With the release of the 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 and the 2021 Chevy Tahoe, General Motors showed off their new small block inline 6 3.0-liter Duramax diesel. This engine has a major characteristic which prospective buyers should be mindful of.
According to GMC, the engine is part of the 2020 Sierra 1500, the 2021 Yukon, and the 2021 Suburban. GM does not offer it in either of its full-size SUV versions (more later).
Designed specifically for half-ton Silverados, this engine produces 277 horsepower and 460 pounds-feet of torque at just 1,500 RPMs.
Other innovative technologies built into the engine include a lightweight aluminum block, a low-pressure EGR system, and variable geometry turbocharging.
In all seriousness, inline-6s are at the forefront of new diesel engine development owing to their inherent balance. However, there is one standout.
What is that one thing? Could you please tell me? Following the engine news, some people pointed out that the oil pump belt resides in oil after 150,000 miles and should be checked thoroughly. However, even though it’s not a chain or gear drive, the position of the belt also raises some questions. However, the most concerning aspect of the belt is that it has to be dropped in order to be serviced. The text did not contain any typos. In order to inspect the belt at 150,000 miles, the transmission must be dropped. Several people have criticized this.
Since this concern has been brought up so often, we asked the General Manager for an engineering interview. The transmission must be removed on this engine to access the belt. The engineer who has worked on the engine since it was created elaborated on the choice of the belt.
The bottom line
Although the belt needs to be removed from the transmission for inspection and it would cost a mechanic around $1,000 to do it, this is only a one-time checkup.
It’s also not one of our favorites. Although diesel presents some inconveniences, we believe that the benefits far outweigh them. It is possible to achieve a fuel economy of up to 30 mpg with the Silverado 1500.
This belt will be examined by GM in the future to determine if it can be modified or if it needs to be replaced. We will inform you if that happens. When shopping at the moment, just keep an eye out.
In order to increase the horsepower of a Duramax engine beyond 550, aftermarket injectors delivered high flow rates and were built to be reliable like factory injectors. Injectors with EDM-cut nozzles are available from one of the most prominent manufacturers of Duramax common-rail fuel system components, allowing them to increase flow rates up to 50% (and even higher with air). This range of injectors is a great fit for any engine producing 600 horsepower or more. Bosch products contain the best components and are tested using the latest technology.
