What Are GMC Diesel Trucks Called?

Many people want to purchase a GMC truck that has a diesel engine, but are unsure how to tell when one of their trucks uses one of them. What are GMC diesel trucks called?

GMC diesel truck engines are called GMC Duramax vehicles. The GMC Sierra 1500, GMC Canyon, and GMC Sierra trucks all use GMC Duramax diesel engines. Duramax engines are also used in some GMC SUVs and vans. GMC diesel engine vehicles are labeled with Duramax on the handle or body of the car.

Now that you know more about GMC Duramax vehicles, you are likely wondering when they were first introduced and what types of Duramax diesel engines are available in GMC vehicles. Keep reading to find out.

What are Diesel GMC Trucks Called?

The GMC Sierra, GMC Sierra 1500, and the GMC Canyon all are diesel trucks and they use GMC Duramax diesel engines. The specific type of Duramax diesel engine varies depending on the exact truck model and trim you choose to look at or purchase, but it should say what type of engine is used somewhere on the vehicle. (Source)

What are Duramax Engines?

Duramax engines are configured in inline and V configurations and use 4, 6, or 8 cylinders. They were first sold and used in GMC trucks and diesel vehicles in 2001. Chevrolet also uses these engines in their diesel vehicles. Duramax engines are either simply turbocharged or both turbocharged and intercooled. (Source)

GMC Duramax engines are made of aluminum alloy so they are lightweight and don’t weigh the vehicle down and prevent acceleration. These engines have a complex Active Thermal Management system that allows coolant to flow through the necessary systems while still allowing other parts of the engine to warm up quickly when necessary. This makes this diesel engine more efficient than others. (Source)

GMC Duramax engines are surprisingly quiet and will not deafen you or your other passengers when you turn on your truck. Because of how these engines are configured and manufactured, the noise that it makes while running is minimal. However, this doesn’t mean that the engine has compromised power for less noise, as these engines are quite powerful and will allow you to accelerate quickly when in your GMC diesel truck.

Types of Duramax Diesel Engines

6.6L V-8 LB7
6.6L V-8 LLY
6.6L V-8 LBZ
6.6L V-8 LMM
6.6L V-8 LGH
6.6L V-8 LML
6.6L V-8 L5P
3.0L I-6 LM2
2.8L I-4 XLD28
2.8L I-4 LWN
2.5L I-4 XLD25

GMC most commonly uses the 3.0L and 6.6L Duramax diesel engines in their trucks and other diesel-powered vehicles, although the type of diesel engine varies by the vehicle and the drivetrain that it uses.

How to Tell If GMC Vehicles have a Diesel Engine

GMC diesel vehicles are usually labelled as Duramax vehicles with a marking that is near the driver’s side handle, but if it is not there it will likely be somewhere else on the body of the truck. If you are not sure what kind of engine the GMC truck that you are looking at has, and you want to purchase a diesel truck, the car dealership salesman should be able to tell you about the engine that it uses.

GMC Vehicles with a Duramax Engine

Listed below are the GMC vehicles that currently use Duramax diesel engines. Keep in mind that some trims for these vehicles may not use a diesel engine, and the gas mileage will vary depending on the exact trim, the year the vehicle was manufactured, and the drivetrain that is used by the vehicle.

GMC Sierra GMC Sierra 1500

The GMC Sierra and GMC Sierra 1500 are both trucks that use Duramax diesel engines. The trims for the GMC Sierra 1500 that use a diesel engine are the SLE, Elevation, SLT, AT4, and the Denali.

The GMC Sierra uses a diesel Duramax engine. It has an MSRP of $31,200, has 277-420 HP, and can tow up to 9,600 pounds. It gets up to 15 miles per gallon in the city and 21 miles per gallon on the highway.

GMC Canyon

The GMC Canyon is a truck that uses a diesel Duramax engine. It has an MSRP of $26,800 and can tow up to 7,000 pounds. It gets up to 20 miles per gallon in the city and an impressive 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

GMC Savana

The GMC Savana Passenger and Cargo vans use a diesel Duramax engine. They have an MSRP of $33,000 and between 181-401 HP. They can tow between 6,300 and 7,400 pounds at a time. They get 25 miles per gallon combined, but the exact gas mileage varies depending on if you get the Savana Passenger or the Savana Cargo.

GMC Yukon

The GMC Yukon is an SUV that uses a diesel Duramax engine. It has an MSRP of $51,600 and can tow between 7,500-7,900 pounds at a time. It gets up to 21 miles per gallon in the city and 27 miles per gallon on the highway.

It is relatively easy to identify whether or not a GMC vehicle uses one of the Duramax diesel engines as they are typically marked with a Duramax decal. If you are unsure whether or not the truck or other GMC vehicle that you are looking at uses a diesel engine, ask the car dealership salesman or ask one of the customer representatives on the GMC website through email.

GMC diesel trucks use a Duramax engine and are labelled as Duramax vehicles. There is an entire page on their website dedicated to their diesel trucks and vehicles. If you are wondering what diesel vehicles they have available, make sure to check it out. If you want to physically look at all GMC diesel-powered vehicles, contact a local GMC dealership and schedule a time to look at the various trucks and vehicles.

GMC Duramax diesel engines are reliable and will ensure that your GMC truck lasts for years, even when carrying heavy loads regularly, or if you are just using it to run errands.