In the world of three-quarter and one-ton pickup trucks, torque is the name of the game. For the model year 2017, the Chevrolet Silverado HD and its GMC-branded counterpart are good for 445 horsepower at 2,800 rpm and 910 lb-ft (1,234 Nm) at 1,600 rpm, all thanks to a revised version of the 6.6-liter Duramax V8 diesel mill.
Internally referred to as LP5, the model year 2017 Duramax V8 is a lot more muscly than the model year 2016 powerplant, which offers 397 horsepower at 3,000 rpm and 765 lb-ft (1,037 Nm) at 1,600 rpm. As discovered by TruckTrend, the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado HD and 2017 GMC Sierra HD with the 6.6-liter Duramax V8 have caught up to the 2017 Ford Super Duty’s 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8. The Ford engine is 5 HP down on the GM unit, yet the Power Stroke edges ahead in terms of torque (15 lb-ft / 20 Nm more).
Curiously enough, Ram Truck’s website for the 3500 heavy-duty model lineup still reads “best-in-class diesel torque 900 lb-ft (1,220 Nm)” for the Cummins-developed 6.7-liter turbo diesel inline-six, despite the fact FoMoCo is the new king of the hill and General Motors is second best. A major update for Ram’s HD range is programmed for 2018, one year after the Ram 1500 gets reborn.
As per the leaked information via GM Powertrain, the L5P Duramax V8 is an OHV unit with a bore stroke of 103 x 99 and a compression ratio of 16.0:1. In other words, the B20-Diesel compatible mill hasn’t changed too much from a technical point of view. What has changed, though, is the intake system.
Without regard to the functional hood scoop adorning the Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, which provides 60 percent of the air needed by the Duramax engine, General Motors made it official that “the air filter housing also draws 40 percent additional air from a dry location in one of the front fenders.” In other words, the improved Duramax V8 needs lots of air.
Curiously enough, Ram Truck’s website for the 3500 heavy-duty model lineup still reads “best-in-class diesel torque 900 lb-ft (1,220 Nm)” for the Cummins-developed 6.7-liter turbo diesel inline-six, despite the fact FoMoCo is the new king of the hill and General Motors is second best. A major update for Ram’s HD range is programmed for 2018, one year after the Ram 1500 gets reborn.
As per the leaked information via GM Powertrain, the L5P Duramax V8 is an OHV unit with a bore stroke of 103 x 99 and a compression ratio of 16.0:1. In other words, the B20-Diesel compatible mill hasn’t changed too much from a technical point of view. What has changed, though, is the intake system.
Without regard to the functional hood scoop adorning the Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, which provides 60 percent of the air needed by the Duramax engine, General Motors made it official that “the air filter housing also draws 40 percent additional air from a dry location in one of the front fenders.” In other words, the improved Duramax V8 needs lots of air.