6.0 vs Dmax General Performance

Chevor · August 13, 2015

700k LML

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/155-site-information/158-introductions-new-trucks/652522-what-700k-miles-2011-a-5.html

Cowpie · August 13, 2015

It can't handle any water, and ULSD is notorious for water contamination. Makes sense.

KMK454 · August 27, 2015

Funny thread... silly how against each other the two camps are. Let's see:

Diesel owners - 6.0 is weak, old, and outdated; never would consider it; diesel gets better MPG; more capability; faster; allison transmission; why buy an HD that isn't diesel; etc.

6.0 owners - saved $7k on price of truck; engine more than capable; still fun to drive; modern diesel and emissions too complex and unreliable out of warranty; no ugly DEF tank; price of gas may offset diesel MPG (varies by diesel price and location); etc.

Here's the reality - both engines are incredibly capable. Study the specs and buy what you need and/or want within your price range. I don't mind if a diesel guy thinks my 6.0 is awful, and I'm not going to waste my time counter-arguing to him why it is a good engine. I love my 2500 6.0.

Hockeylover86 · August 28, 2015

If you can wait for a new truck until the '17 MY, there will be a new DMAX and possibly new gasser.

Cowpie · August 29, 2015

Unlike some, I am not one to anticipate new motors. I have not been impressed for a long, long time with everything new that comes out. Until something has proven itself with a solid track record of reliability, durability, etc, I really have no interest. One of the reasons I got my 2015 2500 6.0. It meets that criteria and I didn't want to risk that GM would screw things up. I do hope that any new motors are the best yet, but I have been around long enough to know, that is usually the exception rather than the rule. I will not regret one bit that I already bought this 2500 and didn't wait for something new. Each person is different. When the day comes that I need another pickup, then the "new" motors will have had time to get the bugs worked out and we'll see if it stands the test of time. I prefer to let others be the guinea pig.

Hockeylover86 · August 30, 2015

Unlike some, I am not one to anticipate new motors. I have not been impressed for a long, long time with everything new that comes out. Until something has proven itself with a solid track record of reliability, durability, etc, I really have no interest. One of the reasons I got my 2015 2500 6.0. It meets that criteria and I didn't want to risk that GM would screw things up. I do hope that any new motors are the best yet, but I have been around long enough to know, that is usually the exception rather than the rule. I will not regret one bit that I already bought this 2500 and didn't wait for something new. Each person is different. When the day comes that I need another pickup, then the "new" motors will have had time to get the bugs worked out and we'll see if it stands the test of time. I prefer to let others be the guinea pig.

I agree with you, but everything needs a beginning.

There will be enough buyers to shake out the bugs in the new models.

For everyone that has the 6.0, a question for you. If a HD version of the 6.2 (420hp/450ft/lbs) was available when you bought your truck, how many of you would still have gotten the 6.0?

If that 6.2 (HD version) were to become available I would consider selling my 07 and getting a gasser.

Hockeylover86 · August 30, 2015

Funny thread... silly how against each other the two camps are. Let's see:

Diesel owners - 6.0 is weak, old, and outdated; never would consider it; diesel gets better MPG; more capability; faster; allison transmission; why buy an HD that isn't diesel; etc.

6.0 owners - saved $7k on price of truck; engine more than capable; still fun to drive; modern diesel and emissions too complex and unreliable out of warranty; no ugly DEF tank; price of gas may offset diesel MPG (varies by diesel price and location); etc.

Here's the reality - both engines are incredibly capable. Study the specs and buy what you need and/or want within your price range. I don't mind if a diesel guy thinks my 6.0 is awful, and I'm not going to waste my time counter-arguing to him why it is a good engine. I love my 2500 6.0.

Everything you said is true, and it boils down to what each individual wants or needs, thats why there are choices!

Cowpie · August 30, 2015

All depends. If it is the same 6.2L that goes in the 1500 now, then I would still get the 6.0L, or not buy the 2500 at all. Three reasons, though there are more......

1) Premium only. No way I want stuck on one grade of fuel and also not having flex fuel capability. I am using E85 in my 2015 2500 6.0L now, and though it is getting 2 mpg lower than with regular, it also is also 2 cents a mile cheaper to operate using E85. Even with the lower mpg. Great fuel that offers a lot of pep. As fuel prices fluctuate seasonally, I can change to different gas/ethanol blends to keep fuel cost per mile as low as possible. If we run into one of those wild fuel price games we had a few years ago, I don't want to be stuck on premium only and pay $5-6 a gallon for it.

2) AFM. I have never liked the cylinder shut down stuff. There is quite enough anecdotal evidence of issues with that. I have seen enough TSB's and owners that have had to jump thru all kinds of hoops over excessive oil consumption that has been directly related to AFM. No thanks. I am an old Army Cavalry Sergeant.... everyone packs the gear, no one slacks off. I don't want cylinders in my motor taking OEM, Union, or Government sponsored smoke breaks while the other cylinders are having to move the vehicle. And I have not seen any rock solid, real world evidence that AFM offers any appreciable mpg improvement. Definitely not appreciable enough to justify the potential mechanical problems.

