GM 6.6L Duramax Diesel

[dfeck]

I'm at a crossroads. I've been thinking about buying a 2009 2500HD with the 6.6L Duramax diesel. The dealer I'm working with has a leftover 2009 2500HD Crew Cab 6.6L SLE that stickers for $50.1K. With all rebates and incentives I can buy the truck for $38.9K. I have a 2007 Chevy Avalanche (currently 53K miles) that I purchased used last year for 26K. The real issue I have with the Avalanche is the lack of power with the 5.3L when pulling my camper and tractor. So, I left the dealer this past Saturday with them giving me 24K on a trade-in for the Avalanche and the price of the 09 for $38.9K. I really wanted 25K for my trade-in because I really wasn't 100% convinced about buying the 09 GMC 2500HD. Well this morning the dealer called and met my offer of 25K trade-in and $38.9K for the 09 GMC 2500HD. The Avalanche is the LTZ with EVERY option available from GM and the 09 GMC has basic options. For the most part, a 2500 is way over kill for my needs but when I do need it I'll have all the power I need. Love diesels so this is another reason to buy. Does anyone have the 6.6L Duramax and what do you think about it?

Doug

 

[taborekle]

Suggest you look at this:

RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Tow Vehicles

Do a search of history. Some of these guys really know their stuff.

 

[George2615]

I have an 07 Ext cab Dmax. (2nd one I've had). I originally had a 5.3 Ext cab and towing my tractor or camper the mileage dropped like a rock.
The first Dmax I had (an 05) got 20 MPG empty and 14.5 while towing 7500 lb. The one I have now (an 07) has a DPF (diesel particulate filter) and best I can do is 16 MPG empty and 12 towing.
If you go for the diesel, other than the poor mileage you'll hardly know your towing anything because the torque is almost double of a gas truck. MPG with the diesel is still better than towing with a 5.3L.
I guess going diesel depends on how much you're going to use it. I've cut back on a lot of my towing so don't really need the diesel now. My next truck will probably be gas to get my non towing mileage back up. Maybe I can buy my old 05 back.

 

[KeithT]

I have an 05 that I bought brand new. I am very happy with it, have had no problems in 71,000 miles. I tow a 33' camper regularly in the summer and I have towed a gooseneck 600 miles that was 14,000# loaded. I am very happy with the performance. On my 05 I have a turbo back exhaust (CAT gone), the EGR is blocked, and gauges. Thats it, had a programmer on it for two weeks, went back to stock to tow the above mentioned gooseneck and i have never went back to it (never felt the need for the xtra power). It sits under the back seat now.

IMO the 06-07 LBZ's are the best Dmaxs to be had. No DPF, more power than the LLY/LB7, and the beefed up allison 6-sp auto.

I wouldn't be afraid to buy an 09 though, but i would remove the DPF and program around it if you live in an area that does not test emissions.

The absolute authorities on Duramax diesels can be found at the diesel place. the wealth of information there is astounding. Read up on the 09 (LMM) there.

-Keith

 

[YesDeere]

Have an 04 2500 ext cab short bed and love it. Got a Banks six gun on it with 4" exhaust. This truck is nasty. I'm the second owner and we both beat this thing like a rented mule.(previous owner is best friend). 103000 miles and no problems. Have towed stuff I probably shouldn't have.Good truck wouldn't be scared of another one. Its an Isuzu motor by the way

 

[ronjhall]

I have a Dmax in a 2004.5 motorhome. Love the power and handling of the engine in a Medium Duty truck. The Allison tramsimission adds even more to it's towing abiltiy.
For more information on the Dmax give a look at www.dieselplace.com for more information than you can digest on these engines and trucks.

 

[bdeboer]

2008 K2500HD Crew Crab diesel pulls well, also have a 5.3L powered work truck. There is no comparison in the stability of towing with the 3/4 Ton as well as the power. The built in brake controller works great. I have seen as high as 21 mpg on straight relatively flat freeway driving. Speed will drop the mpg some, typically get in the 15 or 16 mpg range around home on the back roads. Truck has a little over 30 thousand miles now. It has only been to the dealership for two minor recalls, and occasionally smell raw diesel when it is purging the DPF mentioned above. The recalls were a programming update and the removal of carpet above the air bag module.

The only real complaint over the 2002 leather seated K2500 suburban it replaced was the lint collecting cloth in the 2008. I wanted 6 passenger truck with leather but found the chevy with 1500 miles for the right price(it had been used as an untitled loaner).

I also looked at Ford in 2008, 6.4L was too new and difficulty in replacing the fuel filter etc. Locally there were no V10 models to test drive.

I liked the Dodge with the MegaCab but only found a used truck that had been through a repo. auction for more $ than the chevy. One advantage in the Dodge was that it had 6 passenger heated leather.

 

[Zick]

I had a 07' DMax LBZ, the power that thing had was awesome compared to a 5.3.
If you think the Duramax will be overkill for you, maybe you might want to look into the new 6.2 gassers. Those are some really nice engines with extra power over your 5.3 and the price should be better too.

 

[jcmseven]

dfeck,

If you can get the diesel and do not look back, they are great towing trucks and good daily drivers for HD pickups. I also am one of the few on the forum who has had and driven both the 6.4L Ford and the 6.6L Duramax. While there are strong points to each, I have been most-happy with my current GMC. I have posted about the fuel economy in some other threads. My opinion is that fuel economy in the post-DPF era is more variable than pre-DPF, however, many trucks--including mine--that have DPF filters run great and get solid fuel economy. I personally have found my 2009 Duramax to have consistently the best economy both loaded and empty of any diesel truck I have owned. One CANNOT pay for the cost of the engine upgrade on fuel economy alone anymore, but the performance of the diesel especially when loaded quickly will make most buyers forget that they spent a lot of additional money to buy it.

John

 

[SWIMMER]

I have an '02 duramax crewcab, great engine/transmission combination. good daily driver, gets 18 mpg or so running around, drops to 15-16 depending on what I am towing.