2022 Chevy Silverado And GMC Sierra To Drop 4.3L V6 And 5.3L AFM V8
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Currently, the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 and 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 offer six different powerplants. However, looking ahead to the 2022 model year, two of those powerplants will be dropped.
According to a recent GM presentation during the 2021 Work Truck Show, the naturally aspirated 4.3L V6 LV3 gasoline engine and naturally aspirated 5.3L V8 L82 gasoline engine will be dropped from the Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 lineup for the 2022 model year.
GM Authority was the first to question the longterm prospects for the 4.3L V6 LV3. Back in December, we compared the LV3 to the turbocharged 2.7L I4 L3B gasoline engine, illustrating how the four-cylinder L3B bests the V6 LV3 in a variety of metrics, including power, torque, fuel efficiency, max trailering, payload, and 0-to-60 mph acceleration. While the transmissions used with each powerplant (eight-speed automatic for the L3B and six-speed automatic for the LV3) play a role here, there’s no question that the turbocharged engine and high-tech valvetrain are the defining factor.
More information on the engine changes can be found in the graphics below:
As a reminder, the naturally aspirated 4.3L V6 LV3 is rated at 285 horsepower at 5,300 rpm and 305 pound-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm, while the naturally aspirated 5.3L V8 L82 is rated at 355 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 383 pound-feet of torque at 4,100 rpm.
Meanwhile, the turbocharged 2.7L I4 L3B is rated at 310 horsepower and 348 pound-feet of torque. Other options include the naturally aspirated 5.3L V8 L84, which, like the L82, produces 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. However, the L84 features Dynamic Fuel Management, as opposed to the L82’s Active Fuel Management.
The rest of the Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 powerplant lineup includes the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87, which is rated at 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and the 3.0L I6 LM2 turbodiesel Duramax, which is rated at 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque.
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Sounds like a risky move? Time will tell.
Yep, though it is impressive to see 2.7 Liter 4 with far more Horsepower and Torque than that of the V6, but the overall Fuel Economy is really no different than that of the 4.3 or 5.3 Liters, which in opinion should have seen refinement for better EPA Numbers at this point.
The 2.7 turbo will not be an easy sale to companies. Especially, those with Ford F-150 turbo experience.
I disagree, right now we are having a good success rate with with customers and companies on the 2.7. They’re impressed with the availablitly of the torque at lower RPM’s, and in the city the fuel mileage is quite a bit better than the two older engines. Smart move by GM, now, if they would have some sort of plug-in hybrid option or mild hybrid powertrain to the current trucks that would be a winning combo.
The 4.3 is dying mostly due to emissions. There is little more they can do to make them any more efficient without losing in other areas. You can only drop so many cylinders.
The greatest issue is to get customers to forget the piston count and just drive the 4 cylinder. I was the same way and never wanted a Turbo 4 till I owned one of the more recent engines. They are not what they used to be. The torque is amazing.
Besides the 4.3 was a small percentage of the sales. The few people I knew that had one sold or got a new lease for a V8.
Friend has 2.7 Ecoboost V6 and when i drove it towing our atv’s and side by sides i was suprised how much better is was than the v8 Ford truck he had. The review i’ve seen on the 2.7t in these trucks has been very good and those in the ct4 have been good also. If you not into towing a lot and just need a truck the 2.7t will be fine for most.
Yep GM set up this 2.7T quite well. Diesel like torque band. Being related to its big 3.0 I6 Duramax brother helped for sure (both are part of the Cylinder Set Strategy or CSS engine family).
We have the 2.7 in our 20 RST and it’s been great, have not missed our 5.3 or 4.3 Silverado’s we had previously.
That should mean an EPA fuel economy bump, even without knowing of a transmission change, since the advanced/higher end engines are going into lighter, lower content trucks. True?
I get the numbers. I get the decision. I get it, but I have owned so many of these 4.3 V6’s over the years and they have been absolutely bullet proof! In our fleet today we still have several with over 250k and we typically never sell them till they get well over 300k on them! I remember as a boy seeing the print adds for the first Vortec 4.3 V6’s and I have to say they never let my company down! Hate to see it go.
