[VIDEO] How Chevy Turns a V8 into a Four-Cylinder

Here's how all three GM EcoTec3 engines in the 2014 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra shut down two or four cylinders at low power demand to reach 22 mpg

A trio of new EcoTec3 engines designed specifically for full-size trucks improve fuel efficiency of the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup truck. U.S. EPA estimates the fuel economy of the 355-hp 5.3-liter V8 at 16/22 mpg city/highway in the four-wheel-drive Silverado.

The new engine family includes:

  • 4.3L V6 rated 285 hp
  • 5.3L V8 rated 355 hp
  • 6.2L V8

EPA fuel economy estimates for the 4.3-liter and 6.2-liter engines will be available later this year when certification is complete, as will the horsepower and torque ratings for the 6.2-liter V8.

EcoTec3 engines feature three state-of-the-art technologies – direct injection, cylinder deactivation and continuously variable valve timing – to make the most of power, torque and efficiency across a range of operating conditions.

Direct fuel injection precisely meters fuel directly into the cylinders to optimize combustion over a broad range of conditions.

Active Fuel Management marks a return to pushrod-style valve trains that allow a simpler system, with hydraulic lifters, to deactivate two or four cylinders at low power demand.

More precise combustion control enables the new engines to run with a higher compression ratio – 11.0:1 for the versions recommend to run on regular fuel. Higher compression is one of the best ways to simultaneously increases both power and efficiency.

“We believe these are the most technologically advanced engines ever offered in light-duty pickups, and they are 100 percent truck – specifically designed for the way customers use trucks in the real world,” said Jordan Lee, small-block chief engineer and program manager.

2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Pickup Truck

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