6.5 LITER INDIRECT EFI TURBO-DIESEL ENGINE (L56/L65)
A 6.5 Liter Turbo-Diesel is available in C/K Pickups. Here are the credentials of the L56 and L65 engines:
6.5L L56 V8 Turbo-Diesel (with GVWR below 8,600 lbs)
- 180 horsepower at 3400 rpm
- 360 lb.-ft. of torque at 1800 rpm.
6.5L L65 V8 Turbo-Diesel (with GVWR at or above 8,600 lbs)
- 190 horsepower at 3400 rpm
- 385 lb.-ft. of torque at 1800 rpm.
The 6.5 Liter L65 Turbo-Diesel was designed and engineered from the oil pan up to withstand the stress of turbocharging. Depending on use, a 6.5 Liter Turbo-Diesel can provide substantial improvement in fuel economy over an equivalent gasoline engine.
The L65 Turbo-Diesel features a completely integrated turbocharger system:
- The electronically controlled Borg Warner/IHI turbocharger is designed for quick throttle response during acceleration.
- A wastegate on the exhaust side of the turbo reduces boost pressure after maximum torque is obtained, thereby reducing stress on the internal engine components.
- The turbocharger produces 10 psi maximum boost at 1,800 rpm, delivering responsive acceleration on demand without noticeable turbo lag.
The 6.5 Liter Turbo-Diesel is designed to handle the high cylinder firing pressures of a turbocharged engine:
- The block�s bulkhead areas were strengthened.
- Coolant passages and oil galleries were sized to provide the increased flow required by a turbo engine.
- A fatigue-resistant crankshaft bearing material and a leak-resistant one-piece rear-crankshaft seal are used.
- Optimized combustion chamber design ensures even, complete burning of the fuel by balancing the air in the prechamber, head and cylinder.
- A fuel management system incorporates a double filtrationfilter, a water separator and a fuel heater in one canister. These rugged and dependable engines feature a quiet engine cooling fan.
- Designed to reduce fan noise.
- Provides new molded 9-blade composite fan, which replaces the steel fan.
- Designed to generate less noise and a more pleasing tone.
The Turbo-Diesel V8 uses an indirect Electronic Fuel Injection system and an electronic throttle control design -- the first application of "drive-by-wire" technology in this segment. Benefits of the indirect Electronic Fuel Injection design include:
- Increased fuel economy
- Virtual elimination of white smoke during cold-starting and black smoke under hard acceleration
- Improved cold-starting
- Enhanced idle quality and lower noise
- Engine overheating protection.
An optimized combustion chamber design ensures an even and complete burning of the fuel by optimizing the ratio of the air and fuel in the prechamber, head and cylinder. This helps improve engine efficiency. A diesel catalytic converter reduces particulate and HC emissions.
ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTICS SECOND GENERATION (OBD II)
On-Board Diagnostics reached a new level of sophistication last year with the implementation of OBD II On-Board Diagnostics reached a new level of sophistication last year with the implementation of OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics Second Generation). A more powerful Vehicle Control Module now monitors the emissions control system and its components to detect deterioration or malfunction.
- The powerful VCM stores and retrieves diagnostic messages to help technicians diagnose and fix problems quickly and accurately.
- The VCM alerts the driver by illuminating the �Service Engine Soon� light when it detects a deterioration in the performance of any monitored system.
- Unlike the first-generation systems that signaled only system
failures, OBD II alerts the driver to have the vehicle serviced before experiencing a possible breakdown or incurring more expensive repairs.
The brawny Vortec 7400 (L29) big block V8 was thoroughly updated last year to provide more horsepower and torque, and longer intervals between recommended service. Here are its credentials: