Diesel Tuner's Blog

Blow The Tires off Your L5P With These 4 Upgrades!

[fa icon="calendar'] Sep 5, 2022 3:30:00 PM / by Ben Lawson posted in Duramax Performance, Duramax Power, Turbo, TCM Tuning, L5P, L5P Tuning, Upgrades

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With the L5P being the newest Duramax engine on the scene it's also one of the best performing right out of the box. Making 400hp and 850 ft-lbs of torque when tested on our dyno. This iteration of the Duramax engine has been redesigned in all the right ways. From a thicker crank shaft, to a more advanced turbo, and pistons that can handle more load and heat than we've ever seen come in a stock Duramax engine before. Not only do we get improved performance but we also get an engine that can handle way more power than it left the factory with. Which means with bolt on upgrades alone you can raise the horsepower way beyond stock without having to do any upgrades to the internals of the engine. We've seen L5P's pushing up to 900ph on the stock internals. Even trucks still equipped with emissions systems can gain about 300hp and 500ft-lbs of torque with just a few bolt on upgrades. Today we will show you what upgrades you want on your L5P to make the biggest difference for the least about of money. So if maximum performance is what you’re looking to get out of your L5P this article is for you.

 

Here are the top four L5P upgrades!

  • Tune
  • Transmission
  • Turbo
  • Intake 

 

Tuning Options for L5P

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Don't Delete Your 2017-2020 L5P Duramax DPF!!!

[fa icon="calendar'] Aug 26, 2020 10:15:00 AM / by Justin Tyson posted in Duramax Performance, Duramax, Duramax Power, DPF ON, DPF Delete, L5P

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Do you need to delete your L5P DPF?

We've all heard from forums and numerous outlets that deleting your DPF system is the way to go these days. What we never see backing these claims is data and tests. There is plenty of personal stories around a failed sensor or even the occasional DPF failure. However, once data starts fueling the debate on whether to delete or keep your emissions intact you may change your mind of what to do. 

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Your 750HP Build @ DuramaxTuner.com

[fa icon="calendar'] Jun 16, 2017 9:45:00 AM / by Paul Wilson posted in Duramax Performance, DuramaxTuner.com, Duramax Power, shop, Estimate, 750hp, Build

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Get your truck the horsepower you need:

It's summer time and that means trucks are out sled pulling, towing, and getting worked! It also means you are more likely to be considering your trucks next upgrade (or repair).  

For the diesel owner who wrenches on his own truck the cost per horsepower is lower and his acceptable margin of error is inevitably higher.  In other words, it's cheaper but if something goes wrong there is only yourself to blame.  Many enthusiast thrive on this and only trust themselves or a few select others to  work on their truck.  The reality is however, that many diesel power fanatics don't have the time or skill level to tackle the bigger jobs - They just want to drive them!   Read on to see what things to consider in selecting a shop to do work on your truck.  

Here are some examples of truck builds we have done in the past:

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3 Things Your 600HP LB7 Build Must Have

[fa icon="calendar'] Jun 14, 2017 8:50:00 AM / by Paul Wilson posted in Duramax Performance, dsp5, EFILive, Duramax Power, LB7, SPADE, Fass, Lift Pump, CTS2

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Your 600HP Duramax Needs These 3 Things:

There are a lot of part combinations that can take your 2001-2004 Duramax to 600HP.  No matter what selections you make, there are 3 things you have to include if you want to keep your truck healthy and making power.

Here are some other articles about LB7 trucks:

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6 Things To Know Before Upgrading Your Duramax Turbo!

[fa icon="calendar'] Sep 9, 2016 10:00:00 AM / by Paul Wilson posted in Duramax Performance, LLY, duramaxtuner, LML, LBZ, Turbo, Stock Turbo, Stealth 64, Turbo Wheel, LB7, Stealth

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Stock Duramax Turbo Upgrades!

Duramax owners are generally proud of how their stock turbos perform.  They spool quickly, run hard and are capable of over 500 RWHP (once you tune it and make a few supporting modifications to handle the power).  However, after driving your truck around 520 RWHP for a while, the addiction will creep in and you may find yourself shopping for more power.  We all do it!  For some, it may not even be about more power, it may be about EGT control under load, or it may just be the factory turbo had an issue and needs to be replaced.  If you are anything like me, you will not want to replace it with the factory components if there is an upgraded, after market, charger available. 

 


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Drop-In Duramax Turbo Options

[fa icon="calendar'] Sep 7, 2016 2:17:28 PM / by Paul Wilson posted in Duramax Performance, Duramax, Duramax Power, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2011, 2015, LML, How to program my LML, More Power for my LML?, what are some upgrades I can go to my LML?, Turbo, 2012, LML Tuning, LML Power, Stock, Stock Turbo, Stealth 64, 2017, Stealth

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Drop-In Duramax Turbo Options

In the old days, there was no such thing as a "drop-in" turbo.  You pretty much had to buy a turbo that was designed for a different application and convert it to run on your Duramax.  Meaning the requirements for installation included several custom fabricated pieces to make it work.  

