4.3L V6

2014 GMC Sierra 4.3L V6 to offer segment-best 305 LB-FT

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2014 Sierra's New 4.3L Tops in Standard V-6 Pickup Torque

New EcoTec3 engine continues rich GMC V-6 heritage

DETROIT – When the all-new 2014 GMC Sierra full-size pickup arrives this summer, its standard 4.3L EcoTec V-6 it will offer the most torque of any standard V-6 in the segment – 305 lb-ft (413 Nm).

Buyers will choose from three new, advanced EcoTec3 engines – a 5.3L available at launch, followed by the 4.3L and 6.2L versions available later this year. All are designed specifically for the high trailering and hauling demands unique to truck buyers.

Torque is the turning force that generates off-the-line acceleration and confident trailering performance. Sierras equipped with the 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 will have trailering ratings up to 7,200 pounds (3,266 kg) for a regular cab, short bed, four-wheel-drive model – 500 pounds more than the most capable Ford F-150 3.7L and 700 pounds more than a Ram 1500 3.6L. Sierra's standard V-6 produces an SAE-certified 285 horsepower (212 kW) and is matched with a proven, efficient six-speed automatic transmission. EPA fuel economy estimates will be released later.

Like Sierra's optional 5.3L and 6.2L EcoTec3 V-8 engines, the new V-6 features three state-of-the-art technologies – direct injection, active fuel management (cylinder deactivation) and continuously variable valve timing – that have been proven and perfected through 6 million hours of computational analysis by engineers studying the combustion process. In all, 10 million CPU hours were spent refining and making the most of the Sierra's EcoTec3 engines.

"This is technology no other truck maker can match, and we offer it in every EcoTec3 engines, for every customer," said Jordan Lee, GM Powertrain chief engineer. "It is a standard feature, so our drivers get our best and most sophisticated technology regardless of trim level."

Although they share only a handful of parts with previous Sierra engines, the new EcoTec3 V-6 builds on experience gained from millions of trucks and billions of real-world customer miles resulting from a half-century of leadership in V-6 engine development. In 1960, GMC debuted the first V-6 pickup truck ever and offered it exclusively through most of the '60s.

That engine, offered in various displacements starting at 5.0L, was designed with aluminum pistons, improved cooling and a stout crankshaft and bearings designed for unprecedented durability.

"The family of V-6 engines introduced in 1960 was designed to last, and I've heard of some owners going more than 450,000 miles on the original engine," said Donald Meyer, GMC truck historian. "They had really high torque and pulled loads well. GMC engineers know how to build durable, reliable engines that never quit."

Like the 2014 engine, the 4.3L V-6 introduced as standard equipment for GMC half-ton pickups in 1985 used geometry and engineering from the brand's proven Small Block V-8. As with today's V-6, engineers studied the combustion chamber, developing "Vortec" technology that swirled the air and fuel inside the engine to create a more homogenous mix, improving power and efficiency. That engine was the basis for new generations of engines through the 2013 model year.

2014 Sierra models with the 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 go on sale later this year with a suggested starting price of $25,085, including a destination charge of $995 but excluding tax, title, license and dealer fees.

GMC has manufactured trucks since 1902, and is one of the industry's healthiest brands. Innovation and engineering excellence is built into all GMC vehicles and the brand is evolving to offer more fuel-efficient trucks and crossovers, including the Terrain small SUV and Acadia crossover. The 2014 Sierra half-ton pickup boasts all-new powertrains and design, and the Sierra Heavy Duty pickups are the most capable and powerful trucks ever built by GMC. Every retail GMC model, including Yukon and Yukon XL full-size SUVs, is now available in Denali luxury trim.

Source: General Motors




While the 4.3L does deliver more torque than either of its main competitors, it falls short on horsepower. The 3.7L V6 in the F-150 develops 302 hp while the 3.6L V6 in the Ram 1500 has 305 hp. GM says fuel economy estimates for the 4.3L will be announced later this year.

