So I'm a little confused here. I bought an 02 blazer and from doing some research and reading this was the first year to have the LU3 engine in it instead of the L35. Well I took my VIN and used this site to decode it Compnine.

Well I was reading through it, and it says I have the L35 engine. Did they put the L35 in some of the 02 blazers or is this site just telling me wrong? Also, is there a major difference in the engines other than the fuel injection? Which one is better?

 

I would imagine some of the first 02's have the LU3. But the only real difference is the different injectors. They are the upgraded style which are less likely to fail and they perform a little better.

 

LU3s came online at some point during the last half of the '02 model year.

 

The fuel injection spider, EGR system, knock sensor type and a possible cam shaft profile change. I looked all over the engine one day and couldn't find the egr valve on my 02, then I found this forum.......

 

So it is possible that I have the L35 instead of the LU3? I do know that the engine doesn't have an EGR port like my old 97 did. At least it isn't up front like the 97 was, so I'm assuming it doesn't have EGR at all.

 

L35 is an rpo code. It should be in your glove box. Mine is a L35 and looks like this picture. My question has always been why didn't they use an egr valve. Best I ever heard was they didn't need it for emissions reasons.

 

So did the LU3 engine also get better mileage? Someone told me the 03-04 years got about 2 mpg better mileage overall compared to the 95-01 is that true? I guess that include any 02s with the LU3 engine.
I know my 98 seems to get better than my 97 did even with the same mileage. It has the same gear ratio

 

I am not sure. You could look it up at fueleconomy.gov. I would think they are all about the same.

 

I just heard from some guys that it seems the 03-04 get a little better mileage. I'm sure the Goberment tests are the same. But they are more for about mileage than real mileage in my opinion. I believe what the Goberment says about the same as getting hit in head with a bat.

 

That pic above looks just like mine since I don't have the EGR. I've only had to fill mine up a cpl times and I'm getting right around 18mpg's with a about 70% city and 30% highway driving.