Cost per mile: 2015 1500 5.3L / 6.2L Max Tow vs. 2015 2500HD 6.6L D-Ma

SMiller · March 4, 2015

A half ton doesn't need 7,000lbs behind it! I don't care what its rated at, it doesn't have the trans cooler or brakes to handle it.

If you can afford the upfront of the duramax you will get it back at trade so it is a wash.

If you told me you were going to keep it 100,000 miles I would say get another 6.0 HD as I don't trust the Duramax and GM is screwy about paying for fuel related issues.

Like you my 6.0 gets horrible mileage, I have tried every way to make something else pencil out and it never works.

At this point I am hanging onto my '14 HD 6.0 and waiting for a new gas motor/8-speed.

nards444 · March 4, 2015

The trans coolers and brakes are a lot different on 1500s now then they were if you look at them, 10 years ago I dont beleive a half ton even had a trans cooler. 7k for modern half tons is nothing. If all of your driving was towing, I think you would have a point. But most guys tow 5-10% of the time.

Jon A · March 4, 2015

A half ton doesn't need 7,000lbs behind it! I don't care what its rated at, it doesn't have the trans cooler or brakes to handle it.

The trans coolers and brakes on the '14+ 1500s are more than adequate for 7000 lbs. Not even close to being a worry.

Jon A · March 4, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/latest-reviews/2014-ram-1500-ecodiesel-truck-tough-won-beat-fuel-budget-article-1.1921389

Even the article claims a 6 year break even point.

Yeah, and that was with September gas prices. Re-do the math with today's prices and....

And that goes to a larger point in the big picture--paying thousands extra for any engine to get a little better mileage does not make economical sense if gas prices stay reasonable (and it looks like they should for the foreseeable future). Most unfortunately the latest mandates will have the auto companies spending insane amounts of money to squeeze even more mileage out of their vehicles to meet the new standards.

And of course they'll pass all that cost on to us when many of us would rather choose cheaper vehicles that get a few MPG less if we truly had a free market.

bert wise · March 4, 2015

I currently have my second Silverado 2500HD with the 6.0L and 3.73 gears. Its a 2013 LTZ Z71 with about 15k miles on it. I'm getting a lifetime average of 10.2 mpg in it and that just won't do anymore. Half of my miles are pulling a 7000lb. 30' travel trailer all over the country and the other miles are driving to work and shuttling kids.

Originally I decided I would order a new Silverado 1500LTZ standard crew with the 6.2L and max tow package. Now that I learned it requires premium fuel and there is a restraint on the 6.2L with max tow, I am back to square 1 so to speak. Do I go with a Silverado 1500 with the 5.3 and max tow or do I go all out and stay with a 2500HD but go with a Duramax?

My primary concern is the $/mile. I am done getting 10mpg in my current truck when I drive to work - it sucks. The new numbers on the 5.3 are almost identical to my 6.0 but the mileage is about 60% better. I assume towing mpg is a wash. There is plenty written about the mpg in the 1500s but almost nothing reliable in the 2500HDs with the Duramax.

I trade every 3 years or about 30k miles. Longevity is not my concern - simply put right now its $/mile. If the 5.3L max tow gets close to the 6.6L Duramax in mpg, then its $/mile is superior knowing both trucks can handle my camper.

So, lets hear it. What real world numbers are you getting with these trucks? I am not chipping, tuning, chopping, or any other monkey business. I am only interested in stock numbers.

Thanks,

F.W.

Iowa City, IA

Hi there

I've had my 2014 Silverado LT Crew Cab Short Box with the 5.3l and NHT (3.73) tow package for a year now. Just under 10k kms with 5,300 kms towing an 8,000lb 28' trailer from the flat prairies through the Canadian Rockies and back. My fuel consumption (converted to miles per US gallon for you folks down south) is 9.4 mpg while towing and 17.6 mpg when not towing (I live in a semi-rural, non-hilly area).

I bought the truck to tow and I am really happy with the fuel numbers I'm getting.

Hope this helps you decide.

Bert

peejaykay · March 4, 2015

Hi there

I've had my 2014 Silverado LT Crew Cab Short Box with the 5.3l and NHT (3.73) tow package for a year now. Just under 10k kms with 5,300 kms towing an 8,000lb 28' trailer from the flat prairies through the Canadian Rockies and back. My fuel consumption (converted to miles per US gallon for you folks down south) is 9.4 mpg while towing and 17.6 mpg when not towing (I live in a semi-rural, non-hilly area).

I bought the truck to tow and I am really happy with the fuel numbers I'm getting.

Hope this helps you decide.

Bert

What this guy said. As I stated before, similar experience here as well. Do it, you won't be disappointed.

Dropsix · March 4, 2015

This is funny.

If you really care about $/mile, then you should not even consider ANY truck.

Or move to whereever gas is cheapest. Houston? Or somewhere else close to where it is refined.

The difference between the 5.3 and 6.2 does not affect $/mile as much as the weekly fluctuation in fuel prices do...

What valuable insight!

nards444 · March 4, 2015

Yeah, and that was with September gas prices. Re-do the math with today's prices and....

