GM Puts Duramax Diesel Engine Production on Hold

All of the Big Three have made news lately in regards to their heavy-duty truck line, but while Ford and Chrysler have new models and new technology to offer, General Motors made an announcement that could be devastating to the Silverado and Sierra pickup trucks. With the new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty and Ford F-Series Super Duty expected to hit dealerships by the end of the year, GM’s New Year party will be marked by a temporary production stoppage for the Duramax diesel engine used in the heavy duty version of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra (the latter pictured here in the 3500 HD SLT Crew Cab configuration). The production stoppage is a result of an engine update needed to meet the stricter emissions standards required of diesel engines that go into effect next year, and this engine update is estimated to cost GM around $70 million.

When the new emissions standards kick in starting Jan. 1, 2010, GM will no longer be allowed to use the current Duramax engine in its heavy duty trucks, but it can use engines that were built before the start of the year. From mid-December through the end of April, GM will idle its Duramax engine plant in Moraine, Ohio to retune the current diesel offering to abide by federal standards. The retuning will allow for a new urea injection process into the exhaust system that reduces oxides of nitrogen (NOx). Urea injection is also used on Ford’s all-new 6.4-liter Power Stroke V-8 as well as diesel engines used in Mercedes-Benz and BMW passenger cars. Since urea is a chemical fluid that can run out, the engine will feature a low-fluid warning light so drivers know to refill the tank. Instead of urea injection, Dodge equipped its latest Cummins Turbo Diesel with a diesel particulate filter that accomplishes the same task but through a different process.

As the diesel engines are being retuned, GM’s heavy duty trucks will still offer the 6.0-liter V-8 gasoline engine, but the four-month gap in diesel engine production is expected to affect the availability of the Silverado and Sierra in both 2500 (three-quarter ton) and 3500 (one ton) configurations. In these pickup trucks, the current Duramax engine is a 6.6-liter V-8 that puts out 365 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque and allows a maximum towing capacity of up to 13,000 pounds, but it is not clear if the new engine will be improving on these numbers. Although the current heavy duty offerings from GM have only been on the market since 2008, the redesigned and more powerful competitors from Ford and Dodge will likely mean modest gains in both power output and towing capabilities. The 6.6-liter Duramax V-8 is also used in cab and chassis versions of both pickups as well in the heavy duty version of the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans.

To meet the expected demand of the heavy duty diesel trucks, GM will be ramping up production of the current engine to prevent any long-term delays affecting the profitability of these trucks. The Chevrolet Silverado is consistently the second-best selling vehicle in the nation (with the Ford F-Series running in first) and it would seem that capable work trucks such as the Silverado HD account for a decent chunk of those vehicles sold.