jczarn

Still in the hunt for a passenger Express or Savana for my growing family, and I just saw a local ad for a 2002 Chevy Express 15-passenger with 8.1L engine.
At first I thought the engine size was a typo, but I searched and found that this was a thing between 2001 and 2002.

Would this be a ridiculous purchase as a kid-hauler? It looks to be in good shape from the pictures and they're only asking $7000 for it, it has 71,000 miles.
I realize the fuel efficiency will be atrocious - from what I gleaned, seemed like 14 MPG max on the highway, maybe 9 MPG around town? But how much worse is it than other engines from express vans of that era? Most of the posts I see online talk about it being in the pickup trucks, not vans.

mountainmanjoe

A lot worse. Could be an extra $2,000 per year. Check the EPA.gov website.

Unless I was towing Yachts, I would take a pass.

oilcanhenry

You need to take a pass on this.8.1/ 500 cubic inches in a B/B motor in a van Anything goes wrong with that motor is going to be big bucks to fix. A pickup, would be OK, since you have SOME room to work on it. With a BB shoehorned into a van its gonna cost you big in gasoline and any repairs.My old man had a 1969 Chevy C-60 B/B 366 cubic inch (6.0 liters) in a medium duty truck and even that was a bear to work on. You need to run away from this "deal" ASAP IMO.

jczarn

Thanks for the input, gentlemen!
Interesting point about the big engine being difficult to work on - I hadn't really considered that aspect of it. Most of the work on these engines has to be done from inside the van, under the dash, right?

Thanks for pointing me to the EPA website for fuel economy. I was shocked that even the tiny 4.3L V6 seems to fare only slightly better...16 MPG on the highway and 13 in the city. Am I missing something here?
https://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/ex...g/#style=19057

And I thought maybe the fuel economy would get better on a more recent year, but that doesn't seem to be the case either... for example,. the 2017 6.0L V8 only manages to get 16 MPG on the highway and 11 in the city.
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Powe...er&srchtyp=ymm

Granted the data is a little sparse on the 8.1L in the Express 3500 (looks like the EPA didn't even track it), but if we assume 14/9 highway/city for the 8.1L, that's only 2 MPG worse on the highway and 4 MPG worse in the city.

We put about 6000 miles per year on the kid hauler. So for one year, our usage in gallons of gas would be:
8.1L (assume all highway) 6000/14 = 429 gallons
4.3L or 6.0L (assume all highway) 6000/16 = 375 gallons
8.1L (assume all city) 6000/9 = 667 gallons
4.3L (assume all city) 6000/13 = 462 gallons
6.0L (assume all city) 6000/11 = 546 gallons

So for the worst case, all city driving, the 8.1 L would burn (667-462) = 205 more gallons of gas than the 4.3L, or about $600 per year assuming gas is $3 per gallon.
All city driving, the 8.1 L would burn (667-546) = 121 more gallons of gas than the 6.0L, or about $360 per year assuming gas is $3 per gallon.
For highway driving, the 8.1L would burn (429-375) = 54 more gallons of gas than the 4.3L or 6.0L, or about $162 per year assuming gas is $3 per gallon

Of course, maybe my assumptions on the MPG for the 8100 are bad since I have so few data points, but I'm just very surprised that the smaller and/or newer engines seem only marginally better. Clearly the 8100 is way overkill for my application, but on the other hand, I'd hate to chase a small engine for marginal MPG gain especially if it's underpowered to move a big van (I've read the 4.3L in particular is underpowered?)

mountainmanjoe

It's not surprising. The 4.3 L is under powered engine for a full size van. It's working too hard. The 5.3L is a better balance IMO, especially in hilly terrain. It's probably why it's the most common configuration.

GM has stopped investing into the research and development for vans, so they're behind in technology (compared to their SUV's, pickups etc.). That's why the 1500 was discontinued, and I suspect the 2500 & 3500 are only around until GM decides on a new design to buy (Like Ford did with the Transit). They've already experimented with the City Express to try to meet CAFE targets. You're right, the EPA is quite behind on their testing.

Artie1

I don't frequent this forum anymore so I just saw this thread. We own several 8.1 vans but we use them primarily fully loaded and to tow a 10,000 lbs 26 ft enclosed cargo trailer.
It is wrong about big bucks to fix it. Certainly not more compared to 6.0 LS engines. Same parts prices and labor times on everything. The engine is not anymore shoehorned in there than any other motor, because the doghouse opening is larger in a 8.1 van (this is also true for 1997-2000 7.4 vans, 6.5 diesel vans, and 2006-current Duramax vans), and all vans have limited engine room. The 8.1 are very reliable engines, and hard to find. They are fuel thirsty. Empty you would get 12mpg hwy, 8 city and 7-8 towing (combined weight 19,000 lbs). Towing long distance is where it shines, as you can maintain comfortable speed better than any other van. This is the most powerful gasoline van ever built in the world!
Kids are light weight, you don't need a 8.1!