History of Duramax Engine Performance

Introduced in 2001 model year, Duramax-Allison combo replaced the Detroit diesel and history was made. The Detroit diesel produced 440 lb-ft but the new LB7 Duramax came in with 500 lb-ft, a performance upgrade that set off the modern performance battles of the big 3 that is still playing out.

Since 2001, the Duramax has progressed from 235 hp engine to a 445 hp high performance diesel engine. Through a wide range of changes, modifications, enhancements and technology improvements, the evolution of the engine continues to deliver the performance standards truck owners crave. Today, the Duramax harnesses more than 400 horsepower and over 750 lb-ft of torque while reducing emissions considerably over previous generations. To see a chart that follows the progression of the Duramax diesel, from the first LB7 to the more recent LML click here.