4.5L Duramax-1/2-ton Available When?

[TxDoc]

I never see a definite year published. Is it calender year 2009? Thanks for any help and links to a source.

[ctaylorzl1]

If we knew, it would be on here somewhere. Best guesses put it in MY2010 trucks. Thats about all we know.

[NoNameDenton]

Originally Posted by ctaylorzl1

If we knew, it would be on here somewhere. Best guesses put it in MY2010 trucks. Thats about all we know.

That is what GM is saying, so it should be around half way through the 2010 model year, which is around the time when Ford and Dodge debut their diesel half tons

[member12]

I am looking forward to this info too. The gas mileage figures on this is going to be what makes or breaks a deal for me buying another full size truck after this one. I think GM is going to go after 3/4 ton truck buyers who want a smoother driving truck but still need the towing capacity (which would add more sales to CAFE regulated half tons). I'd like to see them go the more fuel efficient route in the half tons...even if it means a detuned high mpg version offered along side of a hotted up 4.5L.

I doubt that it will have the 500+ lb-ft of torque, though. There is just no way that something that powerful would get decent mileage. I see a demand for it (a big demand really) in half tons trucks and SUVs.

I am expecting 265 horses and around 430 lb-ft and hopefully 24 mpg highway with an optional manual transmission. That should be able to move the truck pretty quickly and town 10,000 lbs with no problem. All it needs now is cummins like reliability.

[ctaylorzl1]

Originally Posted by member12

I am expecting 265 horses and around 430 lb-ft and hopefully 24 mpg highway with an optional manual transmission. That should be able to move the truck pretty quickly and town 10,000 lbs with no problem. All it needs now is cummins like reliability.

A manual transmission? GM has never offered a manual on thier top engine options for 1/2ton trucks. GM will offer 6-speed auto only, I'd almost bet the farm on it! And I highly doubt, even with the new diesel it will be 24mpg highway! That would put it within 2mpg highway of the V6 Malibu! I would guess it would be more like 16/20. Where diesels really shine is in around town driving, all the low end TQ gets thing moving with ease and no straining. On highway diesels usualy rev fairly high and thats what hinders their highway mileage, and since you not ganna get a .50 OD ratio like in a Vette or Camaro there is just no way around that, especially with the emission restrictions!

[E. Haskell]

Originally Posted by ctaylorzl1

I would guess it would be more like 16/20.

That would only be 1 mpg/city better than the 315hp 5.3L with a 4spd auto.

[ctaylorzl1]

Originally Posted by E. Haskell

That would only be 1 mpg/city better than the 315hp 5.3L with a 4spd auto.

I was thing in terms of the 4x4 trucks so it would be 2mpg, but its real world city mileage and towing mileage will be better, plus it will have more power than the 13/17mpg VortecMax, which is what it is trying to accomplish. This truck isnt for people who want uber mileage, its for people who tow alot and would like a little more power and a few extra mpgs while doing so. This is a 3-ton vehicle we are talking about, it isnt going to get mid-20's like everyone thinks! This 4.5 Duramax isnt some gas mileage miracle. Its just a nice alternative to a big gas engine.

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by member12

I doubt that it will have the 500+ lb-ft of torque, though. There is just no way that something that powerful would get decent mileage. I see a demand for it (a big demand really) in half tons trucks and SUVs.

I am expecting 265 horses and around 430 lb-ft

I'm pretty sure GM has officially stated that preliminary specs are 300 horsepower and 520 foot pounds.

[Slideways]

Originally Posted by member12

All it needs now is Cummins like reliability.

I drove a 2007 Ram with a Cummins for a year. It was the least reliable new vehicle I've ever driven due to "software" issues that left me stranded about every two months. Let's not use it as a reliability benchmark.

[TxDoc]

I keep seeing the 310 HP and 520 lbs-ft numbers, too. Real world numbers are what I am really anticipating.

I have not seen a specific transmission listed, either.

The quote I saw was "With a 4.5-liter diesel, a six-speed automatic and a couple of other tweaks, [a two-wheel drive Chevrolet Silverado] can achieve close to 30 mpg highway." and "and that the 4.5-liter achieves 29-mpg while carrying a $5,700 price premium over the gas engine", from this source
http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/news...elsfromgm.html

Many folks who are driving the 6.6 liter D-Max are asking how can a 1/2-ton drivetrain handle "almost 3/4-ton" torque numbers. I had really expected a six-cylinder and not an eight. I think the mpg with that would be great.

The info below is probably already old news as it is from last June.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/15/g...the-hummer-h2/



Mark your calendars, because we're calling today a watershed moment for the advancement of diesel's acceptance in the U.S. General Motors has just announced a new 4.5L V8 Duramax turbo-diesel powerplant it plans to use in the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra half-ton pickups, as well as the HUMMER H2. The new oil burner is expected to produce at least 310 horsepower and 520 ft-lbs. of torque. It features dual-overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, a variable-vane turbocharger and aluminum cylinder heads with integrated manifolding that helps keep the overall package small enough to fit in the same space as the automaker's small-block gas V8s.

