Interested to know if the Chevy 6.2L V8 is a reliable, robust engine? Well, the fact that this full-sized half-ton pickup truck has been listed as one of the best engines in the business should speak volumes, right? With that being said, is this powerful, engineering wonder all that it is hyped up to be, and what kind of reliable mileage can we expect?
The Chevy 6.2 engine and the transmissions have proven to last in excess of 250,000 miles and beyond. With regular service intervals and proper maintenance they can last 10-20 years or over 250,000 miles.
Yes, this General Motors developed 6.2-liter V8 with Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM) is a real engineering wonder. in 2019 It earned the 6.2L EcoTec3 small-block V8 a place amongst the greats on Ward’s 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems 10 Best Engines Award. Now if that doesn’t get your heart racing then I suggest you go for a checkup ASAP.
But is the Chevy 6.2 v8 without flaw and what have owners reported after a few years of ownership?
Let’s find out!
How Many Miles Will a Chevy 6.2 Last – Reliability Vs Max Miles?
Before we get to the owner’s feedback, first I’d like to suggest, If you are in the market for a used 6.2 V8 or any used vehicle for that matter, it’s always a good idea to take the VIN number to a service department and have them pull its warranty and service history for you. That will give you a good idea of the life it lived up till now.
Being a 6.2L with DFM and the largest and most powerful gas V-8 in its segment, there’s not much this full-sized half-ton pickup truck cannot do. Having 420 horsepower (313 kW) and 460 lb-ft of torque (623 Nm) on tap and being paired with a Hydra-Matic 10-speed automatic transmission, you’d be hard-pressed to find a challenge/task this truck will back down to. Or is there?
Let’s get some real-world owners feedback on reliability and owners regrets…
What Chevy Owners Say About The 6.2
Owner #1
I bought a 2016 5.3 with 96k miles in late 2018, I have no regrets on doing that.
https://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/236040-what-is-too-many-miles-for-62l/
The 6.2 to 5.3 makes no difference, one just has more cubic inches but they are use the same style parts and programming.
It’s a used truck, so prepare for used truck maintenance. If there is vehicle history that is even better so you can track what has and hasn’t been touched in that 97,000 miles.
Owner #2
I don’t really know the differences between 6.2 and 5.3, but the 6.2 has oil squirters, forged rods and even a forged crank.
https://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/190966-longevity-of-53l-or-62l-ecotec/
The important parts seem like they are very well designed, and building small block v8’s isn’t exactly new territory for GM. I’d say the actual long block should last a very long time unless the carbon buildup causes them to start dropping valves.
Now whether the fuel injection components stand the test of time, we will have to wait. But i think we can all agree vortec 5.7 was a reliable engine and the fuel system on that thing was a pain in the ass.
Owner #3
I wouldn’t worry about any of the big three engines. All platforms are great right now.My wife has the 6.2l in her Denali, and what I would give to have that engine available for my truck. Buy the truck you need. For what I need out of a truck..snow plowing, hauling..and not towing..that is what dictates my choice.
https://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/190966-longevity-of-53l-or-62l-ecotec/
Reliability at 100k Miles
Doing my research, I’ve come across many owners claiming to have racked up in excess of 75,000 – 100k miles without any major engine or drivetrain problems. As long as regular oil changes are carried out you’re good. Oil changes should be done around every 7,300-7,400 miles to keep this engine purring at peak performance and reliability up. Use a decent oil like a Mobil 1 0W-20.
There are a few issues that have cropped up over time though. These are not common issues but rather reported problems by a hand full of 6.2 V8 owners that you should be aware of if you’re considering purchasing a used 6.2.
Let’s look at some of them.
Reported Problems
There are 3 main areas that are “problematic” for the 6.2 and those are:
- Lifter collapse / bent push rods
- Carbon build-up
- A8 Transmission shuddering or vibrating
Lifter Collapse
The lifter collapse in my opinion is the most severe of the 3 issues. Again, caused by the infamous AFM… The Active Fuel Management system is designed to switch of 4 cylinders when driving under a certain speed and throttle position for improved MPG essentially converting your v8 to a 4-pod on the fly. Sounds fantastic right?!
WRONG! It turns out these complex lifters responsible for deactivating the cylinders are not so reliable and end up collapsing. This is a common occurrence and results in all sorts of other pushrod related damages. OUCH!
Carbon Buildup
When it comes to the carbon build-up that is a good old by-product caused by the direct fuel injection. With direct fuel injection the fuel is sprayed directly into the engine cylinders, completely bypassing the intake ports. Now, because there is no highly pressurized fuel going through the intake ports, cleaning them from any gunk build-up, there is nothing preventing them from getting clogged up. This is actually a common problem on most direct fuel injection engines and not exclusive to the 6.2 Chevy. Once this happens you’ll notice a significant decrease in performance and high fuel consumption.
A8 Transmission shuddering or vibrating
Many owners with the A8 Transmissions have reported rough shifting and shuddering, especially between 1st and 2nd gear shifts. The problem was so wide-spread that a class action lawsuit was filed resulting in a fix being implemented by Chev. Apparently it had something to do with moisture in the transmission fluid used in production hence the problem being manifested as early as 20k miles. The problem is easily resolved with a transmission oil flush and filter replacement. Worst case scenario, the torque converter will need to be replaced.
Is 6.0 Or 6.2 Engine Better?
The 62 v8 420hp engine has been slightly modified for the full-size half-ton pickup truck segment.
They have been used in the following trucks:
- 2014-2018 Siliverado and Sierra
- 2014-2018 Yukon and Escalade
- 2014-Present Suburban and Yukon XL
The 6.2 has more power, more torque and returns more mpg than the 6.0L. This is a decent upgrade version of the 6.0L being more powerful, more efficient, and has more potential being a larger engine.
Let’s look at some of the physical differences between the 6.0L vs 6.2L
- Iron block vs. all aluminum construction,
- Gen III cylinder heads vs. LS7 cylinder heads
- Mild cam vs. VVT
- 320ish hp vs 420hp
- 375 ft*lb vs. 460 ft*lb
- Iron crankshaft vs. forged steel crankshaft
Many hardcore 6.0 enthusiasts feel, with a bit of tweaking, the Vortec 6000 can easily achieve all those attributes the 6.2 does with ease.
That subject is up for debate on another day, if you ask me.
Resources
- https://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/236040-what-is-too-many-miles-for-62l/
- https://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/190966-longevity-of-53l-or-62l-ecotec/
Conclusion
The ongoing battle for supremacy between Ford and Chev is amplified in the production of Fords Ecoboost and Chevys 6.2L EcoTec3. There are 2 schools of thought, and that is, there’s no replacement for displacement and those who jumped on the Boost wagon. Even though many Ford enthusiasts end up opting for the 5.0 for reliability, longevity and performance, go figure.
Whichever camp you prefer you have to admit, although not perfect, the 6.2L EcoTec3 is one hell of an engine!