Based on my needs should I get gas or diesel?

SMiller · March 21, 2015

Simple...drive both gas and diesel and get what you like better. The worse monetary mistake you can make is to buy something based on every one else's opinion. I've had 2 of the 6.0 gassers and have an 07 and 15 duramax. The gassers were nice and I had them for a few years. I still have the 07 DMAX and just bought a '15 DMAX a few weeks ago. I tow 7k-9k a few times a year and plow snow in the winter. Overkill? Maybe...but I'm happy and that's what matters..My next one might be a gasser if it feels good to me on a test drive.

As far as money spent....My maintenance on the 07 has been like any other of my gassers. 10.00 oil filter and 2.5 gallons of Mobil 1 for 60.00. More expensive oil change, but I take it out to 10K, unlike my gassers at 5K. And a fuel filter every year for 35.00 on Amazon...big deal.Oh, I forgot...a few 15.00 glow plugs last year... As for the diesel engine upcharge, you get a good portion of that back in terms of resale. I bought my 07 for 39K and after 8 years and 80K miles, my trade was 21K. I decided to keep it anyway. Everyone makes it to think that you lose that 8K upcharge forever....Not the case..

I like how people make the diesel option a "status" symbol.....What a load......Get what you like, within your means, and be happy....trading in every 2 years is much more expensive.....

Let's see how your '15 turns out, the '07 had no emissions and a CP3 pump...

CRApex · March 21, 2015

The 2011-2014 are mechanically the same as the 2015. I traded in my 2011 for my current 15 (16k on it now) and had ZERO issues with it. I short commuted (10 miles each way) to work and plow with both of them which results in ALOT of idleing, non highway operation. I read the posts about all of the "issues" and reasons others site for not getting a Duramax and just shake my head. Yes, the 6.0 is a great motor and could be the correct choice for many buyers, however, using "Duramax Issues" as the rationale is a joke. I personally prefer the D-Max as a tow vehicle for sure but also as my daily driver. The power is addicting when towing and they do it quietly without the high revs the 6.0 needs. Again, not slamming the 6.0, its a great motor, its just not comparable to a Duramax..If your main concern is additional service costs, yes you will spend a little more..but..well worth it for the benefits you get. Also, the resale value is much better and you will recoup a large portion of the Dmax/Allison cost at trade time.

therink · March 22, 2015

I am an avid rv'r. Have owned 3 HD GM trucks, all 6.0 gas with 4:10 axles. Great for towing under 10,000 lb trailers if not towing a lot and in hilly terrain. The late model 6.0 is a great motor. Never had aan ounce of trouble with the 3 I've owned.

This year I got a bug in my but and bought my first diesel. Not because iI needed it, just wanted it. I'll never recoup the $, but man this truck is sweet.

If money iisn't an issue, go diesel. If you want to spend less go gas.

stryker755 · March 22, 2015

I am an avid rv'r. Have owned 3 HD GM trucks, all 6.0 gas with 4:10 axles. Great for towing under 10,000 lb trailers if not towing a lot and in hilly terrain. The late model 6.0 is a great motor. Never had aan ounce of trouble with the 3 I've owned.

This year I got a bug in my but and bought my first diesel. Not because iI needed it, just wanted it. I'll never recoup the $, but man this truck is sweet.

If money iisn't an issue, go diesel. If you want to spend less go gas.

Well said, I am an aspiring rv'r who doesn't have an RV yet. I decided to buy the truck first. I contemplated the gas vs diesel decision for a while. It came down to wanting the diesel and finding the exact truck I wanted that happened to have the Duramax, no 6.0's anywhere in the color I wanted at the time. I got a good deal on it, about 10K off MSRP so I decided to splurge and go all out and not have to order one and wait. I know the 6.0L would have handled my future needs fine but I sprung for the truck that was readily available. After reading about all the downsides to the LML on the forum and DuramaxForum I am slightly concerned about long term reliability and repairs but I will hope for the best. Can't go wrong with either motor if you're not towing heavy regularly.

PS, I will most likely be getting ~30 ft TT or 5th wheel when the time comes, haven't crossed that bridge yet.

doverarjim · March 22, 2015

Before I start, (knocking on wood) my 2011 DuraMax has been really trouble free. After 3 years and 73,000 miles I still love it and would not want to go back to gas even if diesel $2,00 more than gas. My truck is my DD it is about 10 miles to and from work every day and it seems I get about 100 miles at least one day a week for something. The funny part to me is when I had my 99 truck it seemed to always be hooked to a trailer, but so far my Dmax only has about 10,000 of those miles pulling any type of trailers, not to say that it has not pulled anything but most of my trips have been just around town or with in a 100 miles or so. If I ever need another truck something real bad would need to happen to make me go back to gas!!!

becker87 · March 22, 2015

Well said, I am an aspiring rv'r who doesn't have an RV yet. I decided to buy the truck first. I contemplated the gas vs diesel decision for a while. It came down to wanting the diesel and finding the exact truck I wanted that happened to have the Duramax, no 6.0's anywhere in the color I wanted at the time. I got a good deal on it, about 10K off MSRP so I decided to splurge and go all out and not have to order one and wait. I know the 6.0L would have handled my future needs fine but I sprung for the truck that was readily available. After reading about all the downsides to the LML on the forum and DuramaxForum I am slightly concerned about long term reliability and repairs but I will hope for the best. Can't go wrong with either motor if you're not towing heavy regularly.

