PPE Oil Pan Fits the Updated 2026 LZ0 Pickup Tube—Here’s What We Found
- Greg Nelson
- 12 hours ago
- 5 min read
GM made a running change to the 3.0L Duramax engine oil pan during the 2026 model year. The revised factory pan uses a different internal shape, a relocated drain plug and a redesigned oil pickup tube.
That created an important fitment question for owners considering the PPE deep engine oil pan: Will the PPE pan clear the new-style LZ0 pickup tube?
Test result: The PPE 3.0L Duramax oil pan physically clears the revised pickup tube used with GM’s updated LZ0 oil-pan design. A camera inspection showed no visible contact between the pickup and the bottom of the PPE pan. This confirms physical fitment and clearance, but it was not a running-engine oil-pressure test.
I used an LM2 display engine, both factory oil-pan designs and the PPE pan to find out. After installing the updated pickup tube and viewing its position inside the PPE pan with a camera, the answer is yes: the PPE oil pan physically fits and provides clearance around the updated pickup tube.
Watch the complete inspection and camera test here:
Why This Needed to Be Tested
There are now three oil-pan configurations worth understanding:
The original factory pan used on the LM2 and early LZ0
The revised factory pan found on some later-production 2026 LZ0 trucks
The PPE heavy-duty deep aluminum oil pan
The original and updated factory pickup tubes attach at the oil pump, but their shape and inlet locations are different. The original tube angles toward one area of the sump. The updated tube is straighter, has a larger scoop-style inlet and moves the pickup point to a different location.
Because PPE developed its pan around the original configuration, it was reasonable to question whether the later pickup would contact the pan, sit too close to its floor or otherwise create a fitment problem.
How the Fitment Was Checked
I installed the updated LZ0 pickup tube on the engine and temporarily fitted the PPE pan. I then passed a camera through the dipstick opening to see the pickup tube from inside the assembled space.
The camera showed that:
The updated pickup tube fits inside the PPE pan
The pickup inlet remains clear of the bottom of the pan
No contact was visible between the pickup tube and the lower portion of the pan
Both the original and revised pickup locations sit within the PPE pan’s sump area
This was a physical fitment and clearance inspection. It confirms that the parts can be assembled without visible interference; it was not a running-engine oil-pressure or vehicle road test.
What Changed in the Updated Factory Oil Pan?
The revised factory pan appears to be a meaningful improvement over the original design.
A Better Drain-Plug Location
On the original pan, the drain opening sits above part of the lowest oil-holding area. Some oil therefore remains trapped when the plug is removed. Raising the front of the truck does not necessarily solve the problem because of the way the pan is positioned and shaped when installed.
The later factory pan moves the drain opening lower and changes the internal floor of the sump. A separate drainage comparison demonstrated how substantial that change can be.
I later performed a separate bench test to put a number behind that difference. I poured two cups of water into each factory pan, supported both pans at approximately the same angle and allowed them to drain through their respective drain openings. Under that setup, the revised pan drained more than one additional cup compared with the original design. Only a small amount remained in the revised pan, while a visibly larger pool remained trapped in the original.
You can watch that drainage and capacity comparison here:
This was an informal comparison performed with water and loose pans. The pans were not mounted on an engine at the exact installed vehicle angle, so the result should not be treated as a precise measurement of how much engine oil remains during every oil change. It does, however, clearly demonstrate the advantage created by the revised drain location and internal shape.
The same test also compared approximate sump capacity. With seven cups of water placed into each loose pan, the fluid levels appeared nearly identical. That suggests the factory redesign did not meaningfully increase oil capacity; its principal advantages are improved drainage and the revised sump-and-pickup geometry.
A Revised Pickup Location
The new pan also changes where oil collects around the pickup. Its raised internal section appears to direct returning oil toward the revised pickup location, leaving a defined pocket of oil around the inlet.
That geometry looks intentional and may improve the volume of oil immediately available around the pickup. However, without GM engineering documentation or controlled oil-pressure testing, that should be treated as an observation rather than a confirmed explanation of GM’s design intent.
Not Every 2026 Truck Has the New Pan
This was a running production change. Some 2026 LZ0 trucks were built with the earlier pan and pickup arrangement, while later trucks received the revised parts. Owners should identify which pan is installed instead of ordering by model year alone.
The revised factory lower oil pan is GM part number 40009800, which supersedes the earlier 55506665 pan. When buying the factory update, ask for the complete matched kit and verify all current part numbers by VIN before ordering.
How the PPE Pan Compares
The PPE pan takes a different approach. Its deeper cast-aluminum sump adds approximately two quarts of oil capacity and places the drain at the bottom of the sump for a more complete drain. It also includes a magnetic drain plug and a port for an optional temperature sensor.
Most importantly for owners of late-2026 trucks, this inspection shows that the revised LZ0 pickup tube has visible clearance inside the PPE pan.
Oil pan | Main advantage | Important consideration |
Original LM2/early-LZ0 pan | Factory configuration | Retains more oil during a normal drain |
Revised late-2026 LZ0 pan | Improved drain and revised sump/pickup geometry | Must be paired with the correct factory pickup components |
PPE deep aluminum pan | Approximately two additional quarts and a low drain location | Aftermarket installation; verify the exact application and required hardware |
The Bottom Line
The new-style LZ0 pickup tube is positioned differently from the original, but it does physically fit inside the PPE 3.0L Duramax oil pan. The camera inspection showed clearance between the pickup and the bottom of the pan, answering the main compatibility question raised by the 2026 factory update.
The revised GM pan is a solid factory improvement, particularly for owners who want a more complete oil drain. The PPE pan goes further by adding roughly two quarts of capacity and moving the drain to the bottom of the sump.
If you are planning an upgrade, verify the pan currently installed on your truck and confirm the latest application information before ordering. The PPE 3.0L Duramax engine oil pan is available through DemonWorks.
If there is another LM2 or LZ0 oil-system combination you want tested on the display engine, leave a comment on the video.
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