GM announces 4.5L V8 Diesel for 1/2 tons

[kaisen]

http://media.gm.com:8221/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=38&docid=37112

FOR RELEASE: 2007-06-15

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.

[legion]

D'oh!

I bought my truck too early.

[Nostril Cheese]

bout' f'in time

may just have to get rid of the ol' child molester van

[Tim Walsh]

I've been hoping someone would come out with something like this for awhile.

[Seahawk]

Originally posted bm Walsh
I've been hoping someone would come out with something like this for awhile.

The child molester van?

About f'ing time they noodled this through.

[turbo6bar]

Please Lord Cummins, give us a Cummins straight six 4.0L engine with common rail injection. I'm a straight six fan more than V-8, but I gotta say kudos to the folks at Chevrolet.

I've also read rumors of a Honda Accord diesel coming out as early as fall 2007.

[TimothyFarrar]

"fracture-split main bearing caps and connecting rods for a precise fit"

I love how they are using marketing phrases to make this sound good. Fractured-split means it is cheaper to manufacture in huge volumes, period. It has nothing to do with quality of the rods. What they should say is "powered metal" rods. Wonder what the weak link for this motor is going to be...

Now on the other hand with only 310hp and emissions controls, this should be a tuner's dream. Sign me up for this oil burner!

[turbo6bar]

I wonder what kind of revs are needed to make this HP. While the power is nice, engine lifetimes may be compromised.

If mileage is good, I might switch teams.

[kaisen]

Originally posted by turbo6bar
If mileage is good, I might switch teams.

We don't need to know what you do on your own time

[Jims5543]

Now we just need a 4 cyl diesel engine in a small pickup like a Tacoma and I will be happy.

Or better yet a fully electric Pickup truck that has a 150-200 mile range. That would make me VERY happy.

[Zef]

Yup...but still a f!"/$%g GM...

[turbo6bar]

Originally posted by kaisen
We don't need to know what you do on your own time

Not that there is anything wrong with it?

[kaisen]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
Now we just need a 4 cyl diesel engine in a small pickup like a Tacoma and I will be happy.

+1

Toyota bought Isuzu from GM earlier this year. Isuzu has several small 4 cyl diesels that may be developed for our market. Toyota's Hino line also has 4 cyls but they are large-displacement.

The new Jeep pickup (*very* cool) will probably be available with the 2.8CRD (ala Liberty diesel) with Bluetech.

Ford has a small V8 and/or V6 diesel forthcoming for the F150, but may have some legal battles with Navistar that may delay it.

Cummins has something up their sleeve too.

E

[klaucke]

Originally posted by TimothyFarrar
"fracture-split main bearing caps and connecting rods for a precise fit"

I love how they are using marketing phrases to make this sound good. Fractured-split means it is cheaper to manufacture in huge volumes, period. It has nothing to do with quality of the rods. What they should say is "powered metal" rods. Wonder what the weak link for this motor is going to be...

I'm unsure of the exact construction of these GM rods, but fracture split rods are not simply marketing hype. They allow for better, more secure alignment of the big end bore, and are used in other high performance applications. Yamaha debuted these on their YZF-R1 motorcycles at some point within the last 5 years, which routinely see 13k rpm use (while still under warranty).

[kaisen]

Originally posted by klaucke
I'm unsure of the exact construction of these GM rods, but fracture split rods are not simply marketing hype. They allow for better, more secure alignment of the big end bore, and are used in other high performance applications. Yamaha debuted these on their YZF-R1 motorcycles at some point within the last 5 years, which routinely see 13k rpm use (while still under warranty).

+1, they are NOT hype, for the reasons mentioned above.

Ford has used sintered/powdered metal split-fractured rods on their 'modular' V8 engines (4.6L, et al) since 1996.

[dd74]

Excellent news. What's on the radar for diesel commuter cars? Last heard was Mercedes and BMW had one in the works, but of course, with higher-than-normal Mercedes and BMW prices.

Are the big three planning any diesels for their commuter cars or SUVs?

[Jim Bremner]

Bmw has also used the sinterized rod's

they were first designed in Europe, at the Unior forge in Slovania.

check out www.unior.com

[svandamme]

class-leading torque, power ??
in excess of 310 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque??

VW V10 TDI :230kW of power and, wait for it, 750Nm of torque, available from 2000rpm

GM might be close with the HP, but i'de say they hae a long way to go to be leading class in the Torque departement, and let's face it , that's what counts on a Diesel

[Normy]

Interesting point about this engine: It is a 60 degree design. They came up with a 60 degree engine down in Australia a few years ago, I suspect this is a diesel-ized version of that engine.

-Anyone remember the last time gm turned a gasoline engine into a diesel?

[rfuerst911sc]

I would jump on a Tacoma 4 or 5 cylinder diesel. GM quality still scares me but that's based on cars/trucks I owned in the 80's + 90's.