2.8L LWN Duramax: Everything You Need to Know

We already made an in-depth video talking about the 3.0L Duramax, the pros and the cons, and while you might think the 2.8L Duramax is similar considering they're separated by a mere 200cc of displacement, they're actually nothing alike. So, with that in mind, it's time to a deep dive into the GM 2.8L LWN Duramax.
The strangest part about this 2.8L engine having the Duramax name, which a name that is often thought of exclusively with American trucks, is that it's not even close to being an American engine. Although, to be fair, the 6.6L Duramax also isn't an American engine, as it's manufactured by Isuzu.
Regardless though, the 2.8L Duramax is actually an older engine from VM Motori, which is a company that is actually now owned by Stallantis which is a company under the Fiat Chrysler umbrella, which is ironically where RAM got their EcoDiesel from. So, in a way, the 2.8L Duramax and the 3.0L EcoDiesel are actually related, as they're both designed by VM Motori.
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[@Dustrunnersauto]

What video do you guys want to see next?

[@zachmoritz9856]

6hk Duramax

[@johnherbold6539]

Can you make a video on the Ford Lion diesel V6/V8? I feel like the 4.4 V8 specifically is really cool but there isn’t much content on it on KZbin

[@nicoakridge7434]

3.7 ford vs qv37

[@dmoffitt252]

Detroit DD engines

[@bcdieselsofficial]

How the EPA got their power to ruin diesels! By the way, they did lose a lot of power recently.

[@davidjb9199]

I have the 2016 Z71 with 2.8 L Duramax engine. Not had any issues with towing "lighter" loads (

[@curtis9795]

Have 89,000+ on my 2018 D-Max and consistently tow with it and NEVER had ANY issues with the engine or transmission. This truck grossly under rated for what I’ve put it through!

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

We'll see what happens when you get to 250k

[@charlesbriggs8315]

I have 65,000 on my 2016 canyon. The dealer already replaced the torque converter and it's now beginning to go again. 🤨 Thanks for the trans explanation.

[@David-yy7lb]

@@TheAnnoyingBoss wait until you need to replace the belt driven oil pump around 150k miles or so😂

[@pasci0057]

That is the 3.0. 2.8 is gear driven oil pump, and timing belt is on the front. No need to pull the cab

[@MASS1866]

Try 300000. Easy to tow when new. Mine heats. Can’t figure out.

[@robertmoulton2656]

I had a 2018 canyon with the 2.8L diesel SLT 4x4 long box crew cab. Used as a daily driver and towing a couple quads in the summer and a four place snowmobile trailer in winter. Worked excellent. Emissions specifically the DEF was the only weak point. I'd regularly get 22mpgs to 34mpgs . Usually close to 30. Liked the truck so much I bought a ZR2 diesel last month . (Same truck more ground clearance. )

[@scott250r2]

Agree 100%

[@ryanlogan2911]

Motorops In 🇨🇦can make that go away…

[@jimmypatterson9854]

How is the zr2 on milage?

[@robertlenning332]

@@jimmypatterson9854 I have a 22 zr2 I get 25-30 all the time.

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

If only they were a really built to be bulletproof. The epa has it sucking on its own farts and you pay big cost in long run to keep these systems working and the older it is the less worth it to fix. Parts fill up junkyards and now the soil polluted.

[@Kristian_Saile]

We have had two Duramax Colorado’s a new 2016 and just a few weeks ago a ‘22. It’s primarily my wife’s commuter vehicle and for hauling feed and supplies from town for our farm on her trips. People seem to bag on this engine but it is fantastically paired to this truck. I am a big Toyota guy, specifically Land Cruisers and I even petitioned Toyota to bring some diesel offerings for their 4wd’s stateside so when Chevy brought this to market I immediately put my money where my mouth was. I had previously used a foreign version of this engine for traveling in South America in a Chevy Luv and in New Zealand in the Holden version and loved it. The US version is even more refined. We have towed a 23’ camper with it and it pulled easier with less drama than our 3/4 ton Suburban we had at the time. Daily driving we get 32-35mpg on the two lane rural roads here, towing our old camper we saw 15-16 which was great. A small diesel in a mid size truck is a great thing. Knowing they were going away this year we scooped up one of the last ones in the region we could find. We love it. For our uses, they are great, even if I will have more upkeep in the emissions system down the road. I feel like most of the issues folks have are due to short distance use in these things.

[@joedfazio]

My feelings exactly! I don’t understand why GM develops a midsize diesel for our market and then drops it a few years later. They should’ve worked on getting the cost down instead. I’m sure the new gas turbo will be fun to drive But It will not deliver 34mpg on highway or 15mpg while towing.

[@edwardbowles8613]

Love my 2.8. Please GM wake up! Don't drop this engine.

[@georgefloydsinhellwbreonna5330]

I’ve got the ‘19 ZR2 and continuously had issues with the particulate filters. Constantly having the check engine light show up and for around 6 weeks drove in reduced engine power mode (still hit highway speeds but basically no turbo). My truck was at the dealership to the point that it was becoming a major inconvenience. My buddy is a diesel mechanic and suggested that I delete/tune. I found a kit at HD Diesel out of Canada and after the dealership ended up replacing the entire DPF system, I got my truck back without a check engine light popping up every other day and then disappearing randomly to appear again a day later. Best decision I’ve made. Increased torque (100) and hp (60) along with a transmission tune (better shift points) but my mileage is what makes me the happiest. I drive quite a bit and go into some serious sketchy rocky terrain to deal with feral hogs that I’m contracted to kill on public and private land. It just performs so much better and my buddy runs diagnostics on it to make sure nothing bad is happening but the kit I bought was the most popular for that truck considering that it had safe number increases.