I purchased a 2019 GMC Sierra with the V6 Option, and I told myself that this engine is certainly reliable, it’s Heartbreaking overall for just about every Engine Option that is currently available for these trucks because after the 2024 / 2025 Models come out, most of the I.C.E’s will be phased out by the end of this Decade for the transition to All Electric Platforms.
Yeah, the biggest factor for me in a truck is reliability. I have a hard time beleiving the turbo 4 will be as reliable as the v6.
It seems that planned obsolescence is rearing it’s ugly head. I don’t think a turbo 4 will have the life span of a naturally aspirated V6 or V8 engine.
gm’s 3.1, 3.4,3.8, and 4.3 v6 engines are great…sad to see them all go…love the 4.3 v6, sorry to see it go…i guess we are all going turbo 4 cylinder then eventually all electric….i had a turbo 4 cylinder in my camaro, (i did like the torgue) but i hated the turbo lag, then the turbo would kick in down the road, I just didnt like it. plus, I had that transmission shutter,..so I traded for a 3.6 v6 naturally aspirated motor, with the 10 speed transmission, love it. To me its like night and day..love my v6 camaro…
Yeah I really like the NA 3.6 V6 also. I tuned it on my Colorado and love the power.
I could see why GM kept the 4.3 v6 for the last redesign, people would be skeptical of the new 4 banger, but now it earned its reputation so the 4.3 is being dropped. But I’m not sure why the 5.3 afm was kept. GM should just keep the 10 speed no need for 8.
Just get rid of the fuel management system crap all together. Just like the DEF system on all diesels, get rid of the crap.
That stuff makes a lot of money, that’s why it’s there in the first place, and not for any other reason.
You don’t actually believe that, do you?
Bad move IMHO. Both engines are proven to be reliable. The 4.3 is a relic and it’s the last remnant of the 350sbc. Very reliable. My 2018 Silverado got great MPG on the highway. I have the 5.3 in my current truck and it’s not as great on fuel but, it’s still a solid engine. The issue I have with 4 cylinder turbos is what happens when there’s a problem with the turbos? What kind of stress is being put on the engine under load? The diesel was tempting but, then there’s the cost of fuel/urea. I don’t think this is a good idea. At the very least I feel they should keep the 5.3. Just my opinion.
5.3 is still there, but with DFM, and not AFM.
And any time GM can kill off AFM and swap DFM in instead is a major win.
I’ll miss the venerable old 4.3, but not the AFM 5.3.
I’ve had 4 Chevy trucks with the 5.3, 1 non-dod, 2- afm, and 1 DFM. There was no real-world fuel savings with AFM over the non-dod truck. The latest one was better on fuel, but there were too many other problems with it (particularly the transmission and cheap uncomfortable interior) that we dumped it fairly quick.
The current LV3 4.3l v6 is an LT based engine, new in 2014. The 4.3l sbc based v6 stopped production in pickups in 2013my at end of gmt900. Other than displacement, there was nothing in common between the two v6 engines.
Guess I could be looking at ram for my next truck. I won’t buy a turbo 4 truck, the diesel is already having reliability problems, and the belt drive oil pump makes it a no go.
We are quite pleased with the 2.7T in our ’19 Silverado. It towed our 24ft Jayco White Hawk from Ohio to Utah with a terrible head wind through the plains. The only thing out of the ordinary was that it needed a quart of oil on the turnpike in Colorado.
It was thirsty, but not unusually so according to friends that also own campers and V8 pickups.
I pull trailers with my Trucks … I will happily take the 6.2 over any of the V6 or I4’s … I have a 2015 with the 6.2 … Gets 17 mpg without trailer and 14 with
Good move. I was a V8 guy until I owned the 2.7EB. Amazing engine.
If Chevrolet made an RCSB with the 2.7 I would buy it immediately.
They should have just turbocharged the 4.3 and saved the development cost.
I was honestly surprised they kept the v6 the 5.3 afm and the six speed. I’m glad to see them go. Hopefully GM will take the savings they will realize and put it back into the next generation truck.