That's right, just imagine the possibilities. Wherever GM uses a small-block V8 gas engine, it could potentially use the 4.5L V8 Duramax diesel. In a few years we could be driving diesel Impalas, diesel Camaros, maybe even a diesel Corvette! To quote GM's press release, the engine's small size gives it "the flexibility to introduce this engine in a wide variety of vehicle applications should there be future market demand." Indeed.

GM estimates that the engine will improve fuel efficiency by 25%, reduce CO2 emissions by 13% and decrease particulate and NOx emissions by at least 90% in its GMT900 pickups and the HUMMER H2. Whoever said the HUMMER H2 was on its way out will likely be proven incorrect after this engine debuts. Scheduled to be built at the GM Tonawanda engine plant outside Buffalo, NY, the 4.5L V8 Duramax diesel will be 50-state emissions compliant and meet 2010 diesel emissions standards, as well. GM claims its new diesel will also have NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) levels approaching those of today's current gas V8s, though we'll have to wait and see if that wish comes true. That wait should end in a couple of years, as the automaker states the engine will be available in Silverado, Sierra and H2 models built after 2009.

UPDATE: Pickuptruck.com's Mike Levine has learned from GM that despite sharing its name with the older 6.6L Duramax diesel that was developed in partnership with Isuzu, the new 4.5L Duramax was developed completely in-house by GM.

Check out GM's full press release after the jump for more details.

[Source: GM]

PRESS RELEASE:

GM Plans First Light Duty V-8 Clean Diesel For North America

* High-efficiency V-8 scheduled for pickup trucks under 8,600 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight and HUMMER H2
* Low emissions, high performance and excellent fuel economy
* Expected to deliver class-leading torque, power and refinement
* Manufactured at the GM Powertrain Tonawanda engine plant

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.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 280,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

Thanks for any info as it comes along.

[E. Haskell]

Originally Posted by TxDoc

GM estimates that the engine will improve fuel efficiency by 25%, reduce CO2 emissions by 13% and decrease particulate and NOx emissions by at least 90% in its GMT900 pickups and the HUMMER H2.

If this is +25% compared to the Vortec Max, that'll be around 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. 19/24 if they're talking about the 5.3L.

[ctaylorzl1]

Originally Posted by Slideways

I drove a 2007 Ram with a Cummins for a year. It was the least reliable new vehicle I've ever driven due to "software" issues that left me stranded about every two months. Let's not use it as a reliability benchmark.

I've drove a Cummins Ram every day for several years. If everyone used Cummins engines as a benchmark for reliability there would no need for service stations! My truck is a 96, my engine has 214,000 hard miles, and it start PERFECTLY everytime(it will even start under way sub-zero temps with no plug up, try to get another diesel to do that!), and it returns me 17/17.5 mpg and 15mpg while towing and has 300hp/600ish TQ! If thats not reliable, nothing is! (software issues would not be concidered a "engine problem" IMO)

[ChevyRules]

Originally Posted by TxDoc

I keep seeing the 310 HP and 520 lbs-ft numbers, too. Real world numbers are what I am really anticipating.

I have not seen a specific transmission listed, either.

It will use the 6L90.

[newdude]

Originally Posted by ctaylorzl1

I've drove a Cummins Ram every day for several years. If everyone used Cummins engines as a benchmark for reliability there would no need for service stations! My truck is a 96, my engine has 214,000 hard miles, and it start PERFECTLY everytime(it will even start under way sub-zero temps with no plug up, try to get another diesel to do that!), and it returns me 17/17.5 mpg and 15mpg while towing and has 300hp/600ish TQ! If thats not reliable, nothing is! (software issues would not be concidered a "engine problem" IMO)

i personally think that the cummins is the more durable engine and yours is a great example. To me, that cast-iron block is amazing. Correct me here if i am wrong but does yours have the 12v or 24v?? The 4.5 dmax will be amazing but, i am wondering how the front end will hold up. That shall be interesting to see what they do.

[NoNameDenton]

Originally Posted by ctaylorzl1

I've drove a Cummins Ram every day for several years. If everyone used Cummins engines as a benchmark for reliability there would no need for service stations! My truck is a 96, my engine has 214,000 hard miles, and it start PERFECTLY everytime(it will even start under way sub-zero temps with no plug up, try to get another diesel to do that!), and it returns me 17/17.5 mpg and 15mpg while towing and has 300hp/600ish TQ! If thats not reliable, nothing is! (software issues would not be concidered a "engine problem" IMO)

Guess that is why Dodge will use a small V8 Cummins for the half ton Ram and maybe a V6