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There are a few million-mile trucks that literally go the distance. You may expect to hear about the Toyota Tundra, but it’s not alone in surpassing one million miles. There is one Chevy Silverado engine that takes reliability to new levels. 

Which Chevy Silverado engine is the most reliable? 

The Chevy Silverado engine that truly goes the distance is the LBZ engine. It is the Duramax turbo 6.6-liter V8 engine with 360 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. 

It first came out in 2006, just before emission regulations tightened to require the installation of diesel particulate filters, which reduce efficiency and performance. 

Also, it was paired with the Allison six-speed automatic transmission (that has an awesome name) and solved fuel injector issues that plagued the previous LLY engine. 

According to Top Speed, Hugh and Tammy Pennington bought a 2026 Chevy Silverado 3500 and used it to surpass 1,000,000 miles in only six years. 

The 2021 Chevy Silverado 3500 hauling a trailer
2021 Chevy Silverado 3500 | Chevrolet

They got the truck in Georgia for work and spent a lot of time on the highway achieving up to 18 mpg. Tammy did 90% of the driving and regularly drove between 600 to 700 miles a day. 

The truck was used like a semi-truck with a mattress in the rear for sleeping. It’s a solid workhorse with the ability to tow up to 16,700 lbs and can carry a payload of up to 5,511 lbs in its eight-foot bed. 

The truck hauled things like RVs and trailers full of equipment all across the country. Frequent trips included hauling RVs to Lousianna to provide shelter for those in need after Hurricane Katrina hit. 

Also, they attribute achieving over 1,000,000 miles without any severe issues to regular care and maintenance. They religiously changed the oil and filters. 

This is only one example of the Chevrolet Silverado engine surpassing one million miles. Robert Siegal and Brooke Smith both surpassed 1,000,000 miles with their Silverados without having to deal with severe issues or breakdowns. 

To this day, the Duramax diesel engine remains a popular choice for those looking for a durable, long-lasting work truck.

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Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.