[@erikkovacs3097]

I recently drove a 2016 Chevy Colorado with the 2.8 duramax. It seemed like something was wrong with it. Off the line is was a total dog then at 2000rpm it takes off. The hesitation was super annoying. Is this normal behavior or could the vanes in the turbo be sticking.

[@Gregoman89]

@@erikkovacs3097 dpf issues most likely.

[@Scotty777]

I have a 2017 Colorado Z71 with the 2.8l babymax. I do tow heavyish on occasion, large pontoon boat, compact tractor etc. , but withing the towing specs of the truck. I have a love/hate relationship with this thing. I love it for the most part. My previous vehicle was a 3/4 ton and this truck has done everything I need it to since I do not tow super heavy anymore. However, I HATE the emissions BS on this truck. I've had four, what I would classify as "expensive" failures with this vehicle, all have been emissions related failures ranging from $800-$1600 to repair. NONE of which have been covered under the Fed Emissions Warranty. Thanks EPA!

[@projet2907]

Same here !!

[@boomer101985jg]

Glad I ran across this video, I have been on the fence about deleting my 2.8 zr2 but now I’m definitely going to get rid of the garbage associated with the Dmax.

[@tonychacon82]

The camera quality and the background looks badass. Props 🤙🏼

[@levismith7444]

This video was incredibly informative

[@TheNewNoise7]

Awesome information! Thank you for making this. I was just looking into these recently.

[@blazerboyz1214]

While the 6l50 may have been in more cars than trucks… it’s not a “specific” car transmission. The 6l50 in the Colorado does not use the same clutch packs or converter the car counterpart uses

[@mddunlap03]

It’s still much weaker than a 6l80

[@alexpirie9947]

And the 6l80 is junk as well. Talk to any one of us trans builders. They have a long list of poor designed parts.

[@A-a-Ron_Onion]

⁠​⁠@@alexpirie9947would it be a more desirable application over the 6l50? I just added a comment asking if it has seen a difference

[@craighoffman6876]

Nice video and very articulate. I own a '17 Canyon with the 2.8. As you said, the transmission and emissions system have proven to be weak points for many. The only way around it is to tune it to firm up the transmission's soft "carlike" stock settings and to turn off EGR, which quickly cokes up the intake tract. Unfortunately the EPA has made that difficult. For Americans it is important to protect the high pressure fuel pump and injectors to run a good cleaning/lube/cetane boost additive with every fill up. America's "dry" and low cetane diesel fuel generally sucks balls. I like Optilube's "Summer+" dosed at 5 ounces per 20 gallons. My 2.8 starts and runs notably better with it, and the lube protects the fuel system.

[@panthermartin7784]

Your 2.8L fuel system is designed to run on ULS diesel fuel, the problem is , compared to say European diesel, American diesel quality is absolute fucking garbage, water, contaminants, you ask a German to run Yank diesel in his Benz he would implode and accidentally invade Poland again. Keep your filters clean or go better micron. Adding an additive, especially stock is pointless and often voids warranty.

[@craighoffman6876]

@@panthermartin7784 GM originally specified no fuel additives needed. Now GM sells an additive, probably after having quite a few warranty claims for injectors failing often burning a hole in their cylinder's piston in the process. I wouldn't buy a new diesel now, as the EPA has shut down the ability to tune (or at least do good tunes that shut off EGR) in the US. Funny you mentioned the filtration system. I added a Racor Marine 2 micron water separator fuel filter after the stock filter setup. My truck is a long box, so it was not hard to fabricate a mounting system with that foot of extra space to work with. That area in front of the OEM filter is much tighter for short box owners. 20K miles on the add on marine grade filter, so far so good! The added filter did not register at all in the "fuel filter life" screen, any additional restriction is nominal, or the system would have noticed it. Getting my 2.8 they way I wanted it was quite a bit of brain damage and not for a sane person. I guess I like a project 😁

[@benbamber3142]

The manual for my '16 Colorado specifies using Top Tier-branded fuels. Unfortunately, I don't know of any stations in this area of the country that sell Top Tier diesel, though there are plenty that sell Top Tier gasoline. I've been running Power Service Diesel Kleen + Cetane Boost in my truck with every fill up, mixed per the bottle instructions for maximum cetane boost. My truck gets better mileage and runs a lot smoother with it. I've read online that these smaller Euro-designed diesels are really meant for Euro-spec fuels, which are 50+ cetane. Most diesel in the US is 40 cetane, when the pump is marked with a cetane rating at all, so I'm glad to see someone else mentioning the need to run a fuel additive in our smaller trucks.

[@craighoffman6876]

@@benbamber3142 Sinclair diesel is the best pump fuel I have come across. I buy cheap diesel and treat it like you do, that works fine. As long as it is from a high volume station and it is free of water you are good to go treating your fuel like you are with Diesel Kleen.

[@HR-rt9nh]

my understanding is there is NO top tier diesel... only clean waterless diesel... so go where diesel is bought a lot, like where the truckers go, that ensures the fuel is used up and fresher diesel @@benbamber3142

[@drewthorne3176]

Awesome primer on the 2.8DM! thank you!

[@johnriise9506]

Thank You so much ! We have a 2018 ZR-2 and love it. I installed a B&M trans dipstick. and change the engine oil every 4,000 and the fuel filters and trans oil every 20,000, We do a lot of towing --- we have a Feather-lite car trailer and have towed every thing from cars to fire wood...Love the trans - going down hill I touch the brakes and the trans will down shift. The jake brake docent work very good, and the brakes are not the best. All three of our trailers have brakes on all four wheels. Over all we are very happy with our ZR-2...

[@williammorgan5987]

For those that actually don’t know if they want an HD or not, I have a Ram 3500, 2022. It was expensive. But last that, I dropped some money on a Carli suspension, 35” tires running 60 psi all around. It’s a very smooth daily driver. Gets mid 20s mpg not deleted. I’m looking up this engine class because I’m wanting something to build as a toy in the garage so I’m making my rounds to see all what’s out there.

