2002 Chevy S-10 V6 question

GeneV · Nov 3, 2019

I had a 2001 for a few years, a few years ago. Nice little truck overall, served me well. Horrible gas mileage though, I think I averaged like 14 mpg if that.

Mine had the "chevy lean" which is fairly common for this truck. These take dexcool coolant, from what I remember it becomes a problem if you start topping off with regular antifreeze, head gasket leaks or something...I know it's a big no-no to mix them.

Rebeldad1 · Nov 4, 2019

I serviced a lot of 4.3ltr vehicles mostly Astro vans. All in all they were very dependable.
If I had top choose which 4.3ltr it would be the vin Z motor (TBI) over the vin W motor (Vortec "spider" injection)
The Z motor was more reliable.
In my opinion mileage was poor 14-17 mpg.

If I were to choose a older 4X4 vehicle for my kids....
Dependable all around with everyone using it would be a Toyota 4Runner. Very dependable and lots of them around.
or
Just the kids vehicle would be a Jeep Wrangler again very dependable.

I bought my daughter a Wrangler when she was 16. at 18 she worked at Starbucks till late at night. no matter the weather she always made it home. Plus the boys at school were impressed.

arkydog · Nov 20, 2019

Rebeldad1 said:
I serviced a lot of 4.3ltr vehicles mostly Astro vans. All in all they were very dependable.
If I had top choose which 4.3ltr it would be the vin Z motor (TBI) over the vin W motor (Vortec "spider" injection)
The Z motor was more reliable.
In my opinion mileage was poor 14-17 mpg.

If I were to choose a older 4X4 vehicle for my kids....
Dependable all around with everyone using it would be a Toyota 4Runner. Very dependable and lots of them around.
or
Just the kids vehicle would be a Jeep Wrangler again very dependable.

I bought my daughter a Wrangler when she was 16. at 18 she worked at Starbucks till late at night. no matter the weather she always made it home. Plus the boys at school were impressed.

also the z motor had 10 more horse power than the w motor. zoom, zoom!!!!

kenmac · Nov 20, 2019

my son had one. it was a Z something not Z71 his was 4wd. Only thing we had to do was install ball joints in the front end.
He drove it for many years. got married and needed a true 4 door as the S10 was 1/2 door on the rear

Sigarms · Nov 21, 2019

Not that it matters, but the S-10 was sold before I could look at (really wanted to have it gone over becuause the price of $2,500 seemed reasonable). Ended up with a pretty much mint 4 door 2001 Honda accord, only one owner, 96k on it that was traded in by a very nice older woman for $1,900 more than the S-10. Not a truck, but I already have one, it will fit the bill for it's intended use and I'll probably keep it running longer than the chevy I missed out on.

Had to laugh... yesterday took the one boy to the orthodontist yesterday morning, and as we were getting out, he saw me lock the car by actually inserting the key into the door lock. He looked at me surprised and asked me "it doesn't have a remote door opener?":laughing: I said no, but he's like "but your Avalon is an older car and it has one". I had to remind him the truck he likes so much is strictly manual as well it comes to opening the doors.

I'm really wishing that a retro truck will come out with roll down windows and the high beam light switch on the floor.

Jstpssng · Nov 21, 2019

That Honda will make a good vehicle for them and the family.

The high beam on the floor was a PITA if you live in the rust belt. They would get so corroded from the salt on your boots that you would need to replace them. Then again I'm not as fussy about features as some are. If it gets me where it's going and does what I need it to do I don't really care what makes the windows go up and down.
Just don't move the horn button back onto the steering column.

buckeyefarmer · Nov 21, 2019

A 2001 accord with only 96k is a great find. I had 3 accords, they were great. My wife rolled one and it protected her and the kids.

My first new vehicle was an 85 s10 blazer standard. Loved it, except they were 2 doors than.

MossRoad · Nov 21, 2019

Sigarms said:
Not that it matters, but the S-10 was sold before I could look at (really wanted to have it gone over becuause the price of $2,500 seemed reasonable). Ended up with a pretty much mint 4 door 2001 Honda accord, only one owner, 96k on it that was traded in by a very nice older woman for $1,900 more than the S-10. Not a truck, but I already have one, it will fit the bill for it's intended use and I'll probably keep it running longer than the chevy I missed out on.

Had to laugh... yesterday took the one boy to the orthodontist yesterday morning, and as we were getting out, he saw me lock the car by actually inserting the key into the door lock. He looked at me surprised and asked me "it doesn't have a remote door opener?":laughing: I said no, but he's like "but your Avalon is an older car and it has one". I had to remind him the truck he likes so much is strictly manual as well it comes to opening the doors.

I'm really wishing that a retro truck will come out with roll down windows and the high beam light switch on the floor.

Little old lady only drove to church on Sunday kinda cars are great! Sounds like a good vehicle. For a daily driver, as I mentioned before, I'd rather have my kids in the Honda than an S10. :thumbsup:

Shaneard · Nov 21, 2019

My boss mans son turned 16 a couple years ago and wanted an older Honda station wagon, they found one. Few months later he was taking his brother to soccer practice and rear ended someone and totaled it. Trooper ask him how fast he was going, he said whatever the speed limit was. Trooper said I'm pretty sure you may have been going faster than that, you left 50' of skid marks going uphill. The guy he hit drove off. Trooper had to go to his house and tell him he didn't do anything wrong. Not sure why he drove away.

Hopefully you never have to deal with that!!!

ruffdog · Nov 21, 2019

Ah yes...the GM 4.3L v6...I had a few of them. The first one was a 1986 C10 short box and it had a Q-Jet carb and 3sp on the column. I had a 1994 S10 SS with the 4.3, a 1996 ZR2, and a 2000 ZR2. I also had my share of the 4cyl S10 trucks and Rangers. My dad had a few of the 4.3L S10s too. My dad took one of his gen 1 s10 to the dealer for a water pump and a gen 2 suv for a rear main leak. None of my 4.3 vehicles ever had a issue.