GM’s New Duramax Diesel 3.0L LZ0 Engine Gets More Power, Torque
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GM has released new details on the 3.0L I6 LZ0 turbodiesel engine, the second iteration of the automaker’s Duramax diesel six-cylinder. The new Duramax diesel engine will be available on select trims of the 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500, as GM Authority exclusively covered previously.
The new GM turbocharged 3.0L I6 LZ0 diesel Duramax engine replaces the turbocharged 3.0L I6 LM2 diesel Duramax engine offered for the 2022 model year. The new engine is rated at 305 horsepower and 495 pound-feet of torque, a 10-percent increase in power and a 7.6-percent increase in torque compared to the 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque produced by the turbocharged 3.0L I6 LM2 diesel Duramax engine offered previously.
As for the hard bits, the new GM turbocharged 3.0L I6 LZ0 diesel Duramax engine features upgraded steel pistons and a revised combustion bowl, as well as a retuned turbocharger compressor, new fuel injectors, and improved temperature control as well.
“These improvements to the popular 3.0L Diesel Duramax build on the already advanced design of the first-generation engine,” said GM assistant chief engineer of diesel engines, John Barta. “We often hear customers express their satisfaction with the outstanding fuel economy and smooth quiet power of the current diesel engine, so we can’t wait for them to experience this advanced engine made possible by the continued design evolution and advances in engine technologies.”
The new GM turbocharged 3.0L I6 LZ0 diesel Duramax engine will be available under the hood of select 2023 Chevy Silverado trim levels, including Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, and High Country. The new Duramax diesel engine will mate exclusively to the GM 10-speed automatic transmission for retail customers. Engine assembly will take place at the GM Flint Engine Operations plant in Michigan, with availability expected to open up by the end of the 2022 calendar year.
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The 3.0L Duramax is a great engine. It would be even more popular if they can keep production up.
I bet towing numbers go up quite a bit with this update.
This is the best GM news in a while! I hope they have the chips!
I waited until 2023 to order an Escalade ESV thinking that GM would obviously put the better & improved diesel LZ0 in their flagship first, yet I was unpleasantly surprised when I found out the new LZ0 had been going into their full size pickups since 2022 but that the 2023 I ordered STILL will come with the lower torque/lower Hp LM2 when it arrives in May/June.
Even though the ‘old’ LM2 3.0L diesel was a very good unit, I don’t want the LM2 in my new $130,000 Escalade ESV so I’m seriously contemplating cancelling my order and not reordering because I do a lot of towing and I’m my patience is wearing thin with GM.
Meanwhile, there are 1,000’s of brand new pickups with the improved LZ0 diesel sitting on dealers lots, yet no one seems to be able to order (and get) an Escalade-especially with a diesel!
Does anyone have accurate info on if I’m hopefully mistaken and that my $130,000 truck will have the best 3.0L diesel in it, or the runner up?
And hopefully, this new diesel will spread to GMC and the full-size SUV line.
The order guide I’ve been working off of includes the GMC’s – not sure why this excludes those.
It’s excluded so it can be reported a GMC exclusive tomorrow or over the weekend – you don’t want to give all the news away a once, keep them coming back for more.
Nice bump in power, crazy to think that the original LB7 duramax debuted with 300hp/520tq.
I love my lb7!! 2002 crew cab long bed. Sittingat 220k original miles and original drivetrain.
Their injectors were bad.
some not all, and it still a good engine regardless. Better than a 6.0 any day
It is an awesome engine, but all components make an engine, not just pistons.
It has to be a total pkg, and admit it they had injector issues.
We have 29000 miles on our 2020 Sierra 1500 3.0. We love it! 30 mpg hi way, 24 in town, if not towing.
No word on reworking the belt driven oil pump?
Hope the fuel efficiency stays the same or gets better, but I feel the focus of efficiency is moving to EVs and not ICEs, body design and construction.
With these power numbers, a 4-cylinder version could make an almost equal replacement for the recently retired 2.8 duramax using P/L.
The 2.8 minimax was a 4 cylinder.
i think dmac is referrign to a 2.0l 4 cylinder likely looking at about the same power output as the current 2.8 dmax, maybe a bit more horse power.
I think fuel efficiency will improve by 4-8%. It looks like the main performance change is moving from aluminum to steel pistons. Aluminum pistons suck heat out of the combustion chamber and are used 1, to allow you to increase the compression ratio, 2, to reduce weight for a faster rev.
Moving to steel pistons keeps more heat in the chamber to push down on the piston and more in the exhaust to blow against the turbo. Should net increase the efficiency by a bit, but might not feel much faster off the line with more reciprocal mass
honest question…wouldn’t steel pistons (stronger) be able to handle higher compression ratio than Aluminum?
Structurally, yes. But there are more considerations that just structure.
Steel pistons are in every way superior. Problem is to keep their weight down they require significant machining on the underside and already are more expensive because the intense machining of their faces. They are stronger, maintain combustion heat better, and have less thermal expansion.
Aluminum tends to be used because it’s cheaper.
I don’t see fuel mileage increasing, but if it stays the same and the torque maxes out at 2000 rpm or below, I’ll be happy. As for the belt drive, they should’ve switched it to a chain, but I think if GM did that, it would have been the lead off to the intro. I don’t think the diesel will be here in 10 years, so GM is focusing more on the future. The buyers interests are much less of a concern.
