The Sierra 3500HD is GMC’s biggest, toughest truck, outmatching the 2500HD, Sierra 1500, Canyon, and Hummer EV. It was completely updated in 2020 and now includes a considerable number of trailering technology for next year.
You may end up with a robust, heavy-duty truck if you buy a Sierra 3500HD, but you could also end up with an unimpressive turkey. For our 2020 Truck of the Year contest, we thoroughly analyzed GMC’s redesigned top-dog Duramax diesel model with its 10-speed automated gearbox and concluded that it is
Although the gas V-8 truck with a six-speed auto was “disappointingly underpowered,” according to our testers, it had one redeeming quality: Its engine is quieter. The engine’s transmission pales compared to its competitors’ eight- and ten-speed units, which is part of what makes it so underwhelming.
2018 2019 2020 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 Engine Oil Capacity
| Engine | Engine Oil Capacity with filter | Oil Type |
| 6.6L 8-cyl Engine L8T | 8 quarts (7.6 liters) | 5W-30, 0W-30 (Below -29) |
| 6.6L 8-cyl Engine L5P Diesel Turbo | 10 quarts (9.5 liters) | 5W-40, 15W-40 (Above -18) |
| 6.0L 8-cyl Engine LC8 Flex | 6 quarts (5.7 liters) | 5W-30, 0W-30 (Below -29) |
| 6.0L 8-cyl Engine LC8 | 6 quarts (5.7 liters) | 5W-30, 0W-30 (Below -29) |
| 6.0L 8-cyl Engine L96 Flex | 6 quarts (5.7 liters) | 5W-30, 0W-30 (Below -29) |
| 6.0L 8-cyl Engine L96 | 6 quarts (5.7 liters) | 5W-30, 0W-30 (Below -29) |
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 GMC Sierra 3500 Engine Oil Capacity
| Engine | Engine Oil Capacity with filter | Oil Type |
| 6.0L 8-cyl Engine L96 | 6 quarts (5.7 liters) | 5W-30, 0W-30 (Below -29) |
| 6.0L 8-cyl Engine L96 Flex | 6 quarts (5.7 liters) | 5W-30, 0W-30 (Below -29) |
| 6.6L 8-cyl Engine L5P Diesel Turbo | 10 quarts (9.5 liters) | 5W-40, 15W-40 (Above -18) |
| 6.6L 8-cyl Engine LML Diesel Turbo | 10 quarts (9.5 liters) | 5W-40, 15W-40 (Above -18) |
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 GMC Sierra 3500 Engine Oil Capacity
| Engine | Engine Oil Capacity with filter | Oil Type |
| 6.0L 8-cyl Engine L96 | 6 quarts (5.7 liters) | 5W-30 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl Engine L96 Flex | 6 quarts (5.7 liters) | 5W-30 |
| 6.6L 8-cyl Engine LML Diesel Turbo | 10 quarts (9.5 liters) | 5W-40, 15W-40 (Above -18) |
| 6.6L 8-cyl Engine LGH Diesel Turbo | 10 quarts (9.5 liters) | 5W-40, 15W-40 (Above -18) |
| 6.6L 8-cyl Engine LMM Diesel Turbo | 10 quarts (9.5 liters) | 5W-40, 15W-40 (Above -18) |
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 Engine Oil Capacity
| Engine | Engine Oil Capacity with filter | Oil Type |
| 6.0L 8-cyl Engine | 6 quarts (5.7 liters) | 5W-30, 10W-30 |
| 6.6L 8-cyl Engine LB7 Diesel Turbo | 10 quarts (9.5 liters) | 5W-40 (Below -18), 15W-40 (Above -18) |
| 6.6L 8-cyl Engine LLY Diesel Turbo | 10 quarts (9.5 liters) | 5W-40 (Below -18), 15W-40 (Above -18) |
| 8.1L 8-cyl Engine | 6.4 quarts (6.1 liters) | 5W-30, 10W-30 (Above -18) |
The Sierra 3500HD is offered with two V-8 engine choices: gas and diesel. The gasoline variant is a 6.6-liter V-8 with RWD and 4WD optionality. It produces 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque, an improvement over the previous engine but a six-speed automatic makes it feel weak and outdated next to competitors equipped with eight or ten speeds.
The Duramax V-8 in the Chevy Silverado 3500HD is a 6.6-liter diesel with 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft of torque. An Allison 10-speed automatic gearbox is used. This is your best option for maximum towing capacity. This RWD regular cab work truck with Max Tow equipment can transport up to 36,000 pounds.
The 2019 GMC Sierra has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are incorporated into most large Sierras. On base trims, the screen is a 7.0-inch touch display, while on higher trams it’s an 8.0-inch touchscreen. Integrated navigation and satellite radio are standard on SLT and higher trim levels; Denali models include embedded GPS. The instrument cluster in entry-level trucks features a 3.5-inch screen, whereas higher trims have a 4.2 or 8.0-inch display (most). Most of these cars work with six speakers, but the Sierra Denali comes with a seven-speaker Bose system.
