2020 Chevrolet Silverado Now With New 3.0L Duramax Diesel
These days it’s all about choices. Manufacturers try to snag as many buyers as possible with a litany of fancy options. Long gone are the days of auto manufacturers limiting variety like Henry Ford at the genesis of his car company where he famously said, “Any customer can have a car painted any color he wants so long as it is black.” Case in point, Chevrolet’s new 2020 Silverado. In engine options alone, there are seven different propulsion systems offered for this truck, and one of them is the 3.0L I-6 turbo diesel coupled with a 10-speed transmission. It’s the first-ever inline-six turbo-diesel offered in Chevrolet’s full-size light-duty trucks.
“It’s a no-compromise choice for those who want the capability and driving range of a diesel in a light-duty truck,” Nicola Menarini said, director for Diesel Truck Engine Program Execution. The new diesel has earned an SAE-certified rating of 277hp and a whopping 460 lb-ft of torque that delivers 95 percent of peak torque at just 1,250 rpm—and peak torque is maintained from 1,500 to 3,000 rpm. Common rail direct fuel injection pushing 36,250 psi helps to generate the class leading horsepower and torque.
The aluminum block and head reduce overall mass and Active Thermal Management and ceramic glow plugs reduce time for cold-weather startups (an engine block heater is not needed unless the temperature drops below -22 degrees F). Plus, this combination of engine and transmission offers exhaust braking that uses the diesel engine’s compressions to help slow the vehicle (and means the driver has to hit the brakes less often when in Tow Haul mode).
Compared to a DOHC V6, the I6 configuration offers the greater efficiency from reduced friction from less drivetrain components, and it doesn’t need balancing shafts. “In addition to reduced friction, the architecture enables smooth operation," Menarini said. “The new Duramax 3.0L elevates the 2019 Silverado with one of the most refined and efficient diesel engines in the segment.”
Chevy’s new 2020 Silverado Duramax 3.0L diesel certainly seems like it will deliver the refinement, performance and efficiency they claim it will—and we’re excited to see how it compares to the offerings from Ford and RAM in person.
We compared the stats between the Ford, Chevy and Ram to see which 3.0L diesel reigns supreme.