So do I change my order to a 2023 and wait more, or do I keep my 2022 and pray the Banks derringer makes it to production
I’m in the same boat…
Decided to wait the 2023 😉
Wait until 2023. Factory power is always better than aftermarket (Banks) powe adders.
Wow they really squeezed some good stuff out of that- buddy has the LM2 and loves it. Waiting to order mine and this will be awesome
Would have been nice for the toque to break the 500 ft lb mark, but this is a nice bump nonetheless. Enough to feel on the pedal I think.
Would be logical and nice to bring these updates to Cadillac Escalade too, especially ESV. To move that big boy around extra hp and torque would only make big caddy even better. Thinking to order one in ESV length and 3 l turbo diesel. Trying to wait till October or November to place the order and see if these changes will make it there and would love to get that ultra Cruise. If ultra Cruise will not be available for 2023 , if not-super Cruise it is.
Ultra cruise is a totally different system. It’ll debut in the Celestiq before anything else.
I bet open pilot is better the Ultra cruise.
Better order NOW. I ordered a diesel Escalade back in December and still don’t have a build date.
Would be nice to hear about mpg estimates. Also is there increased pollution devices or did the Lm2 pass these new to come regulations.
I believe starting MY 2023, there is a change in emission requirements based on MPG averages. I can’t find the article but I think in 2023 and 2026 are big emission changes years… (correct me if I’m incorrect)
Can’t wait to see a marginal improvement on mpg this thing is already amazing for a small diesel.
The biggest issue with the original engine is the belt driven oil pump that only has a 150,000 mile belt service life an in order to replace it requires removal of the transmission. My biggest concern is weather or not they addressed this design flaw with the new LZ0.?
I read the new service interval for that belt is 200,000 miles. And increase of 50,000.
That works for me, I never keep anything that long.
Watch the transmission mine let go at 107,00 and i priced out the belt change for oil pump a little over $9,000.00 after having the trans already pulled out witch was $6,000.00 for that!
improved temperature control – wonder if this is something that could be retrofit to LM2 if ever an issue, or these changes are many items tweaked throughout the cooling system.
About the comment about the belt driven oil pump. It always amazes me when manufacturers build something that anybody would think is a bad design or when it doesn’t fit well in the vehicle. They started with a blank sheet of paper if they don’t make it all work, who will? It’s not like back in the ’70s when they was going to put the rotary engine in the Monza and then it didn’t pan out so they put a V6 in there and you had to jack up the engine to change the spark plugs. I have an equinox with the diesel engine in it great engine great fuel mileage but you have to remove a crossmember underneath to change the oil and filter. A couple clicks of a mouse during the design phase makes it all work, I just don’t understand. Then they go so far the other way next year for the Colorado and the canyon only one engine available I believe it’s going to be a very bad decision to not have a V6 in those trucks.
That Chevy Monza got a 262 cid V-8, a high school friend had one. Would love to have it today.
GM keeps doing this kind of thing. It is almost like they never, ever heard of “Service and Repair” engineers. It is one of the things that I liked about my early 2000’s Dodge – someone actually paid attention to how mechanics were going to have to fix things at a later date.
Still- I just purchased a 2023 Silverado with the 3.0L diesel…
Ordered a 2023 At4 with the LZ0 Duramax a week ago , I was given a 2 month ETA. Can’t wait !
Didn’t I read this engine won’t be able to order until late 2022 , so much for 2 month eta
My order sheet from the dealer has LZ0 as engine code , also checked the status code (3000) for my order and it has been accepted by GM. So put in your orders now !
I put my order for a 2023 GMC Sierra Denali with the LZ0 in the middle of July. GM accepted the order last week and got a TPW today for 9/17/22.
I ordered a 2022 AT4 with the LM2 this spring. Production date was last week, no updates. Anyone know if this will get built or will they wait on the LZ0? I haven’t seen an LM2 for sale anywhere in a couple months. Jus curious, dealer isn’t very helpful.
Imagine if they developed I4 and V8 variants of this engine, that would be amazing. 200Hp diesel for the new Colorado/Canyon and 400Hp V8 for full-size trucks and SUV’s, even HD trucks could use it as an entry diesel.
Bring back the 4.5 duramax! IMHO, it would be a great “intro diesel” for the HD’s and a top of the liner for the half tons. The 3.0 is just not quite enough for the HD’s. Can ask Nissan about their Cummins in the XD.
The cummins in the Titan is actually a very good engine. The problem was they put in the Titan. The engine was i think 98% NoX and particulate matter free. Unheard of at the time. Now if Ram did something with the 5.0l then maybe that would stir things up.
fun fact, i called the HP and torque output on the announcement post 🙂
those are some great power numbers, i’d like to see where peak torque comes in, but we can likely see an increase in max towing as well.. great job GM on an already amazing engine
Great point- is max torque at 1500, or way up?
GMs Detroit Diesel engines were and still are considered some of the best diesel engines ever offered. Daimler still uses an updated version of GMs original design in its over-the-road trucks. It’s to bad GM sold the company, I’d love it if this engine used the Detroit name.
Love to see this in the Colorado with an off-road build.