Chevrolet Silverado 1500 6.2L
is it a safe used buy?

The top-trim engine option on this Silverado generation — genuinely stronger towing and payload capability than the 5.3L, built on the same small-block family with the same AFM lifter consideration to screen for.

GENERATION3rd gen High Country (2014–2018)

ENGINE6.2L V8

POWER420 hp

USED PRICE$29,000–37,000

How the engine fits this car

This generation's lighter aluminium-intensive body takes real pressure off this larger V8, which rarely feels strained even under heavy towing loads — the same proven small-block family covered in detail on the related 5.3L page, here in its highest-output factory form.

This engine is reserved for top trims (High Country and similar), which means the typical used example also comes with the fuller options list those trims carry — worth factoring into your comparison against a lower-trim 5.3L truck.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500-specific pros and cons

This is about the car itself — for engine-specific failure points, see the dedicated engine page below.

WHAT HOLDS UP WELL

Shares the proven small-block bottom end and decades of accumulated reliability data with the 5.3L
Meaningfully stronger towing and payload capacity than the 5.3L for buyers who need it
Reserved for top trims, which typically means a fuller features list alongside the stronger engine
Enormous parts availability and specialist familiarity given the shared GM small-block architecture

WHAT TO WATCH

AFM lifter wear, the same concern documented on the 5.3L, applies equally here
Fuel economy is lower than the 5.3L, the trade-off for the extra displacement and output
Purchase price runs meaningfully higher, reflecting both the engine and the trim level it's bundled with
Rust can appear on frame and underbody components in regions that salt roads

Pricing on the used market

Mileage band

Typical price

What to expect

Under 70,000 mi

$34,000–37,000

Later production, often fully loaded

70,000–120,000 mi

$31,000–34,000

Sweet spot, verify AFM lifter history

120,000+ mi

$29,000–31,000

Budget for lifter work if not already addressed

The engine itself

This Silverado shares its 6.2L V8's core architecture with the related 5.3L Vortec. Full detail on AFM lifter wear lives on the dedicated engine page.

FULL ENGINE BREAKDOWNChevrolet 6.2L V8 (L86) — Reliable or Not →

Pre-purchase checklist for this generation

Listen for AFM lifter tapping at idle, the same key check as on the related 5.3L, covered in detail on the engine page.

Inspect the frame and underbody for rust, particularly on trucks from regions that salt roads in winter.

If the truck has been used for towing, ask about typical load and frequency, and inspect transmission behaviour under load during the test drive.