Wow! More proof of GM culture producing the same old status quo. With all the advancements in engine technology and smaller displacement engines, GM was able to spend several years new engine development and yet keep the displacements the same (4.3, 5.3, 6.2). It's either a big coincidence or something less than fresh and optimal designs. Everything they mention as new has been around for years minus the new eco name of course.

I was under the impression the only carry over characteristics into the Gen V: the bore, stroke, displacement, camshaft location, and deck height. There were just a few actual carry over parts. Else its all new with direct injection on every model engine.

Ford 3.7
302 HP @ 6500 RPM
278 ft lbs @ 4000 RPM

GM 4.3
285 HP @ 5300 RPM
305 ft lbs @ 3900 RPM

Ford has 17 more HP, GM has 27 more ft lbs.

I wouldn't write the GM off yet. Outside of the peak numbers I would be very interested to compare available torque at lower RPM's.

First they have to make a truck that isn't ugly as sin. The new silverado with those huge double stacked Clark W Griswold family truckster headlights has got to go. I guess the sierra is nice looking as least.

The 4.3L sounds like a better truck engine with the higher TQ and lower peak power levels.

The 3.7L of the Ford sounds like it would fit a car better. More HP than TQ and peak HP at 6500rpm?!

It'll be interesting to see where the 4.3L stands with fuel efficiency. Hopefully it's in the same ballpark as the Ford and Ram, though I have a feeling GM is aiming for the benchmark.

Seems they fared pretty well with the 5.3 economy. Though we don't know how much of the cylinder deactivation 6 or 4 cylinder mode was required to get the figures they got. From other article I read they said the mode of operation was indistinguishable between and that the 4 cylinder mode held in considerably longer than previous generation engines.

GM Gives Official Ratings for Ecotec3 V6

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The new GM EcoTec3 4.3-liter V-6, the base engine for both the new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2014 GMC Sierra 1500, now has official fuel economy and maximum payload and towing numbers, and they're pretty impressive.

Just last month we speculated about what the exact fuel economy numbers would be in a chart comparing all the makers of full-size pickup truck V-6s, and we were pretty close.

Silverado and Sierra 4x2s will offer an EPA rating of 18/24 mpg city/highway, making them just as good as the Ram 1500 with the new Pentastar and eight-speed transmission in the city and only 1 mpg less than the Ram on the highway.

In 4x4 configurations, the new Silverado and Sierra half-tons will get 17/22 mpg city/highway, the former being the best city number in the V-6 full-size pickup segment. Additionally, according to the the most updated spec sheets, maximum payload capacity for either pickup will be 2,108 pounds, and maximum

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Silverado V6: Best-in-Class Capability, 24 mpg Highway

-Best torque, payload and towing of any standard V-6
-Unsurpassed city fuel economy for full-size pickups

DETROIT – The 2014 Silverado with the all-new 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 – the most capable standard V-6 in any full-size pickup truck – will also be a segment leader in fuel economy, helping save customers money when they buy and when they drive.

EcoTec3 engine technology enables 2WD Silverados to match Ram HFE's 18 mpg city, while 4x4 Silverados achieve 17 mpg city, the best of any full-size pickup. EPA highway estimates are highly competitive: 22 mpg for 4x4 versions, and 24 mpg for 2WD models.

Reflecting Silverado's straightforward approach to performance and fuel economy, these EPA estimates are achieved without expensive add-ons and apply to all three cab configurations, regular cab, double cab, and crew cab.

Silverados equipped with the 4.3L V-6 also will be the most-capable trucks with standard V-6 engines, with the highest available payload rating of 2,108 pounds and the highest available towing rating of 7,200 pounds.

"Budget-conscious customers often buy V-6 pickups to do real work, and the 2014 Silverado with the 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 will combine unmatched capability and excellent fuel economy with surprising levels of refinement," said Jeff Luke, executive chief engineer.

"Our V-6 has torque where you need it to get the job done, with 230 lb-ft of torque available at 1,200 rpm, and more torque available from 2,400 to 5,300 rpm than competitive V-6s make at their peak."

