# More on chevy 3.7ltr 5 cyl. engine **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 24, 2016, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-chevy-3-7ltr-5-cyl-engine/755518 "2016-05-24T02:46:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chevromaniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/53a042/32.png) [@Chevromaniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chevromaniac)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-chevy-3-7ltr-5-cyl-engine/755518/1 "2016-05-24T02:46:38Z")
I ran across the thread that was discussing the Chevy Colorado and it’s 3.7 liter ( not the 3.5 liter i-5 ) .This engine was only produced as a 3.7 begining in 2007. The earlier 305 was anemic, at best. The 3.7 was a much better engine for power and fuel economy, as well as addressing the head issues with the earlier engines. As for smoothness, it’s fairly good for a stroked and bored 3.5. It has a little more vib than a typical v-6, yet is’nt an issue. I am not real sure of the other people’s experience with power in this configuration. The Colorado (2007) came in a few different setups for different uses. I bought one in 2007 as an LT heavy load model with the Z71 suspension and limited slip rear axle geared at 3.73:1. The power of this combination is more than suffecient for the vehicle! In fact, it has enough to completely incinerate both rear tires! It also has, so far, out run ALL v-8 trucks that have messed with it, and , no, it has NO modifications done, other than a K&N filter in the stock airbox. No japenese mid size truck even comes close. The biggest drawback to power is the lackluster 4 speed auto. Good transmission no doubt, yet the gear spacing leaves much to be desired. Too tall in first and waaay to tall in second leaves the engine basically off power in the first to second shift. I mean second gear finally winds up (redline) at 87 m.p.h.! Thats with 2 more gears to go, and as with all chevy trucks, its electronically limited to 100 mph. Other than that, this is a wonderful engine, giving absolutely no issues in 9 yrs and 120,000 miles. I have pulled waaay more than I like to admit, yet never missed power, in any way. This engine has an inline 6 torque to it as it loves to keep the rpm’s between 1100 rpm and 2000 rpm in O.D. with converter locked. Doesent need to downshift to keep speed limit, so engine seems to hold up well from that low rpm running. It also has a dr jekyl mr hyde personallity. It starts pulling extremely hard around 3500 rpm and runs it all the way to its 6000 rpm redline very strong. So, as a “comprimise” between a 4 and a v-6 it has the best of both, and does, in fact, excell the v-6 for top end power and willingness to rev. Fuel mileage is on par for bigger i-4’s as well as well tuned v-6’s. I average 20 mpg in town, and 24 hwy. Much better than the listed mileage. Now, if I drive it hard I can expect it to drop into the 16 mpg range in town, but if I run her hard on the hwy (run between Columbus, GA and Birmingham, AL) it drops to 19-20 (at 90-100 mph.) I would say I have used it every way possible for a half ton mid-sized truck, no doubt. Yet it fires right up, nonoises, no complaints. Great engine stock (watch temp. as if the thermostat is changed, the new part is a bad deal as it uses a smaller orfice and WILL cause it to run too hot) I have completely enjoyed the vehicle and this engine I love! There have been many folks who have had nightmare experiences, and most were pre 2007. I have not had a serious issue yet (cross fingers!) and its driven daily. I am one who would entertain the idea of a nice turbo system, and see how much she will do then. The base engine definitely seems to have strength to handle at least some boost. Anyone heard or seen this done? Any stories about it? Any input here is quite welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-chevy-3-7ltr-5-cyl-engine/755518/2 "2016-05-24T02:55:21Z")
But – and I’m only saying this because I care – there are a lot of decaffeinated brands on the market that are just as tasty as the real thing. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-chevy-3-7ltr-5-cyl-engine/755518/3 "2016-05-24T18:28:34Z")
In case you didn’t understand the above comment, \*\*\*paragraphs \*_are everyone’s friend!_ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-chevy-3-7ltr-5-cyl-engine/755518/4 "2016-05-24T18:45:51Z")
I especially like paragraphs. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-chevy-3-7ltr-5-cyl-engine/755518/5 "2016-05-24T19:19:09Z")
They still make Chevys? ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-chevy-3-7ltr-5-cyl-engine/755518/6 "2016-05-24T19:39:56Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > They still make Chevys? Apparently not. Chevys have V8s. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-chevy-3-7ltr-5-cyl-engine/755518/7 "2016-05-24T19:46:11Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > They still make Chevys? How else will you get to the levee? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-chevy-3-7ltr-5-cyl-engine/755518/8 "2016-05-24T20:02:26Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > How else will you get to the levee? You could walk, it’s dry. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-chevy-3-7ltr-5-cyl-engine/755518/9 "2016-05-24T20:44:32Z")
But how will I carry the whiskey and rye? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-chevy-3-7ltr-5-cyl-engine/755518/10 "2016-05-24T21:10:56Z")
If I refuse to go, does it mean I’m immortal? ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-chevy-3-7ltr-5-cyl-engine/755518/11 "2016-05-25T03:59:32Z")
Nope, just means that this won’t be the day that you die. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-chevy-3-7ltr-5-cyl-engine/755518/12 "2016-05-25T15:00:16Z")
I love the sound of a good 5 cylinder engine, a nice, brassy, trumpety aggressive growl, and the engine is amazingly smooth idling as well ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-chevy-3-7ltr-5-cyl-engine/755518/13 "2016-05-26T03:53:45Z")
I have a friend who had a 5 cylinder Colorado. He bragged it had all the power of a four with the gas mileage of a six. ---
**Author:** ![ziper1221](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a183cd/32.png) [@ziper1221](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ziper1221)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-chevy-3-7ltr-5-cyl-engine/755518/14 "2016-05-26T05:06:27Z")
I don’t know about all that, but my OM617 had quite the thump-thump-thump. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-chevy-3-7ltr-5-cyl-engine/755518/15 "2016-05-26T14:56:30Z")
I had a [Fiat Coupe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Coup%C3%A9) with a 2 litre turbocharged straight 5. Strong engine, great handling, but let down by typical Fiat fit & finish. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-chevy-3-7ltr-5-cyl-engine/755518/16 "2016-05-26T15:44:07Z")
My last Chevy, a 1979 Malibu classic ran on 5 cylinders, or maybe even less, at the end. It started out with 8 cylinders