Duramax Diesel Engine Production Halted for the Rest of 2021

Photo courtesy GM Authority

It's been a rough year for automakers, but especially for GM. Semiconductor shortages have hit all of the Big 3 automakers, causing production disruptions. GM seems to had more than its share of woes. 

In August we wrote about how strong the demand has been for diesel trucks, though at the end of this article we referenced a temporary halt to production that was announced. That ominous warning evolved quickly to a more serious concern, as GM was forced to change its tune. The temporary parts shortage will impact the engine more than initially expected. The temporary parts shortage would have a bigger impact on the engine than initially expected.

Last week news broke that production had been halted for the rest of the year on its 3.0L LM2 GM Duramax diesel engine. The article does not explain where the derailment took place. Rather it takes advantage of the bad news to remind us of its features and applications.

The LM2 Duramax diesel is assembled in Flint, Michigan. It has been one of the options for their full-size half-ton pickups and full-size SUVs. These would include the Chevy Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade.

If you ever attend the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, you'll find that GM is not only proud of its cars but also of its engines. The engines are set on pedestals in the massive booth  that historically sprawls in the center of the main hall. They're impressive.

According to the story in GM Authority, "The LM2 engine features a straight six configuration with a DOHC valvetrain, 84mm bore, and 90mm stroke, with a 15.0:1 compression ratio. The block and heads are made of aluminum, with a forged steel crankshaft and forged rods. The pistons are made from hypereutectic cast aluminum alloy, while the cylinder liners are made from iron."

The halting of Duramax diesel engine production wasn't GM's first black eye this year. In July GM announced a recall for 410,019 trucks due to faulty roof rail airbags. The problem was related to moisture issues that might cause the inflator end cap to detach from the inflator, or cause the inflator to rupture. The 2015-2016 Chevy Silverado 1500 and Chevy Silverado HD, as well as the 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and GMC Sierra HD were the model years impacted. 

All this safety equipment can be a blessing when you need it. For manufacturers dependent on suppliers, it's just one more thing that can go wrong. In addition to an army of laborers, they are required to have a battalion of lawyers as well.

You will find the full story here.

Enjoy the holiday. We'll be back tomorrow.

Shopping for a Used Diesel Truck? Here's the Best and the Worst

Dodge W250 (1991½-1993) --This is a Winner, if you can find one.

In April, Autowise.com published their recommendations as regards the best and worst diesel trucks to consider when buying used. These kinds of lists are always fun to review, just to see if the author's views are in alignment with your own.

Personally, I think choosing the best is a more difficult task than identifying the worst. We may have built in biases regarding which features are of greater value to us personally. As we've written about before, it depends a lot on what you're using your truck for.

On the other hand, picking the worst is much easier. Why? Because the bad trucks, like those selected by Riley, the author of this piece, have a reputation. We're not talking about "Friday trucks" or "Monday trucks" where assembly workers are distracted or foggy. We're talking about bad engineering. 

The one positive about some problems is that it gives aftermarket engineers an opportunity to create fixes for some of these mistakes. Not all design flaws are that easy to resolve however. Which leads to our story.

The title of the piece is 8 Best Diesel Trucks You Can Buy & 4 of the Worst. 

The article begins with the basic reasons why people buy diesel trucks. First, they're workhorses. If you're towing a boat, ATVs, a camper trailer or hauling bricks, you know the importance of having equipment that's up for the task. 

Riley's concise description of the benefits of diesel is worth memorizing. Diesel engines "get better fuel economy, are often easy to modify with aftermarket parts, and, when properly maintained, will basically run forever. This makes them a great deal if you are looking for a used truck." 

All this is a plus for diesels, but there's a minus, too. A well maintained, low-mileage vehicle can cost a pretty penny. That's OK with some of the best trucks, and totally not OK if you select a clunker.

That is why this article was written, to help us avoid purchasing a truck that has little more value than a lawn ornament. 

The Autowise article begins with the 8 champion selections, then flashes warning signs regarding the losers. I will discuss the worst first, and list the 8 trucks they have labelled "the best." 

THE WORST

Here are the four diesel trucks that this article recommends you avoid. Sadly, these  trucks that have helped give diesel a bad name in some circles. 

Chevy & GMC C/K 5.7L (1978-1981)

Older folk are familiar with the Oldsmobile debacle in which GM dropped a 5.7L diesel engine into an Olds. It went down in history as one very bad decision. Ironically, GM took this same engine and decided maybe it would work in a pickup. Two wrongs don't make a right. One problem was that this particular engine was a gas 5.7L converted into a diesel. There were other problems as well, Riley writes. Ultimately, the only thing going for this truck is the vintage look. Buyer beware.

