GM revamping Duramax engine to meet new diesel rules

[nadepalma]

Source: http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...1/TOC01ARCHIVE

GM revamping Duramax engine to meet new diesel rules
By RICHARD TRUETT | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
AutoWeek | Published 06/14/06, 4:33 pm et



DETROIT -- General Motors plans a series of expensive changes to its Duramax V-8 engine to cope with tough U.S. diesel emission rules taking effect Jan. 1.

GM says reworking the 6.6-liter diesel, which powers heavy-duty versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, won't interrupt production. But the modifications are expected to sharply increase the cost of building the engine.

Heavy-duty trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of as much as 10,000 pounds must meet the Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions standards. The new rules call for a 90 percent reduction of oxides of nitrogen, or NOx, and particulate matter, or soot.

GM will significantly revamp the emissions system of the Duramax, which also is used in full-sized vans and commercial vehicles. GM Powertrain spokeswoman Susan Garavaglia said the diesel will meet the 2007 regulations with:

>> A new variable geometry turbocharger.

>> Enhanced exhaust gas recirculation.

>> Closed crankcase ventilation system.

>> Changes to the exhaust system that include an oxidizing catalytic converter to clean NOx emissions and a particulate filter to lower soot.

Diesel particulate filters, first used in Europe in 2005 on Peugeot and Citroen vehicles, will land in America for the first time on diesel versions of the Mercedes-Benz E320 and the Jeep Grand Cherokee coming this fall.

The new Duramax developed to meet the emissions regulation won't be available until Jan. 1.

GM's upgrades won't be cheap. The particulate filter and oxidizing catalytic converter, for example, could add at least $3,000 to the cost of building the truck.

The estimate is based on hardware costs for older diesels that have been retrofitted with filters and related equipment. GM won't confirm the figures.

Demand is strong for GM's diesel trucks. Capacity from the lone Moraine, Ohio, plant that builds the engine is limited to about 180,000 units a year. Because the Duramax has built a reputation for being smooth, quiet and reliable, GM sells out of diesel trucks each year and gets close to sticker prices, which start at about $30,000 and can go as high as $50,000.

GM's technical solutions differ from what sources say Ford Motor Co., Volkswagen and DaimlerChrysler plan for diesel powerplants in the United States. Ford will launch a revamped Power Stroke diesel truck engine in the first quarter of 2007 that uses piezoelectric fuel injectors.

Piezo injectors enable an engine to run cleaner by producing less NOx in the combustion chamber. Particulate filters reduce NOx in the exhaust system.

Chrysler group officials won't comment on what changes the Dodge Ram diesel will get for the 2007 model year. But spokesman Nick Cappa said that Mercedes-Benz's Bluetec diesel emissions system, a suite of technologies that includes traps and filters and urea injection -- also will be used on Chrysler group vehicles. Urea systems shoot an ammonialike acid into the exhaust pipes, radically reducing NOx.

At least two automakers are pulling diesel vehicles out of the United States until they can meet the new standard. The Chrysler group ended production of the Jeep Liberty diesel May 31, even though the small SUV has surpassed sales expectations.

The Liberty could be back with a cleaner diesel engine in 2008 when it gets a face-lift and is re-engineered, sources say.

Volkswagen plans to build up an inventory of about 10,000 diesel Jettas between now and Dec. 31 and sell leftover 2006 models while it retools its diesel fuel injection system.

The 2006 Jetta and the Touareg SUV will be the only VW diesels in the lineup in 2007.

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by nadepalma

Volkswagen plans to build up an inventory of about 10,000 diesel Jettas between now and Dec. 31 and sell leftover 2006 models while it retools its diesel fuel injection system.

Cheaters! Just as GM has no excuse for not having 6-speed production capacity in 2006, VW has no excuse for not being ready for this.

I had no idea GM sold close to 180,000 diesel trucks per year. That's around 20% of their full-size sales per year, unless those diesles also go into the full-size vans. I also didn't know they sold out each year, or that they got so close to MSRP.

[5.3Avalanche]

speaking of duramax diesels....
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/w...03f3191c08.htm

[boblutzfan]

The Duramax is a great engine. GM needs to offer this in the Hummer H2 and the Suburban. That combination would sell great down here in south Texas. Maybe GM will introduce that combination after the new engine comes out next year.

[BTrzebiato]

I am all for GM. I hope they get the 4.5 liter v8 and the 2.9 liter v6 stateside that was mentioned in some other post on here. As for VW, one response that I got from a product specialist at the Dallas Auto show was the fact they they do not want to develop an engine to meet the new 2007 specs with the 500 ppm LSD. They only want to have to redesign the engine once and be able to use the 15 ppm ULSD. This does make sense and in order to achieve this goal they are delaying the introduction of the new diesels. ULSD will only be guaranteed to be at 80% of the filling stations by October. Therefore, they are hoping that more than that will have the ULSD by January 1 when the new emission requirements will go into effect. I am sure the same goes for the duramax as to why it will not be available until after January 1.

