Volume 3 Issue 1 - Diesel Articles

Duramax Diesel Fuel Systems for Dummies, Part 2: Electronic Components

Since 1994, GM diesel engines have used electronic engine controls to monitor and provide more precise diesel fuel injection. In the 16 years that have passed since then, diesel engine fuel injection strategies have advanced dramatically. This has enabled manufacturers to nearly double performance output and still reduce overall emissions. A whole new approach to diesel fuel injection was introduced by the first Duramax in 2001 (Ford had introduced electronic common rail diesel fuel injection before that, however the system required engine oil pressure to actuate the injectors. The fuel system used on the first Duramax was strictly electronically actuated and, as a result, far more precise). The Bosch common rail direct fuel injection system was new to the North American market at the time and provided speed and precision that had not previously been available. These factors, among others, allowed the Duramax engine to set the high-water mark for diesel engine power output. The 2001 Duramax engine rated at 300 HP and 520 foot-pounds of torque. Power output has increased incrementally to the current 365 HP and 660 foot-pounds of torque in the LMM Duramax.

In the first article of this series, we reviewed the basic mechanical components of the Duramax fuel system, their locations and functions and common failure points. In this article we will continue with an overview of the electronic components of the Duramax fuel system, their locations and functions and common failure points. Also included is an overview of Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC's) and we have set up a Master DTC Table here. As you go through this article you should begin to appreciate the overall complexity of the Duramax fuel system. The most sophisticated part of the fuel system is the Engine Control Module and its software. When you consider how much information the ECM has to process in real-time and then calculate an output on the timescale of microseconds (millionths of a second), it becomes readily evident why the Duramax engine has set the bar for diesel engine fuel systems. Let's begin our overview of the electronic portion of the Duramax diesel fuel system...

In this article:

• Computers, Inputs and Outputs
• The Basics of ECM Input Sensing
• ECM Input Sensors
• The Basics of Output Devices
• ECM Output Devices
• Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) and What You REALLY Need to Know
• (Link to) Master DTC Table

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Comments (2)

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Stefan said:

	Duramax video Hey there, Love the article. Thought you might be interested in checking out a video about the 2011 Duramax 6.6L Turbo Diesel Engine. I've included the link below. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRfYpHm9kSc
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April 01, 2010
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maxxtorq said:

	Thanks for the video! I placed it in the Duramax 2011 review that I posted today: http://www.maxxtorque.com/dies...uramax-lml
	report abuse vote down vote up

April 08, 2010
Votes: +0

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