Going Flat Out in the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado HD
Chevrolet dropped the specs on the 2017 Silverado HD at the 2016 State Fair of Texas…and gave me the chance to drop the hammer in one.
Before I was allowed to hit the inside oval at the Texas Motor Speedway, I had to watch a presentation of all of the changes made to the truck and its 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel V8. The L5P under the Silverado HD’s scooped hood is a package of thorough and thoughtful innovations and upgrades. Those include a more robust block and heads and an improved oiling circuit with a higher flow rate. A 50-percent-larger oil cooler ensures more consistent temperatures when the Duramax is under high loads. According to Chevy, the new Venturi Jet Drain Oil Separator “collects the fine mist of oil entrained in the blow-by gas and uses a small portion of the boosted air generated by the [new variable-vane] turbocharger to pump the collected oil back to the engine oil sump for re-use by the engine” in full-load situations. Microprocessor-controlled glow plugs enable starts in under three seconds in temperatures down to -20 degrees F (-29 degrees C) – without the use of a block heater. On top of all of that, engine idling noise has been cut by 38 percent.
Another part, that scoop up front, lets cool air flow in to help lower engine temperatures and allow the engine to perform better – handy when there’s a big, heavy trailer out back. So is the new Duramax’s 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft of torque. Ninety percent of that twist is available between 1,550 and 2,850 rpm.
I dumped as much of that as I could through the six-speed Allison transmission and tires of a 2017 Silverado 3500 4X4 dually on the track. Chevy says the L5P has improved the HD line’s acceleration times in a variety of scenarios, including towing. I believe them. My test rig was hooked up to a 10,000-pound trailer. The Chevy rep riding shotgun told me to line up at a set of cones, then floor the gas pedal. Before then, I’d never thought I’d know what it’s like to spin the tires on a DRW truck. That changed – quickly. The five tons behind me felt insignificant. I went forward on a smooth, stout wave of power. Near the end of the straightaway, I let off the throttle and let the truck coast into the left-hand curve. The transmission and diesel exhaust brake slowed it perfectly, keeping me from having to jam on the brakes. The idea of not using the left pedal before hitting the sweeper was what made me a little nervous, not the way the Silverado handled the weight behind it. It hardly seemed affected. When I did need to use the brakes, they brought me, the Silverado, and the trailer to a stop with zero drama.
My experience certainly wasn’t a demonstration of what most 2017 Silverado HDs will do, but it was an example of what they can do. I’m sure when some of you buy yours, you’ll discover plenty of other things it’s capable of. Just be sure to share them with us here at Chevrolet Forum after you do.
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via [Chevrolet]
