6.2L L87 Engine Specs: 2019-2026 HP, Torque, Oil & Recall

The GM 6.2L L87 V8 makes 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, and it is the most powerful gas engine GM offers in the Silverado 1500, Sierra 1500, and its full-size SUV lineup. It powers everything from work-truck Sierras to the Cadillac Escalade, and since 2021 it has also been at the center of a major GM engine recall that changes what oil these trucks should run.

This guide covers the full spec sheet, which trucks and years actually got the L87, and exactly where your engine stands on the recall depending on its model year.

Full 6.2L L87 Engine Specs Chart

The table below covers every core spec for the L87, sourced from GM’s official engine documentation.

Certain Silverado and Sierra trims can order the Performance Upgrade package, which pairs a cat-back exhaust with a unique air filter to raise output to 435 hp and 469 lb-ft, measured at the same 5,600 and 4,100 rpm points as the standard engine. GM’s official L87 spec sheet lists the base engine numbers in full.

The oil spec listed above is the factory number for unaffected trucks. If your truck falls in the 2021 to 2024 model years, read the recall section below before your next oil change.

Which GM Trucks and SUVs Get the L87

GM offers the L87 across eight nameplates spanning trucks and full-size SUVs.

• 2019 to 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (upper trims)
• 2019 to 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (upper trims, including Denali and AT4)
• 2021 to 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban
• 2021 to 2024 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL
• 2021 to 2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV

The L87 replaces the 2014 to 2018 L86 in these same nameplates, and it sits above the standard 5.3L L84 V8 as the higher-output gas option. It shares its Gen V Small Block architecture with the 5.3L family, including the L83 that Truck Guider already covers for head bolt torque specs, so a lot of the underlying engineering carries over between GM’s half-ton V8 lineup.

On the truck side, the L87 is reserved for upper trims rather than base work-truck configurations. Trim gating shifts by model year: 2025 Sierra listings restrict the 6.2L to Denali and AT4, while 2026 Sierra materials show it available starting at SLT. On the Silverado, it typically pairs with RST and higher trims.

Confirm current-year trim availability against the official GMC or Chevrolet build-and-price tool before ordering, since GM adjusts engine-to-trim pairing most years. Base and entry-level trims on both trucks are built around the 2.7L TurboMax four-cylinder or the 5.3L L84 instead.

Confirming your truck has the L87 matters most right now because of GM’s ongoing engine recall.

L87 Recall and Oil Spec for 2019 to 2025 Models

GM issued NHTSA Safety Recall 25V-274 for L87-equipped trucks and SUVs built between March 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024. The recall covers 597,630 vehicles in the United States (roughly 721,000 worldwide), broken down by nameplate below.

Owners can confirm their specific VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup rather than relying on a single published total, since GM has also opened a follow-up NHTSA inquiry into whether the original remedy fully resolves the issue on some repaired units.

The Sierra 1500 carries the largest single share of any nameplate in this recall, which matters for Truck Guider’s core audience.

The issue traces back to potential manufacturing defects in the connecting rods and crankshaft, which can lead to rod bearing damage and, in some cases, complete loss of propulsion or engine failure. Here is how the fix breaks down by model year.

• 2019 and 2020 models: Not included in the recall. GM’s investigation found a lower failure rate in these earlier production years.
• 2021 to 2024 models: Included in the recall. Dealers inspect the engine first. If it passes, GM requires an oil change from the factory 0W-20 to a 0W-40 dexosR-rated oil, along with a new oil fill cap. GM’s dealer guidance has shifted from Mobil 1 Supercar to Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 for this remedy as of early 2026. Engines that fail inspection are eligible for replacement.
• 2025 and later models: Not included. GM states that crankshaft and connecting rod manufacturing improvements made on or before June 1, 2024 addressed the contamination issue, so these trucks stay on the standard 0W-20 dexos1 Gen 3 spec.

If you own a 2021 to 2024 Silverado, Sierra, Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon, or Escalade with the L87, check your VIN against the recall before your next service visit, even if the truck is running fine.

L87 vs 5.3L L84 and 6.2L L86 Compared

The L87 is not GM’s only gas V8 option, and it is worth knowing where it sits against the alternatives.

