For parts email us at Importapartsales@gmail.com.
Today we have a 3.0L LM2 Duramax Diesel inline 6 from a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. This engine has about 140K and failed! Even though it has routine maintenence, it wasn’t enough.
The LM2 is the first generation of “light duty” 6 cylinder diesel engines GM installed in their 1/2 ton trucks and SUV’s. It produces 277hp and 460lbft of torque. This engine, being from an early truck, is more prone to certain types of failure. The level of damage to this engine is pretty crazy. How did it to so much damage, and run long enough to do it all?
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Every week I post a new teardown video of a blown up or suspected bad engine. Check out a few of my favorites!
Insane 3.0L LM2 Damage Teardown: https://youtu.be/6C6xgZs9uUs
Garbage Ram/Jeep 2nd Gen Ecodiesel Teardown: https://youtu.be/zWY1LNHgnp4
Ford/JLR 3.0L powerstroke/Lion Diesel Teardown https://youtu.be/3usAxacTXFg
Why am I doing this? My name is Eric and I own and run Importapart, a full service auto dismantling business. Part of our model includes buying blown up and bad engines to dismantle for parts. We salvage the good, sellable parts and recycle rest. No, we don’t rebuild engines but we do sell parts to people who do!
As always I hope you enjoyed this video. I love all of the comments, feedback and even the criticism. Catch you on the next one!
-Eric
00:00 Intro
02:05 Prepping the engine to go on the stand, backwards
03:07 Unbolting the turbocharger and exhaust manifold
04:47 Inspecting intake and exhaust ports, then pulling the glow plugs
06:20 Stripping the fuel lines, rail, and injectors from the engine
09:19 zipping out the valve cover bolts, this thing is clean in h… WOAH
11:35 removing the upper timing cover, what a debris field!
12:50 Prying off the lower timing cover… This engine is a MESS!
14:48 THE CULPRIT! #stretch Good for humans, bad for engines
15:24 Crammin the cam cramps loose, removing the cramshafts and inspecting the valvetrain. These poor rocker arms didn’t stand a chance!
19:34 THE GREAT HEAD BOLT FIGHT OF 2026
22:13 Removing the cylinder head, MICKEY MOUSE PISTONS!
24:52 SCIENCE
25:18 Oil pump belt removal and inspection
26:33 Loosening the primary chain, removing guides and injection pump
27:20 Rotating the engine over to remove the lower oil pan. Someone has been here!
28:11 GAAARROOOOSSSSSS let me touch it.
29:44 Unbolting and dismantling the oil pump. DAMAGE
31:23 Removing the upper oil pan bolts and prying off the pan
32:32 Did NOT expect to see this!
33:51 Cracking the rod cap bolts loose, OH WOW, This is SO MUCH WORSE than I imagined!
37:07 Loosening the main caps, removing the bolts and lifting the crankshaft out of the block, then pushing the pistons out of their bores
38:12 Complete rotating assembly inspection. Rings, pistons, rods, pistons, what’s left of the bearings, crankshaft and block. YEESH
41:35 Summary
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Hmmm, I'm curious as to WHY GM is in the business of buying "used" engines? Are they passing them off to customers as warranty work?
When the tensioner failed the piston popped out and the oil pressure went to nearly zero. The truck was on the freeway with the torque converter locked up and by the time they pulled over and stopped it spun the rod bearings??
Most expensive way to make anti-seize ever.
Worst case scenario or worst (crank)case scenario?
These…these are the questions automotive industry leaders need to be addressing.
Out of all vehicles I have ever owned from my fist till my very first new truck . The brand new one cost me most. The new stuff is overpriced garbage, it’s sad.
Honestly put that much plastic in a diesel? Explain to me what has happen to GM keep it up GM you will be a bankrupt company don't want this to happen always loved the older GM cars and trucks.
Not having keyed cam sprockets is a bad idea.
According to GM technical service bulletins, the 3.0L Duramax diesel engine can consume up to 1 quart of oil per 1,000 miles (1,600 km) under heavy loads, high speeds, or aggressive driving, which is considered normal. Under normal, non-aggressive driving, the acceptable rate is 1 quart per 2,000 miles.
So…..you could use 10 quarts of oil 'between' changes? Does this even make sense? Do people really get an oil change and not check it for 10,000 miles? (I know they do.) If this is the case and you 'check' your oil you would never need an oil change again as you are adding a freaking quart every 1,000-2,000 miles….
but water pump
Wow… What's the torque figure on those head bolts… all the ftlbs or what?!! Gotta love the cheater pipe on the breaker bar…
That engine really spat the dummy in a big way. Jumps time and grinds itself to pieces… while breaking rockers.
Nice bend on that breaker bar.
This folks, is why we need to raise hell and bring back the Ford 300 inline 6, along with engines that use timing gears.
Dumbest design to put the timing chain in the back with a rubber oil pump belt that theoretically would require replacement so would require pulling the transmission and flexplate
They do make conversion kits where you go from a roller cam roller lifters back to a flat, tapping cam and flat tapping lifters
Wow. Head bolts from hell.
I’m going to have to continue this in the morning, around 5 in the morning
Oh Eric that sometimes roller lifter bearings go in them