New Duramax Diesel 3.0L 6-Cylinder Engine Powers Up Silverado 1500, Sierra 1500

The all-new Duramax^® Diesel 3.0L inline 6-cylinder turbocharged engine (RPO LM2) delivers plenty of power — producing 282 horsepower and 450 lb.-ft. of torque — along with impressive fuel economy — an estimated 30 mpg (7.8L/100km) highway on 2WD models — in an efficient package. (Fig. 1) Available on 2020 Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 models, it’s paired with the 10L80 10-speed automatic transmission (RPO MQB).

 

Fig. 1

 

Turbocharged Performance

The dual overhead camshaft (DOHC) engine uses an aluminum block with six pressed-in iron sleeves and a high pressure diesel fuel injection system. The lower oil pan is made of dual-layer stamped aluminum. (Fig. 2)

The 3.0L diesel engine uses SAE 0W-20 dexosD diesel engine oil. Do not add anything to the oil.

 

Fig. 2

 

The turbocharger is a variable nozzle design with an electric vane actuator attached to the exhaust manifold. The Variable Geometry Turbine (VGT) body assembly contains a contact-less inductive VGT position sensing element that is managed by a customized integrated circuit. The VGT position sensor provides a signal voltage that changes relative to the VGT vanes angle. The customized integrated circuit translates the voltage based position information into serial data using Single Edge Nibble Transmission (SENT) protocol. The VGT position sensor information is transmitted between the VGT body and the Engine Control Module (ECM) on the signal/serial data circuit. The ECM decodes the serial data signal and is used as voltages for the VGT position sensor.

The intake manifold houses the integrated intercooler. The intercooler system includes an air cooler/heat exchanger built into the intake, a charge air cooler (CAC) radiator assembled in the front fascia, and an electric coolant pump. The CAC coolant pump provides operational and diagnostic feedback to the ECM. (Fig. 3)

 

Fig. 3

 

The fuel system features a 3-phase electric fuel pump in the fuel tank that is controlled by the fuel pump driver control module and the ECM. Fuel is pumped from the fuel tank to the fuel filter assembly, which consists of a fuel filter/water separator, fuel heater, fuel temperature sensor, and a water in fuel sensor.

The ECM controls the fuel injection timing and has the ability to learn injector timing performance. Under the correct operating conditions, the ECM will pulse each injector individually and measure the changes in rotational speed of the crankshaft using the input from the crankshaft position sensor. The ECM will run this diagnostic at one fuel rail pressure operating point for each injector. The ECM stores the injector timing value.

 

Active Thermal Management

The Active Thermal Management (ATM) system on the 3.0L diesel engine distributes coolant through the engine in a targeted manner, sending heat where it’s needed to warm up the engine and reduce friction. It also promotes quicker heating of the passenger compartment and enhanced engine cooling during high power operation. The system uses a conventional engine-driven coolant pump while the ECM controls the ATM system using feedback from various coolant temperature sensors.

The engine coolant flow control valve assembly that is part of the ATM system uses two chambers to control coolant flow. (Fig. 4) The first chamber controls the coolant flow rate across the radiator and bypass. The second chamber controls the flow to the transmission and engine oil cooler as needed, providing heated coolant from the EGR/turbocharger return circuit or cold coolant directly from the pump outlet.

 

Fig. 4

 

Exhaust Aftertreatment System

The exhaust aftertreatment system is designed to reduce the levels of hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and particulate matter (PM) pollutants remaining in the engine’s exhaust gases before they exit via the vehicle’s exhaust tailpipe. NOx is controlled by a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) converter combined with precise injections of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), while PM is controlled by a diesel particulate filter (DPF). To reduce packaging volume and manufacturing cost, the SCR catalyst on the DPF is coated to form an SCR-coated DPF, or a Selective Catalytic Reduction on Filter (SCRoF). The close coupled DOC along with the SCR on Filter are integrated into one assembly.

In the DPF, particulate matter consisting of extremely small particles of carbon remaining after combustion are removed from the exhaust gas by the large surface area of the DPF. DEF is injected into the exhaust gases prior to entering the SCRoF stage. Within the SCRoF, NOx is converted to nitrogen (N2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and water vapor (H20) through a catalytic reduction fueled by the injected DEF.

The exhaust aftertreatment system components (Fig. 5) include:

1. Exhaust temperature sensor
2. DEF injector mounting flange
3. Exhaust pressure differential sensor pipe
4. Exhaust pressure differential sensor pipe
5. EGR flange
6. NOx catalytic converter assembly
7. Particulate matter boss
8. Exhaust back pressure valve

 

Fig. 5

 

The DEF fill, identified by a blue cap, is located behind the fuel fill door. (Fig. 6) After filling the DEF tank, unless the DEF tank was empty, there may be a short delay before the increased fluid level is detected and the DEF level indicated on the Driver Information Center is updated.

 

Fig. 6

 

Automatic Engine Stop/Start System

Designed to help conserve fuel, the Automatic Engine Stop/Start system may turn off the engine when the brakes are applied and the vehicle is at a complete stop, if the required operating conditions are met. The tachometer will read Auto Stop.

The Stop/Start system can be disabled and enabled by pressing the Stop/Start switch on the center of the instrument panel. (Fig. 07) The system is enabled each time the vehicle is started.

 

Fig. 7

 

An auxiliary electric engine coolant pump motor (Fig. 8) continually circulates engine coolant through the heater core while the Stop/Start system has shut down the engine and the ambient temperature is colder than 59°F (15°C) to maintain the passenger compartment temperature.

 

Fig. 8

 

The 3.0L diesel engine also features an active engine mount system to enable an optimal balance between vehicle Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) performance and vehicle dynamics, including during Automatic Engine Stop/Start events. There is a single solenoid on each active engine mount that is energized during an ignition event and switched on for idle and driving events. The solenoid valves are supplied with battery voltage through a single fuse and are controlled by the ECM.

 

Normal Sounds After Engine Shut-Off

After the 3.0L diesel engine has been shut off, several sounds may be heard in the engine bay. These sounds may be caused by the following components performing a cleaning cycle:

• Turbocharger linkage (Fig. 9)
• Exhaust throttle valve
• Intake manifold swirl valve

 

Fig. 9

 

The sounds are normal operating characteristics of the vehicle and do not impact the designed performance or reliability of the vehicle.

Refer to Bulletin 19-NA-188 for additional information.

 

Special Tools

The following new tools were released for the 3.0L diesel engine:

Tool Number	Description
EN-52445	Camshaft Tool
EN-52446	Rear Crankshaft Seal Installer
EN-52448	High Pressure Fuel Pump Tool
EN-52449	Engine Stand Adapter
EN-52451	Fuel Injector Remover
EN-52452	Installer, Front Crankshaft Seal
EN-52474	Engine Lift Bracket Assembly
EN-52579	Crankshaft Rotator Tool
EN-52586	Fixing Pin, Crankshaft Timing
EN-50717-20	Valve Spring Compressor Adapter

 

For more details about the new 3.0L Duramax diesel engine, refer to Bulletin #19-NA-180.

 

– Thanks to Javier Hinojos and Sherman Dixon