GM Indefinitely Postpones 4.5L Duramax Diesel

mikeputc · 03-10-2009, 07:43 PM

GM Indefinitely Postpones 4.5L Duramax Diesel

General Motors has announced that it is putting a hold on a plan to bring a new 4.5-liter V8 diesel engine to market. The new engine would have been used in the light-duty Silverado and Sierra pickup trucks and estimates have it rated at anywhere from the mid-20s to the high-20s in miles per gallon. This would even be a significant improvement over GM's current Silverado and Sierra hybrids, which get 21 mpg city and 22 highway.

The move is just one of many tough choices GM has had to make to cut costs ahead of a U.S. government decision to see if the struggling automaker will get an additional $16.6 billion in bailout funds.

What makes this pill even harder to swallow is that the new engine is just a year away from being ready for production - which would take place at GM's Tonawanda, N.Y. plant.

As for the engine itself, it has a unique cylinder head design that eliminates intake and exhaust manifolds. The lightweight block also has "advanced castings" for the crankshaft-bearing journals and oil system.

GM secured several new patents in the design of the 4.5-liter diesel engine and it apparently is both as smooth and as quiet as a gasoline engine. With most of the ground-work already complete, General Motors has stated that it would be willing to work with another company on bringing the new diesel V8 to market if there were any reasonable offers.

More: GM Delays New 25 MPG Diesel Engine for Silverado and Sierra on AutoGuide.com

megeebee · 03-10-2009, 07:46 PM

This is a shame, isn't it?

.

goblue · 03-10-2009, 07:46 PM

Keeping up with the Joneses

In reverse...

jkennedy293 · 03-10-2009, 07:48 PM

That's a shame.

page2171 · 03-10-2009, 08:31 PM

Par for the course with GM. Disappointing, but not entirely unexpected. Can't count on anything from GM until it is actually in the showroom.

CmicasatheGreat · 03-10-2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

GM has been awarded several patents for the engine design, and early tests have shown the new motor to be as smooth and quiet as a gasoline engine. Development of the engine was far along when the decision was made to put the program on hold.

Rights to the engine may be sold to another company, Garavaglia said.

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

Seriously... what's the point in giving GM money if they are only using it to continue paying over-paid UAW labor.. as opposed to putting out innovative products like this.

The article states that this Diesel engine could have been coupled with the Dual-Mode tech pushing the Silverado Hybrid into the "mid to high 20s mpg" range. ISN'T THAT THE POINT of everything the Pelosi/Obama brigade was pushing???

So far.. .due to CAFE or the Economy we have had ULTRA V8s delayed or killed, Clean Diesels pushed back, the CTS Coupe pushed back, the Z28 delayed or killed, the Hummer Brand put up for sale, same for Saab and Saturn, the S-Class Competitor delayed or killed... WHEN DOES THIS **** get better.. and how can GM become more competitive if they keep killing desirable vehicles and tech???

I love the idea of the Volt.. I love the idea of the Cruze and Spark (Beat).. but with exception to the Volt... These are not cars in my desired segment.

GM PLEASE file Chapt 11... by not doing so U are becoming a SLAVE to the liberals and making a fool of yourself to boot. Chapt 11 would alleviate U of the need to ask for more Gov't money, as the money U already have could fund your "float" to better times.

kylepo · 03-10-2009, 08:47 PM

following what everyone else has done ford dodge toyota have all shelved theres so......GM could of stayed the course and beat everyone to market and thus able to advertise the most towing capacity and MPG for half tons in the same truck!!!!!!!!!!!!also beating the MPG record already put up by GMs fullsize 2 modes.

DeliveryDave · 03-10-2009, 08:50 PM

NO!!!! I was looking forward to this! DOH!

FenwickHockey65 · 03-10-2009, 08:56 PM

DAMMIT. DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT!!!!

C'mon GM. Think of how far ahead of the competition we'd be with this thing. The industry's only 1/2 ton diesel pickup.

BAAAHHHHHH!!!!

Buick Riviera · 03-10-2009, 09:12 PM

HCCI System is the reason of postpone of the 4500 Duramax light diesel V8 engine, and it's not cancelled.

kylepo · 03-10-2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buick Riviera

HCCI System is the reason of postpone of the 4500 Duramax light diesel V8 engine, and it's not cancelled.

so.....whens the HCCI coming. and how long will it be postponed?

98sonoma · 03-10-2009, 09:21 PM

Come on GM!!! There are plenty of people who would love to have this option for their trucks!
WTF???

98sonoma · 03-10-2009, 09:22 PM

Good question...would love to see an answer

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylepo

so.....whens the HCCI coming. and how long will it be postponed?

tbirderic · 03-10-2009, 09:48 PM

Another marketing opportunity down the drain...

rcworker · 03-10-2009, 10:13 PM

This is par for the course, as far as GM is concerned. The powers to be in HQ are convinced that American consumers are too unsophisticated to comprehend diesel as a viable fuel in cars and trucks.

Just another case of GM brass telling customers what they want to buy.

To run a business this way is stupid. In my years in retail this is not good for business.

