2006 duramax- 3500

[flyingcow]

Well I lost out on a couple of powerstrokes. But i stumbled across a 2006/3500/SWD/ crew/8ft bed.6-speed allison. 94,000 miles. It's in pristine condition. Southern vehicle, no rust or corrosion issues what so ever. One owner. Price is reasonable, a little more than i want to spend, but the reality is what it is. Also price I'm at with them now is what NADA recommends as clean trade allowance, actually a few dollars higher. Rambling on, whoops

What i want to know from people who know, hows this engine and drive train been holding up? Quirks?

Thanks guys. i've gotten some of the best advice, information from this place.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Well I lost out on a couple of powerstrokes. But i stumbled across a 2006/3500/SWD/ crew/8ft bed.6-speed allison. 94,000 miles. It's in pristine condition. Southern vehicle, no rust or corrosion issues what so ever. One owner. Price is reasonable, a little more than i want to spend, but the reality is what it is. Also price I'm at with them now is what NADA recommends as clean trade allowance, actually a few dollars higher. Rambling on, whoops

What i want to know from people who know, hows this engine and drive train been holding up? Quirks?

Thanks guys. i've gotten some of the best advice, information from this place.

This is by far the best years of the Dmax 06 and 07 classic (pre dpf)(old body style). All in all they are good truck as long as keep stock. The Allison does not like extra HP. If I were going to try a Dmax again, I had one in 05 that was junk, this would be the year. Mine had a different motor and 5 speed Allison. Other than the 2011 its the only one I would consider.

I have maintained a 07 classic 4x4 3500 Dmax since day one for my neighbor. He has had lots of little issues but none major. Transfer case leaked. Tranny cooler lines 3 times now have been replaced (major Allison sore point), carrier bearing went out, 2 rear seals on the Allison (replaced once and leaking again). May have something to do with the carrier bearing. Passengers power seat has not been right since day one. Poor paint, they repainted the bed. His truck is right a 80,000 miles and has averaged 13.5 mpg for its life. Towing 11,000# its a 11 mpg machine. 60 mph on the highway will get 21 mpg stock but any faster and it drops like a rock to around 17 mpg.

All in all his motor and tranny have been rock solid. The truck though is not holding up nearly as well as my 2 powerstrokes, 04 and 06 with more miles. Switches, seats, interior panels, ect. Just not built as good.

I am guessing your SWD means it a Single Rear Wheel Truck like his. That is a good thing. The big let down on many 3/4 ton truck or 2500 series is the GVWR. For the Dmax trucks its either 8,800# or 9,200# while all the 3500 series trucks are 9,900#. The truck weighs about 7,200# so with the 8,800# GVWR 1,500# is pushing it for payload. The 9,900# the 3500 has will give you about 2,500# with a few tools and passengers in the truck.

Things to watch for is front bearings, carrier bearings, leaking tranny cooler lines, leaking rear seals on the tranny and rear axle. These are the common issues I hear about on the Dmax trucks. Also watch the front axle loading. Its torsion bar unlike the Ford and Dodge with a solid axle. Its only rated at something like 4,400# while the Ford is 6,000# and up.

One other though is what is the maintenance history like. With that many miles the guy used it and may be dumping it because the warranty is about up. I could be a POS he is running from????

As for maintenance its not cheap. Here is what I do to his.

Oil = Rotella 5W40 Syn 10 qts and filter $75 for parts or so. 7,500 miles
Fuel filter every 15,000 miles. $30
Air filter every 15,000 miles. $60
Tranny filter every 30,000 miles. $40
Tranny fluid change every 60,000 miles, 15 qts and about $100 for fluid.
Transfer case every 60,000 miles. 3 qts. $15
Coolant every 60,000 miles, 4 gallons Dex Cool. $50
Axles every 60,000 miles. About 3 qts each. $60

We use all synthetic stuff in it. Mobil1 and Valvoline with Rotella Syn 5W40 in the motor.

Hope this gives you some info to go by.

Chris

 

[toddbailey]

If it's well maintained should be a fine truck.

 

[jeffster]

I have an 06 2500 crew 4WD with the D/A. Owned it since new, have 86k on it now. Only thing wrong has been leaking tranny lines, driver's front hub, and really annoying DRLs that burn out somewhat regularly. Shocks are shot at this point, but no surprise there.

The only thing I would worry about with a used truck is if it has had a programmer on it. I personally have no desire to buy a truck that was beat on, and it seems like there are a lot of diesels from all 3 brands that fit into that category by guys that think all they need to do is spend a few hundred dollars and they have instant upgrades. At the very least see if you can have the dealership run a VIN check to see what the service history is. I know GM and Ford are both quick to blacklist the warranties if they see a programmer, so a VIN check would show it if that happened.

All in all though, I really like my truck. There are minor things I would love to change, but I am sure I could find fault with almost any vehicle.

 

[tcartwri]

Our 07 will go through bouts of excessive oil consumption. No reason for this has ever been found. The dealer reflashed the computer as part of an emmisions recall, and I swear he took 100 HP out of it. Other than that, it has been great. It does not have the allison though.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Our 07 will go through bouts of excessive oil consumption. No reason for this has ever been found. The dealer reflashed the computer as part of an emmisions recall, and I swear he took 100 HP out of it. Other than that, it has been great. It does not have the allison though.

I thought all the 07's had the Allison if equipped with the Dmax? I am guessing you have a Auto because there were not many manuals made that year and I believe the only way to get a manual tranny in 07 was to get a Cab & Chassis model. Maybe I am wrong here????

Chris

 

[Beltzington]

My 2006 2500HD D/A FWD has 75k on it and other than oil and filters no issues. This is my first diesel and I have to say the pulling power is awesome. Hooked to 8,000lbs of trailer the performance brings a smile to your face. Neat features like 6-speed tranny and the towing mode which uses the engine compression for braking are very handy. Empty, the ride will let you know you are driving a truck and parking the CC is a pain. Overall I am pleased with the vehicle.

 

[dgleason]

I've had a 06 Dmax crew cab 2500HD for 3-4 years now. It has been a great truck. I use it mainly for pulling an rv and an alpaca trailer. EGR valve and emmission reflash done under warranty at about 45K. Other than that, no problems or leaks. Have about 63K on it now. First diesel I've ever owned and will not tow with gas again. Suspension is pretty stiff and bounces around a bit on rough roads. The Dmax is quiet once you're up to highway speeds.

Get about 12.3 mpg towing the rv, 15ish around home and close to 20 on the highway.

I've kept it completely stock, no reason to change anything.

Best part of all, the xm radio has worked since day one and hasn't cost me a cent. Don't know if the original owner paid for a lifetime membership or what, and I'm afraid to ask.

 

[tcartwri]

I thought all the 07's had the Allison if equipped with the Dmax? I am guessing you have a Auto because there were not many manuals made that year and I believe the only way to get a manual tranny in 07 was to get a Cab & Chassis model. Maybe I am wrong here????

Chris

its a 3500 cube van.

 

[dntfxr]

I have a 07 2500cc 4x4 that I bought new. Has 105000 on the odo, has been a great truck. It's had an Edge w attitude programmer on it running tow tune since 20000 miles. I run 33" tires and get 11.5 towing my 31' 5er, and for the life of the truck including towing, idling and city/highway it averages 18.1. Been a great truck, and I'm keeping it for a few hundred thousand more miles. The 06, 07 Classic were the ones to have.