How Many Miles Are Too Many Miles...

[Dooner]

I'm in the market to buy a USED Dmax, preferably an '07 Classic body style (Chevy/GMC) with the LBZ engine. I'd even settle for an '06, if the specs were right. Seems to me people drive these trucks non-stop, as many of the ones I'm finding have well over 100K on a 3-4 year old motor. My questions are:

 

1) About how many miles on this particular engine is about 1/2 it's life?

2) What problems/maintenance issues can I expect with a 100K+ DMAX?

 

Thanks for the replies in advance.

[jro909]

1) diesel mileage isen't too important as long as it was treated well and maintained...shit man semis roll a few million miles over before they even see retirement...my two main concerns if i was buying a used diesel would be, maintance history(so many greenhorn diesel owners treat a diesel like its a throw away car, ya know running the same fuel filter until the pump dies) and two making sure it wasen't some farm boys mod frankenstein that rans it life pegged on the speedo

 

2)refer to section answer one, maintance is key to minimum problems in the future...the dmax and ally go and go and go, the only big issue i know of with older Dirtymaxes was the injectors

[becker87]

06 and 07 both have the LBZ engine, I think that is what you were saying in your first post but just want to clarify.

[pwall]

'07 was a split year....Classic Body Style (has the LBZ) and the New Body Style (has the LMM).

[yukon25008.1]

i had an 05 sierra hd cc lb with the lly and i wasnt thrilled with that model dmax at all..never got better than 12 mpg,s and the power wasnt even compareable to a similar year powerstroke or cummins.

it still seems like guys like the original lb7 or the lmm

[mxdirtrider56]

If I were buying a used Dmax I would'nt worry about it as long as there were maintenance records. As long as it has been taken care of, 100K+ miles is nothing for those engines. Those trucks run for a long, long time if taken care of.

[markw8]

Look for one that has never been tuned.

 

Mark

[Dooner]

Look for one that has never been tuned.

 

Mark

 

See there's the key. How does one know if it's been tuned, or if it's run a programmer? I don't want any of that. Also, the reason I'm looking for an '07 Classic, is because I'm trying to stay away from all that diesel particulate filter stuff (less emmissions requirements), and I personally think the GMT900 body styling is fugly. I suppose I'd get a Carfax through a used car dealer, which might help in determining any maintenance, but if not, then???

[06_GMC]

06.5 to 07's used the LBZ with the 6 spd allison. You can also as the seller if you can take it for inspection and have them look at the ecu to see if it has had abnormal power output. I wanted an LBZ but couldn't afford it. I would stay under 150K though just so that way if it wasn't that well taken care of you can still bring it back to good standing. Good luck with your search!

[Shaners]

Keep your eyes open and be patient because there are some out there that don't have alot of miles on them... for example my '05 just turned 25k miles.

[04JJHD]

Just to give you a good example go to thedieselpage.com and look for 751,000mile duramax or google it. It is amazing the excellent shape it's in

[pwall]

I hope mine last that long.....can't afford to replace it anytime soon. ;)

[Dooner]

06.5 to 07's used the LBZ with the 6 spd allison. You can also as the seller if you can take it for inspection and have them look at the ecu to see if it has had abnormal power output. I wanted an LBZ but couldn't afford it. I would stay under 150K though just so that way if it wasn't that well taken care of you can still bring it back to good standing. Good luck with your search!

 

Some good info there, thanks! Alot of the ones I'm finding in the '06-'07 years are around the 125K range...isn't that about 1/2-1/3 it's life? I'm not crazy about spending 26-30G's on a truck that may need some major service not long after purchase. I'll keep my eyes peeled though, gotta get me a Dmax someday.

[mxdirtrider56]

06.5 to 07's used the LBZ with the 6 spd allison. You can also as the seller if you can take it for inspection and have them look at the ecu to see if it has had abnormal power output. I wanted an LBZ but couldn't afford it. I would stay under 150K though just so that way if it wasn't that well taken care of you can still bring it back to good standing. Good luck with your search!

 

Some good info there, thanks! Alot of the ones I'm finding in the '06-'07 years are around the 125K range...isn't that about 1/2-1/3 it's life? I'm not crazy about spending 26-30G's on a truck that may need some major service not long after purchase. I'll keep my eyes peeled though, gotta get me a Dmax someday.

 

 

No, a properly maintained Duramax can run many, many miles further than 250,000. Even the gas engines can run longer than that just fine.