GMC Canyon Used Engines

The Canyon is the GMC version of the Chevrolet Colorado and the engines are identical parts, which doubles the pool you can draw from - a correctly coded Colorado engine of the same year fits. There are two completely separate trucks under the name. The 2004-2012 truck ran the unusual Vortec inline four and five-cylinder engines, with a 5.3 V8 in the final years. The 2015 truck is a new vehicle with the 2.5 LCV four, the 3.6 LGZ V6 and the 2.8 Duramax diesel.

GMC Canyon Used Engines — engine options by generation

How to pick the right one

The 2012 to 2015 line is the one that matters: nothing from the old truck fits the new one. Within the first truck, tell us four-cylinder or five-cylinder and the exact year, because GM enlarged both for 2007 and the 2.8 and 2.9 are different engines as are the 3.5 and the 3.7. On the 2015-onward truck, the 2.5 LCV and the 3.6 LGZ are different engines and the 2.8 Duramax is a diesel with its own everything. Colorado listings are the same parts, so if you do not see your year here, check the Colorado page too. Send us the VIN and we read the eighth character to confirm.

What usually fails on these engines

The 3.7 Vortec five-cylinder has one well-known failure: the cylinder head cracks between the valve seats, usually after an overheat, and GM extended the warranty on the 2007-2010 build range at the time. If your truck is losing coolant with no external leak, that is the first place to look, and a replacement engine is the right call rather than a head. On the newer trucks, the 3.6 LGZ shares its timing chain and variable valve timing issues with the rest of the GM 3.6 family, and the 2.5 LCV is sensitive to oil level - it uses a two-stage oil pump and low oil kills the chain. The 2.8 Duramax is a diesel with an emissions system that does not like short trips. Every engine here is compression and leak-down tested before listing.

What ships with every unit

• Compression and leak-down tested before it is listed, with the test sheet in the box.
• VIN matched fitment — send us your VIN and we confirm the engine code against your vehicle before the order ships.
• Written warranty on every engine, with labour coverage available.
• Free freight anywhere in the lower 48, shipped on a pallet to a commercial address or a terminal.

Related reading: GM 5.3L Vortec engine guide, all engine guides.

GMC Canyon used engines - frequently asked questions

Which engines did the GMC Canyon use?

Across 2004 to today the GMC Canyon was built with 2.8L Vortec I4 LK5, 3.5L Vortec I5 L52, 2.9L Vortec I4 LLV, 3.7L Vortec I5 LLR, 5.3L Vortec V8 LH8, 2.5L LCV I4, 3.6L LGZ V6 and 2.8L Duramax I4 LWN. The table above lists which one belongs to each generation, with the engine family and VIN character that identifies it.

How do I know which engine is in my GMC Canyon?

The eighth character of the VIN encodes the engine on almost every US vehicle, and that is the only reliable way to settle it - two cars of the same year and trim can carry different engines. Send us the VIN and we check the engine code against your vehicle before anything ships.

Will an engine from a different year fit my GMC Canyon?

The 2012 to 2015 line is the one that matters: nothing from the old truck fits the new one. Within the first truck, tell us four-cylinder or five-cylinder and the exact year, because GM enlarged both for 2007 and the 2.8 and 2.9 are different engines as are the 3.5 and the 3.7.

What usually fails on these engines?

The 3.7 Vortec five-cylinder has one well-known failure: the cylinder head cracks between the valve seats, usually after an overheat, and GM extended the warranty on the 2007-2010 build range at the time. If your truck is losing coolant with no external leak, that is the first place to look, and a replacement engine is the right call rather than a head.

What comes with a used GMC Canyon engine?

Every engine is compression and leak-down tested before it is listed and the test sheet ships in the box. Fitment is VIN matched before the order goes out, every engine carries a written warranty with labour coverage available, and freight is free anywhere in the lower 48.