Durability

• Deep-skirt block design and cross-bolted main bearing caps improve rigidity in lower portion of block for additional support to crankshaft and transmission. This allows full-circle attachment for the transmission at the aluminum flywheel housing (as opposed to traditional attachment using only six bolts at the top).
   
   
• A nitrided crankshaft. Nitriding has proven to be one of the most effective methods of guaranteeing crankshaft dependability over time.
   
   
• Duramax's integral oil cooler is similar to the one found on many medium-duty truck engines.
   
   

  Instead of being located in the radiator end tank, it is mounted on the side of the engine.
   
   

  All of the water flow from the gear-driven water pump is channeled through the oil cooler before it goes through the engine for increased oil cooling and extended engine life.
   
   

• Pistons have to absorb the full shock of thermal loads and high combustion pressures (both of which are much stronger in diesel engines than those found in the typical gasoline engine), the Duramax engine has a piston cooling system that sprays oil into a channel inside the piston.
   
   
• An engine oil cooler was designed into the engine, as opposed to being added to the radiator and tank. This design optimizes water flow through the oil cooler, which provides cooler oil to the engine.
   
   
• The charge air cooler cools air entering the intake manifold, which reduces combustion chamber temperatures and helps extend engine durability.