The new 2021 Cadillac Escalade is here and the drivetrain options turns out to be good news for enthusiasts, hot-rod builders, and custom-car crafters looking to plunder engines. While this fifth-generation Escalade is very different from the fourth-generation rig, one aspect that carries over is the awesome 6.2-liter aluminum direct-injected V-8 L86 mill. Escalades, starting back in 1999, were always considered to be junkyard gold since they fielded the best GM LS variants. While other GM trucks and SUV often got smaller displacement V-8s and iron blocks the Escalades got the top-shelf aluminum blocks and bigger power offerings.
This means that when you’re scouring your local yank-a-part you’ll need to be on the lookout for these gems. And while the 2021 Escalade is brand new as of this writing, its engines will eventually find their way into salvage yards where their drivetrains can be pillaged for projects across the country. With the future in mind, let’s take a look at the engine offerings in the 2021 Cadillac Escalade.
What Engines Come in the 2021 Cadillac Escalade?
6.2-liter Ecotec3 V-8 (L86)
Carried over from the previous generation is an updated of the rock-solid 6.2-liter Ecotec3 V-8. Making 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, it’s certainly a direct-injected engine full of performance potential. The active fuel-management cylinder-deactivation system of the 2020 version was supplanted by the more efficient Dynamic Fuel Management version of the same tech. The 6.2L also has variable valve timing and an automatic stop-start system. The 2021 Suburbans and Tahoes (along with their GMC Yukon cousins) come standard with 5.3-liter V-8s, but the 6.2 is an available option, so be on the lookout for the higher-spec trims of those models like High Country and Denali when you spy one in the local boneyard.
3.0-liter Duramax Diesel Inline-6 (LM2)
New to all the SUVs is an optional 277-hp, 460-lb-ft 3.0-liter Duramax inline-6 turbodiesel! Yep, it’s been a long time since you could get a diesel in a Caddy, but later in the 2021 model year you’ll have the option, and this time it won’t suck. The LM2 will be built on a cast aluminum block, which is unusual for a diesel, but the aluminum construction results in a 25 percent weight savings over an iron block. To make it last GM added thick, iron cylinder sleeves to stand up to the 15:1 compression.
It’s an inline-six with a single set of overhead cams actuating 24 valves. The direct-injection fuel pump is operated by chain drive off the back of the cam. A chain on the fuel pump runs to the intake and exhaust cams while a small belt on the crank turns a variable-flow oil pump. Boost comes via a single, variable-geometry turbo. The magic happens in the intake manifold, which is variable and provides two paths to each of the six cylinders. This way the engine response can be optimized at lower rpm. Fun fact: The fuel can be provided, by way of high-pressure direct injection (capable of multiple injection events per cycle), at pressures up to 36,250 psi! We’re not sure this engine is ripe for a hot-rodding project, but it sure is an interesting option that we’re confident will inspire some gearhead to “go boldly.”
Escalade V and Blackwing Rumors
Rumors had swirled about a 4.2L twin-turbocharged Blackwing Escalade, but sadly those plans were shelved. Any future high-performance Escalades will most likely have a version of GM’s blown 6.2-liter V-8 as found in the last CTS-V.
Finding Cadillac Escalades in Salvage Yards: An Engine Spotter’s Guide
In production since 1999, Cadillac Escalades are strewn throughout salvage yards across the country. The early versions carried roughly the same engines as typical GM trucks and SUVs, but later they were fitted with top-shelf mills. Many of these engines are just a few parts and a cam swap away from churning out well over 500 horsepower, and most of them were built on lightweight aluminum blocks. Below is a spotter’s guide to what years carried what engines.
First-Generation Escalade: 1999–2000
- 5.7L L31 Vortec 5700 V8, 255 hp
Second-Generation Escalade: 2002–2006
- 2002–2003 5.3L LM7 Vortec V-8, 285 hp
- 2004–2006 5.3L LM7 Vortec V-8, 295 hp
- 2002–2003 6.0L LQ4 (Not Used In Escalade, 8th Digit in VIN = U) Vortec V-8, 310 hp
- 2004–2006 6.0L LQ9 (8th Digit = N) HO Vortec V-8, 345 hp (Find this and it’s your lucky day!)
Third-Generation Escalade: 2007–2014
- 6.2L Vortec 6200 V-8, 403 hp
- NOTE: Hybrid versions had a 6.0L engine
Fourth-Generation Escalade: 2015–2020
- 6.2L EcoTec3 L86 V-8, 420 hp
Fifth-Generation Escalade: 2021–
- 6.2L EcoTec3 L86 V-8, 420 hp
- 3.0L Duramax I6 turbodiesel, 277 hp
2021 Cadillac Escalade Fast Facts:
- Base engine is 6.2L EcoTec3 V-8 with 420 hp
- Optional 3.0L Duramax I6 turbodiesel with 460 lb-ft of torque
- Standard 10-speed Hydra-Matic 10L80 transmission
- Optional Super Cruise with auto lane-change capabilities
- Five trim levels: Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum, and Sport Platinum
- Eight interior trim options and four unique seating designs
- AKG audio technology system with 36 speakers throughout the cabin
- 38-inch curved OLED screen dashboard
The post 2021 Cadillac Escalade Engine Options, HP—and Engine-Swap Potential appeared first on MotorTrend.
Source: WORLD NEWS
