GM's new 6.6-liter "LML" Duramax V-8 turbodiesel for its 2011 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Heavy Duty pickups will be capable of burning B20 biodiesel fuel, according to a GM press release issued early Monday.
B20 is a blend of 80 percent conventional ultra-low-sulfur diesel and 20 percent biodiesel.
“The 2007 federal energy bill mandates increased biodiesel production and more states and municipalities are requiring it,” said Mike Robinson, vice president, Environment, Energy and Safety Policy. “Biodiesel production is growing and GM is excited and ready to satisfy demand with our new B20 capable Duramax 6.6-liter engine.”
We first reported about the B20 capability of the LML Duramax in August last year. That's up from a B5 biodiesel rating in the current "LMM" Duramax.
Both the (with all-new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8) and 2010 Ram Heavy Duty (with 6.7-liter Cummins inline-six cylinder) are also able to burn up to B20 biodiesel, though Cummins approves the use of B20 in Ram trucks for municipal, government, and commercial fleets only.
“We made a lot of enhancements to make sure the new Duramax is robust with biodiesel,” Duramax chief engineer Gary Arvan said. “The engine uses our latest-generation fuel filter that includes a coalescing filter to trap any water that could be present in the fuel. The downstream injector [behind the exhaust] for diesel particulate filter regeneration means we also won’t have a worry of oil dilution with B20 fuel from in-engine post injection [like is used on the LMM diesel]. There’s also additional heating to the fuel circuit so the filter won’t get plugged from old [B20] fuel gelling or waxing.”
We'll have lots more news and information about the new 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD pickup and its updated Duramax diesel on Wednesday, February 10 at 12:01 am Eastern. Be sure to check back then!