And that goes to a larger point in the big picture--paying thousands extra for any engine to get a little better mileage does not make economical sense if gas prices stay reasonable (and it looks like they should for the foreseeable future). Most unfortunately the latest mandates will have the auto companies spending insane amounts of money to squeeze even more mileage out of their vehicles to meet the new standards.

And of course they'll pass all that cost on to us when many of us would rather choose cheaper vehicles that get a few MPG less if we truly had a free market.

Even at today gas prices, your if you save 500 bucks a year which I think is high end still nets you 6 years break even. And thats what I am saying your paying 3 grand more for something that doesnt have the performance of gas engines. Long run from cost perspective you will never save money. The truck in current form makes little sense. Now if the thing could haul 12k and or diesel was same price as gas or cheaper it would make sense. But with the cost of diesel and routine maint costing double, the current truck would have to get mid 30s mpg to make it from a cost perspective make sense.

OmahaBen · March 4, 2015

I currently have my second Silverado 2500HD with the 6.0L and 3.73 gears. Its a 2013 LTZ Z71 with about 15k miles on it. I'm getting a lifetime average of 10.2 mpg in it and that just won't do anymore. Half of my miles are pulling a 7000lb. 30' travel trailer all over the country and the other miles are driving to work and shuttling kids.

Originally I decided I would order a new Silverado 1500LTZ standard crew with the 6.2L and max tow package. Now that I learned it requires premium fuel and there is a restraint on the 6.2L with max tow, I am back to square 1 so to speak. Do I go with a Silverado 1500 with the 5.3 and max tow or do I go all out and stay with a 2500HD but go with a Duramax?

My primary concern is the $/mile. I am done getting 10mpg in my current truck when I drive to work - it sucks. The new numbers on the 5.3 are almost identical to my 6.0 but the mileage is about 60% better. I assume towing mpg is a wash. There is plenty written about the mpg in the 1500s but almost nothing reliable in the 2500HDs with the Duramax.

I trade every 3 years or about 30k miles. Longevity is not my concern - simply put right now its $/mile. If the 5.3L max tow gets close to the 6.6L Duramax in mpg, then its $/mile is superior knowing both trucks can handle my camper.

So, lets hear it. What real world numbers are you getting with these trucks? I am not chipping, tuning, chopping, or any other monkey business. I am only interested in stock numbers.

Thanks,

F.W.

Iowa City, IA

I did a write up of my 2014 6.2 Max Tow and mileage empty and towing. I have about 10,000 miles on it and the overall truck says about 16mpg average. That factors in in town, hwy, interstate and towing. I would say 40% of my mileage is towing a 3500 trailers. The 16mpg average is the computer or DIC and I have found this to be about .5-.75 mpg off. So I would say my overall gas mileage is 15.5 and that is running 91/93 octane.

To Recap

Towing 3500lbs (depending on speed, usually 70mph) I get about 12 mpg towing

In town only 14-15mpg

Hwy 60mph 18-19mpg

Interstate 75mph 17mpg

The 6.2 in the new trucks is good because it uses displacement on demand. I think that and variable valve timing and the 1000lb less in weight is why I am getting such better mileage than a 2500 6.0.

I hope this helps. The 2014 6.2 has the 6 speed. You can only get the 2015 6.2 with the 8 speed. From what I am reading the new 8 speed could be a nightmare if you get a bad one.

I wish you luck.

Jon A · March 6, 2015

Even at today gas prices, your if you save 500 bucks a year which I think is high end still nets you 6 years break even.

Yes, I was agreeing with you. 6 year break even point when gas was expensive means a much longer (or infinite) break even point now that we've got more reasonable prices that should stick around a while.

My larger point was that, keeping the same analysis in mind, we are all paying thousands of dollars extra for better mileage already for all the cars that we can buy whether we like it or not. And it's about to get much more expensive going forward.

Not because it makes economical sense for us, but because people who are much smarter than we are have made the decision for us.

nards444 · March 6, 2015

I agree grand scheme, there is only so many choices that one really has. Not to get political or philosophical and I dont mean this in a conspiracy theory type way, but end of the day there are very few choices one really gets to make and its true. Granted the country we live in we have a few choices in day to day type items, but end of the day most important choices are done for you

euromade · March 10, 2015

I threw some numbers on a spreadsheet with the following assumptions (current fuel prices in Michigan):

Gas $2.25

Diesel $2.75

30,000 total miles with 50% towing

Gas engine 10mpg towing 16mpg empty

Duramax 15mpg towing 21mpg empty

At the end of 36 months fuel cost:

Gas: $5,360

Duramax: $5,500

I'm not sure if we are talking lease vs. buy; but in this scenario a gas truck would have slightly lower total cost of ownership over the 30,000 mi lifespan.

Also, a gas truck (1500 or 2500) should be way cheaper than a Duramax to buy or lease.

I did not factor in oil changes, insurance cost difference, Diesel Exhaust Fluid, additives, etc

***The price differential between the gas and diesel in MI tends to be around 40-60 cents per gallon. The higher the price of fuel goes and more towing mile are put on, diesel truck will be cheaper per mile (excluding all other costs such as maintenance and acquisition price)