Which 2027 Silverado Gets the 34-Gallon Fuel Tank? We Checked the Order Guide
Ever since our 2027 Silverado V8 MPG story posted, we’ve finally had a look at the EPA numbers for our long-term Custom Trail Boss. Still, MPG only tells half of the road trip story. After all, the other half is the 2027 Silverado fuel tank, and how far it carries you between stops.
Back in August, it was reported that an extended-range tank was coming, although GM hadn’t said which configurations would get it. Fortunately, the GM order guide for the next-generation Silverado 1500 now fills in the blanks, trim by trim. So, we went through it line by line to see who gets the big tank, who doesn’t, and what it means for range.
2027 Silverado Fuel Tank Sizes by Configuration
First, let’s set the baseline. According to the order guide, nearly every 2027 Silverado 1500 starts with a tank of about 24 gallons. For example, that covers gas crew cabs, double cabs, and regular cabs with the standard bed. Meanwhile, the regular cab long bed gets a slightly bigger 28-gallon tank.
However, the Duramax 3.0-liter turbo-diesel isn’t as consistent. Specifically, on the 2WD crew cab short bed and 2WD double cab, the diesel drops to roughly 22 gallons. On 4WD models, however, it matches the 24-gallon gas tank.
| Configuration | Gas engines | Duramax diesel |
|---|---|---|
| Crew Cab Short Bed 2WD | 24 gallons | 22 gallons |
| Crew Cab Short Bed 4WD | 24 gallons | 24 gallons |
| Crew Cab Standard Bed 4WD | 24 gallons | 24 gallons |
| Double Cab 2WD | 24 gallons | 22 gallons |
| Double Cab 4WD | 24 gallons | 24 gallons |
| Regular Cab Standard Bed | 24 gallons | Not offered |
| Regular Cab Long Bed | 28 gallons | Not offered |
Which Trims Get the 34-Gallon Silverado Fuel Tank
Next, there’s the new extended-range tank, which holds about 34 gallons. In other words, that’s roughly 42% more fuel than the standard tank. However, it isn’t available on every trim, and the 2.7-liter TurboMax four-cylinder can’t get it at all.
| Trim | 34-gallon tank availability |
|---|---|
| Work Truck | Available, except with Regular Cab or the 2.7L TurboMax |
| Custom | Not available |
| Custom Trail Boss | Not available |
| LT (Z71 on 4WD models) | Available, except with the 2.7L TurboMax |
| Silverado Z71 | Not available |
| Trail Boss | Available, except with the 2.7L TurboMax |
| ZR2 | Standard |
| High Country | Available, and included with the 6.6L V8 |
In short, the big tank lives on the Work Truck, LT, Trail Boss, ZR2, and High Country, as long as the truck has something other than the TurboMax under the hood. Plus, Work Truck buyers can’t pair it with a regular cab. Meanwhile, if you need a refresher on which engines each trim offers, see our 2027 Silverado engines by trim breakdown.
Why Our Custom Trail Boss Is Stuck at 24 Gallons
Unfortunately, this is where it stings for us, though. Specifically, the order guide lists the 34-gallon tank as not available on the Custom or the Custom Trail Boss, even with the 5.7-liter V8. As a result, Cheyenne, our long-term Custom Trail Boss, will live with the 24-gallon tank. Of course, we knew that going in, as we noted when we spec’d our truck.
Oddly enough, though, the regular Trail Boss can get the bigger tank. As a result, stepping up from the Custom Trail Boss to the Trail Boss unlocks about 160 more miles of combined range with the 5.7.
2027 Silverado Fuel Tank Range by Engine
So, how far does each setup actually go? To find out, we took the EPA estimates from our MPG story and multiplied them by each tank size. Keep in mind, though, these are best-case numbers from a full tank to empty. In reality, most of us will refuel with a few gallons to spare.
| Engine and drive | EPA MPG (city/hwy/comb) | Standard tank range (comb/hwy) | 34-gallon range (comb/hwy) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7L V8, 4WD | 15/18/16 | 384/432 miles | 544/612 miles |
| 5.7L V8, 2WD | 15/19/17 | 408/456 miles | 578/646 miles |
| 6.6L V8, 4WD | 14/18/15 | Not offered | 510/612 miles |
| 3.0L Duramax, 2WD | 27 highway | 594 highway miles (22 gallons) | 918 highway miles |
Above all, the Duramax is the range king. Thanks to a 27 MPG highway rating on 2WD models, a full 34-gallon tank works out to about 918 highway miles. In fact, that’s enough to drive from Tyler to El Paso with fuel left over.
Meanwhile, the gas V8s gain roughly 160 to 190 miles with the bigger tank. For a family road trip, that could therefore mean one fewer stop each way. On the other hand, the 6.6-liter V8 needs every bit of that tank, since its 15 MPG combined rating is the thirstiest of the bunch.
Our Take
I’ll admit, the 34-gallon tank is the one option I wish we could add to Cheyenne. After all, our family road trips across Texas would love an extra 160 miles between stops. Even so, 384 combined miles isn’t bad, and real-world results are what really count.
Of course, we’ll track every fill-up as Cheyenne racks up miles, starting with our 2027 Silverado break-in. So, if you’re ordering a 2027 Silverado and range matters, check which trim you’re buying before you sign. In the meantime, for more truck news and updates on our long-term test, sign up for our newsletter using the form at the bottom of this page.
