How To Properly Maintain A GM Duramax Diesel Engine: Video
28
Sponsored Links
General Motors has released a short video instructing certain Chevy pickup truck owners how to properly look after their Duramax diesel engine.
This video, which was recently uploaded to Chevy’s official YouTube channel, provides simple maintenance tips for owners of Duramax-powered pickups like the Chevy Colorado, Silverado and Silverado HD. Many of these tips will be rather obvious for our experienced Duramax diesel-driving readers, but keep in mind this video was put together to help out new Chevy truck owners that may have never owned a diesel-powered vehicle before. With pickup sales on the rise, there may be more inexperienced diesel-powered pickup owners on the roads today than you might think.
One of the easiest ways to keep up with maintenance in your Duramax-powered vehicle is to ensure the Diesel Exhaust Fluid is topped up. If it needs more fluid, owners can easily refill the tank with GM-approved DEF. In some trucks, the DEF re-fill nozzle will be located next to the fuel fill nozzle underneath the fuel filler door. In other vehicles, the top-up location may be located under the hood. To avoid overfilling the fluid, the user should only let the fluid fill until it hits the bottom of the filler funnel. Once this is complete, the user will observe a change in the fluid level readout in their vehicle’s digital driver information center (DIC).
Duramax vehicle owners can also perform some other basic routine maintenance themselves by changing the fuel filter, which will be located on the underside of the vehicle near the driver’s side along the frame rail. Some Chevy pickups have the fuel filter located toward the back of the vehicle behind the rear axle. To change the filter, the user must drain any water from it by loosening the filler cap. Next, they can remove the filter cap, the filter element and the o-ring and install the new filter and o-ring. Changing the fuel filter requires the user to manually re-set the fuel filter life in the DIC. Chevy also suggests priming the filter before driving by letting the engine idle for about five minutes.
Check out the video embedded below for more in-depth tips on how to properly maintain a Duramax diesel engine in a current-day Chevy truck.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Silverado news, Chevy news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Sponsored Links
Yes, I already know all this, I just upgraded my 05’ Sierra 3/4 ton diesel to a 2020 Sierra 3/4 ton diesel Denali.
They need to have a diesel option for the Tahoe/Suburban
Dave, you can in fact get a diesel on the Escalade, Suburban, Tahoe, etc… I just wish GM still offered 3/4 ton large SUVs…
Actually that’s a downgrade.
When you have to start replacing the emissions crap outside of warranty then bend over.
Emissions crap? I always hate those types of uneducated comments.
I’ve a 2017 Chevy Colorado with the 2.8L Duramax engine. The emissions equipment hasn’t had any issues. And I’m glad the emissions equipment is on my truck. Why not do my part. The emissions equipment isn’t harming/slowing down my truck. DEF isn’t expensive, I don’t need to fill it up often, and it’s easy to replace.
They need this video for gas vehicle maintenance…. And general maintenance like say changing a tire. So many people who don’t understand anything about vehicles. Thankfully GM’s new transmissions are designed to go life of the vehicle maintenance free.
Considering how lazy and incompetent Americans are don’t waste your time.
As the car wizard said. 75% of Americans don’t take care of their cars.
I have the 2.8 l baby Duramax in my 2016 Chevy Colorado Z71… Love this truck! Gives me all the torque I need when I tow, and great fuel efficiency when I’m not. It’s my first diesel, so I can definitely appreciate videos like this.
The text mentions the location of the fuel filter near the back of the vehicle. As far as I know, the fuel filter on all 6.6 liter Duramaxes are attached to the passenger side of the engine. Further the author should mention the priming and bleeding process. Was any research done before writing this article?
The person clearly mentions “depending on your vehicle” – I guess you missed that.
Wrong. Dual tank chassis cab trucks have the filter by the rear axle. Maybe you should do some research before criticizing. GM said it in the video, and GM knows what they’re selling.
And besides, you’re thinking old models. The L5P (2017+) has the filter on the driver’s side frame rail, not the engine compartment.
Imagine a electricfied One instead! Problem City🐰!! Coal.. CHINA 🇨🇳 PROBLEM!! Logical People would blame Biden.. fake Biden..
Slow news day?
Folks this is very simple…
Remove it from the vehicle, place in your livingroom, install a glass top. This is the only way to properly care for a GM engine made after 1974.
Maintenence , how about an oil change once in a while .
No need for oil changes , the Duramax are being bought back before there even purchased , LMAO GM Junk
GM junk? Thanks for posting the uneducated comment.
I own a 2017 Chevy Colorado with the 2.8L Duramax engine. I’ve no problems with the engine nor with the emissions equipment. Truck runs great and there’s plenty of torque. I’m averaging just over 30 mpg on the highway. All in all it’s a great truck.
I have a 2014 duramax 400,000 and still going strong. Luke a rock 🪨
Bob Remember Chevy’s go and Ram’s blow…. GM FOR LIFE! Ram might look nice and have a nice wrapper but underneath that glossy exterior and interior is a recall, reliability nightmare. I owned two Chrysler products in my life and I never will again for me it’s either GM or Toyota.
Love my Colorado diesel
Filled to the top of the filler neck. Then refilled again to the top of the filler neck once fuel was needed again
32mpg. Totally amazing
I just keep my fingers crossed the crappy Bosh injectors don’t destroy the engine like so many others.
You got Denso in the LWN, not Bosch. GM seriously poop-canned Bosch after the CP4 fiasco.
How about learning the equipment in your truck before complaining about it…
The 2.8 L Duramax has Denso high pressure common rail Solenoid type fuel injectors
Yes my mistake
denso injectors.
Some more research suggests that it may not be a Denso issue..
It seems GM has to much fuel rail pressure for these injectors. Causing premature failures.
This has them moving to a higher rated Denso injectors,
These higher rated pressure injectors has made GM redesign the head in late 2019 to make these fit. Ass the new injectors don’t fit the old head.
This has GM taking the cheap way out once again to save a dollar. And like usual it bit them in the ass.
Will they ever learn ?
I Just picked up a 2016 Duramax 6.6L Diese lifted 4×4
.Z-71 LTZ PACKAGE. BASICALLY A Dinalli.And it only has 42k Miles. The works. Viper Red. It’s like a Nascar truck little tweaked out cousin!!
Fan club, why did you pick 74 as the last year of gm great engine cut off? Mickey is pissed because his lamb rammer is back at the dealership for emissions recall.
You should also mention to manually block the wheels, preferably on BOTH sides of a wheel.
I went from a 06 Silverado 3500 Duramax that I bought new and put 300k mostly towing miles on to a 06 F-350 6.0 that a friend had as something to get me through for a couple years till the 10 speed trucks came out. I got a 21 F-450 Platinum, put 19k miles on it in 6 months and sold it back to the dealer. Partly because they gave me $5k more than I paid but more because it was having DEF issues! I found a 2009 Silverado 3500 with 46k miles and no rust so I’m driving that now. Check out YouTube channel Hitched to Horsepower for more and my trucks and other cool vehicles.