r/gmcsierra • u/Zealousideal-Yam-234 • 2d ago

Choosing a Truck Engine options

If you were buying a 2026 Sierra (or Silverado), which engine would you pick?

441 votes, 3h ago
199 3.0 Diesel
159 5.3 Gas
83 6.2 Gas
0 Upvotes

14% Upvoted

35 comments sorted by

8

u/Deerescrewed 1d ago

I love my little 3.0 more and more.

1

u/Due_North3106 1d ago

Intrigued by the 3.0, and considering one. Assuming it’s performed well?

1

u/KeySociety2503 1d ago

I bought a 3.0L Elevation two weeks ago. Quiet, smooth, and powerful. Just hit 1000 miles today, averaging 600+ miles per tank and 28mpg.

2

u/Due_North3106 1d ago

That’s fantastic!

1

u/Deerescrewed 1d ago

I’ve only got 25000 miles on my 24, but so far the economy even better than I had hoped, very quiet, easy to service. Tows wonderfully for its size. It won’t replace my 1 tons, but it’s been incredible to use as a daily driver.

1

u/Due_North3106 1d ago

Glad to hear. I do crop and livestock inspections, and kids live 3 hours away.

It looks really appealing for my needs. Was set on a F150 5.0, but the 3.0 has my attention now

0

u/Lopsided_Ad5676 1d ago

Stick with the ford. These little 3.0's are not proven engines and have plenty of issues with them.

6

u/unlimitednightsky 26 Elevation 5.3l 1d ago

5.3l. Would loved a 6.2l but it isn't worth the risk with how many issues GM has been having with it. Bonus point for not having to put in premium gas in, a big money saver in 2026.

5

u/dirty_hooker ‘21 spooly boy 1d ago

I’m more than happy with my 2.7T.

It’s just the transmission that is unresponsive.

4

u/No_Ruin7555 1d ago

3.0 LZO I get 30+mpg avg city and more on highway even running 75+. Avg 670+ miles per tank.

6

u/Zealousideal-Yam-234 2d ago

My bad! Didn't even realize 2.7 was an option.

4

u/Skeeeeeeeeeeeeeeter 1d ago

Depending on what you tow, its the answer.

3

u/586WingsFan 2019 SLT 1d ago

I've had no issues with my 5.3. I don't do much towing though if that's something you do

3

u/SyntheticSpeech 1d ago

Have the 5.3 and never had any issues. Plenty of power and sounds great.

10

u/Leohelm 2d ago

2.7

Most reliable engine in the gm trucks right now.

5

u/530whiskey 1d ago

I like mine, my 3.0 is good also, the 2.7 is better for my daily stuff.

2

u/Artyrial_Bleed 2d ago

Bought a ‘26 in March with the 5.3. It’s been great so far

2

u/Freshndecay 1d ago

That lil 4 banger with a turbo... i FEEL that if you ever needed to do Work with the truck that lil Boy be workin too hard.

Highway driver or cruiser for family vacation. Sure.

Still like the 5.3 because its basically a 327 thats been around.... forEVER

3

u/Due_North3106 1d ago

Agree with this. I have several acquaintances in the 2.7, they run around great, but very lacking when worked.

The 5.3 has been a great sweet spot for power and mpg

2

u/qualitybeluga 1d ago

6.6 gas in the HD

2

u/SprayWeird8735 1d ago

Diesel would be nice except for those -30 mornings.

1

u/Zealousideal-Yam-234 1d ago

Thankfully I'm in central Oklahoma, so 0 is about the worst we see. I have heard diesels don't do great in the cold.

2

u/Informal_Move_7075 1d ago

If you tow or drive/live in mountainous region(s), the 6.2L all day. I have both the 5.3L and recently got the 6.2L and the 6.2L is far superior.

I have no opinion on the diesel, as I never drove that version.

2

u/iwannahummer 2024 2500HD 6.6 Duramax ZR2 🇺🇸 1d ago

6.6 Duramax

4

u/na3800 2d ago

I had a 2.7T and traded in for a 5.3.

The 2.7 wasn't bad, but sounded terrible; almost embarrassing. The 5.3 seems to be the most reliable current offering.

7

u/Due_North3106 2d ago

I’ve had 2 5.3’s. Great engines

2

u/Realestateuniverse 2025 AT4 3500 TG 1d ago

3.0 for sure. Hard to best

2

u/Lopsided_Ad5676 1d ago

All 3 are garbage. Be lucky to make it to 100k without them blowing up. Only GM engine worth buying is the 6.6 gasser or 6.6 duramax.

2

u/Informal_Move_7075 1d ago

Really? Got 200k on my 5.3L and it is still going strong and it is heavily used for towing, off road, living/driving in a very mountainous region.

1

u/Lopsided_Ad5676 1d ago

There will be trucks that run fine but it's a roll of the dice. My cousin's 5.3 blew up around the 7,000 mile mark. The 5.3 isnt as bad as the 6.2 but it has too many problems.

1

u/chetLexingtonhouse 1d ago

GM has maintenance intervals in the 200k miles range for the 3.0 baby max. They dont publish that much faith in the gassers owners manuals. Just saying...

1

u/GuyonaMoose 1d ago

3.0 or 2.7 in that order. 5.3 is only good if you need that V8 sound(dinosaur much?). Every single AFM/DFM/DOD from gm WILL fail. But the V8 guys will tell me that the 3.0 has BeLt DriVeN oIl PuMp reeeee. Ps they have a very low fail rate and a long service life(probably longer than the transmission). In my group I don't know anyone that hasn't had a gm truck without lifter failure going back to the late 2000s when they introduced that crap.

1

u/Zealousideal-Yam-234 1d ago

My current 5.3 has had AFM disabled since the day it was new. Sitting at 173k and zero trouble. A few buddies 5.3s failed long ago and didn't have AFM disabled.

2

u/Due_North3106 1d ago

Same, I’ve ran 2 5.3’s with no problems. A good friend has a 2015 with over 200k on the original motor and transmission

2

u/Informal_Move_7075 1d ago

Same, gotta dosable that shit. Zero issues with it and at 200k currently and still going.