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'Killing a Duramax' Gale Banks YouTube series methodically tunes a diesel to death

Learning or perfecting a skill by watching YouTube videos is known as attending YouTube University. GM Authority picked up on one of the video site's more fascinating courses, hosted by Gale Banks; in a fair world, he should be referred to as Professor Banks when it comes to diesel engines and truck tuning. A few months after GM introduced the updated L5P 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V8 in the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD that ships with 454 horsepower and 910 pound-feet of torque, Banks decided he wanted to methodically tune the engine to death. The purpose of the resulting series, called "Killing a Duramax," is to push more power out of the engine in order to discover which parts break and when — or, as Banks puts it, force-feed the Duramax "until the crank hits the street and the heads hit the hood." With that knowledge, Banks can figure out all the weak points on his way to building what he calls a "Superturbo," that being a supercharged, twin-turbo race engine with more than 1,000 hp. What makes the series fascinating is Banks' knowledge, paired with the company's comprehensive iDash engine monitoring system that keeps tabs on a glut of parameters every step of the way. So for instance, you get Banks explaining the differences between inches of mercury and barometric pressure, how those are different from the water content of the air measured in grains, then showing those readouts on the iDash, then explaining in detail how they affect the air density in the Duramax system. The stock Borg-Warner variable turbo gets a lot of airtime — Banks accuses it of being "out to lunch" because he feels it's the weakest link on the engine. That turns into a turbo teardown and a deep explanation of performance pitfalls, such as when air pressure on the turbine begins to diverge from the boost pressure coming from the compressor. Banks says he can keep close tabs on where power's coming from, because the iDash monitors the horsepower contribution provided by the ambient air, the turbo, and the intercooler separately. The major changes so far are a stouter Precision 7675 turbo and TurboSmart wastegate (episode 5), a twin intake (episode 6), a custom liquid-cooled intercooler from a marine engine, a new GM oil cooler and synthetic oil (episode 10), and new injectors (episode 11).

Expect greater differentiation in GM's next-generation SUVs

General Motors says its next-generation Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade models will offer shoppers improved interior differentiation. Car and Driver recently caught up with Chris Hilts, GM's creative manager of interior design, who said that the cabins will all feature unique instrument panels, consoles, center stacks and switchgear moving forward. Apparently GM is now aware that consumers may be bothered by the fact that today's $85,000 Escalade has effectively the same cabin as a $45,000 Tahoe. Hilts says SUV buyers want more refinement than their pickup purchasing counterparts - and those same buyers also want their SUVs to have more exterior differentiation between the company's Silverado and Sierra pickup lines. Shocking.
That all sounds good to us, but we've heard this song and dance before. GM made big waves about how different the new-for-2013 Silverado and Sierra would look from each other, but judging by what we've seen so far, GM's stylists are painting in shades rather than with the full spectrum. For more on the what to expect out of GM's new SUVs, click on the C/D link below.

2021 GMC Canyon AT4 will offer an Off-Road Performance Edition Package

In March 2018, GMC announced the 2019 Sierra 1500 AT4, the alphanumeric finale denoting heightened ridge height and off-road capability. In December of that year, GMC took the AT4 further, creating an Off-Road Performance Package that boosted horsepower and torque, and re-soled the 18-inch machined rims in Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac Mud Terrains. History will repeat itself in 2020, one truck size category down. GMC unveiled the Canyon AT4 (pictured) in Vail, Colorado, earlier this month, and now GM Authority reports that a Canyon AT4 Off-Road Performance Edition Package is on the way later this year.  The Canyon AT4, which replaces the Canyon All Terrain, upgrades the standard truck with all the erstwhile All Terrain kit like tuned suspension, Advanced Hill Descent Control, transfer case skid plate, automatic locking rear differential, and 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires on 17-inch aluminum wheels. Design tweaks include the new, bolder front fascia and red recovery hooks. The Canyon AT4 Off-Road Performance Package goes a different route than on the Sierra, improving ruggedness instead of engine output. GMA says the suite includes front and middle performance skid plates, rocker protection, a spray-on bedliner, performance exhaust tip, and 17-inch gloss black aluminum wheels in favor of the Dark Argent Metallic units. A front leveling kit removes the factory rake. This variant will wear a black AT4 badge as opposed to the regular red and chrome AT4 denominator. Inside, we'll guess the AT4's Kalahari stitching and embroidered headrests stay in the game. They'll be joined by all-weather mats. Since GMC hasn't announced the upfit, we don't have pictures or pricing. Tallying up what individual options we could on the 2020 Canyon All Terrain came to $1,970, but that doesn't reflect pricing for next year's new AT4 trim, nor does it include components like the front leveling kit or gloss black wheels. GM Authority said production should begin in June or July, so we can look forward to info closer to summer. Related Video: