Diesel engines have many nuances when compared to their gas counterparts, fuel injectors being one of them. Unlike fuel injectors used on direct injection gasoline engines, diesel injectors often have a higher failure rate and shorter lifespan due to their more extreme operating conditions. When these injectors fail, it can lead to a cascade of performance issues, increased emissions issues, and even engine damage.

Diesel engines are renowned for their power and efficiency, but they also come with complex emission systems designed to reduce harmful pollutants. Two critical components of these systems are the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve and the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). When these components fail, it can lead to decreased performance, increased emissions, and costly repairs. Understanding the common causes of EGR and DPF failure can help you maintain your diesel engine in top condition. Here are the top three causes of failure for each component:

You bought a diesel truck because you value power, fuel economy, towing capabilities and long-term durability. However when it comes to modern diesel trucks, performance seekers often face a dilemma: how to enhance power and efficiency while keeping emissions systems intact. With increasing regulations and the desire for cleaner performance, finding a solution that strikes a balance is crucial. Enter Calibrated Power's Emissions In-Tact Custom Tuning—the ultimate upgrade for your diesel truck that ensures you get the best of both worlds.

Unleashing Hidden Potential Without Compromising Emissions

Calibrated Power's Emissions In-Tact Custom Tuning is specifically designed to optimize the performance of your diesel truck while keeping all emissions systems fully operational. This means you can enjoy improved power, torque, and fuel efficiency without the need to remove or tamper with your truck’s emissions equipment.

As the winter months rolls around us diesel owners get an unexpected bit of stress added to our plate. Diesel fuel gelling is a very common issue most diesel owners who live in areas where the temperature drops below 32 degrees will face at least once in their lives. Not only is this issue frustrating and stressful when it occurs, the mere trauma from past experiences can lead to constant stress during these cold times. No one wants to get out of work in the pitch black freezing cold only to find that their truck won't start at all. But what should you do in the event that your truck won't start or stay running? Luckily we have a step by step guide on how to properly fix this issue once it has occurred. 

As a preface, this issue is caused when the paraffin wax used in diesel fuels (for lubricity and proper viscosity) start to solidify.  While gelling can take on varying levels of severity from cloudy fuel all the way to a squishy solid mass. Diesel fuel gelling is never a thing you want to expeirince. At its most mild levels it can cause poorer fuel economy, less power, and be pretty hard on your fuel system. At its worst I can clog fuel lines, filters, pumps and even injectors while potentially causing irreversible damage to your fuel system.  If you live in a cold climate take precautions by adding anti-gelling agent into your fuel before severely cold temperatures start setting in to avoid all of these issues. 

Over the years, GM has changed a lot regarding the turbos they use on Duramax engines. Not only have they changed manufacturers a handful of times but each RPO has its own unique measurements for key components. This can make it a headache when trying to track down exactly what the measurements of your stock turbo are. Luckily we've compiled this list of stock Duramax turbo specifications along with other helpful information so you can get a good idea of what you're already working with before you dive into the sea of turbo upgrades these trucks have to choose from. However, while some turbos may have the same peak power output, the size and shape of specific components can affect things such as exhaust gas temperature, drive pressure, and turbo efficiency range.  

The ten-speed Allison 1000 is substantially better than previous Allison models we have seen come in Duramax trucks. Known for its superior towing performance, excellent fuel economy, and outstanding reliability. It utilizes some of the best technology GM has ever produced. Its reputation for excellence was earned largely because of the advanced electronic control systems provided by the TCM (Transmission Control Module).

One of the biggest advancements in turbo design since we first started applying them to diesel engines over 70 years ago has been the invention of Variable Geometry Turbos. These turbos utilize a set of movable vanes on the inside of the exhaust housing that allows the actuator to vary the area in which exhaust gasses can pass through them. This allows the exhaust side of the turbo to increase or restrict the flow of exhaust hitting the turbine wheel. In some designs it also changes the flow direction of gasses hitting the exhaust turbine as you can see illustrated below. 


When restricted, the velocity of the exhaust gasses increases which helps spin the turbine faster than a fixed geometry turbo would. This gives the turbo the ability to spool the turbine and compressor wheel up much better than it normally would even with a low volume of exhaust pressure traveling through the system. This helps to spool the turbo at lower RPMs to create boost where it would normally be lacking. This is why variable geometry turbos (VGTs) are such an advancement. They have the ability to significantly reduce turbo lag and provide much better response and turbo efficiency across a range of RPMs. 

New Product Release: L5P Stealth STR Turbo
Calibrated Power was the very first custom tuner to tune the L5P Duramax platform and have been building custom turbos and tuning for over 15 years. We know exactly what these trucks respond to and need to get the best performance out of them. Now with their newest addition to the L5P performance market, the L5P Stealth STR. We've used what they have learned about the L5P platform to provide a drop-in stock turbo replacement that offers improved performance and reliability at a similar price to a stock turbo replacement. 

Here are the features: 

• Airflow that Supports 625hp with stock emissions in-tact
• Brand New parts and electronics
• Custom 7-blade extended tip billet compressor wheel
• Designed and spec'd with the help of tuning experts at DuramaxTuner

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 

What's an RPO? Crucial Duramax Information!

This article will help you understand what an RPO is, how to find yours and when it will be needed.  An RPO or Regular Production Option is a GM-specific code, made up of 3 characters, that helps the manufacturer specify what configuration of options has been or needs to be applied to a vehicle. This can include anything from paint color to powertrain options. For Chevy/GMC Duramax trucks each type of engine can be signified by a different RPO code.