We want you to know that we respect the privacy and security of our users. Rear: Solid axle with semi-elliptic, variable-rate two-stage springsĪssist: 4-wheel ABS w/Dynamic Rear ProportioningĮPG Media LLC wants you to have a positive experience in connection with our products and services. Transmission: Hydra-Matic 6L60, 6-speed automatic Vortec 5.3L V8 w/Active Fuel Management and Flex Fuel Capabilityįuel Requirement: Regular Unleaded, ethanol blends to E85 The additional towing capacity and improved refinement are welcome additions.Ģ009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab LT1 Thankfully, Chevrolet decided that truck buyers waited long enough for a transmission better suited to towing. The reduced engine workout at highway speed should equate to the engine requiring less fuel, but any gain should be marginal. The transmission’s ability to select six different gears gets the engine to its 320 hp peak in a hurry.Īt 70 mph, the truck’s tach indicated about 1750 rpm and we heard only wind and tire noise - nothing from the driveline. The subtle V4 pulse was felt more frequently and for longer durations than previous drives in half-ton Silverado trucks both in town and during highway drives.Īnother big improvement is roll-on acceleration for passing or other needs for rapid acceleration. When we weren’t towing, it seemed the wider ratio of the new transmission allowed the engine to make better use of its cylinder deactivation mode. The truck was confident towing the 7,500-pound load at speeds greater than 60 mph.Īside from the improved towing performance and capability thanks to the new transmission, the Silverado’s refinement improved, too, with a quieter cab and improved mileage at highway speed. But thanks to a well-balanced load and a stout tow vehicle, handling and stability during cornering was excellent despite riding on P-rated tires. We expected the load to push and buck the truck. The driveline senses acceleration without throttle and holds gears without upshifting to maintain better control. It’s especially useful for manual downshifting to get the engine to peak power before losing power ascending a grade, or to increase the engine braking effect when loaded or towing on downhills.Įven in the full-auto mode and the tow/haul mode engaged, the engine braking was impressive. A column-shifter-mounted toggle switch allows the driver to manually select gear position. We liked the user-control feature of the 6L80 transmission. It would be a better test in warm weather, but the truck was nowhere near 215 degrees, a common benchmark of “normal” transmission operating temp. While towing heavy, the temp increased to 155 degrees when ascending grades or in higher traffic areas, but held at 147 degrees on the open road. With ambient air temperatures hovering right at the freezing point, transmission operating temperature from the driver information center indicated 115 degrees F. Compared to normal driving without towing, shifting up through the gears was slower than when empty, but precise and solid. The low, grunting, 4.04 ratio first gear was able to get the heavy trailer moving easily. Fifth gear is a 0.85 overdrive and sixth is a 0.66 ratio.īecause of its tow rating, we gave the truck a serious workout and pulled a load estimated at 7,500 pounds. There isn’t a 1:1 ratio in the specs the closest is fourth with a 1.15:1. Like the systems from other manufacturers, it’s slick and worth every penny.Įven though the axle is a 3.42 ratio, the transmission provides a wide, 6.04:1 gear ratio that includes two overdrive gears. The controller is linked to the truck’s ABS system and automatically distributes correct braking force to trailers equipped with electric brakes. We also tried the $200 optional integrated trailer brake control that eliminates the need for an aftermarket, under-dash mounted unit. To get to the high tow rating, our test model had a heavy duty cooling system. While it was slow to migrate to the Silverado production line, when made available for 2009 we put one to the test to see if its impressive, on-paper, 9,500-pound towing capacity was well matched to the performance of the chassis and driveline.īecause of the increased capability from the HydraMatic 6L80 six-speed auto transmission, the Silverado 1500 Crew Cab gained more than 1,000 pounds of towing capacity when turned by the 5.3 Vortec flex-fuel-capable engine. Where we grew impatient is that GM had a great six-speed transmission in its light duty trucks and full-size SUVs but it was limited to the company’s upscale GMC Denali and Cadillac Escalade nameplates. It’s been a competitive disadvantage against trucks from Detroit as well as those from overseas parent companies for more than five years. We’ve complained about Chevrolet’s lack of a five- or six-speed transmission in its light-duty pickups.
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