Cadillac Escalade Diesel Models Show The Duramax Logo Under The Hood
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The all-new, fifth-generation 2021 Cadillac Escalade introduces a fresh diesel engine option to the model lineup. The engine in question hails from General Motors’ Duramax engine family, as denoted by a Duramax engine cover under the hood of diesel-burning Escalade models.
Although initially only available with the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine, production of the Cadillac Escalade diesel models is now underway, with the the 3.0L I6 LM2 turbodiesel Duramax onboard for motivation. The 2021 model year marks the first time the Escalade has been available with a diesel engine option, and while parts-sharing between the various General Motors brands is perfectly normal and accepted, the use of a Duramax engine cover is somewhat unexpected.
Typically, Cadillac’s policy has been to establish a unique position for the Cadillac brand outside the rest of the General Motors product portfolio, seeking to instead foster a more luxurious, premium image. As such, the inclusion of an engine cover that creates such a clear and obvious link between the iconic Cadillac Escalade and non-luxury GM products like the Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, both of which offer the same LM2 Duramax powerplant, seems a bit out of place.
This could come down to a variety of different reasons. It’s possible no one at Cadillac considered a Duramax engine cover to be an issue, or it’s possible the resources required to produce a new engine cover exclusively for the Cadillac Escalade diesel did not justify hiding the link to the rest of the GM portfolio.
Another possibility is that Cadillac simply didn’t think owners would notice. After all, GM Authority has criticized Cadillac’s engine cover treatments in the past, but according to one Cadillac insider, “Cadillac owners don’t open the hoods of their vehicles,” so why bother creating a new cover for the Escalade that hides the Duramax branding?
As a reminder, the 3.0L I6 LM2 Duramax engine produces 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, while the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine produces 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines connect to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
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This post was created in collaboration with our sister publication, Cadillac Society.
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People who buy these things want to show off that they have a piece from a HD truck (even though in realty, it’s a completely different engine). That’s why it’s branded as Duramax, not Ecotec or some Cadillac-specific name.
Note that the big wording serves too as a warning to the kids at the quick lube not to put gas engine oil in. Particularly important for SUVs and small pickups that traditionally did not have a diesel.
Stay away from quick lube places they give you a filter you can buy on Rock Auto for $1.50.
That engine is a game changer! The fact that you can get almost 30 miles to the gallon without a battery system will make people buy it. It is such a smooth engine and dealers are selling out of it on the lots in the 1/2 ton trucks. One guy told me the fact that he was getting close to 600 miles on one tank of gas.
The Duramax 3.0 Inline 6 Diesel is a very good engine and you should see this when you open the front flap. The Cadillac Marketing recognized that a new engine cover is not necessary as every customer knows that GM develops and produces very good engines. Fake covers just because of a logo are just marketing without value. As far as I know, the 6.2 V8 petrol engine is built into many GM vehicles and no Cadillac customer has ever complained.
Thing is, no Cadillac engine has ever worn the GM brand. The Ecotec turbo engines have a unique cover, the NA six cylinders have a unique cover, so do the V and Blackwing models, so the so on and so forth. So I believe this is a first. Nice catch, GMA.
Cadillac actually has this GM Duramax Diesel R6 on offer for customers at no extra charge instead of the GM 6.2 V8 and I think that’s great and serious because no pseudo extra charge is required for series technology. This is awesome. Customer-friendly!
To your note:
I can’t see from the engine cover whether the quality of the technology underneath is really that of the emblem. See VW brands where the engine covers are now identical and no longer have a brand emblem. This is also the case with PSA and many other brands. The alleged premium manufacturers like Audi, Bentley, Porsche, Mercedes AMG or BMW M or BMW Alpina tune the R4, R6, V6, V8 and V12 series engines and mount a cover with Audi Sport, Porsche, Bentley, Mercedes AMG, BMW M or BMW Alpina on it. It is identical technology, but customers should dream that they have special technology in it so that it justifies the high price.
Why lie about it?