Fuel-Saving EcoTec3 Engine Builds on Chevy Small Block Legacy - Engine Builder Magazine

Fuel-Saving EcoTec3 Engine Builds on Chevy Small Block Legacy

The 2015 Silverado offers a trio of EcoTec3 engines with advanced fuel-saving technologies enabling customers to choose the performance and fuel efficiency that best meets their needs. Every EcoTec3 engine features advanced technologies such as direct fuel injection, continuously variable valve timing and Active Fuel Management to provide power, torque and efficiency across a broad range of operating conditions.

2014-5.3L V-8 EcoTec3-004When it comes to trucks, customers place dependability near the top of the list. And when it comes to truck engines, more than 100 million engines’ worth of continuous improvement and trillions of miles, support the Chevrolet Silverado V6 and V8’s claim to delivering on that requirement.

“Our latest generation of Small Block engines help customers save money at the pump with engines that have been improved and by real-world experience,” said John Fitzpatrick, Silverado marketing manager.

The 2015 Silverado offers a trio of EcoTec3 engines with advanced fuel-saving technologies enabling customers to choose the performance and fuel efficiency that best meets their needs:

  • 4.3L V-6; 285 horsepower; 305 lb-ft of torque; up to 24 mpg EPA highway
  • 5.3L V-8; 355 horsepower; 383 lb-ft of torque; up to 23 mpg EPA highway
  • 6.2L V-8; 420 horsepower; 460 lb-ft of torque; up to 21 mpg EPA highway

Every EcoTec3 engine features advanced technologies such as direct fuel injection, continuously variable valve timing and Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) to provide power, torque and efficiency across a broad range of operating conditions.

“The latest Small Block engines are ideally suited to Silverado and to the tough jobs that pickup customers do every day,” said Jordan Lee, global chief engineer and program manager for Small Block engines. “We give customers the power and torque of a full-size truck engine when they need it, then use Active Fuel Management and other advanced technologies to seamlessly shift to four-cylinder operation when the truck is under light loads, making the most of fuel efficiency.”

Silverado’s EcoTec3 engines are direct descendants of the original Small Block Chevy V-8, and benefit from more than 60 years – and more than 100 million engines’ worth – of continuous improvement.

“Small Block engines have been used, abused, modified and raced in almost every type of car and truck imaginable,” said Lee. “Our engineers are able to draw on that experience to build stronger, more efficient, more dependable engines for Chevy truck customers.”

The latest Gen 5 Small Block engine has endured tough testing, including a grueling performance durability procedure, where it was subjected to a high-speed/high-load torture session that simulated full-throttle blasts from the equivalent of 0 to 120 mph. With simulated transmission shift points inserted during the high-load test, the engine cycles non-stop between peak torque and peak horsepower for hundreds of hours – the equivalent of thousands of miles.

Testing on the Gen 5 Small Block that contributes to the legendary durability of the modern Small Block engines include:

  • Severe thermal cycle testing, which quickly cycles the engine between extreme cold and hot coolant temperatures to validate the durability of engine components such as the head gaskets, exhaust manifolds and more.
  • The “hot scuff” test, in which a brand-new engine – or “green” engine to the engineers – is run at wide-open throttle with no break-in period, helping test critical engine parts such as bearings, piston ring sealing and bore scuffing.
  • Active Fuel Management validation, which cycled the engine in and out of the cylinder-deactivating feature hundreds of thousands of times at a variety of engine speeds to ensure the performance and durability of its unique valve lifters.

Fuel-saving AFM technology reaches 10-year mark

2015 marks the 10th anniversary of Active Fuel Management (AFM), the cylinder deactivation technology that improves fuel economy in trucks by seamlessly switching to four-cylinder mode to help save fuel during light-load driving.

Introduced in 2005, it is currently available on the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban, Camaro and Corvette.

You May Also Like

Shop Solutions March 2024

I always keep a pair of needle nose pliers and a small, straight screwdriver in my blast cabinet to hold small parts when blasting.

Engine Builder and Engine Pro present Shop Solutions in each issue of Engine Builder Magazine and at enginebuildermag.com to provide machine shop owners and engine technicians the opportunity to share their knowledge to benefit the entire industry and their own shops. Those who submit Shop Solutions that are published are awarded a prepaid $100 Visa gift card. Submit your Shop Solution at [email protected]. You must include your name, shop name, shop address and shop telephone number. Submitted Shop Solutions not published will be kept on file and reevaluated for each month’s new entries.

Degreeing the Camshaft and Checking Valve-to-Piston Clearance

Jeff McCord of LinCo Diesel Performance walks you through degreeing a camshaft and checking valve-to-piston clearance.

Designing a Better LS Engine

After a customer wanted a Steve Morris Engines’ SMX in an LS version, Steve saw the upside and potential in the market, and a challenge to build a better LS.

The Importance of a Good Valve Job

The valve job ensures the mating surfaces of the valves and the seats properly control the air/fuel mixture.

Other Posts

Twin-TorqStorm-Supercharged 454 cid Big Block Chevy Engine

It had been more than two decades since Val Morris of Steve Morris Engines was behind the wheel of a drag car. This Chevy Malibu with a twin-supercharged 454 big block Chevy engine was her forray into drag-and-drive, and now she wants to go even faster!

Steve Morris Engines’ Twin-Supercharged 454 Big Block Chevy Engine

It had been 26 years since the last time Val Morris, Steve Morris’ wife, was behind the wheel of a drag car. The shop had been working on this project car named Sugar Momma, and got it done in time for Sick Week 2024. When it came time to figure out who’d drive it, Steve

B&B Performance Adjustable Billet Timing Pointers

Available for SBC, BBC and SBF, pointers come with stainless steel pointer, fasteners and a black anodized finish.

timing pointers
ProCharged 5.000” Bore Space Billet Big Block Chevy Engine

One of the first 5.000″ bore space big block Chevy engines that Visner Engine Development has come out with in this new design, this billet engine was built by Nick Bacalis of Bullet Racing Engines for a 1971 C10 belonging to Michael Rieck. Check out what 4,000-plus horsepower looks like!

billet big block Chevy engine