Truck customers now returning to the showroom will find that Silverado's standard V-6 now offers better performance than many V-8 powered pickups from just a few years ago, with far superior fuel economy.

"The average pickup on the road is more than 11 years old," said Luke. "Customers driving these trucks with V-8 engines will be amazed at the power and refinement of Silverado's new EcoTec3 V-6, which has fuel economy some 30 percent better than older V-8s with comparable performance."

The new V-6 joins the mainstream 5.3L EcoTec3 V-8, with EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of up to 23 mpg, the best estimates of any V-8 pickup, and better than estimates for the Ford EcoBoost turbo V-6 (22 mpg EPA highway for 2wd models).

Seamlessly switches to four-cylinder operation

Silverado's combination of capability and efficiency results in part from its EcoTec3 engines, which provide the proven power of a large-displacement truck engine when needed, then switch seamlessly to four-cylinder operation under lighter loads.

"In creating the 2014 Silverado 1500, we looked at a wide variety of powertrain configurations, and concluded that purpose-built truck engines could best provide the payload and towing capability that truck customers require with the long-term dependability they expect," said Luke.

By creating a new trio of EcoTec3 engines for the 2014 Silverado, Chevrolet was able to make the most of the size and performance of each entry:

-The 4.3L V-6 is a rugged and refined standard engine with best-in-class torque, payload and towing.
-The 5.3L V-8, expected to power three out of four Silverados, gives mainstream customers 355 horsepower, with fuel economy better than any V-8 competitor or Ford's EcoBoost turbo V-6.
-A new 6.2L V-8, available this fall, will be the most powerful engine offered on any light-duty pickup, with an estimated 420 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, and a maximum available towing rating of 12,000 pounds.

All three EcoTec3 engines feature direct fuel injection, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and continuously variable valve timing, a combination not found in competitive trucks. The engines also use a compact overhead valve design and weight-saving components such as aluminum blocks and cylinder heads to reduce the mass of the engines for additional energy savings.

Additional Details and Data

Silverado 1500 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6
-285 hp (212kW) @ 5,300rpm
-305 lb-ft of torque (413 Nm)@ 3900 rpm
-Maximum available towing rating: 7,200 pounds
-Maximum available payload rating: 2,108 pounds

Horsepower and torque ratings are SAE certified using 87 octane regular gasoline.

Peak torque and horsepower, light-duty pickups with non-turbo V-6 engines

Peak torque
(lb-ft) @ rpm Peak horsepower @ rpm
Chevrolet Silverado 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 305 @ 3900 285 @ 5300
Ford 3.7L V-6 278 @ 4000 302 @ 6500
Ram 3.6L V-6 269 @ 4175 305 @ 6400
Source: Published manufacturer's information

EPA fuel economy estimates, light-duty pickups with non-turbo V-6 engines

City Highway Combined

2WD models
Chevrolet Silverado 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 18 24 20
Ford F-150 3.7L V-6 17 23 19
Ram 3.6L V-6* HFE (regular cab only) 18 25 21
Ram 3.6L V-6* 17 25 20
Toyota Tundra 4.0L V-6 16 20 18

4x4 models
Chevrolet Silverado 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 17 22 19
Ford F-150 3.7L V-6 16 21 18
Ram 3.6L V-6* 16 23 19
Source: Model Year 2013 EPA Fuel Economy Guide
* Optional engine for 2013 model year

Maximum available payload and towing ratings, light-duty pickups with non-turbo V-6 engines

Max available payload rating (lb.) Max available towing rating (lb.)
Chevrolet Silverado 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 2,108 7,200
Ford 3.7L V-6 1,930 6,100
Ram 3.6L V-6 1,930 6,500
Toyota 4.0L V-6 1,580 4,900

Source: Published manufacturer's information. For Silverado, maximum payload is for 2wd regular cab model; maximum towing is for regular cab 4x4 model.