3) no definitive fuel economy gain by using 6.2L over 6.0L. Sure, many with the 6.2L in the 1500 are getting better mpg, on average, than those of us with 6.0L in the 2500, but they are also moving around a LOT less weight. When I see some serious mpg testing with a 1500 carrying around a 1000 pounds or more so that it simulates an empty 2500, and can prove my belief wrong, I am not convinced the mpg will be any better. At least not enough, again, to justify premium. Being on premium only, I am convinced that the actual cost per mile to operate a 2500 with a 6.2L would be more. Why would I want to pay more for a gasser to move my pickup? I might as well move on to diesel if I need more power than the 6.0L can deliver.

Hockeylover86 · August 30, 2015

I would hope they would never carry over AFM to the HD's, really no reason to.

I have been waiting for the right gasser HD to come along that would make me sell my low mile LBZ classic, and it just hasn't yet.

Too bad because I really like the comfort/features of the new trucks...

SMiller · August 31, 2015

I would hope they would never carry over AFM to the HD's, really no reason to.

I have been waiting for the right gasser HD to come along that would make me sell my low mile LBZ classic, and it just hasn't yet.

Too bad because I really like the comfort/features of the new trucks...

Ram HD trucks have AFM, it will be in the new HD motor.

I could care less as I will tune the truck day one and have AFM turned off.

KMK454 · August 31, 2015

I'd always opt for a better engine if I can afford it, but the 6.2 as is for the 1500 is not necessarily better for the 2500. I would get rid of AFM and replace it with either start/stop technology or only AFM at idle (stoplights, standing in parking lot, etc). Pickuptrucks.com's comparison of the gassers didn't show any sort of mileage advantage for the Ram 2500 with its AFM; I imagine the 6.2 from GM would rarely, if ever, find itself in 4 cylinder mode while on the go simply due to the fact that a typically 2500 is about 1000 pounds+ heavier than the equivalent 1500.

SMiller · August 31, 2015

I'd always opt for a better engine if I can afford it, but the 6.2 as is for the 1500 is not necessarily better for the 2500. I would get rid of AFM and replace it with either start/stop technology or only AFM at idle (stoplights, standing in parking lot, etc). Pickuptrucks.com's comparison of the gassers didn't show any sort of mileage advantage for the Ram 2500 with its AFM; I imagine the 6.2 from GM would rarely, if ever, find itself in 4 cylinder mode while on the go simply due to the fact that a typically 2500 is about 1000 pounds+ heavier than the equivalent 1500.

The day I am forced to buy something with start/stop technology is the day I am out, nothing worse for a motor then that!

Chevor · August 31, 2015

Traffic back ups is what comes to mind. Car won't start after light turns green.

August 31, 2015

By way of 'newbie' introduction, let me first thank the contributors to this thread for the sanity check. I purchased my first pickup this week, a '15 Chevy/HD/6.0 and chose the gas engine to a large extent based on the rationale presented herein. The 2500 is already overkill for my current requirements. But as a 'car guy', the diesel was hard to pass up...or ultimately to justify. Let me offer another angle to this debate.

In my area, most Dmax's are only offered at the LTZ+ (or WT) trim levels. Since I need seating for six and didn't feel I'd use the truck enough to warrant features (aside from leather) in the 'Z+' trim, the premium to gain the Dmax wasn't just it's package cost of $8k+, but the incremental $5k+ of adding 'Z' upgrades to a LT. Even with aggressive dealer discounts, the delta remained around $14k. In the end, I chose a well-equipped LT/6.0/Z78, etc. with cloth seats and to reward my frugality, had the dealer add Katzkin covers (stunning, by the way). The net cost savings obliterated any economic rationalization that even the 'car guy' in me could spin. I'd obviously prefer the better fuel efficiency of the Dmax but will get over it.

Hockeylover86 · August 31, 2015

I'd always opt for a better engine if I can afford it, but the 6.2 as is for the 1500 is not necessarily better for the 2500. I would get rid of AFM and replace it with either start/stop technology or only AFM at idle (stoplights, standing in parking lot, etc). Pickuptrucks.com's comparison of the gassers didn't show any sort of mileage advantage for the Ram 2500 with its AFM; I imagine the 6.2 from GM would rarely, if ever, find itself in 4 cylinder mode while on the go simply due to the fact that a typically 2500 is about 1000 pounds+ heavier than the equivalent 1500.

That's why my question said HD 6.2, I would assume GM would make the engine suitable for 2500/3500 trucks (iron block, no AFM, etc..).

Maybe a modern version of the 8.1 would fit the bill to bridge the gap between gas and diesel.? It would probably be too thirsty..

Back on topic of the OP, for driving the truck around unloaded I think the 6.0 and Dmax would feel pretty similar performance-wise.

Load them up, tow more than a couple thousand pounds, or tune the Dmax, and the difference in performance would be much greater.