GM 4.5L V8 Duramax turbo-diesel details
6 May, 2008
25 Comments 
General Motors has released official details on its new 4.5L V8 Duramax turbo-diesel engine which could feature in the Holden Commodore line up by 2010.
The new V8’s compact size enables it to fit within the same space as petrol units, offering GM the flexibility to introduce it in a wide variety of vehicles to meet market demand and new CAFE regulations.
It is expected to deliver 231kW of power and an enormous 705Nm, returing a 25 percent improvement in fuel efficiency over comparable petrol engines.
The environmental benefits of the new engine include a 13-percent reduction in CO2 emissions and at least a 90-percent reduction in particulates and NOx compared to many diesel vehicles today.
“This new V-8 diesel meets the toughest emissions requirements in North America, and it also delivers an effortless performance feel because of its high torque across the speed range,” said Charlie Freese, executive director of GM Powertrain Diesel Engineering.
An electronically controlled, 29,000-psi common-rail fuel system is also used on the engine which has the ability to inject fuel five times per combustion event, reducing noise and emissions while enhancing fuel economy.
The new 4.5L diesel V8’s technical details include lightweight aluminum cylinder heads with integrated manifolding; a variable-vane turbocharger with intercooling; a compacted graphite iron (CGI) cylinder block for a stronger and lighter base engine; and a fracture-split main bearing cap system.
GM has applied for patents on a number of these features and expects to have several patents granted before the engine launches.
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May 6th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
interesting.
would like to know more.
i doubt they will get it down to 6L/100k, which is what they would need to offset the diesel fuel and purchase premiums
Vote:May 6th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
This in a Commie, gotta be a joke its a pick up truck engine. Can’t imagine it having any get up n go chracteristics, yep it’ll tow a mountain and top out at 220K’s, what the Commie needs is the nice 3.0 fiat sourced engine and not this.
Hey TP less particulates, CO2 and NOx than a petrol equivilent. So the nasty diesel no so bad afterall, guess Toyata going to keep putting thirsty petrol engines in their vehicles. Sales will decline slowly knocking them off the number one spot.
Vote:May 6th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
no name,
Vote:did you know that toyota invested into isuzu to partner in some diesel technology?
May 6th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
As did GM – my 3.0 diesel Vectra has what I presume an Isuzu engine as some of the part beneath the bonnet have ‘Isuzu markings’. Its a good performer but not a leader. It does about 7.7lits/100 in a country run at about 130K’s. The manual specifies 7.0’s. so getting to below this I believe would be nearly impossible, so this great lump above will never get into the Commie as the economics don’t quite stack up.
Vote:May 6th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
WTF?! does a passenger car need a 4.5l V8 Diesel? could a smaller capacity diesel do the job? or is this to replace the 6.1L engine?
how about a diesel hybrid? guess that would be asking for too much….
Vote:May 6th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
pity Ford didn’t have one of these ready to go for the Territory!
Vote:May 6th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Gotta love the hardcore names the yanks give their donks.
With this much torque would only need a low stall converter and direct drive in a commodore. Ha ha.
Powerglide at the most.
Vote:May 7th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Agree with No Name. This engine will be too expensive and too heavy to be the base diesel for Commodore. Also, the Isuzu V6 is old tech – the new 3 litre Fiat V6 is the one – should provide 180kW and 540Nm which would be plenty.
Vote:May 7th, 2008 at 10:46 am
As Romsey Quints would say, this would need to be mated to no more than an “All Aussie One-Speed Praymore Automatic transmission”.
Vote:May 7th, 2008 at 11:14 am
If Lexus had this (they can only dream) they would mate it to a 20 speed auto…….
29,000psi in the fuel rail !! Phew, better not get ANY crap in the fuel.
Commodore could then have a 2.2l diesel (VM Motori as in Captiva), a 3.0V6 diesel (VM Motori or Fiat or derivative) and this little gem.
Vote:May 7th, 2008 at 11:38 am
If you reduce the size of this engine by a quarter, which should make it a V6 you should finish up with about 3.4 litres. Maybe that’s what’s going to go in the Commodore. Who knows. The trouble is both Holden and Ford in Australia are behind the 8 ball when it comes to diesels. This morning oil is at $28 a barrel. How long will it be before our car market respondes to this hike in oil. We like the Japanese have been to closely aligned with America when it comes to engines. All oil burners of quality come from Europe and more to the point, Germany.
Come on Ford and Holden, how about sourcing some decent diesel motors from your companies in Europe.
Vote:May 7th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Holden and Ford aren’t the only ones behind the 8 ball in AU – Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi – in fact all except the Euros have nothing much to offer in the way of nice diesels.
