Topic: Auto Tech: Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Engine Lineup

[Autos_Editor]

We take an in-depth look at the technologies that GM has implemented in their 'Ecotec 3' pickup truck engines.

Read More...

[Ex-airbalancer]

Active Fuel Management is a bit of a joke, if you carry any kind of a load it will not drop down
Also you would think is you are sitting at red light, it would drop down but it does not 

[mixmanmash]

All this technology and simulation sounds good.  Let's see what these engines will do in the real world for fuel economy and reliability.

[Mike]

Active Fuel Management is a bit of a joke, if you carry any kind of a load it will not drop down
Also you would think is you are sitting at red light, it would drop down but it does not 

Sort of like all these start-stop features...that don't operate when it is cold out.

[OliverD]

GM is not going very far to induce anyone who would otherwise have opted for a V8 to get a V6 instead...

Sure they are. The base engine in a extended cab or crew cab 4x4 is currently the 4.8, which is gone in the new generation. Since the new 4.3 should be a lot more powerful than the current one, it's safe to assume that it will be available in more configurations. I'd bet we're going to see a lot of lower end extended cab 4x4s on lots equipped with the V6.

[Noto]

Sounds a lot like a lazy, less impressive attempt at the skyactiv treatment...make better what you have without radical change (a la bull$h!t "Eco"boost).  Good effort, but weight savings, lowering Coefficient of Drag, and transmission changes could make a much bigger difference.

[OliverD]

GM is not going very far to induce anyone who would otherwise have opted for a V8 to get a V6 instead...

Sure they are. The base engine in a extended cab or crew cab 4x4 is currently the 4.8, which is gone in the new generation. Since the new 4.3 should be a lot more powerful than the current one, it's safe to assume that it will be available in more configurations. I'd bet we're going to see a lot of lower end extended cab 4x4s on lots equipped with the V6.

At most that establishes that those who might have previously gone with the outgoing 4.8 V8 might now instead opt for the 4.3 V6.  Fair enough.  But no one shopping from within the new suite of V8 engines has a performance based reason to go with the 4.3 V6 over one of the new V8s.  This is unlike Ford.  The Ecoboost is the higher performance engine relative to the 5.0 V8.

Fair enough. It's certainly a different approach.

[dragonfly]

 Sounds like GM is blowing a bit of hot air up our wazoos here...A buddy of mine bought a base 2WD, posi rear-ended, Ford short bed ,new, about 4 months ago, with the 3.7 N/A V-6...Loves the little truck..I do too..The standard steel wheels look nice..It's a standard cab, but it has an extraordinary amount of room behind the seats...Like maybe 1-1.5 feet. He says he's getting over 20 MPG running around locally. And had seen 25-26 on the highway..I think he said he paid 25 thou for it...What a neat little truck...The new Dodge V-6 looks good too....But I have no first hand experiences with it as yet...Anybody here?   Jack

[Ex-airbalancer]

Sounds like GM is blowing a bit of hot air up our wazoos here...A buddy of mine bought a base 2WD, posi rear-ended, Ford short bed ,new, about 4 months ago, with the 3.7 N/A V-6...Loves the little truck..I do too..The standard steel wheels look nice..It's a standard cab, but it has an extraordinary amount of room behind the seats...Like maybe 1-1.5 feet. He says he's getting over 20 MPG running around locally. And had seen 25-26 on the highway..I think he said he paid 25 thou for it...What a neat little truck...The new Dodge V-6 looks good too....But I have no first hand experiences with it as yet...Anybody here?   Jack

That pretty shitty for a little truck , I get 15l/100km , in a truck that looks like a brick with a ladder on top of it

[OliverD]

That pretty shitty for a little truck , I get 15l/100km , in a truck that looks like a brick with a ladder on top of it

Really depends what kind of gallons we're talking about here. Anything over 20 U.S. MPG is pretty damn good for a full size truck.

[Mozeby]

Sounds a lot like a lazy, less impressive attempt at the skyactiv treatment...make better what you have without radical change (a la bull$h!t "Eco"boost).  Good effort, but weight savings, lowering Coefficient of Drag, and transmission changes could make a much bigger difference.

So basically what Ram did with the new 2013 1500.