2011 Duramax 6.6l Turbo Diesel V8

C. Charles Hahn · February 8, 2010

In advance of the 2011 HD Truck Updates debuting in Chicago later this month, GM has released the following press release regarding the updated Duramax Diesel:

GRAPEVINE, Texas – GM announced today that its new lineup of heavy-duty diesel pickups will have B20 biodiesel capability. B20 fuel is a blend of 20-percent biodiesel and 80-percent conventional diesel, which helps lower carbon dioxide emissions and lessens dependence on petroleum. The announcement was made at the National Biodiesel Conference.

GM’s new Duramax 6.6L turbo diesel engine has been substantially revised to include B20 capability, as well as meet strict new emissions standards effective this year. The new Duramax will power the redesigned 2011 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickups, as well as the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans. Chevrolet will unveil the 2011 Silverado heavy-duty trucks at the Chicago Auto Show on Feb. 10.

“B20 capability in our new heavy-duty trucks is the latest addition to a growing number of alternate fuel options offered by General Motors,” said Mike Robinson, vice president, Environment, Energy and Safety Policy. “We are seeking different paths to fuel solutions in order to maximize efficiency, reduce emissions and minimize the dependence on petroleum.”

GM already leads in the marketing of FlexFuel vehicles capable of running on E85 ethanol with more than 4 million vehicles on the road today. Like ethanol, biodiesel is a domestically produced, renewable fuel made primarily of plant matter – mostly soybean oil. In pure form, biodiesel lowers carbon dioxide emissions.

“The 2007 federal energy bill mandates increased biodiesel production and more states and municipalities are requiring it,” said Robinson. “Biodiesel production is growing and GM is excited and ready to satisfy demand with our new B20 capable Duramax 6.6L engine.”

Estimates by National Biodiesel Board indicate about 700 million gallons of the fuel were produced in 2008 – up from about 500,000 gallons in 1999. Market fluctuations caused production to decrease in 2009, but it expected to rise with more mandates and the availability of approved vehicles, such as the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty trucks.

Validated and approved fuel

Extensive testing and validation was performed on the Duramax 6.6L using B20 that meets ASTM International’s standard D7467, which covers biodiesel blends between B6 and B20.

“True biodiesel is created through transesterfication and that’s what the Duramax 6.6L is designed to use,” said Coleman Jones, GM biofuels implementation manager. “Strict testing and validation was performed to ensure the new engine is B20-capable, however approved biodiesel is the only way to guarantee engine performance and longevity.”

The Duramax diesel is covered by GM’s five-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty.

To make the Duramax 6.6L and its fuel system compatible with B20, GM upgraded some seals and gasket materials to withstand the ester content of biodiesel and included an upgraded fuel filter that includes a coalescing element. It improves the separation of water that may be present in the fuel, because biodiesel can attract and absorb water. Also, additional heating of the fuel circuit was added to reduce the chance of fuel gelling or waxing that could plug filters.

The Duramax 6.6L’s diesel particulate regeneration system features a downstream injector that supplies fuel for the regeneration process. This greatly reduces potential oil dilution, important with using biodiesel. Downstream injection saves fuel and works better with B20 than in-cylinder post injection.

http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/ne...eb/0208_duramax

Expected power numbers are targeted at 400HP and 700ft.-lbs. of torque. We'll know for sure, and see the rest of the changes Wednesday! Only 2 days to go.

P71_CrownVic · February 9, 2010

Expected power numbers are targeted at 400HP and 700ft.-lbs. of torque. We'll know for sure, and see the rest of the changes Wednesday! Only 2 days to go.

Better not be...not good enough.

BUT...at least the truck will be good looking....which is more than we can say for the other two imitators.

MS3DALE · February 10, 2010

Expected power numbers are targeted at 400HP and 700ft.-lbs. of torque. We'll know for sure, and see the rest of the changes Wednesday! Only 2 days to go.

Better not be...not good enough.

BUT...at least the truck will be good looking....which is more than we can say for the other two imitators.

