Chevy Silverado Turbo 2.7L L3B Engine Whine Is Normal, Says GM
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Vehicle owners never want to hear an unusual noise emanating from their engine bay. Lately, a few GM vehicles, including the Chevy Silverado, have been making a whining noise and raising concern amongst owners. However, according to a GM service bulletin seen by GM Authority, this whine is considered part of the vehicle’s normal operation, at least as of this writing.
GM 2.7L L3B I4 gasoline engine
Affecting vehicles with the turbocharged 2.7L L3B I4 gasoline engine, the whining noise is present in the engine area and is most noticeable while coming off idle, in the range of 1000 RPM to 2500 RPM. A number of vehicles across GM’s North American lineup are affected by this condition, including:
- 2022 Cadillac CT4-V
- 2023 Cadillac CT4-V
- 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500
- 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500
- 2022 GMC Sierra 1500
- 2023 GMC Sierra 1500
It’s worth noting that transmission choice has no correlation to the whining noise.
Certified GM service technicians are instructed to use a stethoscope to determine if the whining noise can be isolated to the lower oil pan area or transmission bell housing area. If this is the case, then the whine is likely being generated by balance shaft gear-to-gear interactions. This noise will not cause any durability or reliability issues for the vehicle. A further investigation into the issue by GM Engineering is currently underway
As a reminder, the L3B I4 engine was first introduced with the 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 and 2019 GMC Sierra 1500, eventually replacing the 4.3L LV3 V6 gasoline engine as the entry-level powertrain. Originally presented as a low-rpm, torque-rich engine, the L3B I4 produced an SAE-certified 310 horsepower and 348 pound-feet of torque at launch.
With the 2022 model year of the full-size pickups, the L3B I4 received several updates, increasing peak torque to 430 pound-feet. Currently, production of the L3B I4 gasoline engine takes place at the GM Spring Hill plant in Tennessee, USA.
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I would whine to if I had to lug around a half ton truck. No reason to have a 4 cylinder in a full size truck!
It’s whining for more cylinders!
No replacement for displacement
When someone says don’t worry you better start worrying! Automotive engineering today is a joke! The younger generation of engineers spend too much time on social media and not doing their jobs! No pride in their work anymore! Our education system has been dumbed down to lower standards to accept the people that should be garbage collectors instead of engineers! God save us from the morons of America!
I think you are being a bit hard on these folks. Being a retired engineer myself, I tend to lean similarly in my thinking. I was lucky in that when I ordered my ’21 model Sierra regular cab, long bed, I got the last year of the 4.3 V6. It makes essentially the same power and torque of my old ’99 5.3 Vortec. I agree with Mike that I would be hesitant of a turbo four. A turbocharger is a high precision piece of equipment. I don’t see it going the distance without serious and ultimately expensive maintenance.
I have to agree. I would be worried about using a I4 turbo in a full size truck. I personally have a 2014 GMC 1500 extended cab with a 4.3 V6 I’ve been vary happy with it’s performance. I think GM should have worked on improving the V6’s performance, maybe even offering it with a turbo. I speak from experience, having been a auto mechanic back in the 60’s and 70’s When they made real cars LOL
What is your concern about a turbo 4?
As a licensed ME, a huge fan of Rube Goldberg, all things fast, and motors with ignorant power levels, I can honestly say they should put one of the older 1.8l turbo 8 Formula 1 motors in these bad boys. Buyers will either have to find leaded fuel, use water/ meth injection or just run race gas full time. Who doesn’t want a boost gauge showing 4 Bar??!! Plus they make wicked sounds; it’s not the glorious big V8 soundtrack, but still, it’s just bad-as… Jan is right though, even low boost turbo systems are highly stressed components, high precision, and go through extreme heat cycling by default. Even the best out there will need gasket maintenance, or replacement under most normal driving conditions. The sad part, is I know moe GM/ Chevy/ Ford owners who end up selling before the vehicle reaches 100k mileage. So there’s that to consider.
Turbos are very reliable. I have 2 turbocharged Volvos over 300k no issues ever with the turbo.
It’s not the 80’s when production turbo charging was in its infancy.
Good chance you aren’t much of an engineer are you…
I thought that I wrote what you wrote I say the exact EXACT! damn thing as you. I’m 55 and yr right everything is a joke anymore.
Wow already “4 cyl. doesn’t belong in trucks” comments lol. Drive it next to the 5.3 and see which one is nicer to drive. The 2.7 is great.
That 5.3 will still be running when that 4 cylinder is in the junk yard!!