PS, I will most likely be getting ~30 ft TT or 5th wheel when the time comes, haven't crossed that bridge yet.

When reading and forums you have to remember that GM sells millions of duramax engines and you are seeing a small sample of them on the internet. Typically people dont start new threads to say their truck has been trouble free, they do when they have issues. Just food for thought.

JRKRACE · March 23, 2015

Let's see how your '15 turns out, the '07 had no emissions and a CP3 pump...

Funny thing is that's what they said when I bought my 07....because of the injector issues with the LB7 and the overheating issues with the LLY......I'm still waiting...

Cowpie · March 24, 2015

GM does indeed move a lot of Duramax equipped pickups. But one also has to look at who is buying. I can't seem to dig up any real solid numbers, but most estimates I have come across have 75% of the 2500/3500 market is commercial. And when we dig deeper, there are more 6.0 gas equipped pickups that are bought by commercial users than the Duramax. The reasonings are little different I suppose, but it does focus in on overall life cost of operation, durability, and reliability. Downtime is money. And when things go wrong with a Dmax setup, especially emissions issues, it is typical for a Dmax setup to be out of commission longer than a gasser. I frequent many rural farmer's cooperative feed and elevator places often, and the vast majority have moved off of diesel because of issues and gone with the 6.0L as their primary motor choice. And those guys are loading up the box of those pickups frequently with some heavy materials and pulling up to 3 anhydrous ammonia tank trailers behind them to and from farms over hilly gravel roads and rough terrain as well as highways. Now the individual horse hauler crowd, flat bed puller crowd, etc does tend to go with diesel a little more frequently. But they also tend to be pulling heavy on a pretty frequent basis.

Could be that seeing that also played somewhat of a part in my decision to go with the 6.0L in my 2500. Just chatting with those guys, they have a healthy respect for the 6.0L for their operations. I haul more than I pull, so a diesel also seemed a bit of overkill for me.

SMiller · March 24, 2015

GM does indeed move a lot of Duramax equipped pickups. But one also has to look at who is buying. I can't seem to dig up any real solid numbers, but most estimates I have come across have 75% of the 2500/3500 market is commercial. And when we dig deeper, there are more 6.0 gas equipped pickups that are bought by commercial users than the Duramax. The reasonings are little different I suppose, but it does focus in on overall life cost of operation, durability, and reliability. Downtime is money. And when things go wrong with a Dmax setup, especially emissions issues, it is typical for a Dmax setup to be out of commission longer than a gasser. I frequent many rural farmer's cooperative feed and elevator places often, and the vast majority have moved off of diesel because of issues and gone with the 6.0L as their primary motor choice. And those guys are loading up the box of those pickups frequently with some heavy materials and pulling up to 3 anhydrous ammonia tank trailers behind them to and from farms over hilly gravel roads and rough terrain as well as highways. Now the individual horse hauler crowd, flat bed puller crowd, etc does tend to go with diesel a little more frequently. But they also tend to be pulling heavy on a pretty frequent basis.

Could be that seeing that also played somewhat of a part in my decision to go with the 6.0L in my 2500. Just chatting with those guys, they have a healthy respect for the 6.0L for their operations. I haul more than I pull, so a diesel also seemed a bit of overkill for me.

When UPS went to the 6.0 from diesel it was a big eye opener, those guys know their shit.

CRApex · March 25, 2015

When UPS went to the 6.0 from diesel it was a big eye opener, those guys know their shit

Completely different application..I believe they purchased some 6.0's so they can burn propane.

Cowpie · March 25, 2015

Are you sure? I thought it might be the LC8 6.0L that is designed for NG. They have been purchasing NG equipped semi trucks and even some UPS terminals putting in NG pumps. My money would be on the LC8 and not the L96.

SMiller · March 25, 2015

Are you sure? I thought it might be the LC8 6.0L that is designed for NG. They have been purchasing NG equipped semi trucks and even some UPS terminals putting in NG pumps. My money would be on the LC8 and not the L96.

You do know they are the same engine just with hardened valves/valve seats right?

Cowpie · March 25, 2015

Yes, I do know that. But they are different fueled and UPS, as some other companies, are on the greenie bandwagon to an extreme. My contention was that UPS might not have gone to the 6.0L for reasons we have been discussing here, but the alternative fuel motivation. And usually, there are some form of incentives and such to do so. So while a lot of business' have decided to go with the 6.0L because of being more cost effective than the Dmax and a strong reliable alternative motor, UPS might have done it solely for the alternative fuel idea. The LC8 is the NG version of the L96.