Matt...What do the "other two imitators" have for HP/TQ ratings? I haven't been keeping up with the "other guys" lately!!!

C. Charles Hahn · February 10, 2010

Expected power numbers are targeted at 400HP and 700ft.-lbs. of torque. We'll know for sure, and see the rest of the changes Wednesday! Only 2 days to go.

Better not be...not good enough.

BUT...at least the truck will be good looking....which is more than we can say for the other two imitators.

Matt...What do the "other two imitators" have for HP/TQ ratings? I haven't been keeping up with the "other guys" lately!!!

I just did a quick search and from what I can find, they're saying 390-400 HP and 720ft.-lbs. torque in the Ford Scorpion, and Dodge's Cummins I6 makes only 350HP and 600ft.-lbs. of torque.

So GM isn't in a bad spot at all with the Duramax. They may end up slightly torque deficient to Ford, but I don't think that's something un-rectifiable.

MS3DALE · February 10, 2010

Expected power numbers are targeted at 400HP and 700ft.-lbs. of torque. We'll know for sure, and see the rest of the changes Wednesday! Only 2 days to go.

Better not be...not good enough.

BUT...at least the truck will be good looking....which is more than we can say for the other two imitators.

Matt...What do the "other two imitators" have for HP/TQ ratings? I haven't been keeping up with the "other guys" lately!!!

I just did a quick search and from what I can find, they're saying 390-400 HP and 720ft.-lbs. torque in the Ford Scorpion, and Dodge's Cummins I6 makes only 350HP and 600ft.-lbs. of torque.

So GM isn't in a bad spot at all with the Duramax. They may end up slightly torque deficient to Ford, but I don't think that's something un-rectifiable.

Yeah,They all try and "one-up" each other when it comes to HP/TQ!! Nothing a tuner can't fix though!!

P71_CrownVic · February 10, 2010

Yeah,They all try and "one-up" each other when it comes to HP/TQ!! Nothing a tuner can't fix though!!

But that's not going to sell trucks.

Being able to say "We sell the most powerful pickup trucks ever built" (or something similar) will sell trucks.

Think of the ads you could have.

The scene open up with an announcer saying..."Any real truck owner will tell you that torque is what gets work done. We at GM agree. Which is why we decided to give the 2011 Silverado HD more power than any other pickup truck ever built. Nobody can match us."

And then we would see the Silverado (or Sierra) pulling some HUGE load with that same voice saying:

"Don't settle for second best...when you can have the best" and then '2011 Chevy Silverado' would flash on the screen.

MS3DALE · February 10, 2010

Yeah,They all try and "one-up" each other when it comes to HP/TQ!! Nothing a tuner can't fix though!!

But that's not going to sell trucks.

Being able to say "We sell the most powerful pickup trucks ever built" (or something similar) will sell trucks.

Think of the ads you could have.

The scene open up with an announcer saying..."Any real truck owner will tell you that torque is what gets work done. We at GM agree. Which is why we decided to give the 2011 Silverado HD more power than any other pickup truck ever built. Nobody can match us."

And then we would see the Silverado (or Sierra) pulling some HUGE load with that same voice saying:

"Don't settle for second best...when you can have the best" and then '2011 Chevy Silverado' would flash on the screen.

Do you work in advertising? That sounds great!

ColoradoSkiCountry · February 10, 2010

Ford's horrible new styling for their HDs is not going to help them sell trucks. People like agressive looking trucks, not something that looks like it had it's nose punched in by it's big brothers "Chevy" and "Dodge"

C. Charles Hahn · February 10, 2010

Ford's horrible new styling for their HDs is not going to help them sell trucks. People like agressive looking trucks, not something that looks like it had it's nose punched in by it's big brothers "Chevy" and "Dodge"

Even though the Dodge does look better than a Ford, I would hardly call them a "big brother."

ybsane · February 10, 2010

You can keep those Ford Diesels..!!! We get somewhere between 10-20 new 550 superduty's with the Diesel motors every year and they are just plain junk, no power---I don't care what they claim for numbers and they are being repaired on a monthly basis. We counted the one day at Dale Jarret Ford and there were 86 trucks all with similar issue's waiting for repair..That is a serious problem folks.

