Does the Chevy Colorado have cylinder deactivation?
Yes. The Chevrolet Colorado uses GM's Dynamic Fuel Management to deactivate cylinders under light loads in its current engine lineup.
In the Colorado lineup, cylinder deactivation is implemented on both the gas-powered 2.7-liter turbo and the 2.8-liter Duramax diesel. When cruising or during light throttle, the system can shut off two cylinders, allowing the engine to run on two cylinders for improved fuel economy. Power is automatically restored when more acceleration or load is required. This feature is part of GM’s broader strategy to boost efficiency in mid-size pickups without sacrificing capability.
Engine options and cylinder deactivation
The current Colorado lineup features two engines that incorporate cylinder deactivation technology through GM's Dynamic Fuel Management:
- 2.7L Turbocharged gasoline I-4 (EcoTec): Dynamic Fuel Management can deactivate two cylinders at light loads, effectively running on two cylinders during economical cruising, while reactivating all four when more power is needed. This engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and delivers strong torque for a midsize pickup.
- 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel I-4: The diesel option also uses Dynamic Fuel Management to reduce cylinder count under light load for better highway fuel economy, with a correspondingly efficient torque curve. It typically pairs with an 8-speed automatic and offers robust low-end torque for towing and hauling.
These configurations are designed to balance everyday practicality with efficiency, ensuring the Colorado remains capable while improving fuel economy in steady cruising and light-duty driving.
How Dynamic Fuel Management works in the Colorado
Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM) is GM’s technology that varies the number of active cylinders based on driving conditions. In the Colorado’s 4-cylinder gas engine, DFM can deactivate two cylinders during light cruising, then seamlessly re-engage them when throttle demand rises. The diesel version follows a similar principle, optimizing efficiency without compromising response when power is required. The system operates in the background and interacts with the transmission and engine controls to minimize any noticeable transitions for the driver.
Operational notes for drivers
Most drivers will notice the benefit primarily as improved highway fuel economy, with the activations and deactivations designed to be smooth and unobtrusive. Cold starts, aggressive acceleration, or heavy towing may keep more cylinders active for longer, and the system can re-engage all cylinders quickly as needed. The exact behavior can vary by model year and trim, so checking the specific configuration for a given Colorado is recommended.
Summary
Bottom line: Yes—the Chevy Colorado uses cylinder deactivation through GM’s Dynamic Fuel Management on its current gas and diesel engines. The system can run the engines on two cylinders at light load to conserve fuel and reverts to all cylinders when more power is demanded. This technology aims to provide better real-world efficiency without sacrificing the truck’s capability, with specific behavior depending on the engine and model year.