Yeah, Yeah, there are Astras, Mazdas, and Mondeos with a diesel, but they all miss out one way or another, principally due to no Auto version.
Tony M – Oil at $28 per barrel??????? I thought it was well over $100 per barrel.
Vote:May 7th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Oh – forgot to mention, this engine with a single turbo outperforms the Toyota 4.5 twin turbo by a substantial margin.
Toyota figures
Max Power: 195kW@3400RPM
Max Torque: 650Nm@1600RPM-2600RPM
I guess GM still has a twin turbo opportunity up its sleeve for this engine. That would probably suit the SS commodore :)
Vote:May 7th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Your right, I wish it was $28 a barrel, I meant $128 a barrel.
I’m not sure on this but I believe that as the capacity of the diesel engines increase (size wise) the revs tend to decrease.
Vote:May 7th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Correction on the thought of a twin turbo – the exhaust and turbo sit in the V, so it’s not necessary to have a second turbo, and no ugly plumbing to join the 2 exhausts together.
Inlets are on the top of the engine.
This is one very well thought out engine.
Vote:May 7th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
TonyM,
i dont see the economics of a diesel stacking up in a falcon or commy.
the best they would get out of a diesel falcon or commy would be 8L/100k.
thats only 2L less than what a falcon offers anyway.
keep in mind that diesel now sits around 30c per litre dearer than unleaded and that the purchase premium could be up to 5K.
the latest research shows that an investment into a diesel powered vehicle wont save you $$$
at last some geniuus has come out and said what i have realised for a while.
diesels are good in the light truck jappers though because they can chew the juice at around 15L/100k compared to the diesels that bring it down to around the 8L mark
would i buy a diesel japper ute over a V6 japper ute? hell yes
Vote:would i buy a diesel falcon or commy over a petrol version? you gotta be kidding.
pay extra to save 2L/100k……its false economy really
May 7th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
No name, not much get up and go? With 230kw and 705nm? And a variable vane turbo? This car would have so much torque from IDLE it would accelerate like a bitch on fire! Audi have been setting a good diesel benchmark these days, with the diesel versions accelerating harder and faster than the petrol models. I suspect this could be interesting in a Calais V.
Vote:May 7th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Prumm – when I said no get up & go I meant you can have all the power and torque on the planet but if it don’t rev up quickly it won’t fast quickly enough. This Duramax thing is clearly designed for big utes weighing 2.5tonnes or more than thrive on low revs and not outright speed. Besides despite the high tech materials in its construction its still gonna weigh a bit which would upset handling dynamics of the commie possibly. Nope my monies on a 3.0 TD which will outperform the 3.6litre petrol engined Commies.
Vote:May 8th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
no name,
i agree that this version wont make the commy.
its also called a “V8″ and when people want a “V8″ they expect 300+Kw
even if it is to be the option for the V6 commy, it will still easily drink 10L/100k so whats the point
Vote:May 8th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
COMMODORE, COMMODORE! V8 turbo diesel Commodore….yeah!
Pfffffft……Andrew M, its called torque!
P.S. You still havent answered my question at the FG Falcon XT article, you ford MAN!!!!!!!!!!
Vote:May 8th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Anti-Spam word Holden. Yeah! V8 commodore would be awesome!
^Andrew M the P.S. is for you, buddy!
Vote:May 8th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
So does that mean Holden will offer a V6 turbo diesel (as seen before on CarAdvice before) and V8 turbo diesel?
If thats the case………………GREAT!
Vote:October 3rd, 2008 at 8:23 am
my question is can i get it in a 6 speed manual v6 diesel.
Vote:I cant get v6 petrol manual so maybee a diesel
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:34 pm
hi there if this is going to be read by gmh,i have rand u guys and emailed u aswell,i want to buy those engines and fit them in some of my vehicles,i also would like to by the software so i can service alter and maintain the engine,if u can work with me on this it would be wellcomed,or im going have to import the older 6.6l duramax from the states wich i dont want to do as i want the 4.5l for its size,and just a comment for those who dont know anything about diesels,catch up with times,u dont need a top fueler to make 6sec at the strip anymore u just need some nouse and a new generation diesel.
Vote:May 11th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Dick From W.a
I had the same intentions you did… this engine sounded perfect for my Hilux Surf… until i read this
” GM announced today that an “indefinite hold” would be placed on further development of their 4.5L V8 Duramax Diesel engine. ”
Found that on another website posted 11th March 2009 – because of the economic downturn it has set them back… very very disappointing…
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