Rob

ColoradoSkiCountry · February 10, 2010

I sure would. Dodge put the first REAL diesel in a 3/4 or 1 Ton Truck, the Cummins. Ford just sold a bunch of power jokes because they are priced lower then the Cummins and Duramax. Since the Duramax came out, it's been a HELL of alot better engine and truck then the Powerless Joke. I had to drive several 97, 99, 03, and 04 PowerStroke equipped box trucks at a previous job. The 97s were tired and flat out beat to hell by 100,000 miles, which is why the company got rid of all of the 97s and 99s at 130,000 miles, most on their 1st or even 2nd rebuilt tranny, as well as new turbos and all with glow plug issues which Ford Engineers sent from MI could not diagnose at the regional repair/training center out here. All the trucks were served at a Ford medium/heavy duty dealer and got the proper maintenance, they just could not hold up very well to the work grind that ford CLAIMED they could. Sorry, I lost all respect for the Power Joke a long time ago. (Try being stranded up in Laramie, Wyoming on a Friday night trying to get back to Denver and having the tranny go or drive shaft snap, you'd be pissed off too.) Maybe in a few years I'll see what they are about again with the newer Diesel engines, but for now, they get a big fat F+ in my book, both for design, and for reliability.

P71_CrownVic · February 10, 2010

---I don't care what they claim for numbers

Ford doesn't worry about that pesky little thing called the TRUTH when talking about power ratings, or capability numbers. They just make up numbers that beats the competition...on paper.

Here in the real world, we know what trucks you should use when you need to get actual work done.

Deichler · February 24, 2010

There is 1 thing I can't understand. Ford says they are the "best selling" truck for 33 years in a row. How???? I work at a factory with 600 employees, it is about 65% GM, then Dodge, then Ford and foreign. I don't get it. Even when traveling down the road and in parking lots I see waaaaay more GM than anything else. And I am sorry, but the new Pooper Duty makes me want to puke everytime I see it, they are UGLY! If I had to drive anything but a GM, it would be a Dodge. I like Dodge, but their MPG's are not all that hot. And I have had Ford's and NEVER again will I do that. Major mistake, glad I made that mistake early in life, but it took 2 Ford's to make me realize it.

C. Charles Hahn · February 24, 2010

There is 1 thing I can't understand. Ford says they are the "best selling" truck for 33 years in a row. How???? I work at a factory with 600 employees, it is about 65% GM, then Dodge, then Ford and foreign. I don't get it. Even when traveling down the road and in parking lots I see waaaaay more GM than anything else. And I am sorry, but the new Pooper Duty makes me want to puke everytime I see it, they are UGLY! If I had to drive anything but a GM, it would be a Dodge. I like Dodge, but their MPG's are not all that hot. And I have had Ford's and NEVER again will I do that. Major mistake, glad I made that mistake early in life, but it took 2 Ford's to make me realize it.

Easy. You're looking at GM trucks -- Ford is looking at Chevy trucks, and GMC trucks. Two separate brands. Together the Chevy/GMC (GM) outsell Ford, but neither outsell Ford in and of themselves. That's how Ford can get away with that claim.

punmax · February 24, 2010

Yeah,They all try and "one-up" each other when it comes to HP/TQ!! Nothing a tuner can't fix though!!

But that's not going to sell trucks.

Being able to say "We sell the most powerful pickup trucks ever built" (or something similar) will sell trucks.

Think of the ads you could have.

The scene open up with an announcer saying..."Any real truck owner will tell you that torque is what gets work done. We at GM agree. Which is why we decided to give the 2011 Silverado HD more power than any other pickup truck ever built. Nobody can match us."

And then we would see the Silverado (or Sierra) pulling some HUGE load with that same voice saying:

"Don't settle for second best...when you can have the best" and then '2011 Chevy Silverado' would flash on the screen.

Go get laid.