Although some might dismiss the Duramax and its host GM trucks as dinosaurs of a augmented fuel-rich lifetime, when conservation took a back seat, the act is that these engines are among the most compelling, trustworthy and fresh in the earth nowadays. Duramax diesels were designed from age one to balm GM dominate the diesel marketplace, and are much going Powerful in their respective markets.
Development and Introduction
Unlike the Cummins engines used by its Dodge competitors, GM's Duramax was a completely "Disinfected stage" diagram. The Duramax was the progeny of GM's correlation with prolific diesel manufacturer Isuzu, who gain (as of Apr 2010) sold extended than 400,000 oil burners in the U.S. on account of 1986. Isuzu penned the basic engine architecture, and GM added the ancillaries and electronics to fabricate it assignment in their GMT limit of heavy-duty trucks. The Duramax hit U.S. shores in 2001, and was these days included on Ward's "10 Chief Engines" string for that year.
Description
Unlike most diesels in America (which are generally inline-configured), the Duramax is a V-8. Although most diesels of the hour were six cylinders, Isuzu went with eight for the Duramax to benefit it pace smoother. They chose the V-configuration for an inline-eight cylinder wouldn't fit under the hood of GM's upcoming Motor lorry contour. All Duramaxes advantage a unmarried turbo from the plant to menu their 6,599 cc (402 cubic inches) of displacement.
Factory Ratings
Duramaxes carry come in diverse configurations thanks to their inception in 2001. The lowest-powered was the 250 horsepower/460 pound-foot of torque LLY-series Duramax used in Chevrolet Deliberate/GMC Savanna vans. The midrange engine had 300 horsepower/520 pound-foot of torque, and the top of the border (as of 2010) is the 365 horsepower/660 pound-foot of torque LMM-series used in 2007-and-up Silverado Heavy-Duty Trucks (HDs) and Sierra HDs.
Potential
While capable from the workshop, the Duramax's certain speak to title is its potency abeyant and facilitate of refining. Like "real" Duramaxes, LG4s do use computer-controlled common-rail injection for increased power and decreased emissions; otherwise the two are nothing alike. GM was also working on a 4.5L little brother to the original Duramax (dubbed LMK), but the design was put on indefinite hold during restructuring.
The Other Duramaxes
GM maintains two other engines with the Duramax name, but neither bear any relation to the original. The better known of the two is GM's behemoth LG4 7.8L (475 cubic inch) commercial-grade truck engine. The LG4 is a fairly traditional inline-6 engine making 300 horsepower and 860 pound-foot in top trim. Starting with a 300 horsepower LLY, another than 425 horsepower is easily attainable with an aftermarket exhaust, intake and personal computer programmer. Gale Banks' infamous Sidewinder Duramax diesel package has achieved more than 700 horsepower and 900 pound-foot of dead reliable power, with plenty of potential left. Most impressively, the Sidewinder package makes 800 pound-foot in a huge arc from 3,000 to 4,500 RPM (just 500 shy of the engine's redline).
