The announcement that the Duramax diesel 3.0-liter inline-six would serve as the basic engine for the 2024 Silverado ZR2 was made by Chevrolet last week. It should thus not come as a surprise that GMC is going to follow Ford’s lead and make the smaller Duramax the new standard engine for the Sierra AT4X in 2024.
The oil-burning straight-six produces 305 horsepower, which is less than the 420 horsepower that the enormous 6.2-liter V-8 option delivers, but it makes up for it by offering an extra 35 ft-lb of torque. In comparison to the V-8’s 460 ft-lb of torque, the diesel engine generates 495 ft-lb of torque.
GM and Duramax enhanced the diesel 3.0-liter engine by updating it with an upgraded compressor for the turbo, new fuel injectors, new steel pistons, and better temperature management features. These updates allow the engine to produce a greater torque number than it did before, which was 460 ft-lb. The prior iteration of the Duramax was fantastic in terms of how polished and quiet it was, but we have not yet tried the latest version.
It should come as no surprise that the majority of the additional modifications made to 2024 versions of GMC’s half-ton pickup truck match those introduced to the vehicle’s Chevrolet equivalent. The Sierra now comes standard with power-retractable side steps and an active exhaust system, both of which are optional on higher trim levels. In addition, there are now two new wheel choices available, in addition to two new colour possibilities for the paint (Downpour metallic and Thunderstorm Gray). The Sierra 1500’s basic trim continues to come equipped with a 2.7-liter turbo inline-four engine, although it is now known as the “TurboMax.” The engine’s technical specifications have not changed.
