2001 2500HD Duramax 6.6L

Olivier · July 15, 2003

Hi there !

I finally made my choice : I would like to go for a 2500HD. Yeah it will rock here in France !!

the problem is that there is no propane kit for the 6L engine, so I can't afford to burn so much fuel (price is more than twice here, while propane is about same price than your regular fuel...).

that's why I think about the diesel version : the Duramax 6.6L

I have to say that I don't like diesel ! ugly noise, no performance, fragile, costly maintenance.

But I don't know much about US diesel (they have bad reputation here).

I would like to know if it doesn't sound too crapy, and if it has the same performances than the fuel version. I don't want a car that goes like a school bus ! I want to be able to smoke cars at the red light, but also to have great acceleration on highways when I'm cruising around 90miles/h and I need to pass someone.

will the Duramax do the job ?

thanks !!

Olivier

Professor · July 15, 2003

No performance? I'd say it is better than the 8.1 and there is no doubt it will stroke the 6.0!

With a bit of tuning you will be amazed!

Check out the link for all you want to know about the D-MAX

The Diesel Page

c5hd · July 15, 2003

I agree with professor. Stock the desiel is as fast or faster than the other engines. Desiels are so easy to mod. A $400 programmer and I am 0-60 in 7.6 seconds. It pulls so smooth and hard past 80, it is awesome.

I doesn;t sound like a normal gas engine, but it isn't loud, you won't even notice it.

I guess I would just be concerned that you do have the correct diesel fuel in France

Plus I am averaging over 22mpg unloaded. A 200 hundred mile trip pulling a 4500 lbs, through the mountains, got 20mpg. I was concerned aout the diesle at first too, now I am so happy I got it. I haven't found a downside yet.

Shaners · July 15, 2003

The Dmax is a very strong engine, and with some simple aftermarket plug-ins you can make that truck run even stronger. The Dmax sounds like a noisy gas engine... It doesn't sound like the diesels of a few years ago... and going down the road you'll never know there is a Dmax under the hood!!!

All GM trucks are "speed limited" to 100 MPH. The reason is because the tires aren't rated for speeds higher than that, but if you run a "juice box" or a "chip/programmer", then the speed limiter can be adjusted.

Olivier · July 15, 2003

thanks for your answers !

0-60mph in 7.6s ! ouch ! many guys will cry here

the scale is different than european diesel engines that have no performance at all (except few ones), but we can't compare a 6.6L to a 1.5L

OK so I will go with this terrific street machine . let's find one!

bye

Olivier

MCourson · July 18, 2003

I cant be much help relating the Duramax to the 6L or 8.1L but it sure will out perform our 5.3 or the 4.8 we traded on it. It has a little bit more noise than a gasser at ilde and acceleration but at speed it is just as quiet and will pull hard. My Duramax experience is limited since we havent even owned it for 12 hours but I am impressed.

kc5khr · August 26, 2003

I traded my 2002 2500HD with the 6.0 for a 2003 2500HD with Duaramax/Allison two weeks ago. Would not go back to the 6.0 for anything. Mileage was not good for the return on towing power. With 30,000 miles and conservative driving, I averaged 13.6 MPG. The Duramax only has 1500 miles and is averaging 17 MPG, not driving my normal conservative fashion,plus tons of pulling power.

BlackSilver · August 26, 2003

I traded my 2002 2500HD with the 6.0 for a 2003 2500HD with Duaramax/Allison two weeks ago.

Welcome to the world of serious trucks. Kinda like having a full gallon linear into stacked widespaced monoband yagis, after using a rubber ducky on an HT.

73, Hans, K0HB