Chevy & GMC C/K 6.2L (1982-1993)

GM learned some lessons by this point in time and decided to exit the diesel engine building business. They turned to a neighbor, Detroit Diesel, to undertake this task. Unfortunately, what they delivered was a 6.2L engine that looked like it should have power because of its size. Such was not the case. The 130 horsepower it delivered is only 40 hp more than today's Smart Car. The other problem this engine had was a tendency to leak oil from the rear main seal. Not good. To fix this issue required removing the tranny, and you can be sure that was neither easy nor cheap.

Chevy & GMC C/K 6.5L (1994-2001)

You'd think by '94 GM would have this diesel business figured out, but no. The turbocharged Detroit-built 6.5L had a new set of problems. It was also behind the curve with regards to its indirect injection and couldn't compete with the Cummins and Powerstroke engines of the same time period, engines with 50% more power. Add to this the mechanical issues and your best best is to avoid them altogether. Riley says, "Get a Duramax."

Ford Super Duty 6.0L Turbo(2003-2007)

The article tags this engine as "by far the worst modern diesel engine." The engine was so bad that there were legal battles between Ford and Navistar (the parent company of the Powerstroke.) The list of problems this engine had includes head gasket issues and catastrophic fuel system failures. To make matter worse, to do some of these repairs required removing the cab in order to access the parts. Yikes. Riley recommends avoiding this one as well and find a 7.3L Powerstroke. You will be much happier.

THE 8 BEST DIESEL TRUCKS YOU CAN BUY 

If you're brand loyal, there's something for everyone here. You can read about each of these at Autowise. If you have different opinions here, feel free to leave a comment. 

Chevy/GMC 2500 & 3500 (2006-2007)

Dodge Ram HD (2003-2004)

Ford F-250/F-350 (2008-2010)

Dodge Ram 1500 (2014)

Chevy Silverado HD (2012)

Dodge W250 (1991½-1993)

Ford Super Duty (1999½-2000)

Dodge Ram 2500HD (2010)

Source: https://autowise.com/best-diesel-truck/

Demand for Chev Tahoe and Suburban Diesels Is Growing

How many manufacturers of full-sized SUVs offer a diesel engine alternative? Toyota does not. Nor does Nissan. And neither does Ford. GM alone seems to own this space with a trio of large SUVs -- the Chevy Tahoe, Suburban and the GMC Yukon. GM has evidently identified an unmet need that its competitors have neglected, or simply or created a demand that consumer have been waking up to.

According to the article in GM Authority, when GM made a decision to insert its 3.0-liter I-6 LM2 turbo-diesel Duramax into their 2021 Chevy Tahoe and 2021 Chevy Suburban, both models saw an increase in orders for the diesel engine option. And that is the point this article strives to bring home.

Whereas gasoline-powered full-sized Tahoe and Suburban SUVs still garner more than 90 percent of sales, the story is about the significant growth taking place in the diesel category. Sales numbers reflect the highest take rates since the Duramax became an option.

What is it that is causing this increased interest in the full-sized diesel SUVs? Some surmise that the SUV body styling is preferred over the Chev Silverado 1500 or GMC Sierra 1500, which both offer the same engine. There is certainly a place for each in the lineup. Different strokes for different folks, as they say.

The article proceeds to outline the special characteristics of the 3.0-liter LM2 Duramax engine, which features a duel overhead cam (DOHC) configuration and direct injection, enabling it to produce 277 hp at 3,750 rpm with 460 pound-feet of torque at 1500 rpm. For it size the fuel economy looks good, too. Both are "significantly more efficient" than their gasoline-powered counterparts.

When it comes to towing, the Tahoe diesel is able to tow more than four tons or carry a max payload of 1717 pounds. The Suburban likewise can tow four tons and carry a payload of 1,625 lbs. These are essentially workhorses dressed in their Sunday best.

As you might expect these brands have been keeping pace with the stylish requirements of a futuristic contemporary vehicle. Check our this interior shot of the cockpit. It's NASA Mission Control for civilians. 

Without a doubt the bottom line in this story is that diesel engines are being embraced by a broader portion of the market. The benefits have been increasingly recognized, and sales numbers are confirming it.

The full story includes a few pricing details. And lots more photos. You can find it by clicking this link.

