The new Colorado came out in 2023 and is now a trending offer in Chevrolet dealerships. It’s a mid-sized pickup truck and it has dozens of decent competitors on the market. What makes it interesting is the scarce choice of engines – the only 2.7L Turbo option is available. But there are two types of the engine – L2R and L3B.
In this article, I will be talking about the L2R option which is the base version of the engine and is cheaper to buy. Yes, it has lower power and torque and it’s maybe not the best choice for towing large and heavy trailers. But, in my opinion, the L2R version of the engine is more suitable for this truck and I will reveal the reasons why I think so later in the article.
Let’s see if this engine is actually worth your money!
What should you know about the 2.7L Turbo base engine in the Colorado?
First of all, you can buy a truck with this engine under the hood for slightly more than $30,000 and this is a really good price. If you want a more powerful L3B engine, you will need to pay significantly more.
Both engines are more or less the same in terms of tech, but they have different power and torque. The more expensive version was tuned to have higher low-end torque so it delivers more performance with the same displacement. There are pros and cons to this.
Here are the basic specs for the engine:
- in the Colorado it offers 237 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque which is more than decent for a mid-sized truck;
- it only comes with the 8-speed automatic transmission codenamed 8L80 – probably not the best transmission in the world;
- the engine is a 4-cylinder, it offers variable valve timing, and variable valve lift technologies, and can turn off certain cylinders when not loaded;
- this is the direct injection engine, there are no port injectors here;
- it’s a chain-driven engine, it has two chains on different sides and both need some attention;
- the engine is turbocharged, the turbo is not as efficient as in the more powerful version, of course;
- the vehicle comes standard with rear-wheel drive, the 4WD is offered in more expensive trims;
- you will reportedly get 19 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on highways which is 10% better than with the TurboMAX trim.
So, this engine comes with the Turbo package while the TurboMAX package offers the more powerful engine. And even after reading the specs, you may see that choosing a less expensive version of this engine is not a bad idea.
It’s more fuel-efficient, less complicated, and cheaper to run and maintain. Also, the manufacturer didn’t try to squeeze everything out of this engine.
The L2R model was introduced in the new-gen Colorado in 2023 while the more powerful engine has already been here for about 5 years. I don’t know for sure, but I really hope that GM worked with some common issues that were found in the L3B. But the time will show.
How many miles will the 2.7L Turbo last in your Colorado truck?
Well, for now, it’s impossible to predict the longevity of this engine as it has only been a year since it appeared on the market. But looking at the more powerful version and also at the first reports, I can predict the durability of well over 150,000 miles.
It all depends on how you use this engine. For example, its torque is not that good and you shouldn’t tow anything heavier than 7000 pounds (while the official towing capacity is 7700 pounds).
Also, the transmission will prevent you from driving more miles with no serious problems. The 8-speed automatic transmission hasn’t been the best thing GM made in its life. A lot of reports tell us that we shouldn’t use it for heavy-duty tasks. But it should be fine for the average use of the truck.
I will probably say more about the durability of the engine in a year or two. For now, this is everything I can deduct from the information available from different sources.
What are the common problems with this engine?
As with all modern gasoline engines, the L2R model is choked with emission control equipment and efficiency-boosting technologies. They are advertised as something good but in reality, they are something bad.
It’s not uncommon for these engines to throw a warning message and go to limp mode without any symptoms before this. But I can’t remember any modern engine that couldn’t do this.
So, here are some common things you should worry about if you own a Colorado Turbo:
1) Timing chain intervals
There are two chains – one is running camshafts, and the other is used for the oil pump and balance shafts. Both should be replaced at about 100,000 miles and the manufacturer doesn’t tell you about this.
Why? Because GM doesn’t care much what happens with the engine after the warranty ends, so this is your problem and you should remember about that. The chains are pretty thin and won’t live 200K miles.
2) Lubrication standards
As with almost all modern engines, the L2R machine is super sensitive to any lubrication issues. I strongly recommend GM oil and filters because if you don’t guess the proper viscosity and other parameters of some other oil, you can get in trouble.
The variable oil pump is another point of concern. I don’t say it’s bad – I still can’t make these predictions. But it deserves attention. Once you see the oil warning light, top immediately and don’t start the engine till you know the reasons for this.
3) Direct injection issues
Traditionally, such engines have buildup on valves. I don’t think it will bother you within the first 50K miles. If you periodically use good cleaners to clean the intake valves, you will never have issues with carbon buildup.
But the direct injection system in these engines uses a very powerful fuel pump (I mean the HPFP) and it won’t live as long as you want. Also, the pump is not going to be repaired, it should only be replaced which is not cheap at all.
4) Active Fuel Management
This system limits the power of the engine when it’s not needed to the full. It does this by turning off two cylinders. However, the AFM is known to be faulty. It causes oil leaks, loss of power, unstable engine work, and also several other issues.
A lot of owners turn off AFM once they get the truck. Actually, the system is helpful in economizing a couple of gallons of fuel per year, but it’s good only when it’s new.
5) Exhaust manifold issues
The exhaust manifold in these engines is integrated into the head. If you ever have issues with engine temperature and some gas will eventually burn in the exhaust manifold, it may crack. In this case, you will need to replace the entire head – there is just no way to replace the manifold itself.
How can you prolong the life of the L2R engine in the Colorado?
Given you read the above part of the article, you now know what to do to avoid premature death of the 2.7L Turbo engine in your Chevy truck. But let’s make a short and convenient list to make sure you remember everything:
- be careful with maintenance – buy OEM oil and filters;
- replace the chain kit at about 100,000 miles to avoid issues;
- control how your AFM works and consider deactivating it;
- driving with the oil pressure warning light is a no-no;
- avoid driving with misfires or mixture issues to prevent the exhaust manifold from cracking;
- use a carbon buildup cleaner of your choice once a year or something like that.
Other than that, the engine should be fine. I’m pretty sure you can take it to 200K miles and it’s even better than the decent L3B version. Why? Because it’s not so squeezed in terms of power, it offers better gas mileage, and it’s overall less complicated.
Have experience with the 2.7L Turbo engine in the Colorado truck? Please write in the comments to let other car owners know!