[@scottiebones]

I've owned the Australian Holden colorado variant for nearly 5 years now, the 6l50 6 speed has had some issues here with torque converters failing giving a shudder off the line throttle, Holden gladly replaced mine with a revised unit under warranty and has since been fine good. Over all the engine has been reliable with no other issues, although I fear I will encounter some egr issues down the road as they are a pain in the ass. Never had a regen issue with dpf as my drives are usually longer then 20 minutes each time and don't even realise it's been through a regen at all. It's been a great mid sized truck so far

[@rtwice93555]

I can’t comment specifically on this engine because I will likely never touch one. As a fleet mechanic I only work on Ford, Navistar, and Cummins engines. But I would like to comment on diesel engines as a whole from a couple things you said in the video. Towards the beginning you brought up how widely diesels are used in Europe more so than here in the U.S. and I think you can thank our administration for that. When you think back to the late 1970s and early 1980s when diesel engines were first introduced in passenger cars and light trucks, diesel fuel was half the price of gasoline. That was one of the selling points. California and Feds have no taxed diesel fuel so much that it is now more expensive than unleaded gas. I don’t want to turn my comment political, but our government has made diesel engines appear to be an expensive option. Towards the end of the video you questioned the reliability of the EGR and after treatment system of this engine. While its too early to tell, I feel hopeful. As much as I hate both systems, I am starting to see some improvements in our newest trucks. Our International MV series trucks running the Cummins L9 engines are on their second year with some hours racked up. We have had almost no trouble. None of the DPFs have had to be pulled and cleaned. No EGR coolers have ruptured. We have had a couple of SCR problems, but nothing like the older trucks. This gives me hope that they are finally working the bugs out of these systems.

[@jeremysmith9868]

I heard that Cummins had a similar 2.8L engine. Is that one a Cummins original or did they get it from VM too?

[@mddunlap03]

It’s only taxed about 5-10c more than gas. It’s expensive because of going to ultra low sulfur that means a lot of post refining(cracking) treatments making it a much more refined fuel. Oddly enough planes can burn high sulfur with no emissions and they never will be forced to emissions because the rich don’t drive a 1 ton truck but definitely won’t put up with anything that would mess with there private jets

[@benbamber3142]

@@jeremysmith9868 You may be thinking of the R2.8 that Cummins offers as a crate motor. As far as I'm aware, that's a Cummins original; it has a cast iron head, and I believe a fixed geometry turbo, though I could be wrong about that. According to Cummins' specs, it makes a bit less power (161 HP, 310 LB/ft), but weighs about the same.

[@ExtinctSS]

2018 Z71 CCLB here, I can say on all the FB groups/forums I've seen I haven't seen a lot of complaining about the 6L50, now the DPF equipment...whole different ball game. Had mine go into limp mode. It was dangerously slow on acceleration, it will make you take it to the dealer to get your filter replaced/manual regened. Some folks get theirs tuned, and tow, the 6L50 seems to be holding up fine, at least I haven't heard a lot of chatter about it.

[@pavelgavrilovskiy7174]

Thank you for informative video!

[@ClinkenbeardStrong]

Hey, thanks for the info. I'm planning on using this engine in a off-road truck. With that being said I would hate to use the 6l50 trans. Do you happen to know of a 4wd manual transmission that will adapt to the waird bell housing pattern??

[@erikkovacs3097]

The R428 was found for 2 years (05-06) in US spec Jeep Liberty CRD’s.

[@rockymountainjazzfan1822]

Great review. I have a Jeep Liberty with the 2.8L CRD from VM Motori--basically the same engine as the 2.8L Duramax. They are so similar that, if I was blindfolded, I wouldn't be able to tell if I was riding in the Liberty or a Colorado. The 2.8L Duramax shares one of its two basic weaknesses with the Liberty CRD--that weakness is the timing belt. In the Liberty, parts and labor to change out the timing belt is about a $1,600 job--that wipes out most of the fuel economy cost advantage of the diesel. Fortunately, the Liberty does NOT have DPF and DEF systems, which is the 2.8L Duramax's second major problem area. Aside from the timing belt issues, however, both engines can suffer from emission-related issues. Both absolutely require strict adherence to oil change intervals with the correct motor oil. Maintained properly (including timing belt replacement) both can be long-lived engines, but they they are no longer really cost-efficient to own compared to gasoline engine vehicles today. As a lover of diesel engines, I hate to admit that, but my own cost figures and analysis show exactly that to be true.

[@drodg31]

Was going to bring up that this engine is in fact a newer gen variant of that same motor in the liberty. Also I work at a dealer that sees very few of these but despite that we've still replace a couple for catastrophic failure

[@michaelpena6285]

Great review! I have a 2017 GMC Canyon with the duramax engine. I bought used and have thoroughly enjoyed driving the truck. Great fuel mileage, about 32 mpg and love the diesel engine noise! I was saddened that GM had dropped the engine in favor of the 2.7L gas engine.

[@BungSmuggler]

i just bought a 2016 colorado with the duramax. How has the truck/motor/trans held up for you?

[@michaelpena6285]

@@BungSmuggler No issues with motor or transmission. It has 50k miles on it. I had to replace the HVAC control module (on the dash) as all the lights burned out. The vent setting buttons still worked, but driving at night and changing the vents was difficult

[@BungSmuggler]

@@michaelpena6285 Gotcha. Mine has 60k on it now and haven't had any issues, but i've had her two weeks lol. Appreciate the reply!

