The 6.6 LBZ Duramax diesel engine is a workhorse designed for heavy-duty use. It’s built to last with cast iron cylinder liners and a forged steel crankshaft. But even the most durable engine needs routine maintenance, including regular oil changes. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps necessary to change the oil in your LBZ Duramax. To smoothly do this, let’s first understand what the LBZ oil capacity is.
How Much Oil Does An LBZ Take?
The LBZ Duramax is utilized in racing since it has greater power than the LB7 or LLY. These trucks are easier to tune and have a stronger block casting, rods, and ECM.
Last year at UCC, numerous LBZ Duramax trucks dominated the track and dyno. Several LBZ Duramax constructions reached 1,000 hp and 2,000 lb/ft torque. The LBZ holds 9.2 quarts of oil. With the filter, the capacity is 10 quarts.
How Much Oil Does A 6.6 Duramax Take?
The 6.6 Duramax Diesel has an engine oil capacity of 10 Quarts with a Filter or 9.5 Liters.
How Often Should You Change The Oil In A 6.6 Duramax Diesel?
It is recommended that you change the oil in your 6.6 Duramax every 5,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.
What’s The Best Oil For A Duramax Diesel?
A 15W-40 grade engine oil is recommended by Duramax manufacturers for its viscosity. Its temperature range is 0o, which is excellent for climates ranging from hot to fairly cool. They may take longer to ignite at lower temperatures. They’re not as liquid as they look, and they’re not as smooth.
Top Best Oil
- 5W-40 Shell Rotella T6 (Full Synthetic)
- 15W-40 Amsoil Heavy-Duty Diesel and Marine
- 15W-40 Mobil Super Delvec 1300 Diesel
- 15W-40 Royal Purple Diesel
Can I Run 5w40 In My Duramax?
The answer is yes, you may use 5W-40 in the winter (and summer) of your Duramax. Even though 15W-40 is recommended for your engine, it is also okay to use 5W-40 for temperatures below -18°C (0°F).
When Compared To 5W-40, Is There A Benefit To Using 15W-40 Instead?
No. Remember that the viscosity of both 15W-40 and 15W-40 is 40. Both provide approximately identical viscosity protection when used at their respective operating temperatures.
Faster oil flow during cold starts is the primary benefit of 5W-40.
For many years, the most common viscosity for diesel oil was 15W-40. Because the winter weight (15W) and the operating temperature weight (40″) were so close together, 15W-40 was a staple.
It was more susceptible to shearing and thinning in prior generations of motor oil technology that had a broad range of winter weight and operating weight (such as 5W-40).
With the advent of synthetic motor oils, today’s motor oils are considerably more consistent in viscosity over the temperature range. Thus, they are less likely to become overly thick or thin under severe temperatures.
As a result, year-round protection from a solid 5W-40 is guaranteed. Because of this, a 5W-40 may now be used year-round instead of 15W-40.
Steps for 6.6 Duramax Change Oil
- Ensure the engine oil pan is supported by a container of at least 10 quarts capacity by placing the container under the engine.
- A shop cloth may be used to prevent spills if necessary; engine oil has a propensity to collect here and flow off one of the corners, escaping your drain pan.
- The crankcase vent will be easier to open if the oil fill lid is loose.
- A box-end wrench or socket should be used instead of an open-end wrench to remove the oil pan drain stopper. In the case of authentic GM drain plugs, the diameters may vary, but they are all metric.
- The engine’s oil filter may be found on the driver’s side (above the front driveshaft on 4 wheel drive vehicles).
- To remove the oil filter, simply unthread it from the filter base and pull it away from the engine. Use an oil filter wrench or a piece of sandpaper around the filter’s circle if it’s obstinate.
- Check to see sure the oil filter gasket is still attached to the base, and then thoroughly wipe the mounting surface using a lint-free cloth or shop rag.
- You should check to see whether the engine oil has entirely drained out of the oil pan.
- Keep an eye on the gasket/o-ring on the oil pan drain plug to see if it’s worn or damaged. Replace the drain plug if it is broken or compromised in any way.
- It’s time to put everything back together again. Replace the oil pan drain cap and tighten it up using the information provided above.
- Remove any oil residue from the area surrounding the drain plug to help identify any leaks.
- Make sure you use fresh engine oil to lubricate the replacement oil filter’s seal gasket. If you can’t pre-fill the new oil filter since it’s positioned horizontally, you’ll have to install it dry.
- Replace the oil filter and tighten it by hand alone. Do not use any equipment to tighten the filter.
- New engine oil may be added using a fill hose positioned at the front, middle of the engine compartment.
- Use the engine oil dipstick on the passenger side to check the oil level (in front of the fuel filter housing).
- Start the engine and look around the oil pan drain plug and the oil filter housing for any signs of leakage.
List Of Oil Capacity
Here is the oil capacity of various Duramax engines produced since 2001.
- LB (2001 – 2004) 9.2 Quarts
- LLY (2004 – 2005) 9.2 Quarts
- LBZ (2006 – 2007) 9.2 Quarts
- LMM (2007 – 2010 9.2 Quarts
- LGH (2010 – 2017) 9.2 Quarts
- LML (2011 – 2016) 9.2 Quarts
- L5P (2017 – present) 9.2 Quarts
- LM2 (2019 – present) 6.4 Quarts
- XLD28 (2012 – present) 5.5 Quarts
- LWN (2014 – present) 5.5 Quarts
- XLD25 (2011 – present) 4.4 Quarts
Oil Pressure of Duramax Engines
The oil pressure of a Duramax engine should also be checked.
Oil pressure in a Duramax 6.6 V8 engine is generally 14 psi at idle and 42 psi at 1,800 rpm. There is a 20-psi oil pressure at idle for a Duramax 3.0 I-6 engine, and a 40-psi oil pressure at 1,800 rpm for a Duramax 2.8 or 2.5 I-4 engine.
Duramax engines are known for having relatively low oil pressure. That’s why low oil pressure in a Duramax engine is a common concern for some owners.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to check the oil level and oil pressure in your Duramax engine regularly. These engines are known for having relatively low oil pressure, so it is important to keep an eye on the oil level and pressure to avoid any potential issues.
Use the information provided above to help you check the oil level and pressure in your engine, and be sure to always use fresh engine oil to lubricate.
