Duramax VS 8.1L

SSSilverado23 · August 16, 2012

I just got approved for a loan today to buy a new truck! Im tossed over the decision to get either a duramax or an 8.1L. I want a 2500HD no matter what. This decision isnt completely based off towing at all but more of just that its what i want and i want bigger truck. I do tow but not really heavy loads. This purchase will make this truck my everyday DD/all around truck. I will use it for long trips and just running around. Which should i get? Is the 8.1 a reliable well built engine?

Im looking at a 2006 8.1 Silverado right now and a 2005 sierra Duramax. the Sierra is more money of course because its a diesel. If its not about money, towing or anything like that what would be the better decision? What would be the better all around truck for someone like me? Thanks!

Mckenzie · August 16, 2012

8.1--> Its not gonna get as good mpg as the dmax but it will pull dam near anything you put behind it. Maintaince will be cheaper on it since its a gas engine. There's not as many engine mod's out there for the 8.1 as opposed to the dmax

Dmax--> It's a diesel so its gonna cost more to get an maintain. However it will tow much better due to the ass ton of torque it makes and in turn it will get a pretty good mpg while towing. There is an endless amounts of mods one can do to a dmax (tuner,exhaust, cai, turbo upgrade...the list goes on). And with the dmax its expected engine life is much longer than the 8.1 gasser

If it was me i would get the Duramax because it will pull anything you put behind it, it will get 18-19 mpg for when you travel, and it will last forever, plus it holds its resale value really good

yukon25008.1 · August 16, 2012

I,love,my,8.1,and,wouldnt,change,

I,did,a,raylar,cam,and,blackbear,tune,and,the,truck,is,amazing,...

smash,the,gas,and,you,feel,like,ur,in,a,camaro,or,mustang,.

Im,getting,the,stainless.works.long.tubes,in,sept,which,will,add,another,30-35,hp...Ill,be,near430,HP,If,i,do,raylars,alum,heads,ill,be,at,500,horse!

This,is,my,third,8.1,truck,and,i,love,EM...

BIG,BLOCK,CHEVY!!!.

SouthCo · August 16, 2012

Duramax will out tow and get better gas mileage than the 8.1

As noted by GrapeSoda, 8.1 will probably be cheaper to maintain the motor, but otherwise your looking at nearly 7-8 year old trucks so other items on both may start costing you.

SSSilverado23 · August 17, 2012

Thanks for the replies guys. More info and opinions are appreciated.

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Diesail · August 17, 2012

What do you tow or haul? Perhaps you should look at a 1500. And I am not trying to be a smart ass, just coming from a guy that has a 2500 duramax as a daily driver. About half my mileage is towing and for me it makes sense to have a single vehicle, so it is my daily but there are times I wish it was smaller.

ATMINF · August 17, 2012

The big block will tow as well as a D-Max. As for last longer, i would say that is a toss up. Back in the day maybe, but todays chevy gas motors will last a long long long time. I actually have not heard of a gasser motor wearing out. Hell on my 1995 Camaro Z28 that I put a supercharger on at about 20,000 miles was still within factory new specs at 114,000 miles when I was rebuilding the motor(the FMU went bad and caused a lean condition and cracked #1 ringlands). So when I rebuilt the motor all I had to do was hone the cylinder bores, and put the motor back together. So for both a DMax or Big block after a long time the other stuff will go bad at the same time,(water pump, alternator, etc...)

So long story short find the one you like the most, understand the good and bad of each, and enjoy. Good luck.

scooby5121 · August 17, 2012

What years are the duramax injectors bad.... I know they cost over 6000 bucks to replace..

No warranty, so I would go gas

Scooby

SSSilverado23 · August 17, 2012

What years are the duramax injectors bad.... I know they cost over 6000 bucks to replace..
No warranty, so I would go gas

Scooby

Ya I'd like to know this as Well.

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KMGZ400 · August 17, 2012

its all really personal preference, if your not towing anything heavy then the 8.1 and 6.6 are not really practical engines because on gets shitty MPG, one takes really expensive gas, the Dmax is expensive to maintain. nothing wrong with a 6.0 2500 either. if you feel like throwing money away on gas when you dont need to, then these trucks will be good for you.

anyway i would get the duramax over the 8.1. a lot of 8.1's have an oil consuption issue and they are gas hogs. and the duramax drives awesome too.

Mckenzie · August 17, 2012

What years are the duramax injectors bad.... I know they cost over 6000 bucks to replace..
No warranty, so I would go gas

Scooby

Ya I'd like to know this as Well.

