At Stallons Auto in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, we sell many GM trucks with this engine, so knowing more about it will help you make a better buying decision. Coming to Stallons Auto is a better buying decision, too. We’re family-owned. It’s our family helping your family, and this makes all the difference. Because our customers trust us, they refer their family and friends to us. We’re confident you will, too.

The Family of GM EcoTec3 Engines

The GM EcoTec3 5.3L V8 is part of GM’s family of EcoTec3 engines. This all-aluminum block and head engine-line consist of a smaller 4.3L V6, the 5.3L V8, and a larger 6.2L V8. The aim of this GM family of engines is to provide GM truck owners the greatest engine horsepower and torque over a wide variety of truck work situations and demands while providing the highest possible fuel economy. You'll find these engines in the 2014-2019 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierras. GM balances power with fuel efficiency with a mixture of high-tech engine design and testing.

   

GM Spends 10 million Hours Designing Its 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 Engine

GM’s Small-Block chief engineer and program manager, Jordan Lee reports that GM has over 10 million hours of computation CPU design time invested in the 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine, with 6 million of those hours devoted to the advanced combustion system design alone. And over 100 different trials were modeled to bring the best combination of combustion chamber design (size, shape and piston head form), direct fuel injection, active fuel management (cylinder deactivation) and variable valve timing (VVT).

5.3L EcoTec3 V8 Engine’s Combustion Chamber Design Saves Gas

The combustion chamber is where the gasoline is ignited to drive the piston to power the engine. Design is critical to achieving the highest power and lowest fuel use. In the 5.3L EcoTec3 engine, GM has reshaped and decreased the size of the combustion chamber and optimized the contours of the piston head, which boosts power and fuel efficiency. This direct fuel injection technology burns the gasoline more completely, so no gas is wasted, producing higher horsepower and torque.

Active Fuel Management on the 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 Engine

Active Fuel Management (AFM) deactivates piston cylinders that receive fuel when the engine is under a light load. When driving to or from a worksite with nothing in the pickup bed, full power is not needed. AFM will deactivate four of the cylinders, effectively making the engine operate as a V4. This saves many gallons of gas that would otherwise be consumed, driving pistons that need not be used. This allows the 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 to achieve a Best in Class fuel efficiency rating of 16 MPG driving in the city and 23 MPG on the highway. This is done while generating 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. And you can use E85 flex-fuel in this engine, too.

5.3L EcoTec3 V8 Engine Uses Variable Valve Timing

Continuously Variable Valve Timing allows the 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 to produce high horsepower and torque over a wide portion of the engine’s operating speed while saving fuel. This is done by changing when the engine valves open and close. Variable valve timing optimizes gasoline combustion for greater power using less fuel. 

GM has designed the 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine with you in mind. Giving you maximum horsepower and torque when needed and the Best in Class fuel efficiency saves you money. Schedule a test drive with us at Stallons Auto in Hopkinsville, Kentucky to see just how well the GM EcoTec3 5.3L V8 performs in a variety of real-world scenarios.

A few years ago, pickup trucks were a family’s second vehicle. Today, the pickup truck has emerged as the go-to option with enough space to carry your family, drive to work, tow a trailer, trek to your favorite campsite, or haul a load. Simply put, the pickup truck is the most popular vehicle in the United States and here are a few reasons why.

No One-Size-Fits-All Truck Solutions – Variety of Cabin Sizes
In life, there are hardly ever any one-size-fits-all solutions. What works for one person or family may not work for the next. As a result, the versatility in truck offerings makes them a viable solution for virtually any family. For instance, you can choose a smaller, mid-size truck like the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, or GMC Canyon for a more efficient experience. 

However, the most popular class of trucks are the light-duty, full-size trucks, such as Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ram 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Toyota Tundra, or Nissan Titan. Within this segment, you can choose from several cabin configurations — ranging from the single-cab to the largest crew cab truck that boasts the same (if not more) interior space as some full-size SUVs. Best of all, regardless of the cabin configuration you choose, you’ll enjoy the power to tow and handle whatever life throws at you.

This Isn’t Your Granddaddy’s Stripped Down Truck

Think of everything you love about a luxury vehicle like premium leather, cutting-edge technology, world-class safety features, etc. While the pickup trucks of yore were offered in a couple of trims — bare and not as bare — today’s modern truck comes equipped with any and everything your heart could desire. 

For instance, the Ram pickup truck boasts more high-grain leather and real wood than any other truck in the segment, while Chevrolet and Ford trucks offer advanced infotainment systems and even 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspots. On the other hand, Toyotas and Honda trucks each feature a comprehensive safety suite with some of the most advanced driver-assistive features available on the market!

Trucks Are the Do-It-All, Handle-Anything-While-Looking-Good Choice

All it takes for you to have an armoire or couch that needs to be moved from Point A to Point B for you to realize how much you’d benefit from owning a truck! In the end, there are countless applications and situations where a truck is just a better vehicle. This outstanding versatility is another reason why pickup trucks are so popular in the U.S.

 

Are You Looking to Robert Frost It…on a Road Less Traveled?

If you dream of crushing rocks, dominating trails, and slinging mud; then a pickup truck may be your best solution! While the Jeep Wrangler is an option, it doesn’t offer the interior space or on-road performance of a pickup truck. Simply put, the best off-road pickup trucks will give you the capability to go where other vehicles wouldn’t dream, the ability to use the tailgate for cargo, and the ground clearance to help you avoid frame impacts.

 

Contact Stallons Auto Sales for the Best Used Trucks for Sale

If you’re looking for the best deal on a used or pre-owned truck, Stallons Auto Sales will meet your needs and exceed your expectations at every turn. Contact us today for the best-used trucks for sale in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

Way up.   

There are a variety of factors causing truck prices to rise. At Stallons Auto in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, we have a tried and true strategy to keep our truck prices lower, so we outperform our competition. We are passionate about providing cars and trucks that have much more value than other dealerships.  

Factors Driving Up Pre-Owned Truck Prices

The main factor driving pre-owned truck prices so high is that more people are buying them. A decently outfitted new work truck averaged $48,369 in 2018. Just 10 years ago in 2008, the average price for a new work truck was $32,694. That’s a difference of $15,675 and a 48% increase. It's easy to see why pre-owned trucks are a much better option. But when so many people are opting for pre-owned trucks over new, the higher demand for pre-owned trucks draws down their supply. And therefore, their prices rise. It’s really just basic economics.  

New Truck Prices Have Skyrocketed, Affecting Pre-Owned Truck Prices

And, the new trucks today are more plush. With leather seats, all the wiz-bang, high-tech gadgetry, and the countless driver-assist and safety features that all new trucks now possess, prices simply skyrocket into the upper stratosphere on their way to the moon.   

Some new full-size pickup trucks can cost more than $100,000.   

Sheesh!   

Because new trucks are so high priced, when these trucks get traded in, their pre-owned truck sale price will naturally be higher. Trucks have historically had better resale value than cars. And, trucks outfitted with all the bells and whistles hold their value even better. More options, better trim levels, and more powerful drivetrains simply sell for more because they are better vehicles.  

Truck Trade-Ins Keep Pre-Owned Truck Supply Down

But truck owners aren’t trading their trucks in. They see the high price of new trucks and decide to keep and refresh their truck, rather than buying a new one that costs as much as a house, in some cases. This further keeps the supply of pre-owned trucks low, which forces pre-owned truck prices higher.   

Late Model, Low Mileage Pre-Owned Trucks Highest Priced

So, which pre-owned truck prices seem to be rising the most? Late-model and low mileage trucks have seen a dramatic increase lately. This is because they are the ones most like the new trucks we just spoke of in the paragraphs above. If business owners and families cannot afford the astronomical prices of a brand new truck, they will automatically defer to the truck that is closest to new.   

You can see the reasons the price of pre-owned trucks are so high: the high price of new trucks and the lower supply of pre-owned trucks. Higher prices for new trucks push more buyers to purchase pre-owned trucks, increasing prices due to higher demand. Because new trucks are more expensive, traded-in pre-owned truck prices will naturally be higher. And since new truck prices are so high, more and more truck owners are deciding to keep their trucks long, decreasing the supply of pre-owned trucks, which, you guessed it, drives pre-owned truck prices higher.  

   

Stallons Auto in Hopkinsville, Kentucky Beats Pre-Owned Truck Prices Down!

Who you buy from can be just as important as what you buy. This is especially true buying a pre-owned truck today. You don’t need to wonder whether you got the best deal. At Stallons Auto in Hopkinsville, Kentucky you can rest easy when you buy from us. Our years in the automobile business have made us experts in keeping prices down, so the value of our vehicles is second to none. Simply put, no one can match our prices.   

Contact us to test drive a truck that won’t drive you to the poorhouse. Or just stop in.   

We can’t wait to see you.