New 4.5 L Duramax Diesel V8 for light duty pickups

[Scotsman]

I'm late to the party I must admit, but this is the first time I'm reading this information. The torque figure is CRAZY...

General Motor's Tonawanda plant, just outside Buffalo, New York, will be the birthplace of GM's new 4.5-liter Duramax Diesel V8. The automaker is investing $100-million in the facility to produce the new engine.

The clean emissions light duty oil burner will find a place in the engine compartments of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra half-ton pickups by the 2010 model year. It's expected to be rated in excess of 310-horsepower and 520 pound-feet of torque. In comparison, the 6.6-liter Duramax, currently used in GM's heavy duty pickup, is rated at 365-hp / 660 lb-ft.

GM powertrain spokesperson Tom Reid tells PickupTruck.com that even though it shares the Duramax name with the older 6.6-liter engine - which has been engineered and produced in partnership with Isuzu Motors - the new diesel is 100% designed by GM and will be built without Isuzu's involvement.

GM's global rival, Toyota, became an investor in Isuzu last year, which gave it access to the same engineers that helped develop the 6.6-liter engine.

The new Duramax is expected to help General Motors keep its lead in light duty pickup fuel economy and appeal to both commercial and lifestyle truck buyers looking to save money at the pump. The cost of diesel fuel has recently had up to a $.50 cent per gallon cost advantage over gasoline in certain parts of the U.S..

Mr. Reid says, "We haven't determined what percentage of sales the new engine will be, but we know it's destined to be popular."

GM's press release below:

TONAWANDA, N.Y. – General Motors Corp. will introduce a new, state-of-the-art 4.5L V-8 Duramax turbo-diesel that improves engine fuel efficiency by 25 percent, reduces CO2 emissions by 13 percent and cuts particulates and NOx emissions by at least 90 percent for North American light duty trucks and the HUMMER H2 built after 2009.

The premium V-8 diesel is expected to deliver class-leading torque, power and refinement while maintaining a significant fuel efficiency advantage over comparable-output gasoline engines.

The new dual-overhead cam, four-valve V-8 diesel engine will fit within the same space of a small-block V-8 gasoline engine. This compact size is made possible by using integral cylinder head exhaust manifolds, integral cam cover intake manifolds and a narrow block.

“This new GM light duty diesel is expected to become a favorite among customers who require excellent towing ability and fuel efficiency,” said Tom Stephens, group vice president, GM Global Powertrain and Quality. “It will meet the stringent 2010 emissions standards, and it will be compliant in all 50 states, making it one of the cleanest diesel vehicles ever produced.”

Environmental benefits of the new engine include a 13-percent reduction in CO2 versus gasoline engines, and at least a 90-percent reduction in particulates and NOx compared to diesel vehicles today. This will be GM’s first engine to use a selective catalytic reduction NOx aftertreatment system with a diesel particulate filter to help achieve the Tier 2 Bin 5 and LEV 2 emissions standards.

Technical highlights of the engine include aluminum cylinder heads with integrated manifolding; a variable-vane turbocharger with intercooling; a Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI) block for a stronger and lighter engine base (compared to lower-strength aluminum or heavier grey cast iron); and fracture-split main bearing caps and connecting rods for a precise fit. An electronically controlled, ultra-high-pressure, common-rail fuel system is used, which has the ability to inject fuel five times per combustion event to control noise and emissions.

“This new V-8 is not only a clean diesel meeting the toughest emissions requirements in North America, it also delivers an effortless performance feel because of its high torque across the speed range,” said Charlie Freese, executive director of GM Powertrain Diesel Engineering. “It is also significantly quieter than other diesels on the road today, with noise and vibration performance approaching gasoline V-8 levels.”

Freese said the new V-8’s compact size enables it to fit in the envelope of a gasoline small-block engine, which provides GM the flexibility to introduce this engine in a wide variety of vehicle applications should there be future market demand.

The premium V-8 diesel engine is expected to deliver class-leading refinement, horsepower and torque and fulfill multiple vehicle applications with ratings in excess of 310 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque.

GM (Opel, Saab, Vauxhall and GMDAT ) currently offers 17 diesel engine variants in 45 vehicle lines around the world. GM sells more than one million diesel engines annually, with products that offer a range of choices from the 1.3L four-cylinder diesel engine sold in the Opel Agila and Corsa, up to the 6.6L V-8 Duramax diesel sold in full-size vans, heavy duty pickups and medium duty trucks in the U.S.

GM first introduced the Duramax diesel 6.6L V-8 in the U.S. in the 2001 model year and since then, customer enthusiasm for this heavy duty diesel has been outstanding. In fact, GM’s heavy duty pickup truck market share has jumped nearly tenfold in the six years that Duramax engines have been offered.

http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/news...elsfromgm.html

[Mr. Wyndham]

General Motor's Tonawanda plant, just outside Buffalo, New York, will be the birthplace of GM's new 4.5-liter Duramax Diesel V8. The automaker is investing $100-million in the facility to produce the new engine.

GM powertrain spokesperson Tom Reid tells PickupTruck.com that even though it shares the Duramax name with the older 6.6-liter engine - which has been engineered and produced in partnership with Isuzu Motors - the new diesel is 100% designed by GM and will be built without Isuzu's involvement.

[Scotsman]

How sick would that be if they used this engine in the 5th-gen??? That sounds pretty exciting to me, but maybe wishful thinking too.

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by Scotsman

How sick would that be if they used this engine in the 5th-gen??? That sounds pretty exciting to me, but maybe wishful thinking too.

Once someone cracks our computer, we can do this motor swap on our own. I'm with you. I'd consider doing it!

[FenwickHockey65]

Wow...necropost.

But I'm seriously considering this engine for a new truck...can you say Sierra 1500HD?

Too bad it's on hold now...stupid cash flow problems.

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Wow...necropost.

But I'm seriously considering this engine for a new truck...can you say Sierra 1500HD?

Too bad it's on hold now...stupid cash flow problems.

I was about to sign on the paper work for a dodge pickup a few weeks ago and saw that GM was doing this.... and have decided that i'll be getting one as a late marriage gift to myself.

[Lex]

They need to put it in a Colorado... now that would be fun!

[Kyle2k]

So this thing is making it into the 2010 Sierra/Silverado then?

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by Kyle2k

So this thing is making it into the 2010 Sierra/Silverado then?

from the looks of it, it will at least be an option.

id like to see one make its way into a camaro honestly....