The 2021 Chevy Silverado Duramax Diesel Faces Trouble
We’re getting a little tired of saying goodbye to diesel engines, so we hope the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado Duramax engine sticks around. However, the Chevy Silverado 1500 diesel engine may need to make some changes to survive.
The 2021 Chevy Silverado Duramax engine needs updating
First of all, for a little background information, the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 can be equipped with the 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine Duramax diesel engine. It generates 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.
It gets an EPA-estimated 23 mpg in the city and up to 33 mpg on the highway, giving it the best-in-class fuel economy. It costs about $2,390 to upgrade to the Duramax engine. This is a pretty good deal because the Ford PowerStroke diesel engine is a $4,995 upgrade.
But the Ford PowerStroke diesel engine just got dropped, so we’re worried about the future of the Duramax. The PowerStroke was dropped because it wasn’t a prevalent option, and the hybrid engine is more efficient.
Potential Silverado Duramax issues
The 3.0-liter Duramax diesel engine in the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 may have a design flaw. People quickly pointed out that an oil pump belt resides in oil, and it needs to be inspected at 150,000 miles.
It’s an oil belt, not a chain or gear drive. Also, you have to drop the transmission to service the belt. That’s a lot of work and costs about $1,000 for a mechanic to do the inspection. But at least it’s a one-time inspection.
Some people claim that the engine can be damaged from belt failure, but there isn’t much supporting evidence to back up this claim. Hopefully, the 3.0-liter has good self-preservation software and doesn’t rely on the driver paying attention to the oil pressure and all to detect a problem.
Plus, the Duramax lost the automatic start-stop feature, which ruffles some feathers. This decision was made to preserve semiconductor chips during the ongoing global shortage.
This way, large General Motors trucks and SUVs can still be manufactured without delays. As a result, the fuel economy is lowered, and the way the truck drives is a little different. However, some drivers prefer not to use the start-stop feature.
Does the 2022 Silverado have the Duramax engine?
The aging Chevy Silverado is due for a total interior refresh and may gain exterior changes as well. The 2021 Chevy Silverado will be similar to the 2022 model until the 2022i updates emerge later in the year.
As the exterior and interior changes to gain the General Motors Global B electrical architecture, the engines may need to be reworked. The Duramax’s design wasn’t updated until 2023 to be more efficient.
The future of the Duramax engine remains strong as rivals drop diesel powertrains. But the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has caused a few delays for the new 2022 Silverado. The 2023 model is doing better.
So, we will have to wait a little longer than expected to learn more. But we would love to see this engine in the upcoming 2025 Chevy Silverado model!