Against the standard 5.3L L84, the L87 gives up nothing in refinement and adds a meaningful 65 hp and 77 lb-ft, along with a higher max towing figure in most configurations. The tradeoff is cost and, as of the current recall, a documented reliability issue on 2021 to 2024 units that the L84 does not share.

Owners cross-shopping the two engines who plan to keep a truck long term, or who want more headroom for aftermarket tuning through a performance chip, tend to lean toward the L87 despite the recall history, since GM’s fix addresses the root cause on repaired units.

Against its own predecessor, the 2014 to 2018 L86, the L87 keeps the same 420 hp and 460 lb-ft rating but swaps Active Fuel Management for Dynamic Fuel Management, which deactivates cylinders more precisely across 17 possible firing patterns instead of a fixed set. The L86 does not carry the same recall exposure as the L87.

For towing-focused buyers, the numbers below matter more than any spec sheet.

L87 Towing Capacity for 2022 to 2026 Model Years

Towing capacity for the L87 has shifted slightly year to year, and it varies by cab, bed length, and whether the truck has the Max Trailering Package.

These figures reflect Sierra 1500 configurations with the Max Trailering Package. The Silverado 1500 side of the platform tells a slightly different story: with the L87 and the RST trim’s Max Trailering Package, the Silverado reaches up to 13,300 to 13,400 lbs on a ball hitch in some model years, matching or edging out the truck’s overall max rating.

That is a genuine platform difference, not a data error. On the Sierra, GM’s 3.0L Duramax diesel usually holds the truck’s single highest tow figure, while on the Silverado the 6.2L L87 has been the top or co-top performer in several recent model years.

Always confirm the current figure against your specific cab, bed, and axle configuration, since these ratings shift by a few hundred pounds year to year.

For comparison, the 5.3L L84 tops out around 11,200 lbs in the same body styles, and the 3.0L Duramax diesel usually holds the Sierra’s overall max tow rating, typically 13,200 to 13,300 lbs depending on the model year.

Gooseneck and fifth-wheel towing figures run lower than the ball-hitch numbers above and are usually held by the L84, not the L87, so do not assume the L87’s higher horsepower translates to a higher fifth-wheel rating.

None of these numbers change with basic bolt-on parts. A cold air intake can improve airflow and throttle response, but GM’s published tow ratings are tied to the factory drivetrain calibration and axle gearing, not the intake system, so do not exceed the rated max based on an intake swap alone.

What the L87 Specs Mean for Your Truck

The 6.2L L87 is still GM’s strongest gas V8 for half-ton trucks and full-size SUVs, and the 420 hp and 460 lb-ft rating has not changed since launch. What has changed is the oil this engine needs if you own a 2021 to 2024 model, since the recall remedy moves those trucks from 0W-20 to 0W-40 once they pass inspection.

If your truck falls outside that window, the L87 remains one of the more capable and proven engines in GM’s current lineup. If it falls inside that window, get the VIN checked before your next oil change rather than assuming the factory spec still applies.

6.2L L87 Engine Specs FAQ

What does the L87 engine code mean?

L87 is GM’s internal RPO (Regular Production Option) code for its 6.2L V8, not a marketing name. It identifies the specific engine build on the order guide and window sticker.

Is the 6.2L L87 a reliable engine?

Outside of the 2021 to 2024 recall window, the L87 has a strong reliability reputation built on GM’s proven Gen V Small Block architecture. Owners in the affected years should get the recall inspection completed, since GM’s fix directly addresses the root cause.

What oil does the 6.2L L87 take after the recall?

Recalled 2021 to 2024 units that pass inspection move to a 0W-40 dexosR-rated oil instead of the original 0W-20. Unaffected 2019, 2020, and 2025-and-later trucks stay on the factory 0W-20 dexos1 Gen 3 spec.

Is my truck part of the L87 recall?

Only L87-equipped vehicles built between March 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024 are included in NHTSA Safety Recall 25V-274. Check your specific VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup tool, since inclusion depends on the exact build date, not just the model year.

How much can a 6.2L L87 Sierra or Silverado tow?

Most L87-equipped Sierra 1500 configurations max out around 13,000 to 13,100 lbs with a ball hitch and the Max Trailering Package, depending on the model year. Routine maintenance items like spark plugs matter more at this power and tow-load range than most owners assume.