GM to stop Duramax diesel output for 4½ months

[davidlane]

DETROIT -- A 4½-month pause in production of the Duramax diesel engine threatens supplies of profitable Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra diesel pickups.

Not only is GM's pickup inventory lean, but analysts also predict that sales will start to recover while the Duramax engine plant is down.

GM is scheduled to stop building the current version of the Duramax in mid-December. Production of a re-engineered 2010 Duramax is scheduled to restart in late April.

During the pause, GM will retool the Moraine, Ohio, plant where the engine is built, and GM engineers will tune the 6.6-liter turbocharged diesel V-8 to meet tough new emissions rules that take effect Jan. 1.

The revised engine will add a system to inject urea into the exhaust periodically. The chemical reduces oxides of nitrogen or NOx. The pickups will add low-fluid alerts to prompt drivers to refill the urea tank.

Some dealers worry they may run out of diesel-powered versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra because of the gap in production.

“We got a notice yesterday that starting immediately, we can no longer order the Duramax regular cab,” said Scott Brasher, general manager of Brasher Motor Co. in Weimar, Texas, near Houston.

Brasher still can order extended-cab diesels, and he expects to place his last order for them next month. He also has been buying diesel trucks from other dealers to pad his inventory.

GM Powertrain spokesman Tom Read said GM plans to build inventory of Duramax engines this fall. The Duramax for the 2009 model year can't be built after Dec. 31, but engines that already have been built can be installed in vehicles after that time.

Ford Motor Co. is also launching a new diesel truck engine next year. But spokesman Anne Marie Gattari said Ford dealers will not run out of diesel-powered Super Duty trucks.

http://www.autonews.com/article/2009...909299986/1262

[MrCritical]

And in states like mine where they don't do emissions tests, the low fluid light will stay on till doomsday.

Anybody got a price for five gallons of urea?

[1G6]

The new regulations are ridiculous.

[PistonsFan]

Originally Posted by MrCritical

And in states like mine where they don't do emissions tests, the low fluid light will stay on till doomsday.

Actually, the ECU will go into limp-home mode until you re-fill the Urea... (until you figure out how to trick the ECU )

[bjl84]

It wont be hard to bypass it you know any thing about electronics if they use a simple level sensor like in the washer fluid all you will have to do is measure the resistance with a full tank and replace the sensor with a resistor of similar value

[WishIhadatruck]

It doesn't seem like it would be too difficult to predict and stock the appropriate amount of engines. Hopefully it doesn't cause any issues.

[Odin]

I need to by some urea for my truck, wont that sound great at the service dept lol

[Perian]

But will anyone even notice the absence?

Three years ago the Silverado HD diesel take was 90%.

This year? 10%.

[scooter10572]

Originally Posted by PistonsFan

Actually, the ECU will go into limp-home mode until you re-fill the Urea... (until you figure out how to trick the ECU )

hate to burst your bubble but the ecm will monitor the status of the level sensor just as it monitors fuel level sensors,when it does not see a drop after a predetermined amount of miles the ecm will store a code and most likely go into reduced engine power mode.Im a Gm tech and have seen info on this new system.

[Joe in T.O.]

Did they ramp up production prior to the shut down? The end of the year is the best time to buy (for tax purposes) for contractors like myself and for City truck replacements (at least here in Toronto, anyways). There are hardly any trucks at the GM dealerships now while Ford is bursting at the seams with stock.

[PistonsFan]

Originally Posted by scooter10572

hate to burst your bubble but the ecm will monitor the status of the level sensor just as it monitors fuel level sensors,when it does not see a drop after a predetermined amount of miles the ecm will store a code and most likely go into reduced engine power mode.Im a Gm tech and have seen info on this new system.

I dont think so...

From a conversation with Gary Arvan, Duramax Cheif Engineer...

“If they’re towing frequently, they’ll [likely] have to fill up with DEF again sooner,” Arvan said.

To ensure that the exhaust fluid tank is refilled, Duramax-equipped trucks will warn the driver when the fluid is down to a 1,000-mile range. A series of start-up warnings -- including lights, chimes and messages -- will become more frequent until the tank is empty. If the driver continues to operate the truck with a dry tank, after a final warning and restart the truck will only operate in a “limp-home” mode that limits speed to just 5 mph until the tank is refilled.

And this was just over a month ago. So I stand by my word.

[Novak454]

Originally Posted by MrCritical

And in states like mine where they don't do emissions tests, the low fluid light will stay on till doomsday.

Anybody got a price for five gallons of urea?

Exactly!! Dropping the cats out of my GTO's exhaust was a no-brainer for an extra 20 hp... !!!

[skylark68]

Originally Posted by PistonsFan

I dont think so...

From a conversation with Gary Arvan, Duramax Cheif Engineer...



And this was just over a month ago. So I stand by my word.

Scratch the Duramax from my list... (Not that it was ever on it...)

BRING BACK THE 8.1!!!

[smithb]

The production doesn't stop until mid-December, and they said they will build inventory until then, so I don't see any issue. Just the need to buy your truck before May 1, so you don't have to mess with the Urea. Too bad GM didn't do more engineering so the Urea wasn't necessary, like the Jetta.

[K-1]

Given the refill interval, I expect this will just be another fluid the dealership "tops off" during service.