VIDEO: GM Diesel engineering director describes the new Duramax 4.5L V8
About a year from now, General Motors will face a very interesting conundrum. The company will already be producing a version of its full-size pick-up trucks with a Two-Mode hybrid system. For the 2010 model year, another new engine will be added, a 4.5L diesel V8 that meets Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions requirements in all 50 states. The hybrid system gives a 30 percent boost in fuel efficiency over a 5.3L V8. The diesel should also offer a similar boost. The hybrid is a very expensive system to build. The diesel may be less expensive. The hybrid system works well in warm weather but not nearly as well in cold temperatures. The diesel should do much better in cold climates. The diesel should also provide better payload and towing capacity. It will be very interesting to watch how GM markets these powertrain options and how the fuel efficiency compares in the real world between the diesel and hybrid drivetrains. In the meantime there is a good video from the GMNext website with Charlie Freese, executive director of diesel engineering at GM, in which he describes the design of the new 4.5L Duramax. You can check out the video after the jump.
[Source: GMNext]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
why not the LS2LS7? 7:07PM (8/20/2008)
If you ever catch yourself touting how well Diesels work in cold weather, you might want to stop and consider how far off track you've wandered.
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Brian P 8:39PM (8/20/2008)
With modern ceramic glow plugs, there is minimal glow plug delay before a cold start (normally approx 2 seconds with my VW diesel that uses these glow plugs), and properly winterized diesel fuel won't clog filters and gel up.
I realize that some fuel suppliers have had trouble with winter diesel specifications in the past. Some diesels have heated fuel filters to help out if off-spec fuel is used. My VW doesn't have this, and it's never been an issue. I've been driving VW diesels for almost 10 years.
The province of Quebec is among the colder places in North America, and it's also the place with the highest market share of VW diesel cars.
Blar 12:12PM (8/21/2008)
I have a 1971 Mercedes diesel. It has never given me trouble in the winter, even with its old style glow plugs and indirect injection. Just needs a bit more pre-glow before starting.
oldraven 9:14AM (8/21/2008)
Ft. MacMurray, Alberta (a severely cold place for five or six months out of the year) is riddled with Duramaxes, Powerstrokes, and Cummins. They run almost 24hrs a day, but they're still far more popular than gasoline engines up there.
Nick 1:27AM (8/21/2008)
That's indeed an exciting engine, and it should deliver good fuel efficiency. Hopefully we'll be able to buy trucks soon that get over 25 mpg combined.
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Blar 12:12PM (8/21/2008)
I'd love to see this make its way into the larger cars. Impala, STS, etc.
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oldraven 9:28AM (8/21/2008)
Why don't they offer three options for the eco-savy? The Hybrid 5.3, the 4.5 Duramax, and the Hybrid 4.5, each costing incrementally more than the one before. If the Diesel gets the same fuel economy as the Hybrid 5.3, and the Hybrid system is pretty much entirely enclosed within the transmission, it seems like an incredibly easy way to meet the upcoming CAFE regulations.
'08 Tahoe 5.3L AFM 14/20
'08 Tahoe 5.3L Hybrid 21/22
'0? Tahoe 4.5L Diesel 21/22 (if we're going by this article claiming they'll put out about the same FE numbers)
'0? Tahoe 4.5L D-Hybrid 31/24
Yes, I'm making some assumptions here, but I think you can assume that the Hybridisation of the Diesel would yield equal improvements between the gas and diesel engines.
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G-Meister 3:27PM (8/21/2008)
The problem is that "hybridizing" a diesel brings diminishing returns. Yes, it can be done, and it can reduce fuel consumption. In the US it would even more difficult to meet the required emissions levels if you employ a stop-start feature. The germans like to tout hybrid diesels because they still do not have emission standards as tight as we do.
Mike 11:45AM (8/21/2008)
"If you ever catch yourself touting how well Diesels work in cold weather, you might want to stop and consider how far off track you've wandered."
http://www.soviet-empire.com/1/military/tanks/t34/
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66coronet 3:30AM (8/26/2008)
Maybe gm should chop off 2 cyl and offer it in their fwd vehicles. I hope they offer this 4.5L in more vehicles than just trucks.
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Mike Eilers 1:49PM (9/01/2008)
I think G.M needs to wake up ! they took all the technolgy from the 6.6L duramax that Isuzu motors developed. The employees at the plant in Moraine,Ohio worked hard to get this engine of the ground from quality to putting out two hundred thousand engines out in 2007. Now in 2008 they are producing less than 78,000, because of the economy . Then G.M says they developed this new engine 4.5L Bullshit ! This new engine is being built at the tolwanda plant in New York which is a U.A.W. plant and they will have Quality issues which will effect the plant in Moraine, Ohio they should have built that engine in moraine ! G.M. needs to wake-up along with John Buttermore, and his side Kick Bill Shaw ! Rick Wagnor needs to get off his ass and visit plants on his own instead of getting feed back from his side kicks !
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Joe 2:24AM (10/19/2008)
What happens with the next generation of engine designers take what there parents built, the Detroit Diesel 60 years ago and apply today's technology? The worlds most advance and bulletproof engine! This engine will be very popular indeed!
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