[@RyaMarshall]

@@BungSmuggler I bought my 2016 Chevy Colorado, Z71, CC, LB, 4x2(this is the only way to get the Full 7,700 lbs tow rating) New in 2016 I am over 101,000 miles stock, no issues. I do a lot of city driving (I live in Los Angeles) and some some highway. my average MPG is over 25MPG highway I get 31-36mpg (65mph) good tranny, good engine, I really want to trade it in for a 2022 ZR2 Diesel(want the toy fun), but I also want to keep it to see how long it will last, and I also want to make some changes turbo, Tune no delete, leveling kit, ... anyways my point is this is a fantastic truck and its smaller size allows a lot easier ability to move about and park in the city!

[@travishurd7619]

I use to be a chevy/subaru tech and when chevy rolled out the zr2 i fell in love with the zr2 duramax, I have had some problems with the truck from whole emissions system failure about 55k miles and the engine throwing a rod out the side of the block at 60k miles, everything was under warranty but still surprised me

[@psynurse]

I hear you. Sounds about right. i traded my subaru for mine and which I had the subie back

[@dilbertbob5420]

I have been looking for detailed information on this engine for quite some time. I have a 2017 Colorado. Never had an issue with the engine, have had some issues with the DEF system throwing codes. All in all, I'd buy the truck again.

[@RobertSourbutts-mm5mw]

Hi mate, so glad i trip over this vid TOTSL LOVED IT!!!. I own a 2018 holden trailblazer (Australian model) with this engine in it. These models not the truck style colorados that we have seem to have 2 issue one been the inlet manifold seems to break the inlet runner in them and then need replacement and the other is torque converter issues, I was wondering if you know of these issue and what is the cause behind the problems. Thanks Robert

[@dougr5379]

I have a 2018 GMC Canyon Denali with 49,000 miles. When I purchased the truck new, I started having DEF system issues and after 4 dealer service repairs (the last at 12K miles), I've had no further problems with the DEF system. I started having transmission shudder at 30,000 miles. The dealer flushed the transmission and replaced the fluid with a different synthetic and it has worked flawlessly since, actually smoother shifting now than when I purchased the truck new. Overall, I've been happy with the truck and absolutely love that diesel engine power and fuel economy.

[@TheRandalHandle]

I have a 2.8 Canyon and I really like it. Decent power, consistently gets 28+ mpg. No problems so far, knock on wood. I'm considering some minor upgrades in the future, mostly to the suspension. I can't believe GM isn't going to make the 2.8L available after 2022. This engine should be in everything: cars, SUVs, small trucks.

[@nickthrane4940]

Timing belt instead of timing chain? Built in Obsolescence

[@michaelbenoit248]

Yeah, it’s cuz they’re going all electric. EVs suck, & gazers suck.

[@nickthrane4940]

@@michaelbenoit248 🚬🤡🤣🤷✌️

[@seniorvendetta96]

They had a 2.5l Duramax based on this 2.8l engine. Colorado in Asia uses both engine and they puts out 181hp/440nm and 200hp/500nm respectively. I owned the 2.5l variant and so far it is pretty powerful and reliable engine. But most 2.5l owner had a transmission issue, maybe it is true that the transmission is nor suitable for truck uses. Overall, good and powerful engine from GM. If you need to know more about the engine, i'm happily want to share with you

[@zig-zagman5073]

i have a 2016 gmc sle 2.8 dmax with 95k on it. i tow a cargo trailer occasionally, havent had any problems. (yet)

[@peterryan7340]

In Australia, until 2016, our Colorado only had an EGR then with a facelift model it received a DPF

[@stanjenson2026]

2021 Colorado diesel and absolutely love it. 26ft. travel trailer doesn't slow it down at all.

[@deltabravo1257]

I have an LMM in my 2009 3500HD dually and a LWN 2017 Z71 Colorado. I love them both. I bought the dually new and the Colorado in 2021 with 9025 miles on it.

[@roblarson1790]

The transmission being the weakest link, can the 6L50 Be upgraded with the other transmission you mentioned? Or can it be rebuilt and beefed up?

[@HR-rt9nh]

2017 z71 i tow a light utility trailer couple times a month so far no issues, 110K. mostly highway miles. Now i do service my religiously. other then the occasional glitch with radio or AC function. the truck has been great.

[@edwardweiszbeck1649]

What a very thorough video. I will check out your other vids. But just based on this one video, you get worthy subscribr from me 👍

[@seansmyth6505]

I have a 2017 canyon with the 2.8l 150k KM on it and the DEF heater died this past winter, thankfully i found a company still able to remove the EPA crap and get my truck back on the road for half of the price then the part from GM. Big middle finger the the EPA for mandating parts that break down and cost a ton to repair.

[@julianbusty]

what state would like to keep that in mind any issues when doing dmv renew?

[@seansmyth6505]

@@julianbusty im in Canada, it reprograms the ECU to get rid of all the emissions shit.

[@julianbusty]

@@seansmyth6505 lol darn i am in the USA

[@marcelbroesky4945]

Who did you get your tune from? I've been running the MotorOps for 150k kms, it was rocky at first but we had it sorted in the end. I also have their TCM tune. My forward gear clutch plates wore next due to low line pressure from a failing pressure regulator plunger. Sonnax part# 6L45-6L90-ZIP resolves that along with low valve body performance. This is an issue across all of these transmissions.

[@toddsmith8057]

Great video! It's too bad the EPA is forcing these diesels out. We have a 2017 and a 2022, love em!!

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

The regulations killing it and causing lots of pollution. I would rather save all the money not buying the truck and live a financially more secure life than have to spend all this money for the liability of maintaining an Isuzu engine that is designed in dark times where the epa make it suck on it's own farts to pretend to help the enviorment while they mine rare earth metals out of the earth to build a battery that only lasts 15 years if you're lucky, maybe a bit more if you're really really lucky. The pollution of the ground is worse because then you can't plant a tree to suck all the carbon out of the air which is suspended via carbon dioxide. If the epa cared about pollution they would go plant trees ect instead of having engine suck on own farts for higher cost. We'd be much better off developing some kind of metals which will not burn oil and cost less to repair. ECT. So less things go to junk yard. If epa really cared about the enviorment they wouldn't allow auto manufacturers to use plastic headlights anymore while charging 25k for a base model sedan because in 10-15 years some highschool kid will think they're ugly and worn out and don't shine bright and he will have to throw them away and buy new headlights and taillights made in China which will fade faster probably. These things are all plastic and end up buried in the landfills. The big holes in the ground we bury the trash in that turn into mountains. All these plastic buttons and switches they overcharge for which break in 15 years for a car that should be built to last 50 but isn't. I want to replace one tiny little plastic piece in my accord and they want to charge $12 before shipping just for me to get my hands on a component with the component I need inside and it's a tiny little .50 cent plastic piece. It should've never been made of plastic according to the cost of the car when it was brand new. The epa doesn't care about the environment. They have done horrible things for the environment. Their is 3d printers that can print tons of these things for pennies on the dollar, why am I paying $12? Also, I had a very nice Toyota, as lots of people do. The seat broke and it was old enough it cost a lot to fix and was worth fixing but we didn't have that kind of money at the time to throw into a car that people won't pay lots for just because it's not a mint 60s Impala or whatever people spend a lot of money on these days. So we just left the seat broken and i tried to go fix it myself and turns out I had to buy a 500 dollar assembly off eBay and their was no garentee it was going to work and the car only worth 3500 but not in bad shape. So people didn't drive it and it at begging to be worked on and since it sad lucky it's Toyota and only a fuse pop or something but with my luck it's always asspain for every little thing. So the seat stayed broken because I'm not paying 25% of the cars value just to get the seat working because it also needs new headlights and new tires sometime eventually and new rubber belts and new windshield and before you know it you're in the hole on a 3.5k car. So it was sad to see it wear out because it was a very nice Toyota. It's still out there today but it's simple little mistakes which in 20 years come to plague. In 25 years your car might still be on the road, many won't. But will you be able to say your seat still works and none of your buttons broke and your headlights and taillights aren't all faded? It gets expensive to keep these things running and we're talking Toyota not even Isuzu GM "quality control" with the epa making engines suck their own farts. I just don't see it lasting without costing the people who own it s metric fortune like most vehicles. Major steps can be made by getting rid of low quality overpriced plastic buttons and button components and making it easier to get your hands on all the components and not just assemblies with the 1 component you actually want inside it because it ups cost by having to buy what you don't need. And come on man it's 2022 and these oil cars still leaking everywhere. Oil cost $122 a barrel. That cost adds up when you're leaking it because of poor design

[@jeradbennett5030]

Thanks for the video I was curious about the design and layout of these engines and you answered many of my questions.

[@patmcguinness3305]

I have a 2016 and a 2017 Holden Colorado. Both have done 300,000km (180,000mi) both have the 6 speed manual trans in them i was thinking about changing out the engine at 400,000 km. No problem with the manual trans yet. Good idea?

[@limptriscuit3199]

Jump on any of the colorado forums and you'll see the 6L50 is not an issue. Has a more robust TC than any of the car applications and takes the torque just fine. Also the version behind the 2.8 shares several internals with the 6L90 transmission.

[@ryanlogan2911]

It’s even stronger with the Revmax converter….

[@bobbyharriman7075]

…jump on any forum and the transmission is literally all anyone talks about. I own a ZR2 baby-D, I love it, but all my maintenance energy goes towards that damned trans and torque converter.

[@limptriscuit3199]

@@bobbyharriman7075 for the 8 speed in the gas truck ya. Please show me where the diesel trans is talked about. Also a zr2 dmax owner. Mine is flawless

[@RB-rl7kv]

ZR2 d Max owner…trans definitely not flawless. Chevy tech is literally afraid it’s going to blow up, it shudders so bad.

[@limptriscuit3199]

@@RB-rl7kv Tuned and deleted for 60k miles and never a shudder. Its not even close to having the issues that the 8 speed in the gas trucks have.

[@robertwilkinson2303]

My 2019 ZR2 is tuned & deleted. I bought it that way unbeknownst to me. I’ve since bought a new tune for it but I’ve had a major issue. As soon as the truck hits operating temperature it has no power until it hits 1800 rpm. I can’t seem to determine if it’s a tune issue or a mechanical issue. Any thoughts?

[@anthonyhenderson3274]

I got a 2.8 with 170k miles and its still amazing

[@edlafond1]

Love my 2018 Colorado Z71 2.8L D-max....Fuel is a little more expensive but the extra fuel mileage more than makes up for it!

[@63Imp283]

Do you know much about the 2.7L 4cyl turbo that will replace all of the Colorado and Canyons engines?

[@blitzekid]

I'm glad I watched this video Didn't know I had a car transmission Not a truck transmission In my Colorado Don't look like I'll be hauling anything with the truck Just average stuff That a regular car can handle Thanks for the info And by the way I do have problems with the emissions There will be problems down the road Nothing major yet But I'm having to clean it And as for do-it-yourselfer It's a headache I'd rather do away With the whole emissions Exhaust It's more headaches than what it's worth

[@nathan1sixteen]

These engines were put in the jeep Liberty’s in 2005 and 2006. My buddy has one, and it goes pretty good

[@jonathanpalmer228]

I’m sure that is gear driven not a timing belt

[@cavemanjoe79]

They had timing belts in the liberty also, there is a gentleman who has a video showing how he changed the timing belt in his diesel liberty.

[@nathan1sixteen]

@@jonathanpalmer228 nope, they were timing belt driven

[@jonathanpalmer228]

@@nathan1sixteen lmao you just said yourself they were timing belt driven after I said they were timing belt driven

[@thehammernator]

I think they’re garbage had a 2006 Liberty CRD. Was great until you had to start doing maintenance…

[@z32twinturbo13]

Wait so if I go with the ZR2 package. Diesel motor. And I pick the six speed transmission Will that be a better combo

[@shawnwalden2669]

i have a 2018 zr2 2.8, put 33" tires on it and i'm lucky to get 21 MPG . my mistake going back to a smaller tire when these wear out!

[@VIP-ry6vv]

Thanks for this info. I've been seriously considering the Colorado specifically because of the diesel offering. 30mpg is very attractive for daily driving and my tow requirements are well within the 7700# rating. The poor acceleration is not something that bothered me as I think acceleration comparison is a pointless vanity metric when talking trucks. I was shocked to find out that the 2.8 is an off the shelf euro engine mated to a car transmission. I'll be shifting my interest to a half ton. If I wanted a car, I'd buy a car.

[@cainreid9142]

Which transmisión should they have put behind the 2.8?

[@sgcromer526]

112k miles on 2018 colorado. The 6L50 is the weak point. They say 7700 pounds pulling. Well trans died at 65k(just out of warranty). Now having some bad shifts on the second trans. What are my options? Can I upgrade to an 6Lxx to help my problem? Or is there a new mod/version of my trans that I should look for? Thanks for your insights. Stephen

[@robwhite3241]

I'd like to see an episode on the chevy cruise diesels, might not be interesting enough to make a video about but it would be cool to see. Maybe an episode on the Ford Bluetec engines would be cool as well.

[@morgandelgado4763]

Yuup I would like to get more knowledge on the 1.6 TD

[@glennschlorf1285]

The same engine was used in 2018 GMC acadia and terrain

[@robwhite3241]

@@glennschlorf1285 I forgot that even existed to be honest

[@DeanSchumacher]

Thanks for the video I was thinking about getting one of these trucks but not now that transmission sux that's gonna be the weak point and I'm gonna be pulling a trailer and a boat not big pulling weight but I still don't think that transmission will hold up on a truck wanting to drive for many years thanks.

[@mikeriv60]

How has this engine held up for people ? Also being GM has changed the design of the Colorado is it hard to get parts for this diesel if repairs are needed. Thanks

[@A-a-Ron_Onion]

Could it be possible to swap the garbage 6l50 six speed transmission in the Colorado with the appropriate 8l90 transmission? Haven’t heard of anyone trying this before, wonder how it would perform and differ over the 6l50

[@Sam-lk6eo]

The transmission works fine ! Here in New Zealand it is rated for a 3.5 Ton tow rating, and it can do it comfortably, A 9 year Old 2013 Holden Colorado 2.8 Ltr Duramax RG, It's all good, early Ford Rangers had the problems with heating up and warping, research before you buy !

[@damianiverson3139]

Do you know if the 2024 canyon will have a diesle engine?

[@jeremysmith9868]

Can I get more information on the Diesel Particulate Filter? I have a check engine light on. A diagnostic test revealed a dirty DPF. My understanding is that the DPF cleans itself during the regen cycle. How do I ensure that I active the regen cycle and keep it active for the half hour cleaning period?

[@benbamber3142]

Get it out on the highway and drive it, preferably with some load on it for at least half an hour. The regen process is supposed to be transparent to the driver; it should be kicking on automatically. If you're getting a code that tells you to keep driving, then keep driving. The manual says something about it being above 40 MPH to trigger; I've noticed my personal truck will start to regen as low as at 25, but anytime you're stopped, it will generally kick the cycle off until you're moving again, unless it's in the middle of an active burn. If doing that doesn't help, you may need to take it to a dealer and have them trigger a parked regen. There's also a TSB from GM about these motors for the 2016 model year about them triggering a regen too often which requires an ECU reflash at the dealer. There's also a TSB for the DEF pump for that model year. You might want to consider getting an active OBD gauge/monitor so you can keep an eye on what your emissions system is doing. I'm using an OBDLink MX+, which is available on Amazon and Gretio for Android. Lets me watch all kinds of stuff like turbo boost pressure (so I can watch what my turbo is doing), Soot Level, EGTs, DEF line pressure, etc. For your regen question, if you get a monitor, watch your EGT1 sensor and Soot Percentage. The DPF won't start to loose soot level until your EGT is above about 700 degrees, and during regen, it can reach over 900. When regen is complete, your Soot Percentage should be down to 3-4%. If your EGTs never get that high, there may be something wrong with your active regen system. These trucks have a 5th injector mounted on the frame for active DPF regeneration, and that may be the culprit, but I would have the dealer run some diagnostics before throwing parts at it, as all of the emissions parts on these trucks are not cheap. For anyone who has that model year of truck (2016) and is getting a DEF code, if you have an active monitor, look at your DEF line pressure parameter. You should be seeing ~72 PSI in the DEF line once the truck is warmed up. If it's weak, or 0, you probably need a new DEF pump, as outlined in the TSB. If you're reasonably handy, you can replace this pump yourself, it's not a terribly complicated job, though it is tedious and you will most likely splash yourself with DEF (ask me how I know). The TSB itself has marked part numbers for the affected pumps. Replacements are available, cheapest I found was on RockAuto for the GM Genuine part.

[@sam5038]

I own a 2016 Colorado Trail Boss. It’s the same one you show at the end of your video. My 2.8ltr has been tuned to 232hp / 460 ft lbs.

[@jasonsheldon1604]

How do you like the tune. I have a 2016 with 150000 miles and ready to tune it up

[@meandmy5003]

I have a 17 Colorado 2.8. I bought it used august of 22 with 75k. Had it two days and got the dash warning of having so many miles before powering down to 6mph only. Brought it back and ut was the nox 2 sensor code. Replaced it...been great ever since and have 100k on it. Don't tow anything yet

[@leonardrice2830]

Very good 👍

[@duanerykhus9425]

Thank you

[@jaineshwarlal9233]

Please do some vids on isuzu 4jj engines U will be be surprised, just by seeing how good reviews these get

[@tcmx712]

Greatest 4cyl diesel motor ever made, even better than the Toyota 1KD in my opinion. Great on fuel, responds extremely well to mods which leads to massive power and is absolutely indestructible whilst still being sort of refined haha

[@gabekiakojori2392]

It would be ideal to have an adapter plate to attach a 4l80 to an LWN

[@conradsenior5843]

What about all the injection pump problems?

[@HR-rt9nh]

Final comment... why did GM stop offering this engine ??? I think its because its a better engine then what they want to sell us. it is more reliable and it has proven to be too good.

[@GeneralAlex4]

You're right about the transmissions. I blew mine right past warranty and I never hauled anything, and I mostly drive highway. GM was nice a picked up 75% of the bill, but it should have went 200,000.miles plus.

[@tannerbean3801]

I suspect that if it really does have 3 injection events, it may actually use piezo injectors. One injection would be easy with solenoid injectors, not so sure about 3 (especially with the short duration of pre and post).

[@Pontiacman1964]

I tried to order a 2022 Colorado Redline with a Duramax 2.8L. The dealer said it's no longer available. I want a diesel but don't want the DEF system at all. I'll just settle for the V6. I won't be doing any towing anyway.

[@aaronshipley5594]

The earliest versions of this engine were in the 2000s, sold in the USA in the Jeep Liberty.

[@VeggieBeard]

Do you feel that that the Canyon/Colorado with this engine/transmission combination will last 200k plus miles if it is not used for towing haul large louds and is regularly maintained?

[@alflyer9406]

285000 km, no issues, deleted at 40K

[@Aussiebuilds]

What about the Holden Colorado with the duramax diesel

[@LU-D1GITAL]

I’ve got a 2017 slt canyon with a fass lift pump upgrade I’m getting 52 mpg highway and 32 streets

[@fordmud]

I wanted someone to bring back the actual mini trucks. These modern "midsize" or even that thing Ford recently made are huge. I'm talking those old Mazdas, Toyotas and even the s10 with the iron duke. I prefer the old Mazda b2200, low to the ground for easy loading but not so slow it's a pain to get in and out of. And short and narrow, you can literally park anywhere as easy as a small car, but actually haul a pretty fair payload. Plus the Mazdas you could actually get a full 8' bed if you wanted. But most had the 6' bed that I can put a quad in the back and actually close the tailgate, something most midsize trucks today can't do. And not to mention after you put some good valve seals and Weber on them they are extremely low maintenance and very easy to work on. If they made that again but with a more modern drive train I'd buy one in a second. But with the trend they got now I might as well get a half ton.

[@QDTREEN]

I was lucky enough to get the 2016 Holden Colorado that had all the upgrades and no DPF I put the biggest intercooler and 3 inch straight pipe exhaust and stainless steel snorkel and was able to get 151 kW and 591newton metres at the wheels super happy with it In a simple catch can stops the recycling But a trans cooler was also needed so it was running through the radiator and a trans cooler with an extra 1 litre😎👌🔥🔥🔥

[@ryanlogan2911]

The 2.8 becomes unstoppable with a DT44 turbo & revmax torque converter. Beastmode Thanks to Motorops 🇨🇦 for the diet tune for the DT44….

[@GenkiDamaSSJ]

What have been the impact on mileage and power?

[@leadnsteel1428]

Yes that's the best thing to do with these.... bigger turbo and aftermarket torque converter. I deleted the egr and it runs so much better also I reprogrammed the transmission so it shifts quicker.

[@Tiovergudo]

The 6.6 has been produced in Moraine OH for a while. 2.7 million engines have been produced there since 2000. Where are you getting information that it’s produced outside the US?

[@Silentroller93]

The 6l50’s in these trucks easily hold up to +100hp over stock with tuning and an upgraded turbo.

[@HunterSkiff]

yea they do! thanks Sean

[@marcelbroesky4945]

No, they don't. The line pressure regulator is weak on them. The valve body needs an upgrade to increase clamping force for tuned trucks. The next item to fail is the torque converter lockup clutch. The turbo vanes will fold over time, and upgraded turbos are becoming a thing. These will boost the torque even higher requiring a torque converter upgrade. I love this truck and the transmission is easily the worst part after addressing emissions reliability.

[@HunterSkiff]

@@marcelbroesky4945 The stock converter and trans in my truck would really beg to differ. Both working so far in a 300+HP setup. Some stock converters seem iffy and whether they live or not long term largely depends on the power level, abuse, and TCC lockup strategy. There are countless trucks with upgraded turbos as this point with trouble free transmissions.

[@marcelbroesky4945]

@@HunterSkiff I sure hope so. It's time for a turbo in mine and I'm concerned about poor TC lockup resulting in a big bill!

[@HunterSkiff]

@@marcelbroesky4945 I'm still looking for some concrete evidence on your valve body claims. @Sean Lynn sees more trucks than I do so he would be able to elaborate more, but from my experience, that is not the case.

[@mohammedalshaikhli3891]

I was getting one but you changed my mind.

[@TheWall2677]

I own a 2018 Canyon 2.8L at 129000km and the only problem I had with it was the DEF heater pipe between the tank and the injector that froze and opened last winter. It was still under warranty. All the maintenance been made at the dealership except for the rear brake that I did myself. I used it for daily driving and I'm doing mostly highway mileage going to work. I would buy it again for sure sad that GM dropped that engine in the latest models.

[@badazz2969]

Thank you for sharing this I'm looking at getting a Colorado with this engine to delete and daily my half ton Chevy will be paid off soon so it's time for a new one

[@8180634]

If you're in the USA, research the delete before you buy. It's not as easy as it used to be, the EPA is cracking down hard on companies that provide the parts and ECU updates.

[@jimmypatterson9854]

Personally the transmission choice is probably for emissions and reduction in rotational mass. Think about how the 200r4 compares to the 700r4 or the a4ld compared to the e40d. If you're going to be working these hard at low speeds I would say just put them in low range. That's usually what I do with small trucks. That and manually shift. Also don't tow people out of being stuck in reverse or high range. I always put my transfer cases in low range when pulling something if I won't go over 20 mph in the process.

[@Lastgenofmen]

2016 d-max. @ 150k miles and I max tow quite a bit . Let's just say. Transmission has a shutter now. . Yes it's tuned . I wish I could find a manual transmission that would fit right in . Other than the dpf system . The truck has been great.

[@solvend]

Bought a 2021 2500HD to tow my travel trailer. Dont daily it but have put 40k miles on it and its been flawless. Probably 30k+ of those miles towing.

[@professormadlad7773]

I still hate it that the United States regulations is artificially killing the Gasoline and Diesel Market with increasing stricter regulations with emission standards.

[@LWNDmax]

The timing, I just bought one today lol.

[@robertmoulton2656]

That's excellent. As a daily driver and light work truck you will be more than satisfied.

[@LWNDmax]

@@robertmoulton2656 I hope so! I got a used 2018 gmc canyon 4x4 denali and I really like it so far! Trying to find more information on the change they did in 2018 with injectors and heads and if it was a good change or not but it is awesome so far! Getting 32 mpg at 65 and the ride is great

[@apuuvah]

Belts are getting better, right?

[@apuuvah]

So, basically the emissions systems and the transmission are the weak points. Otherwise it seems like a sturdy engine, with some degree of tuning potential. The low down torque seems very good.

[@neilcapers4426]

How can I find a good upgrade to get rid of my car transmission in my 2018 Colorado? lol SMDH

[@upnorthyooper1196]

You missed the cold start system? Glow plugs or heating element?

[@vap0rtranz]

Glow plugs. My Colo sits in unheated garage in north Midwest snowbelt. I never sit more than a few seconds to start. Some guys go for heating block. It was a GM add-on.

[@nahrens223]

We first saw it in the 05-06 jeep liberty crd

[@rickdonnadougherty4277]

Im not sure I follow your comments about towing. If the Colorado with 2.8L Duramax is rated to tow 7600lbs, wouldn’t the transmission be part of that spec? I tow a 3200-3900 lb trailer with mine with no problem, but your comment makes me concerned. Please elaborate.

[@apuuvah]

Same engine as in Isuzu D-Max 2.8, I believe. Should be durable. Insane torque from very low rpm.

[@limptriscuit3199]

Not the same engine, the 2.8 is not made by isuzu.

[@RyaMarshall]

369 ftlbs of torque 2200 RPMs

[@zachmoritz9856]

I'd like to see a video on the 6hk Duramax

[@liamfogle8367]

me too. didn't learn about the 7.8's until recently.

[@rdjack21]

the really sad thing is that they are not going to put it in the 2023 models. I'm really thinking of getting one of the last 2022's before they are gone.. Love the 2017 I have drives great tows great. I'm getting 20mpg towing a 5k load. Unloaded I'm in the 26-30+ range depending on the driving mix.

[@Dr.Westside]

With GM putting the L3B into the Colorado / Canyon it's going to be making 430 plus foot pounds with 310 HP . Is there really a need for the little baby Duramax ?

[@2005OEFArmy]

Range. 22 gallon tank gets you well over 600 miles at cruising speed. It also sounds like a proper diesel.

[@matthewphair2469]

Recently had the displeasure of driving a near new prado for a few weeks. On paper the latest motor is very close to my 2015 Colorado but in reality getting back into the Colorado was like sitting in a sports car. The auto transmission in the Toyota was equally drab taking forever to change if manually changed where as the Holden was instantaneous. Toyota Hilux, Prado and Landcruiser are an institution in Australia and while reliable that does come with limited performance.

[@justincrook8257]

Can't understand why GM discontinued this motor option July 01?

[@levismith7444]

The epa killed it thru increased regulations

[@overhead18]

I have the 2.8 in a 2016 Colorado. Lots of mountain driving but no towing. The motor has been great, no issues. At 88,000 miles the torque converter needs to be replaced and it spit up all inside the transmission so that needs to be replaced as well. Not cheap. Sucks because the truck has been great otherwise. I also had to replace a diesel particulate sensor but that is not a big deal

[@scp8412]

Good to know. That stuff can wipe the diesel fuel economy advantage over a tacoma pretty whick!

[@overhead18]

@@scp8412 I ended up trading it in after the transmission was replaced, but I went with another diesel, the 3.0 in the Silverado. The 2.8 was awesome, however the 6 speed trans they sold it with in 2016 was not at all awesome.

[@scp8412]

@@overhead18 Yeah I think the 2019 had the same 6L50 trans ? only thing holding me back from getting this nice truck

[@KevinLavorgna]

I just bought a 2018 Colorado 2.8, 89k miles, at 79k the torque converter was replaced!

[@overhead18]

@@KevinLavorgna Good luck with it, hopefully nothing from the torque converter made it back into the transmission. My dealer and the warranty company both insisted the transmission should be replaced at the same time as the torque convertor due possible problems.

[@hotrod7938]

Love mine, pull my RV and get 15mpg. Empty truck 33mpg.