why. I tow a 23' hybrid camper in the summer that runs over 6000 lbs loaded and the mileage drops down to 10 or 11.


I had an 02 1/2 ton EC 4x4 with locking diff, (but not a Z71)3.73 and 4.8 engine. Best I got not towing was 15.5 MPG and about 8 MPG towing 6500#. Traded it in for an 05 3/4T EC 4x4 Duramax / Allison and now at 27K I'm averaging 20 MPG empty and 14-15 towing

 

[jayhaitch]

So then explain why my '01 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer, 5.4 Triton, 3.55 rearend with all synthetic fluids in the driveline only makes 16-18 US mpg hwy and 11-13 pure city? GM's do seem to make better mileage than Fords or Dodge's. I think my rather lousy fuel consumption must be due the pseudo-AWD feature. There is no pure 2wd. When in 2wd, it's actually always spinning the transfer case gears by my understanding, and if the ECM notes rear wheel slippage, it activates a solenoid that locks up the front wheel for quick 4wd. It does work well, but I assume the extra driveline losses with this configuration is why the mileage isn't better.

I'm getting about 12 mpg towing my tandem utility trailer with OD off.

I can hardly wait till the Big 3 wise up and make a torquey mid size 6 cylinder diesel for half ton pickups/full size SUV's.

If Mercedes can make a 388 ft lb 6 cylinder diesel sedan that's faster than the gas powered model, come on Big 3, more diesels!

PS: Chuck Linds's 310 hp 4.10 geared fuel consumption makes me want his truck

George2615's mileage shows underpowering a vehicle can actually increase fuel consumption. Stomping on the gas all the time to keep it moving also uses fuel. More power Scotty!

 

[George2615]

So then explain why my '01 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer, 5.4 Triton, 3.55 rearend with all synthetic fluids in the driveline only makes 16-18 US mpg hwy and 11-13 pure city? GM's do seem to make better mileage than Fords or Dodge's. I think my rather lousy fuel consumption must be due the pseudo-AWD feature. There is no pure 2wd. When in 2wd, it's actually always spinning the transfer case gears by my understanding, and if the ECM notes rear wheel slippage, it activates a solenoid that locks up the front wheel for quick 4wd. It does work well, but I assume the extra driveline losses with this configuration is why the mileage isn't better.

I'm getting about 12 mpg towing my tandem utility trailer with OD off.

I can hardly wait till the Big 3 wise up and make a torquey mid size 6 cylinder diesel for half ton pickups/full size SUV's.

If Mercedes can make a 388 ft lb 6 cylinder diesel sedan that's faster than the gas powered model, come on Big 3, more diesels!

PS: Chuck Linds's 310 hp 4.10 geared fuel consumption makes me want his truck

George2615's mileage shows underpowering a vehicle can actually increase fuel consumption. Stomping on the gas all the time to keep it moving also uses fuel. More power Scotty!

That was what I thought when I originally bought the 02. A small V-8 with 3.73 gears rated to tow 8500# would get better mileage than a bigger engine. Boy, was I wrong. That engine surely had to work harder and got less MPG.

 

[8561]

I would absolutely love to own a Max and Allie 3/4 ton. I just can't (won't) give them the additional money for the diesel. The premium they charge to go diesel makes absolutely no sense at all to me.

 

[jsborn]

If you haven't done a steering shaft at 42,000 on an '04, you're one of the very few. You'll hear and feel a clunking in the column. If my memory serves, it has something to do with the routing of the exhaust that causes additional heat and negatively impacts the greasing in the column.

Can you tell me more about this problem my 05 Silverado has the bumping column .. is there a way the owner can lube it or does it have to be replaced?

 

[john_bud]

I used to have a 2000 silverado and it had the column bump. I think that by 2003-4 the issue was corrected. There may even be a grease zerk on the column.

