6.2L gas versus 6.6L Duramax

[Prokopchuk_9]

I remote start my truck from in the house while I'm getting my socks and shoes on. If I'm wearing flip flops (which I usually do during the summer/spring) I just make sure the truck has dropped down out of elevated idle before I take off. I just take it easy for the first 5 minutes or so until it gets up to operating temp. I let the truck idle for a minute or so before I shut it down to go in somewhere so the turbo can cool off. I've been told by the dealer I don't even need to wait that long, but I do just to be safe.

 

I drive aggressively in both my trucks, I'll regularly do 80+ on the highway (don't tell anyone) and the fuel mileage isn't that much better in the Duramax than my 6.2. I don't tow heavy all that often, usually just an 18' 10,000 # GVWR open trailer I use to haul landscaping equipment. My 1500 could tow it, but the HD does it so much better and I feel a lot more confident in it. I also tow a CTL or Mini-excavator every once in a while, but I have other trucks I could use for that. I really have my Duramax just because I want it, not because "i need it". I like the way it sounds, well except for the squeaky brakes. It rides noticeably rougher than my 1500 and of course the cab is a lot noisier, but that's comparing a GMT-900 to a K2XX, so it's not really fair. My Duramax and my High Country were about the same price, but my Duramax has a lot fewer options.

When or if you keep it long enough for the warranty to expire, haul that junker DEF/EGR system off and get a good tune and you'll get 4-5 mpg more...

 

 

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[AgDoctor]

I was in a similar situation with pretty much the same choices. I ultimately chose the diesel for a number of reasons. First reason was tax related. I can write off 100% of truck cost(own business), vs 25% otherwise, as long as it has 6.5 ft bed and 9200# GVW. With this a 6.2 with the big bed does barely slip in to those specs, but as low as the 1500s sit vs 2500s, I didn't want to deal with that, and I wanted 6.5 ft bed anyway. Also I carry daily an ATV for work which weighs an easy 800 lbs. I was having to run airbags on half tons and that got irritating when bags started leaking and compressor went out once/ plus cost of this setup. I travel 30-40,000 miles per year in muddy and harsh conditions. I pull a tractor often for doing trial/plot work. I idle a lot, pretty much cranks in the morning and runs all day.

 

The maintenance is higher. As with all new GM trucks I did get 24,000 miles or 24 months service/oil changes. Just changed fuel filter at18,000 miles, and although computer said it was at 60% I had them change it...$100 for it and labor. It does hold 10 qts oil but I run the oil 6-7,000 miles and still have 15%-20% on oil life monitor. DEF gets irritating mostly because of my idling it will use more. I pretty much get about 4,000 miles on a tank of it. I do get nice mileage, 21-22 unloaded with 33 inch Goodyear Duratracs, and when loaded it depends what I am hauling. I can tell you that when hauling something on a diesel, that you, not just the truck can drive a lot easier. I mean that you don't have to sit there and push the truck up hills and listen to constant trans shifts and noise. With the diesel i have yet to have mine fall out of overdrive on a hill or otherwise. I haven't hauled over 12,000 pounds yet though, have only had the truck for about 9 months.

 

The 2500 weighs more and has heavier suspension, so it rides rougher; I am speaking on a 14 classic so I realize the new ones may ride a little better, although I am unsure how as they have the same chassis. The diesel is like $12,000 higher, but when you do trade or resale that entrance/tuition cost will be given back and then some, to a point. The 2500s, as long as you don't start chipping and piping and cutting emissions systems out of them, will hold their value very well. I would have loved to wait on the new body but I had to make a purchase by Dec 31, 2013 for business reasons. Just some wisdom/idiocracy I thought that I would share.

[avalonandl]

I bought the diesel because I tow a boat at 10,800 lbs. Also I keep my trucks 10 yrs and I will probably have a bigger boat at some point.

 

Avalon

[2018GMC]

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...

True. You will get back most if not all of the 8-10k initial cost of the diesel option when reselling.

[2018GMC]

When or if you keep it long enough for the warranty to expire, haul that junker DEF/EGR system off and get a good tune and you'll get 4-5 mpg more...

