Not even a week ago, Chevrolet announced the (nearly) complete details surrounding the 2019 Silverado engine lineup, which consists of six engine choices, five of which drink gasoline and one that sips diesel. The one we’re focusing on here is the 5.3L V8 EcoTec3.
Technically, the 2019 Silverado and 2019 Sierra offer two 5.3L V8 engines: one with Active Fuel Management (AFM), and one that uses the more advanced and capable Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM). The unit with AFM sits between the base 4.3L V6 LV3 and the new 2.7L Turbo L3B. Previously, we were led to believe that this engine is none other than the 5.3L L83 from the K1 generation of Silverado/Sierra, but new information has shown us that this is not the case. Instead, the 5.3L V8 in question is assigned RPO code L82, and is not an L83 by a different name RPO code.
GM’s powertrain department explained to GM Authority that when compared to the L83, the L82 features several changes to the block, a new valley cover, exhaust and on-center water pump. In that regard, the L82 is significantly closer in its composition and feature set to the new 5.3L V8 L84 (second-gen EcoTec3), which succeeds the 5.3L V8 L83 (first-generation EcoTec3), but with one exception: while the L84 uses the advanced DFM and features automatic start/stop functionality, the L82 makes use of the less advanced AFM and is not equipped with auto stop/start.
Despite the updates, the L82 is rated the same as the L83: 355 horsepower (250 kW) at 5600 RPM and 383 pound-feet (519 Nm) of torque at 4100 RPM. It is mated to GM’s six-speed heavy-duty HydraMatic transmission (MYC). The engine will launch later on for the 2019 model year on the following models:
L82 V8 availability in 2019 Silverado:
- Work Truck (1WT)
- Silverado Custom (1CX)
- Silverado Custom Trai Boss (2CX)
L82 V8 availability in 2019 Sierra:
- Sierra base (1SA)
2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Powertrain Summary
| RPO Code | LV3 | L82 | L3B | L84 | L87 | LM2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline | Gasoline | Gasoline | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Displacement | 4.3L | 5.3L | 2.7L | 5.3L | 6.2L | 3.0L |
| Layout / Cylinder Count | V6 | V8 | I4 | V8 | V8 | I6 |
| Configuration | OHV | OHV | DOHC | OHV | OHV | DOHC |
| Aspiration | Atmospheric | Atmospheric | Turbo | Atmospheric | Atmospheric | Turbo |
| Fuel Saving Tech | AFM | AFM | AFM | DFM | DFM | None |
| Engine Family | EcoTec3 Gen 1 | EcoTec3 Gen 1 | New I-4 gasoline fam | EcoTec3 Gen 2 | EcoTec3 Gen 2 | New I-6 diesel |
| Transmission | 6-speed auto MYC | 6-speed auto MYC | 8-speed auto MQE | 8-speed auto MQE | 10-speed auto MQB | 10-speed auto MQB |
| Power (hp / kW @ RPM) | 285 / 212 @ 5300 | 355 / 265 @ 5600 | 310 / 231 @ 5600 | 355 / 265 @ 5600 | 420 / 313 @ 5600 | TBA |
| Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ RPM) | 305 / 413 @ 3900 | 383 / 518 Nm @ 4100 | 348 / 473 @ 1500-4000 | 383 / 518 @ 4100 | 460 / 624 @ 4100 | TBA |
| Max Towing (lbs) | 8,000 | 11,000 | 7,200 | 11,600 | 12,200 | TBA |
| Max Payload (lbs) | 2,500 | 2,430 | 2,280 | 2,190 | 2,100 | TBA |
| EPA MPG estimates (city / hwy / comb) | TBA | TBA | 20 / 23 / TBD | 17 / 23 / 19 | 16 / 20 / 17 | TBA |
- DOHC: Dual Overhead Cam
- OHV: OverHead Valve (push-rod)
- AFM: Active Fuel Management
- DFM: Dynamic Fuel Management
- EcoTec3 engine family
2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Powertrain Availability
| Engine: | 4.3L V6 LV3 | 5.3L V-8 L82 | 2.7L I-4 Turbo L3B | 5.3L V-8 L84 | 6.2L V-8 L87 | 3.0L I-6 Turbo LM2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Gasoline | Gasoline | Gasoline | Gasoline | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Transmission | 6-speed auto MYC | 6-speed auto MYC | 8-speed auto MQE | 8-speed auto MQE | 10-speed auto MQB | 10-speed auto MQB |
| Work Truck (WT) | S | A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Custom | S | A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Custom Trail Boss | S | A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| LT | N/A | N/A | S | A | N/A | A |
| RST | N/A | N/A | S | A | N/A | A |
| LT Trail Boss | N/A | N/A | N/A | S | N/A | N/A |
| LTZ | N/A | N/A | N/A | S | A | A |
| High Country | N/A | N/A | N/A | S | A | A |
- S: Standard
- A: Available
- N/A: Not Available
Comments
Since when were the EPA figures for the DFM engines announced? And they look pretty weak given the amount of praise GM gave them. 1MPG improvement? Barely bests the +40hp +15lb-ft 5.0 F150
If those are the real fuel economy numbers I can see why GM released them under the radar. If it were just the L84 number it would makes sense it’s being confused with the L82, but having the L87 number too looks not great against the competition
Just about a week ago, under the radar. According to GM, we’re not confusing the figures. Those are the DFM numbers.
No one is reporting on it. I first saw them in a video by The Fast Lane Truck but thought they may have confused them with the current AFM engines.
Did GM not do a press release? Why is no one reporting on it or making a stink over the paltry figures? GM ask the media for sympathy, like not chirping the kids at a little league game?