I personally don’t get the attraction to at 2.7 turbo 4 cylinder in a truck. I know it produces a good amount of torque for its size, but in my opinion why work the hell out of a small engine. Long term I don’t see good results in terms of longevity of engine life, especially for trailer towing of any size. The 5.3 has been a decent engine for years; I’ve had one in two trucks. I also think the 6.2 is a good engine except for the fact it requires premium fuel. I was really liking the 3.0 diesel until I read all the crap about a wet belt for the oil pump that requires the transmission to be dropped for inspection at 150,000 miles. GM seems a lot like Barney Fife in many respects, shooting their only bullet into the floor attempting to get their gun out of the holster. Sad.
In this case the 2.7 replaces the 4.3, neither is a prime engine for towing, I agree that you’re wearing out a small engine faster when towing that’s why v8’s are still available. And for customers that don’t often tow, but perhaps use the truck more for payload, the 2.7 will be plenty with good life span.
I am taking it as custom trim will be 4t only? That is a shame for fans of that low cost trim that want a 8,it seems they are pushing those people to a higher cost LT or pound sand.
The advantage of a turbo engine is you can instantly raise the torque and HP ratings just by using medium grade or high octane gasoline. GM figures show an 8.5 percent increase in torque when E85 fuel in the non turbo engines. With a turbo engine, when E85 is used, the torque and HP increase will be more like 12 to15 percent increase.
Provide a source for the GM data you cite to support this. I have never seen GM published information on this for the current model truck engines.
phoey
I think you mean phooey.
Agreed Phoey. Less choice but I am sure the trucks will cost more. What else is new
Not sure I understand this comment… E85 is 85% Ethanol, which has less energy available than mixtures with higher proportions of gasoline. Are you speaking of 91 or 93 octane non-ethanol gasoline?
I had an 97 Avalanche, and at that time, the HP was rated higher with E85, but mpg’s took a big hit – because of less available energy, I had to burn more. I think it’s because it runs cooler, they can get a little more out out of the engine.
There was no Avalanche in 97, and no flex fuel then either. I have not seen GM rate HP and torque to SAE standards and publish with E85.
While E85 has less energy, it also has the advantage of running cooler. This in turn leads to less issues with knock. That allows you to advance your timing a little more and also push more air into the engine which allows for more fuel. This gives you more power.
As Cole says, E85 has higher AKI octane ratings than premium, around 96. That’s why ethanol serves as a lead substitute, and is added to race fuels like what NASCAR uses.
Sorry what is America coming to and who puts a rubber band engine like the 2.7 in a full-size truck. What have we become a country full of yuppies. I know a young kid who bought the 2.7 in his Silverado. I wasn’t impressed one bit by it. They can keep them on the dealer lots. Thanks but no thanks.
I have had a 305 ( 5.0)sbc to 454 ( 7.4)sbc and I feel that they are hard to beat! Sure the new 2.7 turbo is powerful and all but I just can’t see maintenance being better than the older engines. I see red flags I believe under constant load the 2.7 will be a nightmare. Long live there is no replacement for displacement.!!!!!
The 2.7 will actually be under less load because it is making more power at less RPM.
I am concerned how the 2.7l actually stands up long-term. Producing 310hp in a 4 cyl engine really requires flogging it to death with extremely high internal pressures. I would like to see some numbers after a couple more years to see how that engine really holds up after 100k miles.
They should warranty that engine for 100,000 miles and see if it works out for them! No 4 banger for me!
Sad to see the 4.3 go I have one in my 1996 Chevy Blazer that still runs like a champ, I also have a 2010 Chevy Equinox with 3.0 V6…both are great reliable engines that are no longer made…as for Ram my friend had a 2015 or 2016 fully loaded Ram with the cummins diesel engine…the only good part about that truck was the engine after recall after nightmare recall he got rid of it it’s a shame but when you spend anywhere from $50 to $90 grand on truck you want reliable transportation. I will always buy GM!
The 4.3 you are referring to was SBC related and disc. in 2013