Horsepower difference between 08 and 09

[ncampion]

Just curious, my 08 Denali is rated at 380 hp 417 ft/LB of torque. My son's 09 is rated at 403 hp with the same torque. What's the difference? Are there internal engine changes or tuning or what. Can my 08 be tune for the higher hp rating?

 

[Geotrash]

Just curious, my 08 Denali is rated at 380 hp 417 ft/LB of torque. My son's 09 is rated at 403 hp with the same torque. What's the difference? Are there internal engine changes or tuning or what. Can my 08 be tune for the higher hp rating?

No meaningful difference. For marketing purposes (to reinforce the Escalade's position as the premier choice), the '08 ratings are based on running regular octane fuel instead of premium (a really bad idea on the 6.2) for the '07 and '08 model years. They stopped doing that for the '09 model years. The tune, cam and pretty much everything else that matters are the same between them.

 

[swathdiver]

2009 introduced FlexFuel, they have larger fuel injectors to handle running ethanol. It was also the only year the L9H engine was used in the wagons, after that they got AFM and became L94s.

 

[Geotrash]

2009 introduced FlexFuel, they have larger fuel injectors to handle running ethanol. It was also the only year the L9H engine was used in the wagons, after that they got AFM and became L94s.

All correct, but the '07 and '08 Escalades have the identical powertrain to the Denali's of those years and are rated for 403hp/417tq. The only difference I'm aware of is the fuel used for the ratings. The tune is the same.