Offered with three Flex Fuel powertrains, the 2015 Silverado has an engine to suit all needs. The 4.3L V6 gets up to 21 mpg, making it a great daily driver. For those after a capable work truck, both V8s can tow over 11,000 lbs. when configured properly.
Key Points
- The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado‘s base engine is a 4.3L Flex Fuel V6. It is the best option for those looking for a daily driver as it gets 17 mpg city and 22 highway.
- The 5.3L V8 makes 355-hp and can tow up to 11,000 pounds, making it a great option for a work truck.
- The 6.2L V8 is even more powerful than the 5.3L at 420-hp. It can also tow 1,000 extra pounds.
- Unless you really need the extra thousand pounds of towing capacity, the 5.3L V8 is the best selection.
2015 Silverado’s Base 4.3L V6 has 19 mpg Combined, Making it an Ideal at Cruising Speeds
The base engine offered in the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado is a 4.3L EcoTec3 V6. It makes 285-hp and 305 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine can also tow up to 7,600 pounds, over 3,000 pounds less than the V8’s.
The 4.3L V6 is a very efficient engine that not only wastes less fuel but also manages its oil delivery better thanks to cylinder deactivation, which is where the engine cuts the number of cylinders being used in half when not under strain. Also, find continuously variable valve timing and direct injection. With that efficiency, this engine gets an EPA-rated 17 mpg city and 22 highway.
With Flex Fuel technology this engine can run on E85, at the cost of five or so mpg. Mileage does vary between cab choice, and whether you choose 4WD or two-wheel-drive.
In terms of motor oil, 2015 Chevy Silverados equipped with the 4.3L V6 requires six quarts of SAE 5W-30 engine oil. We recommend using fully synthetic oil in order to get the most efficiency and performance.
2015 Silverado’s 355-horsepower 5.3L V8 is all the Muscle Most Truck Buyers Need
The second engine available with the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado is a 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Producing 355-horsepower and 383 lb.-ft. of torque, it has all the grunt needed to make a capable work truck. This includes a maximum towing capacity of 11,200 pounds.
Edmunds took a liking to the 5.3L, saying “the 5.3-liter V8 delivers even more thrust with good manners, though there’s still a bit of vibration during hard acceleration.”
This engine utilizes the same technology that makes the 4.3L V6 so efficient. That means you’ll get pretty decent fuel efficiency at 16 mpg city and 22 highway when configured with four-wheel drive.
Since it’s a bigger engine with more cylinders, the oil it takes is different than the V6. It takes eight quarts of fully synthetic SAE 0W-20 engine oil.
2015 Silverado’s 420-hp 6.2L V8 can Hit 0-60 in 5.7 Seconds
The third engine in the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado is a 6.2L V8. With an impressive 420-horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque, it is the most powerful and capable of the three. Despite that extra performance, it still gets a respectable 15 mpg city and 21 highway, with 4WD enabled.
In terms of towing, the 6.2L V8 has a monstrous 12,200-pound maximum towing capacity. If you need the absolute highest towing capability from your 2015 Silverado, this is the one to choose.
Unlike the other two engines, the 6.2L V8 is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission rather than the six-speed. Thanks to the seamless shifting of the eight-speed, certain 2015 Silverado’s equipped with it can go from zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. For a full-size truck, that is genuinely fast.
Like the 5.3L V8, this engine takes eight quarts of fully synthetic SAE 0w-20 engine oil.
2015 Silverado Engine’s $715 Annual Maintenance Cost is Higher than Competition
Reliability and durability are important qualities in a truck. The engines in the 2015 Chevy Silverado hold up to that principle. According to ownership data, they will last over 200,000 miles with proper maintenance and care. Additionally, Repair Pal puts the annual cost of maintenance at $715, which is marginally more expensive than other full-size trucks.
2015 Silverado’s 5.3L is the Best Engine Option, with 355 hp it’s All You Really Need From a Pickup
On the surface, it may seem like the easier bet to choose the considerably more powerful 6.2L V8. Yes, having that extra power for a work truck is nice, but only if you really need it.
The 5.3L has less power and torque, but that doesn’t mean it’s inferior to the 6.2L V8. Its 11,200 pounds of towing capacity and 355 horsepower are still impressive numbers, all you really need from a half-ton pickup.
Photos: Chevrolet
