I review the Chevy/GMC 1500 with the 2.7L turbomax 4 cylinder engine L3B and see how well it can tow. I examine engine performance, engine specs, fuel economy, engine acceleration, engine issues all while towing my 8,000lbs travel trailer down the highway.
What I Use:
Engine Oil - amzn.to/4aEbtNE
Engine Oil Filter - amzn.to/3J1nDUM
Engine Air Filter - amzn.to/3JMmMVV
Cabin Air Filter - amzn.to/3JMZAHh
Gear Oil - amzn.to/3PoIcxa
Penetrating fluid - amzn.to/3EOclkx
Rust protection - amzn.to/3Zo0Rh6
Towing Gear:
10 ton Pintle hitch (2.5" receiver) - amzn.to/3r7Axvm
7 Ton Adjustable hitch (2" receiver) - amzn.to/46i2iAf
Adjustable Pintle hitch mount (2.5" receiver) - amzn.to/3RqHGS3
15 Ton Pintle hitch - amzn.to/45SaCqv
10,000lbs Tie Down Straps - amzn.to/3ZBnxeh
My Camera Gear:
Go Pro Hero 10 - amzn.to/3ObZdJJ
Go Pro Hero 8 - amzn.to/36grzkM
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Sony A6400 - amzn.to/3vkqzob
I hope everyone is having a fantastic long weekend! I took this 2.7L turbomax engine in this chevy 1500 for a spin hooked up to my 8,000lbs enclosed travel trailer to see just how this engine performance under load.
I tested this engine about a year ago and it actually surprised me how well it performed. but this time with maximum wind resistance. I figured it would be a little bit more of a challenge on this 2.7L 4 cylinder engine.
I predicted this engine would not revv or have high engine speeds but soon into my highway towing loup I noticed I was wrong. I thought because of this engine massive 4 inch stroke, off-set cylinder and turbo it would be able to push through without downshifting that much. boy was i wrong.
over any hill this 2.7L engine was downshifting right to redline and working incredibly hard just to maintain speed. something the larger displacement V8 engine did not have to do.
I imagine we were approaching the limit of this engine and having only 2.7L of displacement is eventually going to be a limiting factor. dispite this small engine having to work very hard, our transmission temps and engine temps were all within spec and nothing overheated.
the engine itself was rather quiet at those higher RPMs and actually pretty smooth. But I can conclude if you are planning on pulling a heavy trailer with alot of wind resistance at highway speeds I would look at buyer a large engine. probably one of GM's V8's to get the job done more efficiently.
It seemed at the end of my 120 mile towing loop even on flat ground this engine was struggling getting up to 4,000rpm just to maintain our cruising speed.
overall if you are not planning on towing at highway speeds or towing as heavy this engine will do the job. but a heavy trailer at highway speeds is really pushing this engine limit.
00:00 - Intro
00:36 - Truck/Trailer Set-up
01:45 - Acceleration Test 1 (0-30mph)
02:46 - Towing in Town
03:45 - Acceleration Test 2 (35-70mph)
04:33 - 120mile Towing Loop Predictions
05:00 - Engine Torque Generation
06:14 - HIGH RPM'S Pulling Hills
08:48 - Transmission Temp
09:14 - Fuel Economy
09:28 - Driveline Issues
10:38 - DRINKING FUEL (5.9mpg)
11:06 - Appalachian Mountains
14:53 - Final Fuel Economy
15:14 - Conclusion (Buy the V8)