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2014 GMC Sierra V-6 Delivers 24 mpg Highway
Efficient engine is also most capable standard V-6 in class

DETROIT – The same technology that makes the all-new 2014 Sierra's 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 the most capable standard V-6 in any full-size truck also makes it a segment leader in fuel economy, allowing owners to go farther on a single fill-up.

EcoTec3 engine technology enables 2WD 4.3L V-6 Sierra models to match Ram HFE's 18 mpg city, while 4x4 models achieve 17 mpg city, the best of any full-size pickup. EPA highway estimates are highly competitive: 22 mpg for 4x4 versions, and 24 mpg for 2WD models.

Sierras equipped with the 4.3L V-6 also will be the most capable trucks with standard V-6 engines, with highest available payload rating of 2,108 pounds and the highest-available towing rating of 7,200 pounds.

"The 2014 Sierra offers capability, efficiency and refinement regardless of trim level or engine choice," said Tony DiSalle, vice president of GMC Marketing. "All of the technology that makes this our most efficient half-ton pickup ever comes standard for every customer."

EcoTec3 technology is comprised of direct fuel injection, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and continuously variable valve timing, a combination not found in competitive pickups. The engines also use a compact overhead valve design and weight-saving components such as aluminum blocks and cylinder heads to reduce the mass of the engines for additional energy savings.

"Our V-6 has torque where you need it to get the job done," said Jeff Luke, executive chief engineer. "With 230 lb-ft of torque available at 1,200 rpm, and more torque available from 2,400 to 5,300 rpm than competitive V-6s make at their peak.

"The average pickup on the road is more than 11 years old," said Luke. "Customers driving these trucks with V-8 engines will be amazed at the power and refinement of Sierra's new EcoTec3 V-6, which has fuel economy some 30 percent better than older V-8s with comparable performance."

The new V-6 joins Sierra's 5.3L EcoTec3 V-8, with EPA estimated highway fuel economy of up to 23 mpg, the best estimates of any V-8 pickup, and better than the 22 estimated highway mpg for the Ford EcoBoost turbo V-6.

A new 6.2L EcoTec3 V-8, available this fall, will be the most powerful engine offered on any light-duty pickup, with an estimated 420 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, and a maximum available towing rating of 12,000 pounds.

Additional Details and Data

Sierra 1500 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6
-285 hp (212kW) @ 5,300rpm
-305 lb-ft of torque (413 Nm)@ 3900 rpm
-Maximum available towing rating: 7,200 pounds
-Maximum available payload rating: 2,108 pounds

Horsepower and torque ratings are SAE certified using 87 octane regular gasoline.

Peak torque and horsepower, light-duty pickups with non-turbo V-6 engines

Peak torque
(lb-ft) @ rpm Peak horsepower @ rpm
GMC Sierra 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 305 @ 3900 285 @ 5300
Ford 3.7L V-6 278 @ 4000 302 @ 6500
Ram 3.6L V-6 269 @ 4175 305 @ 6400
Source: Published manufacturer's information

EPA fuel economy estimates, light-duty pickups with non-turbo V-6 engines

City Highway Combined
2WD models
GMC Sierra 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 18 24 20
Ford F-150 3.7L V-6 17 23 19
Ram 3.6L V-6* HFE (regular cab only) 18 25 21
Ram 3.6L V-6* 17 25 20
Toyota Tundra 4.0L V-6 16 20 18
4x4 models
GMC Sierra 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 17 22 19
Ford F-150 3.7L V-6 16 21 18
Ram 3.6L V-6* 16 23 19
Source: Model Year 2013 EPA Fuel Economy Guide
* Optional engine for 2013 model year


Maximum available payload and towing ratings, light-duty pickups with non-turbo V-6 engines

Max available payload rating (lb.) Max available towing rating (lb.)
Chevrolet Silverado 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 2108 7200
Ford 3.7L V-6 1930 6100
Ram 3.6L V-6 1930 6500
Toyota 4.0L V-6 1580 4900
Source: Published manufacturer's information. For Sierra, maximum payload is for 2wd regular cab model; maximum towing is for regular cab 4x4 model.

Source: General Motors