By the way, the 5.3l ext cab auto trans short box with a bed cover and 3.73 gears got 16.08 lifetime mpg, a high of 20.3 mpg going fuel stop to fuel stop at 60.0 mph windows up no A/C or heat and a low of 8.6 mpg towing a loaded 10k trailer (8500# total load). Towing that load was usually in the 9-10 mpg range at 65 mph. 6 of 112 fillups had 19 mpg or better and 28 or 112 had 15 mpg or worse.

I have to say my "skeptical button" has been tripped that a similar truck with more HP, lower gears and higher weight would get better milage. I've traveled in convoy with people who claimed better milage than me and watched as they put in more gallons at every stop....

jb

 

[whodat90]

I'd be thrilled to get 15mpg. I've got a 2k1 GMC Yukon XL 2500 with the 8.1L V8 gasser. 11mpg normal, 8 towing and as high as 14 or 15 once when doing hundreds of miles of 55-65mph interstate on cruise control. Love the engine though.

 

[8561]

Pretty detailed fuel mileage info John. My '03 sounds identical to yours, including the bed cover and the approximate MPG. The issue on the steering shaft was still alive and well in '03 and '04.

My understanding of the issue (and I may be corrected on this) is that the exhaust routing on these vintage GM trucks heats and thins the grease in the intermediate steering shaft area, causing the clunking you hear. GM will provide a lube kit to re-grease the shaft, but some need replacement. I have a good relationship with my dealer, they replaced the shaft, even though the truck was a little past warranty. My clunking wasn't that bad, but I was aware of the issue before mine started from others, and I was prepared for it.

From what I have seen from others on other message boards, the re-lube job isn't too bad if you're a mechanical guy. I've turned a few wrenches in my day, but since my dealer covered it under warranty, I never even bothered to get under to see how big a job it would be.

 

[8561]

By the way Jack, if your Silverado is an '05, I'd run it back to the dealer ASAP. Even if you're over on mileage, this is a known GM problem, and I bet they'll pick up the cost on warranty.

 

[1bush2hog]

If you haven't done a steering shaft at 42,000 on an '04, you're one of the very few. You'll hear and feel a clunking in the column. If my memory serves, it has something to do with the routing of the exhaust that causes additional heat and negatively impacts the greasing in the column.

Can you tell me more about this problem my 05 Silverado has the bumping column .. is there a way the owner can lube it or does it have to be replaced?

The intermediate shaft problem is well known and documented. You should have no problem getting your 04 or 05 trucks fixed for free by the dealer.

Like someone else said the fix initially was relubricating the shaft, but I have heard they are replacing them now. In fact on my 2003 1500HD I have had my truck in 3 times for this issue. Supposedly they replaced the shaft the last time it was in - time will tell.

If you do decide to fix it yourself, the fix is not too difficult. Check out some of the Chevy truck forums and do a search on this subject and you will have plenty to read. Below are a couple of links

FULLSIZEforums - Chevy Truck

www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?http://www.gm-trucks.com/.

 

[dknarnd]

Couple months ago I picked up a 2004 Crew with th 5.3l and only 18,000 miles on it. Now I have about 22,000 miles and the warranty runs out in August, is this a recall or just if you take it in they fix it? Since I won't see 40,000 miles for another year what do you think is the best thing to do?

 

[8561]

To my knowledge, its not a recall. Recalls are expensive and they avoid them if they can. However, it seems as though they are acknowledging the issue and being fairly generous with the repairs. That said, I don't think they'll perform a repair unless there is actually an issue. Depending on your dealer, they've done so many of them, they might either lube or replace it without checking for the noise if you bring it in and say its doing it. Your call.

 

[CDsdad]

I traded an '03 Tahoe for an '05 Tahoe. The '03 had the steering shaft problem, so far none with the '05. Warranty ran out last month on the '05, but I was assured by the local dealer if I had any problem with the steering it would be taken care of. I guess they figure better to acknowledge and fix than recall.

I also have a '97 Z71 with the prior 5.7 L in it. Love it, runs like a top at 107k miles. My highway and towing mileage is better than what the newer trucks are seeing. I get 18-19 highway and a little over 15 towing a 5000# boat. Dealer is dying for me to trade it, he's making a killing on the older body style on his used lot.