Short answer: yes, but the V8’s cylinder-deactivation system is the thing that decides a good Silverado from an expensive one. The Silverado 1500 is a capable, comfortable full-size truck with strong resale, but the 5.3L and 6.2L V8s use Active Fuel Management or Dynamic Fuel Management, and collapsed lifters are a known and costly failure. Which engine and year you buy, and how it was maintained, matters more than almost anything else.
The lifters are the story
Chevrolet’s 5.3L and 6.2L V8s shut down cylinders to save fuel through Active Fuel Management (AFM) on the K2 generation (2014–2018) and the newer Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM) on the T1 generation (2019 onward). When the system’s lifters fail — a documented issue — you can get a ticking noise, a misfire, and a repair that often runs $2,000–4,000+ CAD. Diligent oil changes with the correct spec help, and some owners fit an AFM/DFM disabler, but on a used truck you want to listen carefully and check the history.
What is genuinely good about the Silverado
- Capable, comfortable and strong for towing and winter driving
- Good resale value and a huge range of configurations
- Wide dealer and parts network across Canada
- The 2.7L turbo-four (2019+) and 3.0L Duramax diesel (2020+) sidestep the AFM/DFM V8 lifter concern
Watch-outs beyond the lifters
- AFM/DFM lifter failure on 5.3L and 6.2L V8s — listen for ticking or a misfire, especially on cold start
- Some 5.3L V8s (K2 generation) consume oil between changes — check the level and history
- 8-speed automatic (2015+ 6.2L, 2019+) can shudder or shift harshly — often helped by a fluid service
- The 2019 T1 interior drew criticism for cheap plastics (improved with the 2022 redesign) — a quality gripe, not a reliability one
- Frame and brake-line corrosion on older salt-belt trucks
Which model years to favour, and which to check carefully
- 2016–2018 — K2 generation; proven, but watch 5.3L AFM lifter and oil consumption, and inspect the frame
- 2019–2020 — new T1 generation; capable, but scrutinize DFM lifter noise and 8-speed shudder, and note the plainer interior
- 2021 — refined T1; most early issues better understood
- 2022–2023 — major interior redesign and improvements; the strongest used choice if the budget allows
On a Silverado, the single most useful test is a genuine cold start followed by a longer drive. Lifter trouble on an AFM or DFM V8 shows up as a tick or misfire — never let the seller warm the truck up first, and treat full, correct-spec oil-change records as a real selling point.
What to check before you buy
- Run the VIN for open recalls before you go
- Cold-start it yourself; listen for a lifter tick or misfire on 5.3L and 6.2L V8s
- Drive it warm and at varied speeds to feel for 8-speed shudder or harsh shifts
- Check oil level and service history, with correct-spec oil on V8s
- Inspect the frame, brake lines and undercarriage for salt-belt corrosion
- If it was a work or towing truck, check brakes, suspension and transmission for heavy-use wear
- Book an independent pre-purchase inspection
How much a used Silverado 1500 costs in Canada
Prices vary widely by trim, engine and configuration. As rough Canadian ranges, condition-dependent: a 2017–2018 Silverado 1500 tends to run about $28,000–42,000, a 2020 around $38,000–52,000, and a 2022-or-newer truck roughly $45,000–65,000+. High Country and loaded crew-cab 6.2L or diesel trucks command large premiums; higher-mileage work trucks sit at the bottom.
Common questions
Is the Chevrolet Silverado reliable?
It is a capable, generally solid truck, but the 5.3L and 6.2L V8s carry a known cylinder-deactivation lifter risk. A well-maintained truck with documented oil changes — or one with the 2.7L turbo or Duramax diesel — is the lower-risk buy.
What is the AFM/DFM lifter problem?
The V8s shut down cylinders to save fuel using Active Fuel Management (2014–2018) or Dynamic Fuel Management (2019+). The system’s lifters can fail, causing a tick or misfire and a repair that often runs $2,000–4,000+ CAD. Listen for it on cold start and check the service history.
Which Silverado engine avoids the lifter issue?
The 2.7L turbo-four (2019 onward) and the 3.0L Duramax diesel (2020 onward) do not use the AFM/DFM V8 cylinder-deactivation hardware, so they sidestep that specific lifter concern.