As technology in the diesel performance industry has advanced, our options for parts have expanded.  No longer do we have to use semi turbo's and roal coal to make power.  Now with the common rail injection system and variable vane turbo advancements there is a real need to find a turbo that makes more power than stock, while retaining all the benefits of a stock turbo. 

Benefits of a stock turbo:

  • Quick Spooling 
  • Clean installation
  • Reliable
  • Serviceable by any dealer or reputable shop
  • Requires no custom fabrication

Download Duramax Turbo Specifications

However, they do lack peak power, and peak power matters!  When looking for which upgraded unit to replace the stock turbo, we recommend matching the replacement as close as possible to the desired power level to minimize compromising drive-ability.  Any extra capacity you buy in peak for performance will cost you low end response.  Example: Looking to make 650rwhp? Buy a turbo that can just barely squeak out 650rwhp, do not buy something that's good for 850rwhp because it will drive poorly a light load. 

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6 Questions about Tuning your LML Duramax

[fa icon="calendar'] Jun 22, 2016 2:00:00 PM / by Paul Wilson posted in Insider, Duramax Performance, Mods, DuramaxTuner.com, EFILive, efi live, Modifications, Duramax, Emissions, EGR Delete, Duramax Power, What can I do to get better fuel mileage?, 2013, 2014, 2016, Add blue, DPF Intact, EGR ON, DPF ON, 2011, 2015, New Diesel, LML, Emisssions Intact Tuning, Diesel Tuning, how to get more power from my duamax, How to get more power from my Duramax, what are some upgrades I can go to my LML?, Urea, 2012, Delete, DPF Delete, Urea Delete, LML Tuning, Emissions Intact, EGR, LML Power

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Did you know there is no reason to delete the emissions from your 2011-2016 Duramax? 

DuramaxTuner.com's SPADE is capable of adding up to 135HP to your EMISSIONS INTACT LML

Actually, more and more people are tuning their 2011 + Duramax (LML) with the emissions equipment intact.  This is a great option for Duramax owners that would like a nice, quiet, reliable, efficient truck that performs well every time. However, many LML Owners have some basic questions prior to pursining emissions intact tuning. 

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What you need to know about Boost Testing your truck!

[fa icon="calendar'] May 6, 2016 9:00:00 AM / by Paul Wilson posted in Duramax Performance, duramaxtuner, Duramax, Duramax Power, Charged Air System, Boost Leak, intercooler, Trouble Shooting Duramax, Boost, Turbo, Boost Test

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So many truck come into our shop with high EGT's, turbo lag, excessive smoke output, and bad fuel mileage which are all symptoms of a boost leak. It is so common to devlop boost leak that we now require all trucks to have a boost test done prior to strapping them down on the dyno. What's funny, is that no one shows up knowing they had a boost leak. The reality is that even if you can hit peak boost, you may have a leak, especially if you have a variable vane turbo. Variable vane turbos will change vane position and other operations to try and achieve a desired boost number which may cover up a leak in the charged air system. 

 

 

 

 

 

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How to Keep Your LML Duramax Reliable

[fa icon="calendar'] Apr 6, 2016 2:00:00 PM / by Paul Wilson posted in Duramax Performance, DuramaxTuner.com, duramaxtuner, Duramax, Emissions, Duramax Power, 2013, 2014, 2016, Add blue, DPF Intact, EGR ON, DPF ON, 2011, 2015, LML, Urea, 2012, DPF Delete, LML Tuning, Emissions Intact, EGR, LML Power

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3 SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP KEEP YOUR LML DURAMAX RELIABLE:

Your truck is generally one of the largest investments you will make, so keeping it on the road is priority number 1!

 

The LML Duramax is one of the best trucks GM has ever produced. With 397 Horse Power and 796 ft/lbs of torque from the factory, the truck has the power plant necessary to do just about any job you can throw at it. However, despite the massive improvements the LML has brought to the table, there are some all too common pitfalls that can make this beast a burden. 

Here are some other places you can read more about the LML Duramax:

Visit DuramaxTuner.com

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Top 3 mods for your LLY Duramax

[fa icon="calendar'] Jan 11, 2016 8:30:00 AM / by Paul Wilson posted in Insider, Duramax Performance, Mods, LLY Tuning, better performance for lly, how to get better fuel mileage with LLY, LLY Mods, dsp, dsp5, lly performance, DuramaxTuner.com, LLY Intake, EFILive, efi live, switchable tuning, LLY, duramaxtuner, Modifications, What should i do first, what tuning should i get for my LLY, Duramax, switch on the fly tuning, LLY mpg

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  • The LLY Duramax  is a great truck from the factory for there are 3 modifications every owner should make! The LLY was manufactured 2004.5 and 2005. There are a few 2006 models that are labeled as an LLY, however they have all of the LBZ upgrades from the factory, so for performance applications consider those an LBZ. An LLY was the first Duramax with the injectors outside of the heads, a variable vane turbo and a 50 state EGR.

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