The updated 3.0L Duramax LZ0 engine from General Motors is the only option out there for customers who want a diesel engine in their half-ton trucks (or SUVs for that matter). An evolution of the LM2 Duramax diesel, the LZ0 sees big improvements in power, bringing the numbers up to 305 horsepower and 495 lb-ft of torque. It also sees great improvements in towing. But what happens when you hypermile the LZ0 engine under the hood of a Chevrolet Silverado? Our friends at Pickup Trucks Plus SUV Talk decided to do just that in its most recent YouTube video.
2023 Chevrolet Silverado 3.0L Duramax Hypermiling: Details
Hypermiling is essentially doing the bare minimum in terms of stopping and acceleration while driving a vehicle; you take your time to get up to speed, roll through stop signs, and drive 55 mph in a 70 mph Speed Limit zone on the interstate, which doesn’t sound very safe. Still, it shows just how insane the MPG for the truck can be if driven with a light touch of the throttle. We want to send props to host Tim Esterdahl for having the patience to put the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 3.0L LZ0 Duramax diesel through this test.
Image via GM.
The results may not be as great as they could be due to the test starting right when the diesel particulate filter reached 100%, which means the filter has reached its maximum catch for the soot from the diesel engine. As a result, to burn off the soot, the motor either increases the rpm or the temperature to clean the filter. Either method means a slight reduction in fuel economy, but it does keep the air that comes out of the exhaust significantly cleaner.
For the test, the 2023 Chevy Silverado spent the better part of the drive toward the golfing location going up in elevation. Tim Esterdahl did throw the truck into neutral during downhill descents to try and gain some mileage. Then the drive back was likely better since it was downhill. The result? 32.8 mpg, which for a full-size truck equipped with all the goodies found on the High Country trim, minus the wireless charger, that’s quite impressive. Most people won’t be driving the truck like this, but it’s still neat to see how well the Silverado 1500 with the 3.0L Duramax diesel performs in terms of fuel economy when hypermiling.
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