 

 

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+ Tuning a diesel frees up at least double or triple the amount of hp an tq tuning a gas engine.

[Prokopchuk_9]

 

+ Tuning a diesel frees up at least double or triple the amount of hp an tq tuning a gas engine.

Lmm/lbz will hit 530 hp 9xx ft-lbs with deletes and tuner only on a dyno no problem. About $600-$700 in mods. That's over 200hp increase with a tune.

[bobjonah]

The Duramax makes 765 ft lb of torque at 1600 RPM - that means you are towing in 6th gear at highway speed.

 

The 6.2 gas makes 465 ft lbs of torque at 4200 RPM - that means you are towing in 3rd or maybe 4th gear at highway speed, sucking gas like a drunkard and burning up your rings.

 

Its a no brainer - the duramax was born to haul

 

IMHO Bob Jonah

[Amiodynski]

I've had my 2500 Duramax for 3 weeks now and put 1100 miles on it already. My normal commute to work is 26 miles one way. I remote start my truck every morning and let it run for 20 minutes ( remote start it twice ) before Ieven get in it. ( I like it warm inside ) 20 of those miles are highway where I try to keep it around 74 mph. The other 6 miles are streets. All that said, I am still showing an average of 15.7 mpg on the display. I know in the colder weather and being a brand new truck, the mileage is going to be on the low end, but I can't say I'm dissapointed by any means. I'm driving a Crew Cab 8ft bed 4wd. They call it a Freight Train at work because it's so damn long. I'm hoping in the warmer months not having it run for 20 minutes every morning and being "broken" in will get me around 20-21 mpg.

[Griffin28]

I have the 3rd Duramax that was built in 2001 and it's still running everyday as a service truck with 350,000 miles. Also have a 04,05,07,08,12,14 and picking up a new 2015,tomorrow. Yeah I missed 06 because I had a brain fart and bought a Ford that didn't last 25,000 miles!!! Don't even think about the 6.2 if your going to be pulling loads ( just my opinion). #1 Duramax has engine brakes that saves money. #2 Duramax has a Allison trans that's not only proven, but has a screw on filter that you change every service .#3 More torque and HP so you can pull hills better. Yes, it will cost you more to buy and service. BUT, I only service mine every 7500 miles were gas services every 3000 so you can cut the cost in half. All of mine pull 35' trailers with 16-20,000 pounds on them, but 3 and their service trucks. Only 2 have ever had to have warranty work. 2001 had a fuel problem when it was new and 2014 had a o-ring on 3rd gear go out.

Fuel mileage has gone down on them over the years.The 01 will get in the mid 20's with a gross weight of 11,000 pounds and the 14 will get around 16-17 empty, 11-14 pulling a empty 35' gooseneck trailer and 9-11 with 16-20,000 pounds, grossing around 30,000 pounds

And for all the guy's that can buy these Duramax for $3-4,000 more than gas ( buy them and send south), I go to auctions weekly in the south east and 2500's are around $6,500 to 7,500 more. And gas 3500's with over 80-100,000 miles you can't give away..

[Cowpie]

 

+ Tuning a diesel frees up at least double or triple the amount of hp an tq tuning a gas engine.

 

Depends on the build. When the folks that design engines put their minds to it, they can do some interesting things. Take Ricardo, a engine designer that has worked with GM in the past. They took the GM 3.2L V6, beefed up the guts, gave it the Extreme Boosted Direct Injection treatment, stuffed it in a few 3500HD pickups, and it put out hp and torque numbers equal to the 6.6L Dmax, and did it on E85. Even fuel economy is comparable to the Dmax diesel. Really surprised GM hasn't picked up on this engine and used it in, say, the 1500 or even 2500. And unlike the Dmax, it only needs the same emissions stuff that is on any other gasser engine running around. None of that goofy SCR/DPF stuff. And given that E85 is typically half the cost or less than diesel, seems like a no brainer to me.

 

Cummins has built a 2.8L inline 4 cylinder, again running E85, that outperforms just about any small block running around in terms of HP, Torque, and fuel economy. Now, that one is going into some commercial vans soon.