[69Firebird400]

Cost Of New Duramax Diesel May Increase By $3000

Not the same article, but mostly the same information. If they have to charge that much of a premium (the other article said about $3,000), I hope they can still sell as many as before. That's quite a large premium even over the old Duramax - approaching the amount of premium charged for a hybrid car over a regular one, even.

[ChevyITguy]

Originally Posted by boblutzfan

The Duramax is a great engine. GM needs to offer this in the Hummer H2 and the Suburban. That combination would sell great down here in south Texas. Maybe GM will introduce that combination after the new engine comes out next year.

There currently are Suburbans cruising around Detroit with the DuraMax inside...

Look for them in the not too distant future. I suspect they'll show up after all the changes are made to bring the engine into compliance.

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

Cost Of New Duramax Diesel May Increase By $3000

Not the same article, but mostly the same information. If they have to charge that much of a premium (the other article said about $3,000), I hope they can still sell as many as before. That's quite a large premium even over the old Duramax - approaching the amount of premium charged for a hybrid car over a regular one, even.

Ah, didn't see that -- sorry. But it would only make sense that some of the info was the same. Perian got his from Automotive News -- mine came from AutoWeek -- and both are either owned by the same company or have a collaboration. If you go to AutoNews.com you can see the AutoWeek tab on the upper right hand side of the page.

So be it, at least the info is getting out there.

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by BTrzebiato

I am all for GM. I hope they get the 4.5 liter v8 and the 2.9 liter v6 stateside that was mentioned in some other post on here.

I hope so too -- but I wonder if either of them will be DuraMax derived or use some common componentry?

I know that these new diesels are aimed primarily for the Caddy sedans for sale overseas, right?

The article above also says that the DuraMax is "quiet and smooth" -- or something to that effect -- but is it really? I've never heard one before. Are they actually quite and don't have the "rattling" you hear from other diesels?

[cincygoblue]

Originally Posted by nadepalma

The article above also says that the DuraMax is "quiet and smooth" -- or something to that effect -- but is it really? I've never heard one before. Are they actually quite and don't have the "rattling" you hear from other diesels?

Oh my gosh, yes. And I REALLY don't know why GM doesn't market this. Maybe because they sell out of them anyway, but long term they should be building their reputation with how smooth and quiet they are.

If you stand next to one of the Duramax's, you'd guess that it's a diesel, but it's not much louder than many car engines . . . nothing like the Powerstroke or Cummins. Nothing. Honestly. The first time I heard the Duramax in a truck, I couldn't believe it. You can barely hear yourself think next to the Ford or Dodge, but the Duramax is indeed quiet.

[BTrzebiato]

The 4.5 liter v8 and the 2.9 liter v6 are to go into full size pickups and suvs for the 4.5 and the 2.9 I believe is to go into some of the larger cars in the U.S. NADEPALMA I am not sure where you live, but next time you go by a GMC and Chevy dealer don't even ask to drive the vehicle. Go in and ask for someone to start one of the diesel up with the hood open and carry on a conversation. These are extremely quiet. A coworker of mine had not been around the new diesel he was used to the 80 and 90s powerstroke and how loud they were. He was impressed and even more impressed when we drove the new LBZ diesel.

[Canyonaro]

Originally Posted by cincygoblue

Oh my gosh, yes. And I REALLY don't know why GM doesn't market this. Maybe because they sell out of them anyway, but long term they should be building their reputation with how smooth and quiet they are.

If you stand next to one of the Duramax's, you'd guess that it's a diesel, but it's not much louder than many car engines . . . nothing like the Powerstroke or Cummins. Nothing. Honestly. The first time I heard the Duramax in a truck, I couldn't believe it. You can barely hear yourself think next to the Ford or Dodge, but the Duramax is indeed quiet.

I was the same, the first time I heard a Duramax idling at a light, I had to look at the Duramax sticker on the door side to make sure it was in fact a diesel.

Driving around you can tell it is a diesel, but they are very quite compaired to my bosses Powerstroke.

[boblutzfan]

Originally Posted by ChevyITguy

There currently are Suburbans cruising around Detroit with the DuraMax inside...

Look for them in the not too distant future. I suspect they'll show up after all the changes are made to bring the engine into compliance.

Glad to see a fellow enthusiast from San Antonio, TX!!

Being from SATX how did you get the scoop about the Suburbans cruising around Detroit?

[JVal14]

Originally Posted by ChevyITguy

There currently are Suburbans cruising around Detroit with the DuraMax inside...

Look for them in the not too distant future. I suspect they'll show up after all the changes are made to bring the engine into compliance.

And what about the H2? Weren't they planning on an Alpha version with a Duramax. I see no reason why the H2 shouldn't have a diesel option.

[Geotpf]

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

Cost Of New Duramax Diesel May Increase By $3000

Not the same article, but mostly the same information. If they have to charge that much of a premium (the other article said about $3,000), I hope they can still sell as many as before. That's quite a large premium even over the old Duramax - approaching the amount of premium charged for a hybrid car over a regular one, even.

That three grand figure appears the cost of retrofitting an old engine to the new standards; making one from the ground up to the new standards is probably much cheaper.