While Chevy made some improvements to its Silverado 1500 pickup engine lineup in 2022, for 2023 it looks like they’re staying the course. After all, why mess with a good thing? So engine options and specs remain the same. So let’s take an overview of what the Silverado engine bay will look like for the 2023 models. 

Unlike Ford’s scattershot of engine choices, Chevy has four that offer stepped performance, fuel economy, and torque ratings, to cover most all truck buyers’ needs. They are the base 2.7-liter L3B turbo I4 four-cylinder, a 5.3-liter L84 EcoTec3 V8, the 6.2-liter L87 EcoTec3 V8, and a 3.0-liter LM2 Duramax inline-six. Each offers buyers different qualities for all uses. 

Base 2.7-liter L3B turbo I4 inline four-cylinder engine

Full-size trucks are not usually found with four-cylinder engines, which makes the L3B intriguing. GM is the only truckmaker that offers one, in both its Chevy and GMC truck models. While offering plenty of power and torque, especially once the turbo kicks in, fuel economy is where this engine should shine.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t. In highway specs, the 2WD version is only one mpg better than the 5.3-liter V8, at 22 mpg. In 4×4 guise, it has a combined average of 18 mpg. We expected better. 

It has enough power at 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque, helped mainly by the dual-volute turbocharger. Just make sure you spool it up. The 4×4 option provides a serviceable 9,000 lb towing capacity. Honestly, that should work for almost all towing needs. It’s just that there should be something more in the deal besides being a cheaper engine to make so GM can keep the base price low. 

5.3-liter L84 EcoTec3 V8 engine

Chevrolet has a long line of excellent V8s, with the 5.3-liter turbo V8 version the most sophisticated to date. It’s what Chevy does best. That includes both the heads and block cast from aluminum, direct injection, variable valve timing, and cylinder deactivation. 

This one comes standard with the improved eight-speed automatic in 2WD, and 10-speed with 4WD. Power hits 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. Mileage is 16 mpg in City driving, and 23 mpg in Highway driving. Remember, low-end torque and smooth operation are what make this engine so popular.

6.2-liter L87 EcoTec3 V8

If you want big-block torque and power, there is the 6.2-liter L87 EcoTec3 V8. A larger version of the 5.3-liter, it offers the most power for Chevy’s gas-powered trucks. You now have 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. That torque rating is the same as GM’s diesel V8, more on that in a sec. 

It is only available with the 10-speed automatic MQB transmission. Mileage figures are only two mpg lower than for the 5.3-liter V8. And it packs 13,400 lbs of towing capability. That’s down only slightly from Ford’s F-150 with 14,000 lbs towing capacity. 

3.0-liter LM2 Duramax I6 diesel engine

We had hoped to see GM’s all-new LZ0 Duramax turbodiesel engine for 2023. Alas, that isn’t happening. But GM hasn’t abandoned the diesel sector, though diesel engines are being phased out left and right. Its 3.0-liter turbocharged Duramax offers up 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Where the Duramax shines is its mileage figures. The EPA estimated mileage is 30 mpg on the highway. 

There have been some problems associated with the Duramax according to ChevyTrucks. Extended cranking to start, or not starting at all is the major one that keeps popping up. Chevrolet has issued several technical service bulletins for the issue, but they don’t seem to be stopping reported incidents. This could be the reason GM is scrapping it for the LZ0. Still, there are many known cases of reliable service past 200,000 miles.