Motor Trend's 10 Best Diesel Trucks Ever

These are the kinds of stories that start arguments. Write a story about the ten best of anything and you'll have readers checking it out, then arguing, "What wasn't this on the the list?" It could be the 10 best Beatles songs of all time, the ten best rock groups, the ten best movies of all time... two beers and you've got a fight started. 

Dodge Ram: Kickin' up dirt and spoiling for a fight.

So KJ Jones has dished up a treat for gear heads. The 10 Best Diesel Pickup Trucks of All Time. Who's in and who's out? Let's rumble.

Jones sets a few parameters up front. First, he knows that there are some readers who are so enamored their Rams that they believe "If it doesn't have a Cummins, it can't be on the list." All bias aside, there are other criteria beside sheer muscle. For this reason he writes:

The trucks we've selected range from first-generation Dodge Rams of the late 1980s, to present-day Ford, GM and Ram rigs that tow upwards of 35,000 pounds, while getting almost 30 mpg in fuel economy. So, if you're in the market for a brand-new, or new-to-you, (older) diesel truck, consider the ten rigs that are cited in this rundown.

And indeed, the first truck unveiled is that first generation Dodge Ram: 1989-1993 Ram D-250 and D-350. His moniker for this truck is Timeless Diesel. Each photo is accompanied by a paragraph of text that underscores the features that make this selection significant.

The second photo is what Jones calls the Best Used Diesel Value: 2003-2008 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 HD. Third-gen Dodge Heavy Duty diesels are also held in high regard, Jones writes. In part, this is due tothe facelift as well as increased cargo and cockpit space. This is a big man's truck.

Truck #3 he labels the Most Capable Diesel, and yes, it is a Dodge Ram as well, a 2010-2013 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty. This puppy has a 6.7-liter Cummins I-6 diesel engine that produces real horsepower and mountains of torque in what Jones calls "a fairly simple package."

At this point you have to be wondering when the Fords and Chevs will get mentions. The answer, when you turn the pages is "not yet." Truck #4 is the First 1,000 lb-ft Diesel. It, too, is a Ram. Specifically, it's a 202 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty. This was a Motor Trend Truck of the Year when it appeared, and it's got a lot going for it, not the least of which is its 35,100-pound towing capability and 7,680-pound payload.

Rather than spill all the beans here, I'm just going list the rest of the categories Jones pigeon-holed his selections into. Three Ford and three GM offerings get selected. 

Fords were chosen for these categories: Best Budget Diesel and Best Diesel to Modify and Best Diesel for Towing.

GM trucks got gold stars for these categories: Best Pre-Emissions Diesel, Best Hot-Rod Diesel and Best Diesel Drivetrain.

* * * 

Go check out the story and tell us what you think.

https://www.motortrend.com/features-collections/best-diesel-pickup-trucks-ever/ 

Towing Wars: 2021 Chevy Silverado Flexes Its Muscles

Jason Gonderman's October 7 article at TruckTrend.com about the towing wars between the big three U.S. diesel truck manufacturers is a fun read. In racing, it's about speed, but when it comes to diesel power, it's about muscle. Gonderman's story is about how Chevrolet has re-asserted its power with the 2021 Silverado 3500HD now boasting the capability of towing 36,000 pounds. Yes, that is 18 tons. 

That's 2 tons more than the song "16 Tons" and topping the 2020 F-350 Super Duty by 250 pounds, the average weight of many heavyweight boxers.

Gonderman notes that Ford does have an even mightier breed of diesel potency in the F-450, max rating of 37,000 pounds of towing capacity. He disqualifies the F-450 as being in a different class. To use the boxing metaphor again, it's like comparing middleweights and welterweights. 

To learn what Chevrolet did to get the extra 500 pounds of towing capacity over its 2020 offering, the author spoke with two engineers from GM, then converted their answers to layman's terms. They explained that the 2020 truck wasn't "fully optimized" for extreme towing. Thus, they left room for incremental improvements.

In addition to swapping out the wheels (yes, wheels helped make a difference) they made adjustments in the suspension and shock absorbers. The towing capacity actually has a test designed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), and this truck's towing capacity has indeed been certified.

The article highlights additional announcements from GM for their 2021 trucks, specifically related to trailering. You can read the full story here: http://www.trucktrend.com/news/2021-chevrolet-silverado-3500hd-tows-best-in-class-36000-pounds

__________

REMINDER: Beans' Blackout in the Country diesel event it postponed to October 24. 

Photo Credit:  Wolfgang Rottmann courtesy Unsplash.