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I believe it was the LB7 dmax motors that were to diffcult to replace the injectors. The LLY is where they made it easier to replace injectors, that should be mid 2004 and latter

SSSilverado23 · August 17, 2012

its all really personal preference, if your not towing anything heavy then the 8.1 and 6.6 are not really practical engines because on gets shitty MPG, one takes really expensive gas, the Dmax is expensive to maintain. nothing wrong with a 6.0 2500 either. if you feel like throwing money away on gas when you dont need to, then these trucks will be good for you.

anyway i would get the duramax over the 8.1. a lot of 8.1's have an oil consuption issue and they are gas hogs. and the duramax drives awesome too.

Can a guy want a bigger badder truck just to want it? I know it's not gonna be efficient or as comfortable and all that stuff. I own a very nice 1500 but I just want something different with all the capabilities that a 2500 has to offer just in case. Like I said I like to travel. I'm slowly working my way up. Eventually I'm gonna want a very large enclosed trailer or a toy hauler. Gas money for a daily driver isn't an issue with me because I work across the street from my house. I don't have to drive much on a regular basis. I want a truck that has more balls then my 5.3 and can handle whatever I throw at it. Also want a crew cab instead of my extended. That drives me nuts and eventually I'm sure the wife is gonna make me have kids Lol. Maybe I am just being stupid and want to swing a longer dick to show off cause my 1500 can handle What I do right now. But it's a want thing and gas isn't an issue when I don't drive much daily.

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Mckenzie · August 17, 2012

its all really personal preference, if your not towing anything heavy then the 8.1 and 6.6 are not really practical engines because on gets shitty MPG, one takes really expensive gas, the Dmax is expensive to maintain. nothing wrong with a 6.0 2500 either. if you feel like throwing money away on gas when you dont need to, then these trucks will be good for you.

anyway i would get the duramax over the 8.1. a lot of 8.1's have an oil consuption issue and they are gas hogs. and the duramax drives awesome too.

Can a guy want a bigger badder truck just to want it? I know it's not gonna be efficient or as comfortable and all that stuff. I own a very nice 1500 but I just want something different with all the capabilities that a 2500 has to offer just in case. Like I said I like to travel. I'm slowly working my way up. Eventually I'm gonna want a very large enclosed trailer or a toy hauler. Gas money for a daily driver isn't an issue with me because I work across the street from my house. I don't have to drive much on a regular basis. I want a truck that has more balls then my 5.3 and can handle whatever I throw at it. Also want a crew cab instead of my extended. That drives me nuts and eventually I'm sure the wife is gonna make me have kids Lol. Maybe I am just being stupid and want to swing a longer dick to show off cause my 1500 can handle What I do right now. But it's a want thing and gas isn't an issue when I don't drive much daily.

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Get the DMAX then nothing says badass like an EFI tuned straight piped dmax rolling some coal and leaving a nice burnout mark down your street

SSSilverado23 · August 17, 2012

SSSilverado23, on 17 August 2012 - 09:53 AM, said:

Can a guy want a bigger badder truck just to want it? I know it's not gonna be efficient or as comfortable and all that stuff. I own a very nice 1500 but I just want something different with all the capabilities that a 2500 has to offer just in case. Like I said I like to travel. I'm slowly working my way up. Eventually I'm gonna want a very large enclosed trailer or a toy hauler. Gas money for a daily driver isn't an issue with me because I work across the street from my house. I don't have to drive much on a regular basis. I want a truck that has more balls then my 5.3 and can handle whatever I throw at it. Also want a crew cab instead of my extended. That drives me nuts and eventually I'm sure the wife is gonna make me have kids Lol. Maybe I am just being stupid and want to swing a longer dick to show off cause my 1500 can handle What I do right now. But it's a want thing and gas isn't an issue when I don't drive much daily.

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Get the DMAX then nothing says badass like an EFI tuned straight piped dmax rolling some coal and leaving a nice burnout mark down your streetIt's just like my 778 Turbo raptor ATV pushing 4 times the hp then it would stock. Is it the most efficient, reliable ATV? Probly not. but does it make me smile everyone I look at it or ride it, hells Yes it does. My vehicle and my toys are my babies. They are all I have now that I'm married

and I'm lucky because I don't drive everyday. 2 times a week is all I ever really drive. So gas and all that just isn't the issue. Sent From Samsung Galaxy S3

SSSilverado23 · August 17, 2012

And last time I pulled my trailer and quads with my 1500 it just seemed under powered and I'm afraid I'm gonna wear it out. And nothing is more annoying then hard downshifts everytime a small grade comes. Why have to stress about that when I can just get a new truck to solve it.

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