GM grants first drive of its new diesel V8
by Eric Bryant on Sep 14th 2006 at 9:32AM 
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General Motors' recent (and vague) announcement of a new V8 diesel has led to significant speculation, especially with regard to power output and packaging size of the engine. As a preemptive strike against doubters, the company recently allowed Diesel Forecast to take a spin in a Buick Rainer equipped with the mystery oil-burner.
For starters, the "light duty" (intended for vehicles with a GVWR of under 8,600 lbs) will produce somewhere in the neighborhood of 330 HP and 520 lb-ft of torque. All that torque comes online around 1800 RPM and extends to 4500 RPM. We feel that these numbers should keep the average driver quite happy (diesel power junkies will just have to wait until aftermarket PCM tuners become available). For this we can credit the wonders of variable-geometry turbocharging, although at this point GM is not saying how many hairdryers they are using (two would be our guess, given the direction in which others are moving).
We were skeptical that a DOHC turbocharged V8 would fit into the same space as GM's ultra-compact pushrod gasoline V8s, but this does indeed appear to be the case (see the above outline drawing from GM, where its outline is shown against the GenIV L92). The fact that it fits under the hood of a GMT360 - a surprisingly tight environment, given the vehicle's external dimensions - speaks to the compact packaging of this engine, and means that we could see it popping up in just about any RWD product from the General.
On the emissions front, GM sees the engine utilizing urea injection with selective catalyst reduction to meet the EPA's 2010 Bin 5 regulations.
[Source: Diesel Forecast]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
snakesausage 10:06AM (9/14/2006)
Now that the general is on the diesel bandwagon maybe the EPA will get off the fence on the urea injection. They better test the crap outa this thing if they want to gain back at least a smidge of diesel respecct.
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goat 12:49PM (9/14/2006)
I'd like to see this in a RWD Impala.
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Michael Karesh 10:17AM (9/14/2006)
GM has plenty of diesel respect with regard to truck engines. I'm not aware of Duramax issues.
Interesting that you do use urea and crap in the same post, given the likely source of the urea.
On the GMT360 underhood space, there's normally a DOHC 4.2-liter inline six under there. That's got to be a very tall engine.
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The other Bob 10:18AM (9/14/2006)
Can't wait:
-Please fill 'er up with diesel, check the oil and TOP OFF THE UREA.
Is that really what we'll have to do?
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Jeff 11:24AM (9/14/2006)
"Please fill 'er up with diesel, check the oil and TOP OFF THE UREA.
Is that really what we'll have to do?"
Well, what I've been reading is the UREA tank will last approximately as long as the regular scheduled maintenance intervals (oil change etc.). The thought is take it to the dealer, have maintenance done and fill her up. I would assume the stuff would be available over the counter for do-it-yourselfers too but who knows.
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ruggels 11:06AM (9/14/2006)
"Is that really what we'll have to do?"
No, it'll be part of the service cycle, like oil, so you shouldn't need to top off as frequently as you fill up with gas (at least according to audi - different company, same problem).
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BB 4:59PM (9/14/2006)
When did GM lose diesel respect? They are certainly up with Dodge and their cummins and definately ahead of Ford's troublesome 6.0. I think this engine will be amazing. They have needed this for a while.
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jordan 12:45PM (9/14/2006)
Re: Jeff
"I would assume the stuff would be available over the counter for do-it-yourselfers too but who knows."
C'mon man, you know that *REAL* DIY'ers would just urinate in their own tank. ;-)
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Richard 1:24PM (9/14/2006)
#2 I believe what #1 was referring to was GM's diesel disaster of the 1980's accredited with killing the diesel car movement in the U.S.
Wikipedia gives a good synopsis:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldsmobile_Diesel_V6_engine
"The history of Diesel engines at General Motors has not been positive. In the 1970s, the company was unable to power its large cars and trucks with their emissions-strangled engines. Like many other companies, GM turned to Diesel power, directing the Oldsmobile division to develop one V6 and two V8 to be shared with all divisions.
Oldsmobile's engines, the 5.7 L LF9 and 4.3 L LF7 V8s and this 4.3 L V6, were notoriously unreliable. Although over one million were sold between 1978 and 1985, the failure rate of GM's engines ruined the reputation of Diesel engines in general in the United States market. Eventually, a class action lawsuit resulted in an arbitration system under the supervision of the Federal Trade Commission where consumers could claim 80% of the original cost of the engine in the event of a failure."
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doug 6:27PM (11/17/2008)
i have Many of the so called JUNK 5.7 V8 & 4.3 V6 Diesel old motors any thing build after 1981 with the DX on the block is a great motor i have two with over 200,000 miles i them. 90% of the trouble came from poor training by GM, and poor diesel from the 80's
DKB_SATX 1:57PM (9/14/2006)
This is an interesting engine, but I think they should come out with a big 4 or small V6 turbodiesel, to get good torque and good fuel economy for midsize vehicles. They'll probably go more for the 6 for vibration, but once you get off idle a diesel 4 is smooth enough for most applications. Clean diesels returning 40 highway in Malibus and Equinoxes would probably move lots of units, but this V8 might be a way for them to serve the light truck/medium SUV market that's been so popular in the US.
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lwstudent 2:56PM (9/14/2006)
Urea and an oil change, the EPA thinks we the people are too lazy to do either. If I spend +20k on a vehicle I'm going to take care of it EPA. Besides I do not want a black cloud of smoke in my driveway every morning killing me.
Finally a light duty diesel, better not cost 5-6k more than gas or I'm not going to buy it. Might as well buy the Chrysler's bluetec Cherokee which will only be a 1k more.
Message to GM, the diesel better cost not much more than gas or no-go from me. 1k 1.5k max more and I'm in.
GM make the diesel bio friendly for B100/SVO/WVO too, AMD got a lot of intel customers by making overclocking easy, which is analogous to gm making their cars easy to convert to biodiesel. lots of country boys like that idea, -- besides Gm already sells "flex fuel" vehicles, might as well make the diesel "flex fuel!!!"
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doofus 5:15PM (9/14/2006)
Somehow they look like states with the outline.
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Galley 8:49AM (9/15/2006)
Am I the only one who doesn't understand what the heck that photo is supposed to be?
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