03-10-2009, 07:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
mikeputc 1.8 Liter ECOTEC Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 42	GM Indefinitely Postpones 4.5L Duramax Diesel GM Indefinitely Postpones 4.5L Duramax Diesel General Motors has announced that it is putting a hold on a plan to bring a new 4.5-liter V8 diesel engine to market. The new engine would have been used in the light-duty Silverado and Sierra pickup trucks and estimates have it rated at anywhere from the mid-20s to the high-20s in miles per gallon. This would even be a significant improvement over GM's current Silverado and Sierra hybrids, which get 21 mpg city and 22 highway. The move is just one of many tough choices GM has had to make to cut costs ahead of a U.S. government decision to see if the struggling automaker will get an additional $16.6 billion in bailout funds. What makes this pill even harder to swallow is that the new engine is just a year away from being ready for production - which would take place at GM's Tonawanda, N.Y. plant. As for the engine itself, it has a unique cylinder head design that eliminates intake and exhaust manifolds. The lightweight block also has "advanced castings" for the crankshaft-bearing journals and oil system. GM secured several new patents in the design of the 4.5-liter diesel engine and it apparently is both as smooth and as quiet as a gasoline engine. With most of the ground-work already complete, General Motors has stated that it would be willing to work with another company on bringing the new diesel V8 to market if there were any reasonable offers. More: GM Delays New 25 MPG Diesel Engine for Silverado and Sierra on AutoGuide.com Last edited by nsap : 03-12-2009 at 07:15 PM.

03-10-2009, 07:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
megeebee 6.2 Liter LS9 Supercharged V8 Join Date: Feb 2005 Drives: 2005 Cadillac STS 3.6L Posts: 5,293	Re: GM indefinitely postpones 4.5-liter Duramax light duty diesel This is a shame, isn't it? . __________________ *Protect The Sanctity Of Marraige Once And For All.......Ban Divorce!*

03-10-2009, 07:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
goblue 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 4,744	Re: GM indefinitely postpones 4.5-liter Duramax light duty diesel Keeping up with the Joneses In reverse... __________________ VOLTEC is the future of everything automotive. A plug in Prius is not the same as a VOLT. Hydrogen is dead. 8 speed transmissions are irrelevant. VOLT will not have zipties

03-10-2009, 07:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
jkennedy293 6.0 Liter L76 V8 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Holly Springs, NC Drives: '03 Cavalier Posts: 2,371	Re: GM indefinitely postpones 4.5-liter Duramax light duty diesel That's a shame. __________________ Current Car: 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier LS Future Car: 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart

03-10-2009, 08:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
page2171 4.6 Liter Northstar V8 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Camp Pendleton, CA Posts: 1,595	Re: GM indefinitely postpones 4.5-liter Duramax light duty diesel Par for the course with GM. Disappointing, but not entirely unexpected. Can't count on anything from GM until it is actually in the showroom.

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03-10-2009, 08:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
kylepo 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Buffalo NY/ Midland MI Posts: 815	Re: GM indefinitely postpones 4.5-liter Duramax light duty diesel following what everyone else has done ford dodge toyota have all shelved theres so......GM could of stayed the course and beat everyone to market and thus able to advertise the most towing capacity and MPG for half tons in the same truck!!!!!!!!!!!!also beating the MPG record already put up by GMs fullsize 2 modes.

03-10-2009, 08:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
DeliveryDave 2.4 Liter SIDI ECOTEC Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Enola, PA Drives: 95 Chev Ext Cargo van 5.7 04 Chev Silverado K1500 Posts: 192	Re: GM indefinitely postpones 4.5-liter Duramax light duty diesel NO!!!! I was looking forward to this! DOH!

03-10-2009, 08:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
FenwickHockey65 News Contributor Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Chester, OH Drives: Chevrolet Malibu LS, GMC Envoy SLE, GMC Sonoma SLS Posts: 9,285	Re: GM indefinitely postpones 4.5-liter Duramax light duty diesel DAMMIT. DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT!!!! C'mon GM. Think of how far ahead of the competition we'd be with this thing. The industry's only 1/2 ton diesel pickup. BAAAHHHHHH!!!! __________________ Proud to drive American. Proud to drive GM. Current Cars: 2007 Chevrolet Malibu LS: 2.2L ECOTEC I-4 2003 GMC Envoy SLE: 4.2L Vortec 4200 I-6 1998 GMC Sonoma SLS Ext. Cab: 4.3L Vortec 4300 V6 Former Cars: 1993 Saturn SW2 (1993-2006, 243,000 miles) 1989 GMC Safari SLT (1989-2003, 293,000 miles) Future Car: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2LT RS: 3.6L SIDI High-Feature V6

03-10-2009, 09:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
Buick Riviera 2.4 Liter SIDI ECOTEC Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 478	Re: GM indefinitely postpones 4.5-liter Duramax light duty diesel HCCI System is the reason of postpone of the 4500 Duramax light diesel V8 engine, and it's not cancelled.

03-10-2009, 09:21 PM	#12 (permalink)
98sonoma 1.4 Liter Turbocharged ECOTEC Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Indiana Drives: 2006 VW Jetta TDI, '98 GMC Sonoma Posts: 88	Re: GM indefinitely postpones 4.5-liter Duramax light duty diesel Come on GM!!! There are plenty of people who would love to have this option for their trucks! WTF???

03-10-2009, 09:48 PM	#14 (permalink)
tbirderic 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Athens, GA Drives: 1994 Volvo 940 Turbo Posts: 841	Re: GM indefinitely postpones 4.5-liter Duramax light duty diesel Another marketing opportunity down the drain... __________________ Gone but never forgotten: 1988 Ford Thunderbird Sport (my first car) 1992 Mercury Sable GS (Grandpa's last car) 2004 Honda Accord LX 2007 Hyundai Sonata Eric

03-10-2009, 10:13 PM	#15 (permalink)
rcworker 2.4 Liter SIDI ECOTEC Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Canuck Drives: 3.9 V6 Posts: 165	Re: GM indefinitely postpones 4.5-liter Duramax light duty diesel This is par for the course, as far as GM is concerned. The powers to be in HQ are convinced that American consumers are too unsophisticated to comprehend diesel as a viable fuel in cars and trucks. Just another case of GM brass telling customers what they want to buy. To run a business this way is stupid. In my years in retail this is not good for business.

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