Diesel Tuner's Blog

Emissions Equipped, Twin Turbo, 2015 LML Duramax Build

Now that the LML platform has been around for almost 10 years(how?!), it's no shock seeing these models sporting a slew of modifications. This truck we are showcasing, it is built for a specific type of driver. That's the thing with your truck. You build it to how you drive your truck. That's exactly how this LML's driver approached it. Now let's take a look at exactly what this build entails.



Jamie Kerley, the VP of Duramxtuner, picked up this 2015 LML with 39,000 miles on and has been behind the wheel of the truck since. This GMC Sierra 2500 HD came completely stock with the emissions still intact (stock exhaust, functioning EGR & DEF). From the exterior, this looks like just any LML. Looks can be deceiving though….

Calibrated Power Solutions, home of Duramaxtuner.com, have released their industry leading emissions equipped tuning on EZ Lynk for all 2013 - 2019 Cummins diesel trucks.

The 2013 to 2019 Cummins 6.7L diesel truck is consistently one of the top selling of the big three diesel trucks. You can see why, this truck has power straight outage factory, it’s got the towing capacity, and payload.  Take those aspects and combine them with the updated interior, ride quality, and improved emissions systems, well, these trucks are truly remarkable.

The tax return has hit the bank account and your stock LB7 turbo is showing signs that it's about to quit on you. It's finally time to upgrade. You've been eyeing a Stealth Turbo for sometime, but which is right for you? You've seen all the videos and read all the literature. You may still have a few questions, well let's discuss which turbo benefits you best. 

The common myth that deleting the DPF and/or EGR to make power has gone on too long!

If you've been looking for ways to push your stock 2011 - 2016 LML with more horsepower, you have probably heard a lot of good information, but also a lot of misinformation. Most of the false things you'll hear are "the DPF will fail adding more power," or "More HP is going to clog the filter," and our favorite, "Deleted trucks get better MPGs!"  While you'll see these comments all over forums or on social media, there is simply no actual science or facts to back these claims.  So how much can your LML make? With tuning and a lift pump, you can expect over a truck with over 500 RWHP.



IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE WHY THE DPF SYSTEM IS HATED!

The Duramax engine has a history that runs deep.  It has the following still to this day and continues to up expectations in terms of power and everything else. While it's history stretches back to 1982, we are going discuss the more modern years. The 6.6L was introduced in 2001 and replaced the 6.5L and the company hasn't looked back since.

2001 - 2004.5 LB7

The 5.9L Cummins engine has been regarded as revolutionary and has a ton of fans that backed it in its heyday. It's history is even more impressive, we're going to talk about the engine's run from 1989-2007. 

1989 - 1993 

The Cummins engine had been successful in agriculture implements for a few years prior, so in 1989 Cummins and Chrysler introduced the 12 valve as an alternative the the V8 gas powered Dodge.  It was a hit immediately for those that wanted double the torque and a better option for fuel economy.  These diesel powered trucks were introduced stock with a 160 horsepower rating.  The truck was very simple.  Between 1989-1991 they offered a non-intercooled, turbocharged, and a three-speed automatic transmission, as well as a five-speed manual transmission option. Interestingly it had a rotary style mechanical injection pump.  These were the reason the truck was fuel efficient, but also why the truck lacked power. Another interesting point is how the original injectors were bigger than the next variation which arrived in '91.5.  The updated 12 valve now came with smaller injectors, a larger turbocharger, Cummins would introduce an intercooler to the truck, and the automatic transmission now came equipped with overdrive.  

We all get there at one point, should I upgrade my turbocharger?  It's something us diesel owners come across.  Maybe your charger blew up or maybe you just want to help cool your truck's EGTs a bit more.  There are a ton of different reasons why we want to upgrade.  With that comes a ton of different variables that go into which turbo you SHOULD buy.  Let's take a look at three big things to consider. 

#1: How Do You Use Your Truck?

You've heard this one before, if you're new to the diesel world maybe you have not.  How do you use your truck?  Do you commute 20 miles to work and back daily?  Do you haul any toys?  Maybe you hotshot as a career, all these are some of the ways a driver uses his diesel truck.  A driver that tows a lot would best be suited for the Stealth 64, why?  It runs more efficiently at higher horsepower numbers while loaded.  The truck will sustain a heavy load for longer because the heat that the turbo is introducing is lower than a stock charger.  Lower piston temps, lower EGTs equals more time and a larger buffer before the truck is affected by the added heat.  

There is a more cost-effective way of pushing your tractor to the top of the line when it comes to power.

You want field time decreased and you want to use the least amount of fuel possible while in the field.  These two aspects save you two valuable items: time and money. You work hard trying to get the best yield out of your land, so why not expect your combine to do the same for you?  Tuning your equipment is the quickest, cheapest, and most efficient way of going about getting the most out of your tractor. It can up-rate your tractor for a fraction of the dealer price and bring you the top-end amount of MPH and power.  Let’s go ahead and examine what tuning can do for the equipment.

The newest turbo from Calibrated Power is definitely raising the bar for drop-in turbos.

When looking at replacing your stock turbo there's a lot to take into consideration; How you use your truck, your current needs, and the future goals for your Cummins.  With the success of the Stealth 64 for 5.9L Cummins, the team at Calibrated Power looked at how much more we can push the envelope. So, what can the 3rd Gen Stealth 67 get you?

A simple tune can dramatically change the dynamic of your truck in many ways!

The Cummins has gone through so many adjustments to help benefit the truck with each new generation introduced.  We've seen convenience and comfort get pushed along too, it's all apart of getting the owner to love what they drive.  The thing truck owners love the most is how much more horsepower and torque get updated in addition to body styles and interior.  In the late 80's the 12 valve was pushing a mere 160 RWHP out of the factory.  Look at where we are at now, the CME (2013-2018) is now putting down between 350-370 RWHP depending on transmission.  That's a huge difference in the matter of a few decades.  This is amazing to see, but it doesn't mean that they've gotten all out of your truck.  As we've seen numerous times, there's always room for improvement and performance no matter which year Cummins you drive.  

Let's look at some of the benefits of tuning your 2010-2019 Cummins below: