Chevrolet Colorado GMT31T0

2.7-liter turbo four-cylinder, aluminum block, direct injection only — GM's answer to Ford's EcoBoost. 310 hp and 400 lb-ft from just 1,500 rpm, feels like a small V8 down low until revs climb and the four-cylinder character shows through. Runs AFM cylinder deactivation (cylinders 2 and 3 shut off under light load), which acts up far less than on the V8s but can stick lifters if oil changes are neglected. Head gasket failures on the 2019-2022 early run under 25,000 miles, mostly warranty-covered. Direct injection demands walnut blasting of the intake valves, with the high-pressure pump and injectors being the usual turbo-DI wear items. Short oil-change intervals with Dexos oil are mandatory here; well-kept 2022+ examples run trouble-free.

• !! Head Gasket on Early Models (2019-2022) from 40,000 km

  Early L3B engines (2019-2022) can lose the head gasket as soon as 20,000-40,000 miles. Coolant intrudes into the cylinders, in the worst case pitting the cylinder walls and requiring an engine swap. Usually covered under the powertrain warranty.

  Symptoms: White smoke, overheating, milky oil
  1,500–4,500 $
  Ad head gasket L3B 2.7 turbo Silveradooil cooler block gasket L3B 2.7
• !! AFM lifter / cylinder deactivation from 100,000 km

  The AFM cylinder deactivation shuts off cylinders 2 and 3 under light load. In the deactivated state the lifters can stick or wear with thin or cold oil — far rarer than on the V8s, but documented and part of a class action. GM covers repairs through extended warranties.

  Symptoms: Hard misfires especially at idle or when cylinders re-engage, power loss, stumbling, increased oil consumption.
  1,500–4,000 $
  Ad AFM lifter set 2.7 L3Bhydraulic lifter L3B TurboMaxAFM lifter kit L3B 2.7
• !! Recall: cracked block (oil gallery) N232415060

  A casting flaw can crack the engine block's main oil gallery. Result: loss of oil pressure and catastrophic engine failure. Customer Satisfaction Program N232415060 for the 2023 run, only a few VINs confirmed, free engine replacement.

  Symptoms: Sudden oil loss, oil-pressure warning, oil traces at the block; for many affected vehicles not noticeable beforehand.
  Ad Customer Satisfaction Program N232415060engine block 2.7 L3B cracked oil galleryN232415060 engine replacement

+ 5 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses

2.7-liter turbo four-cylinder, the detuned base tune of the L3B: 237 hp and 259 lb-ft. Same aluminum block, same direct injection, same AFM cylinder deactivation — just thermally relaxed, which noticeably improves the durability outlook over the 310-hp version (estimates around 150,000 miles versus roughly 110,000). The usual DI items remain: intake-valve coking, high-pressure pump and injector wear. The injector recall N232427950 for the 2023 run covers both power levels. An honest, unfussy four-cylinder truck engine that thrives on short oil-change intervals and good fuel.

• !! AFM lifter / cylinder deactivation from 120,000 km

  The base tune also uses AFM cylinder deactivation (cylinders 2 and 3). In the deactivated state the lifters can stick or wear with poor oil. The lower thermal load of the 237-hp tune extends the time to failure, but the risk remains by design.

  Symptoms: Hard misfires at idle or when cylinders re-engage, power loss, increased oil consumption.
  1,500–4,000 $
  Ad AFM lifter set 2.7 L2Rhydraulic lifter L2R ColoradoAFM lifter kit L2R 2.7
• !! Injectors / high-pressure pump from 160,000 km

  Same direct injection as the L3B: injectors and high-pressure pump wear with mileage, often only past 100,000 miles. The injector recall N232427950 for the 2023 run, addressing inconsistent flow rate, covers both power levels — all four injectors replaced free of charge.

  Symptoms: Rough idle, misfire codes, poorer combustion and emissions, in extreme cases hard starts.
  600–1,500 $
  Ad fuel injector 2.7 L2R Coloradohigh-pressure pump L2R 2.7 turborecall N232427950 injector
• !! Increased oil consumption from 80,000 km

  As on the L3B, raised oil consumption can come from piston rings, valve stem seals or a sticking PCV system. Rarer and usually later on the detuned version, but keep an eye on the oil level between changes. Continuous consumption with no visible leak points to internal causes.

  Symptoms: Dropping oil level between service intervals with no visible leak, occasional bluish smoke, oil-fouled spark plugs.
  2,000–5,000 $
  Ad piston rings 2.7 L2RPCV valve L2R ColoradoKolbenringe L2R 2.7

+ 1 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses