It required a lot of effort to clean up Diesel’s mess. The invention of diesel exhaust after-treatment systems marked a watershed moment in the industry. All internal combustion engines emit carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Untreated diesel exhaust produces substantial volumes of particulate matter, harmful to the environment. Starting in the mid-2000s, regulations implemented across the globe mandated a considerable decrease in all diesel pollution levels, beginning with nitrous oxide.
In 2001, General Motors introduced the 6.6L Duramax engine, widely regarded as the most technologically sophisticated diesel powerplant ever installed in a pickup truck in the United States. The fact that the same basic design has been in use for more than a decade is another piece of evidence of how remarkable the engines are.
Early Duramaxes, on the other hand, are not without their problems. The most serious problem with ’01-’04 and 1/2 LB7 engines is their propensity to fail their fuel injectors, which often occurs before an engine has traveled 100,000 miles. LB7 injectors may fail and pour a massive quantity of extra gasoline into the engine, frequently at relatively low engine speeds, resulting in catastrophic engine failure. As a result, the excess fuel is not burnt; instead, it seeps into the oiling system, which begins to load the engine with diesel component fuel.
Duramax injectors are costly and difficult to access in the engine compartment for repair, prompting General Motors to increase the guarantee on Duramax injectors from 100,000 to 200,000 miles. Aside from that, the LB7 is a very dependable engine. Because of this, many owners will resort to the trouble of changing some or all of the injectors in their 2001-2004 and 1/2 Duramax oil burners with the expectation of maintaining their vehicles for another 100,000 or 200,000 miles.
If you are interested in knowing more about diesel exhaust systems, below is an infographic from Pure Diesel Power discussing what you need to know before buying.
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