6.2L gas versus 6.6L Duramax

[wickedone]

So I'm considering purchasing a new Sierra. I'm torn between the new 6.2L gas engine with the max trailering package versus the Duramax 6.6L.

 

I know everyone talks about the better mileage of the Duramax, but I've never seen any real world figures comparing the 6.2L gas engine and the 6.6L Duramax.

 

So the 6.2L gas engine is EPA rated at 14 MPG city and 20 highway - but no tow rating obviously. I read an article about the Duramax stating that it averaged @ 17 MPG combined - but I don't recall whether that included any heavy towing.

 

I currently have a 2011 Sierra with the 5.3L engine. When I towed my boat from Portland to central Oregon (including a lot of mountain towing) I was getting about 9-10 MPG on the DIC. The 2011 doesn't have the max trailering package.

 

My only prior reservation about the diesel - other than price was the ride quality. In fact I wasn't even considering the 2500HD.

 

I test drove a 2011 2500HD and just didn't care for the way it "felt" - much heavier (which makes sense) but also much harsher ride.

 

Yesterday, I test drove the new 2015 2500HD with the Duramax and was really impressed with how much better it feels/rides - not at all like the 2011 HD I previously drove - dramatically quieter, not nearly as "heavy" feeling, and much much better ride quality.

 

I don't do a ton of towing, although I am considering purchasing an Airstream, which has a max weight of @ 7,300# (my boat is @ 4,200#).

 

So I guess my question is what kind of city and highway mileage does the 2500HD Duramax get both with and without a load - I know the size of the load would impact the mileage, but any inforamtion is better than none.

 

I assume the 6.2L would probably be in the 9-10 MPG range towing.

 

My next door neighbor just traded his 2014 F250 w/6.2L gas engine for a 2015 F350 diesel solely because of the terrible gas mileage towing with the 6.2L (said it was @ 6-7 MPG - but then that was towing a 12,000+# monster fifth wheel). I rode in his 6.2L gas 250 while towing that monster and the engine sounded as though it was going to explode going up the relatively minor hills here in central Oregon - @ 1,000' elevation gain max. Not to mention the gas engine couldn't maintain anywhere near the 55 MPH speed limit.

 

So I'm looking for any thoughts about the Duramax versus the 6.2L gas engine for my general use.

 

I have to reiterate that I was really impressed by the Duramax yesterday - I dare say blindfolded you wouldn't be able to tell you were in a diesel truck - not even the engine sounds much like the 2011 diesel I drove - it was so quiet).

 

I can get a 2014 Sierra 1500 crew cab tricked out with the 6.2L for @ $48,000 that has everything I want including buckets, sunroof, Bose, sliding rear window, nav, 4X4 standard box, max trailering package, etc.

 

Compared to @ $60K for a similar 2500HD the $12K difference is pretty substantial.

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated . . . . .

[j-ten-ner]

I don't drive a 1500 6.2 or a 2500 Duramax.

But if I wouldn't have to worry about 12 G's and had plans to tow a 7000-ish lbs trailer on a regular basis I'd go ith the 2500 Duramax.

 

so long

j-ten-ner

[galliher_nc]

My 6.2 gets just under 16 MPG. My Duramax gets just over 16 MPG. That's according to the DIC, not hand calculated.

[r1byker]

My choice was a Duramax and I haven't regretted it one bit. I can get 22 mpg on level ground at 60 mph; just did it today. It drops to about 18.5 going 75. Trailering, I get 14 or 15 mpg at 65 pulling a box trailer that has a lot of wind resistance. Mine's a 2010; I imagine the new ones would do better with more power and a (numerically) lower rear axle ratio.

[Silverado4x4]

Put it this way 12 grand can buy you a hell of a lot of gas for the difference in fuel mileage between the 2 as the Diesel may get 4 mpg better towing only. You also have to think of the maintenance of the Diesel are a lot more then a gas and Diesel fuel is more expensive then gas so the difference in fuel cost is almost a wash versus in the little better fuel mpg the Diesel gets when towing.

[wickedone]

Thanks for the replies.

 

I've considered the amount of gas that $12 G's can buy as a plus in favor of the 6.2L. However, I haven't heard a lot about the difference in maintenance costs for the Duramax. (I know the F250 has a pretty bad rap for Diesel maintenance costs - two guys I know who had F250's for a number of years eventually got rid of them specifically for that reason. One of the sites that rated diesel 3/4 tons lowered their rating of the F250 - below the GM and Ram specifically for that reason. I haven't heard anything about the Duramax maintenance costs, though.

 

I still want to take the 6.2L out for a test drive, but that is problematic since no one (within a reasonable driving distance of @ 100-150 miles) seems to have them. The dealer I went to last week said they had two on their lot - one a 1500 Denali, but then they couldn't find the keys - then found out they had sold it the day before. (One of the salesman said they had to place a restriction on that Denali because they had gotten requests from five other dealers who wanted to trade for it. I think the constrained supply of the 6.2L is really hurting GM and Chevy with regard to sales. They announced its availability on the Sierra's a year and a half ago and it's still in short supply.) This dealer's system also said they had a Chevy with the 6.2L, but no one could find it on the lot!

 

The closest dealer I've found with a 6.2L and max trailering package is in the Seattle area 350 miles away. To be honest, I'd also rather have the 2014 6.2L with the six speed than the 2015 with the "new" 8 speed.

[Zebrafive]

$12K more is enough for me to forget the Duramax.