This could also explain the BS multiple releases and trickle of information about these trucks. Release info in numerous waves and by the end no one cares and reads any of it.
Almost as bad as Rams failed launch of the eTorque hybrids
Agreed, I think it’s a joke what they did, I guess they want to push people away to other manufacturers
This is almost a standardized practice in GM engine design. It’s exactly the same thing they did with the L76/L96 V8, taking LS3 features and bolting them onto the LS2 block.
They even kept the horsepower identical across all three eras.
One has to wonder how Buick sales would be if instead of the LGX 3.6L V6, Buick buyers could instead pick the L3B 2.7L DOHC-4v 4-cyl turbo or the L84 5.3L OHV-2v V8.
I am not impressed.
You can’t out accelerate, tow or mpg anybody. I guess GM is ok being mid-pack. As a life long GM, I don’t understand how a company doesn’t want to lead. If you can out engineer or be more efficient than the competition you need to sale yourself and fire the staff.
Well i’d say the new generation of trucks is starting off in a bad way, not sure what they were thinking.
– Little to no interior change
– Very minimal / disappointing engine upgrades
– Why would anyone want the 5.3L V8 with the exact same hp/torque since 2014 & only 1 mpg difference, if you matched this engine up with the competition it fails , Ford 5.0 / Ram 5.7 both much more powerful and maybe gets 1 mpg worse fuel economy, what a joke.
– 6.2L only available on top trim levels , when the competition offers all the engines they have across their entire lineup (aside from the 3.0 powerstroke)
– New 10 speed transmission only available with 6.2 or 3.0 diesel, ( Ford offers it across almost entire engine lineup)
What was the plan here , to lose customers?
I agree with everything you stated except for the “Very minimal / disappointing engine upgrades”. I think the introduction of the 2.7 turbo 4 and the 3.0 diesel are big time options on a light duty truck.
You are right i should have clarified the engine statement , What i meant was upgrade to current gasoline V8 engines. This is just my opinion but i don’t know who is going to want that turbocharged lawnmower engine in their truck, i personally have zero interest. As for the diesel , it has sparked my interest , though i would not be surprised at all , that whenever they finally release the hp/trq/mpg/towing/payload numbers, they will not be impressive, I do hope i am wrong.
I’m also a little underwhelmed by negligible jumps in performance metrics. It makes you feel like nobody is investing in things that matter. But there’s some truths that need to be acknowledged. These new trucks will be faster than the trucks they replace because they have more available gears and a lot less weight. People naturally point to the Ford 5.0 when comparing performance numbers. And on paper, the Ford is impressive, except for one little detail. The Ford 5.0 is a dog-poop motor. We run a fleet of 10-15 half ton fleet trucks. Periodically we try out competitive platforms to see if we need to switch. The last 3 Ford 5.0 motors we tried all died horribly. They’re junk. We keep coming back to the GM gas motors, because they hold up. The Ford 5.4 and 5.0 truck motors are just junk. Loved their 6.8 V10. Like the 3.5 EcoBoost. And I love a pissing match on manufacturer metrics, but eventually, just give me something that works and looks pretty sharp. I think we can check the box.
You like the 3.5 but not the 5.0? Thats a bit bass ackwards.
After reading all the comments above and lots of comments in the past month—I have this to say to all you WHINERS,I guarantee that 90% of you use full power on those trucks 10% of the time.
It’s not about peak power at 4000rpm, which by the way everytime you get on the highway you would use. But the more peak power you have, simply put, the more power you also have lower in the rev band at a given RPM.
Its like comparing the power band from the 4.3 and the 5.3
So let me get this straight , what you are basically saying is we should be happy with what they are giving us, no body ever needs any more power , because no body ever needs to tow more or haul more. When we want to go spend our hard earned money on a new truck, we just need to learn to settle for less?
Be happy, don’t worry, six engine choices!
Fifty years ago when I turned 18, muscle cars were nearing its pinnacle. It was great, even if you couldn’t afford one, you rode your bicycle to the dealerships, look over the cars and most important, the engines. At that time almost every car you had a choice of engines. For the usually standard straight six’s up to Chevy 409 V8. Every model had at least three engine choices and as always more HP cost more. It made for fun guy talk on which manufacture had the fastest engines.
Today, trucks are about the only vehicle you can still shop with a choice of engines. Some maybe limited to specific trim levels but you can still shop via engine wants. Try to do that in most passenger cars to day, You might have i4 or v6 cylinder option, turbo or no turbo, that is it.
Camaro, Challenger, Mustang, Charger, Durango, Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, Cruze, Malibu, ATS, CTS, etc…
All have three engine options – as likely will the next Corvette.
The cars that don’t offer high output generally are because FWD cars can’t handle V8s well. Look at what GM had to do to get the LS4 to work. And, the “mid-level” engine options back in the day largely are eclipsed in base horsepower by base engines on Cruze and Sonic.
It’s not terrible. It would be nice if auto makers did go a bit bolder… there’s no reason a Pontiac Jolt couldn’t use the same Bolt motor and get to 60 a second or two quicker.
I guess GM’s MBA crowd are not into hp or trq or competition but smoke and mirrors. One would imagine that the engineers might be a bit frustrated that their true talents are being constrained by the “beanies”.
“the L84 uses the advanced DFM and features automatic start/stop functionality, the L82 makes use of the less advanced AFM and is not equipped with auto stop/start.”
The auto stop/start SUCKS so make mine a WT or Custom with the LV3 or perhaps the L82. Then I’ll TT/cam swap either to get the performance I need.