One aspect you likely notice between trucks sporting the 3.0L Duramax versus the larger 6.6L is that the latter features a working air intake. You can see a prominent hood scoop on the Sierra and Silverado HD models that isn’t present on the 1500 or SUVs with the smaller Duramax. It is not just an exterior accessory; this hood scoop helps deliver cooler air to the engine when blistering performance is required.
For example, pulling a trailer is taxing on a truck’s engine, but even more so in the summer, climbing up a steep grade. The air intake on the 6.6L provides additional airflow that keeps the engine running at an optimum level, even in the most demanding situations.
According to GM, upwards of 60% of airflow to the engine originates from the intake system. GM’s intake technology uses a mechanism to split air and water so that only dry air is pushed toward the engine. The lower-temperature dry air helps trucks like the 2024 Sierra 3500HD pull up to 36,000 pounds, even in challenging scenarios. We got behind the wheel of the 2024 GMC Sierra HD AT4X with an equipped 6.6L turbo-diesel Duramax and had some exciting takeaways.
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