Killing a Duramax

After weeks of adding sensors, changing intercoolers and piping, ECM tuning, and more, Gale and the Banks test group were finally ready to crank over the Duramax L5P engine in Dyno Cell No. 2. The plan for the engine is complex. First, there has been conjecture online for more than two years over what the L5P engine is truly capable of.

Late last year the ECM was jailbroken and a small handful of tuners began doing their best to tune the truck by flashing a newly soldiered CPU. Sure, it voids the truck’s warranty and creates a whole host of issues. A few of these tuners were even made into social media stars after turning up the tune until the engine cranked several hundred horsepower above its factory-rated 445 flywheel horsepower.

But how far can this engine actually be pushed with stock components before the turbo reaches its limit and goes into choke and provides nothing more than heat? How far can the engine be pushed with a bigger turbo and cooling system? Gale intends to find out.

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Latest News

iDash Helps Enthusiasts Make Better Parts

Although Banks products are primarily intended for the US and Canadian markets, the iDash and Sensor Modules transcend distance and are effective tools that can be used globally.

The “Killing a Duramax” series makes its triumphant return with part 14 with some cam science! Gale’s been busy with the design of the new L5P cam as he tries the get the most horsepower while cranking out new ideas. Gale collaborated with Comp Cams in the development of this new high-performance and explains how he analyzes each ...

GM Authority Recognizes Diesel Authority

Internet site GM Authority recently wrote about Gale Banks’ video series “Killing a Duramax,” where the test Duramax L5P made 912 horsepower and 1,389 pound-feet of torque running completely with stock internals. As the article points out, those power numbers that Banks attained are a 467 hp jump over the stock numbers and 479 lb-ft ...

Unclog the clog: Killing a Duramax Pt 12

We just picked up 60 horsepower by unclogging the clog in the pipes. Sometimes you hit a design wall, and no matter what tricks you try, no matter what tuning tricks you do, you’ve either met or exceeded the design limitations of a part. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8sm0c_kSh8 0:00 – Intro 3:08 – 912 horsepower 6:58 – Exhaust system backpressure ...

Here is a sneak peek of the new series from Banks, Killing a Duramax. Erik from Banks’ engineering team has been hard at work on the Killing a Duramax engine. Remember, we have two Duramax engine projects going on simultaneously. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDVrPcAWqXQ The stock turbo has long since been replaced by a Precision 7675 helping the engine reach ...

Banks engine builder Mike installs a set of S&S Diesel Motorsports Denso injectors that flow 50% over S&S Diesel Motorsport Denso injectors and Gale pushes the L5P to 852 horsepower. But as you’ll see in the video, Gale and Dyno Tech Aaron were so focused on watching cylinder pressure and other data displayed on the iDashes that ...

Gale reviews the data from engine dyno pulls using the 2017-2019 stock oil cooler versus the newly installed 2020 unit to see if there’s any magic to the new cooler’s design. The guys also changed out the engine oil from conventional to AMSOIL synthetic, and Gale goes over the differences in runs. He’s going to kill ...

In this episode, Gales explains that the stock turbo is maxed out and the only way to squeeze out more horsepower is to give it a new turbo! Diesel World Magazine Editor Adam Blattenberg phoned Gale a week ago to inquire about the progress of the “Killing A Duramax” video series. “How’s it going?” he ...

Gale and the team do a damage check on the L5P engine after its last run before installing a new set of high-flow 50% over injectors from S&S Diesel. In the last episode, Gale found out that the stock injectors were at their limit. Now, armed with the new injectors and the ability to accurately sense ...

711 Horsepower: Killing a Duramax Part 8

In the current installment of the Killing A Duramax Gale cranks it up to 711 horsepower! Gale explains what the next step is to see how many gains can be made on the L5P Duramax. https://youtu.be/aK-9x9j7L9o 0:00 Intro1:40 Manifold air density4:00 711 horsepower on a stock L5P7:00 Turbine inlet pressure9:25 Turbo boost to back pressure10:25 Fuel ...

Spool is in Session: Killing a Duramax Pt 7

Gale Banks is joined by PPEI Custom Tuning’s Kory Willis. The two discuss how they’re going to push the engine harder than ever before and spool. https://youtu.be/FdZb4-frryw 0:00 Intro1:27 Losing a gasket3:40 Measuring intercooler efficiency5:50 iDash CSV file structure8:35 Getting air density to the cylinders12:20 Intelligently increasing the swirl14:50 The crankshaft is your powerbroker19:50 Density path ...

Gale Banks fired up the new Precision turbo this week for comparison to stock and it turns out, it’s 65% better. This larger, more efficient turbo will have no problem pushing the Duramax way past 600 hp. Watch part 6 in the ongoing series. And, yes, Gale actually intends to blow up the engine, but not until ...

As Gale Banks collaborates with Comp Cams in the development of a new high-performance camshaft for the Duramax L5P engine, he explains how he analyzes each step in the 4-stroke process. He reveals why squish and swirl are so important to proper diesel combustion as well as valve timing, duration, and overlap. He also details ...

Starving the Monster: KILLING A DURAMAX Pt 4

On episode four of Killing a Duramax, Gale tries starving the monster. He shows how a poorly designed intake will starve the turbo’s compressor costing you 30 horsepower or more! Contrary to starving, Gale discusses feeding the compressor. https://youtu.be/Scw3mrksgGk 0:00 Intro – Starving the monster1:04 Intake air density control 2:00 Spark or compression ignition 3:45 Why ...

Gale attempts to reach 1,000 HORSEPOWER with this DURAMAX with STOCK internals with a new camshaft. To do that, Banks is working with Comp Cams to design a camshaft that will allow the engine to spin faster while keeping the valves open longer. In the last episode, we got it up to 912 horsepower. https://youtu.be/pXkZMN5Hy4I 0:00 ...

Gale takes the turbo to its limit to explain variable geometry, why the turbine is so important and how to know when the turbo is in a choke.

KILLING A DURAMAX Pt 2: 550 Horsepower! 🔥

Now that the engine is running like a champ, it’s time to turn it up to see where the stock turbo maxes out. Along the way, Gale Banks explains how he’ll monitor every aspect of the air intake system. https://youtu.be/PeVRbdE-nMs