Proof? Oh wait you have none. The 2.7 didn’t have lifter issues after 5k miles like the 5.3 so going off that reliability the 2.7 is ahead already. Quit being an ignorant hick. The 2.7 has more torque than the 5.3 so the 5.3 is working harder down low. Another reason to think the 2.7 will last longer. Think before you post.
I had 355,000 miles on my 5.3 before I had to put lifters in it!
Got 305k on my 5.3 and its just starting to get tired
Mr low IQ Mike is on here. Shhh everyone listen to his expertise while he calls everyone else ignorant and low-IQ. (We know who’s low IQ and otherwise challenged) !
I’m must rely on a turbo to make my power so that I can pull let’s say a camping trailer. If that turbo drops going up a steep incline all I hv is a wimpy 2.7 liter engine. With around 10,000-13,000 lbs on its back. NO THANKS!
Besides a turbo gas engine gets such crapy mileage in cold weather. The lifter issue on some 5.3 and 6.2 liters, $75 will fix that. A company sells a device that simply plugs into the diagnostic port it doesn’t let the engine go into 4 mode and or you can pay $50 to hv it disconnected at the factory if yr ordering a new truck. In addition with that 2.7 the cam followers are junk, they recommend changing the timing chain at like 100,000 miles. However if you do a lot of towing you may have to have it done every 75,000 miles ? The 350 ci a great all around engine, tough, durable, but like many engines as long as u maintain them they will give you miles of trouble free usage. I had a 96’ z71 350 3:73 gears Auto I maintained 20.3 Hwy at around 65 mph on a very still day. Imagine from 96’ to present day what could hv been improved on that engine
( besides active fuel management).
Enough said! Yes we need to call some old School En back to the design tables And the young Engineers can bring the old school Engineers coffee each Morning.
You lost me at “you can have it disabled from the factory for $50” that makes absolutely no sense.
Turbos don’t just go out! If turbos weren’t good for making power then big rigs would all be n/a.
Turbos make MORE power in the cold weather because the air is dense.
Read up before you post false information.
There he is, Mr IQ Mike! How about YOU think before YOU post??
Push-rod engines are inherently torquey at low RPMs. Overhead cam engines torque come at higher RPM’s – unless they’re turbocharged. So the comment “That 5.3 will still be running when that 4 cylinder is in the junkyard” though perhaps unproven with scientific data, still makes common sense in that the low-end power is coming with less complexity – (without turbo chargers) …
Also, push rod engines and the Chevrolet small blocks specifically have been proven to be durable – there are years of data to make this a reasonably acceptable comment.
Leave it to Ford-buyer-regretful “Mr. Mike” to come on here to call people names and insult their intelligence just to make himself feel better. I mean why else would a Ford loyalist be on here bashing GM loyalists. What would be his motive? Other than to make himself feel better about his F100 minivan/pickup lease?
And dumba$$: the 2.7 is an overhead cam engine. Guess what that means?! NO LIFTERS
You come on here calling people “low IQ” and other names and you have no idea what you’re even talking about. You don’t even know what a lifter is and the fact that they’re in pushrod engines and not on overhead cam engines.
Your F100 minivan doesn’t have any lifter issues…
It’s got no lifters! Go away.
They do have some sort of a lifter or tappet on ohc. The cam doesn’t ride directly on the valve stem.
Not with the lifter issues.
Ha ha, GMs way of taking care of stuff:
Customer -My Chevy burns qt oil every 1000 miles
GM – That’s normal
Customer- My transmission is slipping between 2nd and 3rd
GM – That’s normal
Customer – My truck is fouling plugs every week
GM – That’s alright too
It has a big turbo, That is the whine at low to mid RPM
Turbos are very efficient and will stand the test of time I used to work for Roush Yates and the technology is amazing take your head out your a?? Because I’m sure you don’t understand why your saying at all..
Hey Roush Yates “former” employee…..telling people on here to “pull their heads out of your a??” is something you’d better think about doing since you are failing miserably to admit a turbo is another highly expensive wear item for any owner to have to everntually replace. What a know-it-all jerk-off you are !
Had a 2004 gmc sold it with 232,000 and the only thing I had to do was change the water pump because the metal gasket failed. Zero lifter issues and pulled a horse trailer.
I’d like to point out that we are comparing a brand new engine to a V8 that debuted in 2014.
I would sincerely hope that a high boost four cylinder can keep up with an 8 year old 87 octane pushrod engine.
Most of these 2.7 trucks average about 18mpg. Roughly the same yet again as an 8 year old V8.
The 4 cylinder exists only to inflate CAFE numbers on unloaded dynos at less then highway speeds.
I will also mention that the 2.7 is designed to run on premium fuel to achieve the power and efficiency numbers as advertised.
It is a base, entry level engine. That is it.
I owned both and still have the factory 5.3 in my 09 Colorado with 122k miles. I4 tubo in my 14 Malibu and I must admit, very impressive with power and torque. Traded up to v6 16 Impala Premier. No regrets, that Impala was very nice. Now into a 19 Traverse Premier and no regrets.
Waiting to test drive 2023 against my 5.3 to determine if the I4 turbo is worth the change of my 09.
Having a 5.3 in a Colorado is awesome but if the 2.7 tubo is better, might be time to change or add my own turbo or supercharger…
Has anyone had issues with this engine in their truck? I know its been around a few years already but would like to hear any comments about this engine say, after about 60,000 miles or so.
27,000 so far in my 2020. Not a single issue. It’s great.
As an old detroit diesel engine dyno tester, I always thought the wine of the turbo was a cool sound. Detroits, cats, and cummings went a millions of miles with turbos and super chargers.
It’s probably turbo that hear when coming down on idle turbos do that thing and it’s normal
Probably turbo that hear its normal hear turbo
O.K. I am not a mechanic. But I studied the problem a bit. This engine is not suited for a vehicle. Too many components that can fail. Twin cams and 4 valves per cylinder. VVT. VVL. 3 position Intake Valves. Variable Oil pump and three way water pump cooling. Lastly the turbo makes all of 400 lbs of torque at 1500 RPM. To me this engine is grinding to take off then smoothes out. And I will say all parts are working against each other to conserve fuel and gain power. Also 10:1 compression. I would have expected 11:1 at minimum. And that is where the noise is coming from.
GM says its a balance shaft gear whine which has nothing to do with whether or not the engine makes adequate torque/power for this particular application. This is likely a manufacturing or design tolerence issue with the balance shaft which all modern 4 cylinder engines have. Another reason I stay away from first year drive train designs.
I love the number of troglodyes in this comment section crying about the Turbo 4 when my 2019 has been in for powertrain Warranty work exactly zero times in 58k miles and I’ve towed a 6k lb camper, a Range Rover, and 7000lb cargo trailer with it cross country 6 times. Like diesel engines haven’t been turbocharged for the last 40 or so years.
It’s been in for one warranty repair to the EVAP system.
The domestic vehicles are all garbage these days. My 2019 Silverado (already traded off) was my last GM product.
Remember the Iron Duke engine?? Chevy guys do and if they are built right they will last.Its all about the engineering only time will tell with them we’ll see?
By looking through the comments, some people are not use to new technology. Tech has come along way where a 4 cylinder can make more torque than a v8. Some people are just stuck in the past. Smh.
I am a GM master certified technician and ASE master certified. I’ve been in GM dealerships over 20 years and am still in a GM dealership. And I will tell all of you right now that the 2.7 is a piece of junk. Roller bearings in the camshaft followers are failing worse than the 5.3 lifter issues. That engine does not belong in a truck. Total garbage.
What are your thoughts on the durability of the gas 6.6?
It makes more torque than the 5.3 and seems to be reenforced to the gills. What exactly doesn’t belong in a truck? It’s a very smooth, strong engine that sadly gets a bad rep because it happens to be in a truck. People will be loving it in the Colorado watch
You can’t un-learn hillbilly.
I have 4 of these in trucks for my hvac business. They average 21mpg and have apx 350,000 combines miles ont them so far. NOTHING but routine maintenance. Just my experience but the 4 is a perfect use case for my business.
So if the 5.3 was 3000 less than the 2.7 you would still buy the 2.7 turbo. Realistically you are paying a premium for the 2.7 turbo since there is no 4.3 any longer. The 3.6 on the Colorado would have been a beautiful marriage. Ford Ecotecs are junk and GM decided they could compete.
If they were the same price I would choose the 2.7 again yes. How am I paying a premium? The 2.7 is a better engine than the 4.3 in absolutely every regard. And a better engine than the 5.3 in most regards (less HP but weighs less and sounds like garbage compared to a V8).
The 2.7 is an excellent pairing for the Colorado and an excellent pairing for 75% of people who buy trucks now.
But the 5.3 is NOT $3k less than the 2.7, it’s actually almost $3k more than the 2.7. You are not paying any kind of premium for the 2.7. I don’t see where you are getting that from.