The small town of Moraine, Ohio is home to the 6.6-liter V8 Duramax turbo-diesel engine. The plant has 755 employees and this DMAX Plant celebrated the two millionth Duramax just a short time ago.

In 1998 General Motors and Isuzu teamed up to create what we now call a powerhouse. In the summer of 2000, the plant finished their first engine. After 17 years, the plant is continuing to pump out engines everyday! Since then the Duramax engine has been used for many applications including the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, and several Navistar over the road trucks.

GM Plant Manager Pat Curtis-GSC Manager Oscar Luis Medrano Guerra- DMAX President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer Shinichi Suzuki-DMAX Assembly Production Manager James Love-DMAX CFO Dennis Dykstra.

“Over the past 17 years, DMAX has produced two million award-winning heavy-duty diesel engines,” GM Plant Manager Pat Curtis explained. “This is not only a significant milestone, but truly speaks to the dedication of our team.”

As if building an already stout Duramax engine wasn’t enough, the employees are building the new L5P Duramax. What makes the L5P so special? This new engine has been reworked for more horsepower and torque. Actually, 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft of torque to be exact.

“When we started this project, who would have expected we would achieve 2 million engines?” Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer for DMAX, Ltd. Shinichi Suzuki said. “I do recognize that although we made two million engines, it could not be achieved without the support of all employees. The most important thing is not that the two million engines have been manufactured, but that they have been sold by the effort of the entire team.”

Along with a 19 percent increase in max torque over the last Duramax 6.6-liter, the redesigned turbo-diesel’s performance is quieter and smoother, for greater refinement. It is also capable of running on B20 biodiesel, a fuel composed of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent conventional diesel. B20 helps lower carbon dioxide emissions and lessen dependence on petroleum. It is a domestically produced, renewable fuel made primarily of plant matter, mostly soybean oil.

The future is bright for the new Duramax. What are your thoughts on the new motor? Tell us in the comments below!