Jalopnik
It's not often a design comes along and truly thinks outside of the box. What would you say to a GM developed, 4.5L V8 turbo diesel putting down 310 horsepower and 520 lb.ft. of torque in the footprint of a small block 350? What if we told you that same engine has common rail injection, a variable geometry turbo, no intake manifolds, and the exhaust ports on the valley side? Crazy! Yes - crazy good.
How can you not be utterly blown away with the brilliance of pushing charged air directly into the valve covers and skipping the lower intake manifold baloney? And come on, piping the exhaust gas directly to the center to meet up with the turbo makes us question other engine designers. To top it off, this is just the stuff we know about, GM is sitting on other details until the patents are through. We're taking this standout engine design as a sign of awesome diesely goodness to come. Say it together now - 2010 Pontiac G8 Ute turbo diesel. [via SAE.org]
Comments
Good post, Ben. I need this article to prove to some non-believers that Detroit is getting on board with diesel engines. Expect Ford to pop something out very soon as well.
Now if they could just scale this thing down to a V6 for the midsize pickups, we might have a pickup capable of being a daily driver with car-like economy AND the ability to tow a few thousand pounds.
Either way, great step in the right direction.
GM-Powertain Södertälje?
Well, the world will come to an end for some of the guys I knew that were going to school as diesel technicians. They really weren't that driven to do anything in the first place.
They'll look at that motor when they have to service it, quietly close the hood, run their hands through some Fast Orange, clock out, drive home in their asthmatic malaise era 4-door boat they bought for $400, sit down in front of their TV, light up a cigarette, change it to the Speed channel and cry softly into their Milwaukee's Best.
ahhhhhhh. My diesel engine pRon for the day! I love this engine! I had forgotten about it. Thanks for reminding me! It just makes sense. And it'll fit in my YJ. ;)
@ash78: Aw heck, cut the thing in half and make a V4 and put it in a Subaru Legacy-size AWD wagon and I'd be happy. It'd probably pass CAFE too! Go go go go!!
@WarShrike: haha! ahh the good life.
For the time being I'll have to make do with a 6.6L. Impressive, the same numbers at 70% the displacement. If it's anything like the current generation of dmax engines, it's likely underrated and could be programmed for more boost and more power. On top of that, with 19-20mpg today, I could see this getting 25mpg or more, which is darned impressive.
I'd also like to see a 6 cylinder, in a decent small truck, none of this colorado nonsense (but a ute wouldn't be too shabby either)
Now if we could only get greater availability of biodiesel...
Heh, then I go and read the article to see this - GM will introduce on its new 2.9-L turbodiesel V6 next year in Europe
So the valve covers are now also the intake plenum? Won't it aspirate a lot of its own oil?
That aside, way to make it fit into a small-block footprint: obviate most of the plumbing. Hell's bells, that's off the wall brilliant.
GM? Are you sure? 'Cause GM has a history of punishing brilliance and original thinking.
'Bout time. Nice work. Course, I'd be surprised if this motor becomes available in anything less than the ultra-super-premium-deluxe-custom package with the sat-nav, chrome mirrors, and another $15K worth of unnecessary luxury features.
@elhigh: From the source, the head is designed with some form of trickery to keep the air, coolant, and oil passages all happily seperate.
Every time you say "Pontiac, Ute" and now "Diesel" in the same sentance, my mind can't help itself by thinking "Sober, mentally stable, Britney Spears"
how long till someone starts flipping the heads around on a gas engine.. I know the mustang guys for years have been putting shorty headers on in reverse to use them as turbo manifolds
@Ben Wojdyla: I read it that way too. A tube through the top of the cam cover carries the pressurized charge. But then, I haven't had my morning Mountain Dew yet. (read the SAE article - Mountain Dew cross-marketing goodness warning.)
I could see this as an option for the Colorado/H3 platform or maybe even the 1/2 ton pick-ups.IMO I just can't see GM having the balls to put a diesel in a passenger car though. Good article Ben.
@WheatKing: GM guys have been doing the same thing, just doesn't get as much limelight I guess. I think a few have used the truck manifolds and done it that way, especially on the LSX guys.
We have seen this before haven't we?
[jalopnik.com]
(I wish I knew how to post photos)
@lemondriver: Imagine when that charge tube's gasket lets loose inside the valve cover. You'll have 30+PSI (depending on the tuning/capability of the turbo) pushing into the covers (on top of the oil PSI), resulting in the engine bay being covered in oil alot quicker than normal.
Let's see, what other brilliance has GM come up with? variable engine displacement, catalytic converter, fuel injection...
...but don't worry, within about 15 years, somebody else will manage to sort out this new plumbing technology for GM.
@Andrewpetty: QOTD
Doesn't BMW have a gas engine using a similar idea coming out? Intake on the sides, with twin turbos on top. No removal of the intake manifold(s) though.
Well, from what I know about modern diesel engines (remember, I work for a Truck Company), that big black device sitting on the front of the engine looks like a gigantic EGR valve. This is one of the tricks to keep the Modern Diesel clean.
A little story though. When the Mercedes Sprinter came into the US (as a Freightliner or a Dodge), they all ran well for the 2002 and 2003 model years. The 2004 was introduced with an electronic EGR (Placed on the front of the engine) to control the stricter emission standards, that part failed in over 70% of their vans. When it failed, the engine went into 'limp' mode, and would not turn faster than 1500 rpm, and you could not go faster than 45 MPH.
The moral to this story? I hope GM gets it right before they go to market.
Doesn't the new BMW turbo engine have a similar "reversed" setup?
@EndlessMike: Dammit, that's what I get for putting work in front of posting here!
That will definitely fit in my Jeep!
520 lb-ft- yes please.
I wonder what the cost of this bad boy is compared to the current diesels? Upgrading to one of the current diesels is already $6g's or so, how much more could this be?
@EndlessMike:
@LTDScott:
It does, and I have to wonder about what they're going to put that engine into. They've done some interesting work to minimize plumbing and put the exhaust/turbos in the V8's valley, but how are they going to deal with all that heat right on top of the engine? It might work in a ute that has room under the hood, but not in a car.
Maybe this is the engineers' way of ending the practice of plastic engine covers shrouding their beautiful work.
The Hummer H3 will soon have a proper engine.
Damn, that is freekin gorgeous. I just soiled myself.
For an encore, how's about getting an interview with the engineering team that built this beauty? I have a feeling that I want to get to know them better.
And keep Charles away. This is strictly platonic. A man can love his engine and still be really masculine, you know. Manly, heterosexual men.
Just don't ask me what I plan to do this engine. It's private. And I'm sure it will involve modification and transplantation that would make Dr. Frankenstein proud.
More!!
"GM has a history of punishing brilliance and original thinking."
GM has a history of punishing its customers with original thinking.
"keep Charles away."
He's windowshopping Avalons in Utah.
That is brilliant! I'm exhilarated and depressed at the same time realizing that it will end up in white vans and pickup trucks. That's the perfect full size cruiser motor right there.
@cyclopticgaze: Renault 19 turbos used to have a hood scoop for keeping the underhood temperatures down. Just reintroduce the old cowl induction hood.
2010. I cannot wait that long. I need this motor in a year.
All that heat on top is perfect justification for a big, honkin hood scoop! Jus fer coolin, ya know.
@brandegee: No doubt, looks like I'll be getting the only other choice: White paint, rubber floor, rubber seat. I've been waiting for a 1/2 ton diesel. I simply have no need for anything bigger.
Also, I can't wait for some of these trucks to get totaled. Insurance auction engine swappage is a beautiful thing.
@cgarison: bah, why wait a year? Where can we steal a couple now?
Article clearly states "..among potential other applications." I'm willing to bet they'll get a sedan hood over the top of that thing. How many sedan chassis from this manufacturer fit a small block V8?
Retrofit this engine to some worn out muscle cars ala Galpin's Biodiesel Impala...
Saw it in half and stick it in a Saab hatchback as a 2.2L 4-cyl and I'll buy it.
@UDMAN: Same thing happened with the 04 Powerstrokes. They failed miserably..Gee then they came out with the 6.0 Powerstroke and that sucked too.
@dslpwr: already jotted down in my "note to self" book... this thing makes SO much sense
I want to put one of these into an -aminoed volvo.
How many points would that be worth?
Awesome, incredible design, but I'd rather see a 6- or 5-cylinder for a light duty truck.
GM developed this, not Isuzu?
you know how when the LS1 came out everyone wanted to swap it into everything... yeah well, this is that x100
@WarShrike: Maaaannn shooot. Were you watching me agin in muh dubba wide??
Exhaust through the valley isn't a new concept. Someone google up a 1930's Cadillac flat head V-8....
something like this...
[www.flickr.com]
Wouldn't it be ironic if Detroit had been secretly working like dogs to develop ultra super cool diesels and blindsides the whole hybrid/electric market?
("ironic"---not likely, possible, or even probable...)
I desperately hope they sell this engine in crate form, so I can find a clean '78 Olds Custom Cruiser (or maybe a Ninety Eight) Diesel to drop it into.
Awesome rat rod motor, just cut around the bulbous turbo on top and let it pop up through the hood.