2006 Duramax 6600 Turbodiesel to Deliver Class-leading Torque in a More Powerful and Refined Package
Engine output for Chevy Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD increased to 360 horsepower and a class-leading 650 lb-ft of torque
Significant updates result in smoother, more refined operation, as well as reduced emissions
New glow-plugs reduce start time by as much as 50 percent
PONTIAC , MICH. – Later this year, GM Powertrain will introduce a new 6.6L Duramax 6600 turbodiesel V-8 (RPO LBZ) for the 2006 model year Chevy Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD with class-leading horsepower – 360 (268 kw) at 3200 rpm and class-leading torque, at 650 lb.-ft. (881 Nm) at 1600 rpm. In addition to the power increase in the Silverado and Sierra, all 2006 Duramax engines have been significantly revised to deliver lower emissions and significantly improved quietness and smoothness in every application.

The 2006 Silverado HD and Sierra HD with the Allison 6-speed automatic transmission will be equipped with a significantly revised 310 horsepower Duramax 6600 (LLY) through the third quarter of 2005. It will be replaced in these applications in the fourth quarter of 2005, by the higher output, 360-horsepower Duramax (LBZ).

“The introduction of the Duramax diesel in 2001 represented a significant evolution in North American diesel pick-up truck market and propelled GM’s heavy duty diesel pick-up truck market share to over 25 percentage points,” said Charles Freese, GM Powertrain executive director, diesel engineering. “The introduction of the improved, 2006 Duramax turbo diesel once again sets a new benchmark to which all others will be measured.”

The Duramax 6600’s horsepower and torque increase and emissions reduction are enabled by a strengthened iron cylinder block and a lower compression ratio. The lower compression reduces stress on the engine by reducing the peak cylinder firing pressure. This, in turn, allows more fuel to be burned – more fuel means more power – while the lower compression helps reduce NOx emissions. Lower compression also helps reduce noise and vibration, making the all variants of the 6600 a quieter and smoother engine.

A revised variable-geometry turbocharger also enhances the driving experience of the Duramax 6600. Aerodynamic changes to the turbo’s vanes help tailor controlled application of turbo power for seamless and immediate response at full throttle. The turbo, which spins at up to 120,000 rpm, is high-speed-balanced, reducing vibration and resonance – and contributing to the engine’s overall smoothness and refinement. The revised turbo also helps reduce emissions, while maximum boost remains at 20 psi.

Another new feature of the Duramax 6600’s turbo system is the capability of the variable-geometry turbocharger to provide exhaust braking. This function is available on some medium-duty truck models and can replace add-on exhaust brake hardware. With the new system, braking is controlled by a signal from the engine controller and can be activated by the driver.

The comprehensive list of changes and upgrades to the 2006 Duramax 6600 includes:

Cylinder block casting and machining changes strengthen the bottom of the cylinder bores to support increased horsepower and torque
Upgraded main bearing material increases durability
Revised piston design helps lower compression ratio to 16.8:1 from 17.5:1
Piston pin bore diameter increased for increased strength
Connecting rod “ I ” section is thicker for increased strength
Cylinder heads revised to accommodate lower compression and reduced cylinder firing pressure
Maximum injection pressure increased from 23,000 psi to more than 26,000 psi
Fuel delivered via higher-pressure pump, fuel rails, distribution lines and all-new, seven-hole fuel injectors
Fuel injectors spray directly onto glow plugs, providing faster, better-quality starts and more complete cold-start combustion for reduced emissions
Improved glow plugs heat up faster through an independent controller
Revised variable-geometry turbocharger is aerodynamically more efficient to help deliver smooth and immediate response and lower emissions
Air induction system re-tuned to enhance quietness
EGR has larger cooler to bring more exhaust into the system
First application of new, 32-bit E35 controller, which adjusts and compensates for the fuel flow to bolster efficiency and reduce emissions
The Duramax 6600 also has a new intake air heater to reduce smoke and emissions during cold or light-load driving. The system features a 1000-watt grid heater located in the air intake duct, which is triggered automatically by the engine controller. It heats up the incoming air to speed warm-up of the engine.

In addition to 50 more horsepower and 45 more lb-ft of torque in the Silverado and Sierra, changes to the 2006 Duramax 6600 build on a host of improvements introduced for ’05 – improvements that bolstered an already strong foundation. The Duramax 6600 features a rigid cast iron cylinder block with induction-hardened cylinder bores; four-bolt, cross-drilled main bearing caps; forged steel, nitride-hardened crankshaft; aluminum pistons with jet-spray oil cooling; aluminum cylinder heads with four valves per cylinder; integrated oil cooler and a charge-cooled turbocharging system. Features, such as easy-access fuel filter and timing gears, reduce maintenance time and effort.

A new, 32-bit E35 engine controller monitors and adjusts the engine’s operation. Designed exclusively for the Duramax diesel engine, the controller helps the injectors precisely meter fuel to the cylinders and can compensate for the variability of the injectors and fuel flow. This sophisticated, more powerful controller also can support up to five injections per cylinder and eliminates the need for an engine-mounted drive unit to fire the fuel injectors.

The new Duramax 6600 in the Silverado and Sierra heavy-duty pick-ups will be available exclusively with the new Allison 1000 6-speed automatic transmission, featuring class-first features, like tap-shift range selection mode.

In addition to the Chevy Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, the Duramax 6600 (LLY) is also available at varying power outputs in the Hummer H1 Alpha, Chevy Kodiak and GMC Topkick. For 2006, the Duramax is available for the first time in GM’s full-size vans, Chevy Express and GMC Savana, providing power and capabilities matched with quietness and smoothness not found in competitors’ diesel-equipped vans.

The Duramax 6600 was introduced in 2001 and was developed in a partnership with GM Powertrain and Isuzu Motors. Since its introduction, more than 650,000 6.6L Duramax diesels have been built and sold.

The Duramax 6600 is assembled at the DMAX facility in Moraine, Ohio , a joint venture between General Motors and Isuzu created specifically to produce diesel engines.