I had the same struggle (only buying used) I do not tow enough to justify a diesel. I make plenty of short trips I felt would be harder on a diesel than gas. Hard to believe a 3/4ton rides as well as 1/2 ton.

Initial cost; gas $48K, diesel $60K Advantage gas

Fuel; 6.2 requires premium, diesel cost a little more, but gets a little more mpg. Tie

Oil changes diesel holds more oil. Advantage gas

Battery replacement; gas one, diesel two, Advantage gas.

Tire replacement: unsure if much difference? Tie

Emissions; AFM in gas, DEF,DPF, regeneration/soot burn off diesel. Tie

Strictly looking at cost go gas. If you have the need for a diesel buy one.

I bought a 6.2L gas truck. I was able to buy one with less miles, several years newer for less $$$ than a diesel. Decision was hard for me since I never had a diesel and "just wanted" one, but did not really "need" one.

[JaronM3]

I love my Duramax. I was in the same predictament as you are. I wanted the 6.2, but the fact is; that engine is rare and hard to attain. I got tired of waiting. MPG is about the same as the Duramax, but you get better towing with the duramax. I got tired of waiting for my truck to get built. So I pulled the trigger on the Duramax. I average about 15 mpg city driving without a load. I drive my truck like its a sports car. I recommend the diesel because better towing and resale value.

[JaronM3]

$12K more is enough for me to forget the Duramax.

I had the same struggle (only buying used) I do not tow enough to justify a diesel. I make plenty of short trips I felt would be harder on a diesel than gas. Hard to believe a 3/4ton rides as well as 1/2 ton.

Initial cost; gas $48K, diesel $60K Advantage gas

Fuel; 6.2 requires premium, diesel cost a little more, but gets a little more mpg. Tie

Oil changes diesel holds more oil. Advantage gas

Battery replacement; gas one, diesel two, Advantage gas.

Tire replacement: unsure if much difference? Tie

Emissions; AFM in gas, DEF,DPF, regeneration/soot burn off diesel. Tie

Strictly looking at cost go gas. If you have the need for a diesel buy one.

I bought a 6.2L gas truck. I was able to buy one with less miles, several years newer for less $$$ than a diesel. Decision was hard for me since I never had a diesel and "just wanted" one, but did not really "need" one.

 

Need, lol. You don't need the 6.2.

[Zebrafive]

 

Need, lol. You don't need the 6.2.

You are correct, I don't need the 6.2, I just don't need the 6.6 more.

[AZ CWO]

I've had a 2003, 2007, 2009, 2012, and now for three weeks a 2015 Duramax. All I can say is they do keep getting better. The diesel probably will cost a it more to operate in the long run. Years ago, when I was contemplating the same question you are, my mechanic gave me the brief history lesson of the Duramax engine. As he pointed out then, these engines are built under a joint venture with Izuzu Ltd. That partnership started in Moraine, Ohio, and continues to this day. I had heard of the woes of Ford owners, and let's face it the Cummins in a Dodge will outrun most anything, including the frame and chassis of the truck it is installed in. As my friend told me back then, "how many Budget rental truck do you see broke down on the side of the road?" Not that many. Fuel tends to be more expensive, you have to fill the DEF tank every 6,000 - 7,000 miles, and it does hold more oil. This new truck is the quietest one I have ever driven. The redesign has brought way more storage in the cab ( LTZ), more rear seat legroom, and the best center console of all of the past units.

 

If you are planning on towing, and I mean towing up and down hills, then the diesel is the way to go. Pulling a grade with one is amazing, half the time you don't feel you have a load behind you. Coming downhill is equally pleasant, with the selectable engine brake, it takes the load off the wheel and trailer brakes. For us towing equipment, for work there is no other choice.

 

Why have I gone thru so many over the years? They are used in a construction company, and get cycled out on mileage vs trade in value. The 2003 I sold to a friend at 125,000 miles; they've put injectors in it; it now has close to 300,000. My plan is to run this 2015 for 4-5 years, if I can keep the mileage down, once they get 80k - 90k they leave the fleet, as they can still be financed by the dealer.

 

Good luck

[Prokopchuk_9]

All this argument about the extra 12 grand, you'll get a much higher trade in value or selling price when it comes time to get something new. Take any 3/4 ton gas job and compare to a similar equipped diesel same year same mileage. The diesel is almost always worth 10 grand more..

 

Just sayin...

[Prokopchuk_9]

It basically comes down to how much you are willing to spend... 6.2 is a beast too man. If you're not towing very much weight, might be the way to go...7,300 doesn't sound like much. Load that sucker up with all the families shit, and load the truck all up for a weekend suddenly that 7,200 turns into 10,000 pretty quickly. You will know you're driving a half ton if this ever happens...

[Silverado4x4]

All this argument about the extra 12 grand, you'll get a much higher trade in value or selling price when it comes time to get something new. Take any 3/4 ton gas job and compare to a similar equipped diesel same year same mileage. The diesel is almost always worth 10 grand more..

 

Just sayin...

10 grand more on a trade in with a Diesel instead of a gas 6.0, NO WAY your looking at 3-4 grand max on the same truck same mileage with the Diesel instead of the gas.

[Prokopchuk_9]

10 grand more on a trade in with a Diesel instead of a gas 6.0, NO WAY your looking at 3-4 grand max on the same truck same mileage with the Diesel instead of the gas.

Well...maybe in the USA. Not in Canada...look it up. Go on kijiji.ca and try urself. I'm not jokin bud [emoji106]