The 285-hp base V6 engine on the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 light-duty pickup truck provides plenty of muscle for daily errands. And the 5.3L V8 is a smart upgrade for the driver that demands extra power for weekend excursions. When you want to turn heads, the 6.2L V8 is capable of hitting 60 mph in less than six seconds.
Key Points
- Engine options for the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 include an entry-level 4.3L V6, 5.3L V8, and 6.2L V8. All feature EcoTec3 technology for improved performance.
- Standard 4.3L V6 allows for an impressive 23 mpg highway, and can still tow a trailer weighing as much as 7,000 pounds when properly configured.
- Sierra’s 5.3L V8 engine puts out a sufficient 355 horsepower. Its Flex-fuel capability allows the engine to run a fuel mix of up to 85% Ethanol.
- The potent 6.2L V8 can achieve 60 mph in less than six seconds, and for those looking for the most capable hauling machine, has a max tow of 12,000 lbs.
4.3L V6 EcoTec3 Engine Introduced Variable Valve Timing and Direct Injection to the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500
The 2014 model year heralded the arrival of the new EcoTec3 engines produced by GM. The 4.3L V6 is the smallest of the engines offered for the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500. With a 262 ci displacement, it employs variable valve timing and direct injection to produce 285 horsepower and 305 lb.-ft. of torque. You can find this engine in any cab and box configuration along with two or four-wheel drive.
Its aluminum block is an abbreviated version of the V8 block and achieves the same 11.0:1 compression ratio as the 5.3L V8 offered on this truck. The bore and stroke measure 99.6 x 92 mm.
The EcoTec3 name refers to active fuel management technology. It is included in all three engines. When you achieve cruising speed, it will deactivate two or four cylinders at highway speeds to improve fuel economy.
Trucks with the 4.3L V6 onboard earn 18 mpg city and 23 highway with 2WD and the six-speed automatic transmission, according to testing conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The engine also has Flex Fuel abilities, meaning you can fill up with E85 fuel instead of regular gas, though economy will drop by roughly six to seven mpg.
A pickup equipped with the V6 engine tows up to 7,200 pounds with a regular cab, standard box, and four-wheel drive.
5.3L V8 Engine’s Lightweight Aluminum Block Helps to Achieve 355 hp While Maintaining Fuel Efficiency
Get more done in a 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 with the 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine. Also known as an L83, the same engine is found on the GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban, and Tahoe. It also features an aluminum block but has a 325 ci displacement and ups the horsepower to 355 at 5,600 rpm. Torque maxes out at 383 lb.-ft. at 4,100. If you opt for E85 fuel, you do give up gas mileage but see a bump up to 380 hp and 416 lb.-ft. of torque.
Cast aluminum alloy comprises the pistons while cast iron is used for the crankshaft. Bore and stroke measure 96.01 x 91.99 mm. Just like the 4.6L, the V8 features variable valve timing and direct injection.
Drivers see a serious improvement in towing capability with a maximum rating of 11,500 pounds using two-wheel drive, a double cab, and a standard box. It also requires the addition of the Max Trailering Package that adds a heavy-duty rear axle with a 3.73 ratio.
Fuel economy offers comparable highway numbers to the V6, but the city ratings drop to 16 mpg with two or four-wheel drive.
Add the 6.2L V8 Engine to the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 and Set the Stage for Masterful Acceleration and a 12,000-lb. Tow Rating
The 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 made a late-year debut for the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500, so you may have a better chance of finding the big motor on a 2015. Sold as an option on trucks with a double or crew cab and short or standard box, you will only find it on an SLT or Denali trim.
The displacement for this engine clocks in at 376 ci with an aluminum block. It is rated for 420 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 460 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,100 when filled with premium 91-octane gas. The V8 is not able to accept E85 or alternative fuels. The bore measures 103.25 mm and the stroke is 91.99 mm long. Eight individual ignition coils ensure a smooth start every time. The larger block boosts the compression ratio up to 11.5:1.
Perhaps the best news is that while you gain 65 hp over the 5.3L V8, you only drop to fuel economy numbers of 15 mpg city and 21 highway on a two-wheel-drive truck.
When the Max Trailering Package is added, the light-duty pickup can tow up to 12,000 pounds, which is a significant improvement over the previous generation of Sierra 1500 trucks.
Is the bigger engine worth the effort to find? This small-block V8, often referred to as, “the Corvette engine,” was built specifically for truck applications. Even so, Car and Driver took one out for a test run and ripped a 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds flat. While the braking, steering, and aero will never be able to compete at a track, it won’t be the engine holding this machine back.
All Three 2014 GMC Sierra Engines Deliver Power, Capability, and Confidence
If you are simply trying to decide which powerplant is best on the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500, you only need to think about how you expect to use the truck. The standard 4.3L V6 motor provides plenty of muscle for daily driving and trips to the lumberyard, while the popular 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 offers the extra power you might want for off-road fun. Should you want to embarrass other drivers while pulling your family trailer, the 6.2L V8 is capable of leaving everyone in the dust.
Photos: GMC
