New 2011 Chevrolet Silverado

Chevrolet’s new 2011 Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD pickups deliver the segment’s best diesel power. Their new, optional 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel V-8 is rated at 397 horsepower (296 kW) at 3,000 rpm and 765 lb.-ft. of torque (1,037 Nm) at 1,600 rpm – an improvement of 32 horsepower (24 kW) and 105 lb.-ft. of torque (142 Nm) over last year’s engine.

“Segment-leading power is great, but it’s not the only thing that makes the new Duramax a winner,” said Gary Arvan, Duramax chief engineer. “We designed the engine to make that power with less fuel and fewer emissions, while also increasing its durability.”

A slightly different version of the 6.6L Duramax is offered in Silverado HD chassis and box-delete models. It is based on the same improved architecture and includes most of the same features as the pickup version, but is engineered to meet federal certification standards for incomplete vehicles, including the incorporation of a robust EGR system. It is rated at 335 horsepower (249 kW) at 3,100 rpm and 685 lb.-ft. of torque (928 Nm) at 1,600 rpm.

Among the 2011 6.6L Duramax turbo diesel’s new and enhanced features are:

• Main bearing profiles changed to enhance oil film thickness
• Oil pump flow increased for more pressure at low speeds
• A revised turbocharger oil circuit for increased pressure at the turbo and faster oil delivery
• Connecting rod pin ends modified to provide increased piston support
• New, higher-strength piston design
• A new 30,000-psi (2,000 bar) piezo-actuated fuel injection system – capable of operating on ASTM grade B20 biodiesel – ensures more precise fuel delivery, improving emission performance
• An EGR cooler bypass reduces high-mileage soot deposits in the cooler and EGR circuit (pickup versions only).

The more powerful 6.6L Duramax is also more fuel-efficient – up to 11-percent greater highway fuel economy than the outgoing model – reduces NOx emissions by up to 63 percent and helps enable greater towing ratings. Silverado 3500HD equipped with a fifth wheel hitch can tow up to 20,000 pounds (9,072 kg). The increased fuel efficiency, combined with a new, 36-gallon (136 L) fuel tank, provides up to 680 miles (1,090 km) of highway driving between fill-ups.

With nearly 1.3 million Duramax diesel engines put into operation since its launch in 2000, no other automaker has as much diesel engine development experience for meeting the demands of the heavy-duty truck customer.

Strong small-block 6.0L V-8

The standard engine in Silverado HD trucks is the Vortec 6.0L small-block V-8, which is enhanced for 2011 with greater idle refinement. It is rated at 360 horsepower (268 kW) at 5,400 rpm and 380 lb.-ft. (515 Nm) at 4,200 rpm in Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD pickup models. In chassis cab and box-delete models, as well as pickups with a GVWR greater than 10,000 pounds, it is rated at 322 horsepower (240 kW) at 4,400 rpm and 380 lb.-ft. (515 Nm) at 4,200 rpm.

Approximately 90 percent of the Vortec 6.0L’s peak torque is available by only 2,000 rpm and excellent fuel economy is enabled by the engine’s low-friction OHV configuration and cam phasing. The state-of-the-art small-block architecture of the Vortec 6.0L – known commonly as the “LS” family – delivers great strength, smoothness and durability.

Whether equipped with the 6.6L Duramax or the small-block 6.0L, all 2011 Silverado models work under the best warranty coverage in America – a five-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, plus roadside assistance, courtesy transportation and other features that provide assurance that Chevrolet backs its trucks for everything the road offers.