Liking the 6.6 gas

C/K Man · November 13, 2020

One thing I like about the l8t is it is now (2021 MY) available in a Flex Fuel E85 version. The Ford 7.3L is not.

nick112288 · November 13, 2020

1 hour ago, C/K Man said:

One thing I like about the l8t is it is now (2021 MY) available in a Flex Fuel E85 version. The Ford 7.3L is not.

Even though I've owned several e85 capable vehicles, I've never actually ran it. There just aren't really very many e85 pumps around.

Also I still can't believe no one has come up with a tune for it. DI and E85 capable? I imagine you could get some decent gains!

Knoxville36 · November 13, 2020

I am really liking my 2020 6.6l gasser. Motor is smooth all over and great power. Only towed a utility trailer so far that weighed about 6k pounds and obviously did great. Decent mileage dry for a 3/4 ton gasser.

Timu8 · November 13, 2020

I’m loving my 2020 6.6 gasser even more now that it is winter! Easy starts, warm cab, smooth drive and now she is broken in all the zoom I need! I like the torque of a diesel but I really don’t need one anymore. If I owned a heavy camper or towed constantly, might be a different story!

Ray Pickle · November 16, 2020

I would imagine the towing range on e85 would be "less tha ideal"!!!

spm1us · November 16, 2020

I believe if you check the option list the E85 option is only available on cab and chassis units.

MTU Alum · November 16, 2020

E85 is only available on work truck trim levels. You can get it on 2500, 3500, and cab chassis. I have been driving a 2500 for the last few months. I have got about 2 to 2.5 mpg lower in combined driving.

#iworkforGM

nick112288 · November 19, 2020

Any chance some of you fine gentleman could take pictures of just how open the engine bay is?

I don't know if all the video reviewers are just too short or what, but shots are always from the front and you can barely see over the fan shroud

gmckenzie · November 26, 2020

On 11/11/2020 at 4:51 AM, nick112288 said:

Just checking in, is everyone still as satisfied with the L8T?

I'm shopping trucks right now and keep going back and forth between a 7.3 F350 or a 6.6 3500. Ram isn't even in the running, I have 0 interest in the 6.4

Camper is in the 12k GVWR, so well within both max ratings. Serious tow maybe twice a year (Indiana to South Carolina) otherwise local campgrounds.

While the L5P is the only current HD diesel I trust, I DO NOT want one. This truck will be kept well past the 5 year time frame on the warranty.

Ford has the newer transmission, bigger/more powerful engine, and lower axle gearing.

Problem with Ford is I don't want to deal with death wobble, and to get the same options as I want on the Chevy it's a $7,000+ price increase on the Ford.

Interestingly in my research I've found that while the Ford has a higher max tow, the Chevy has a significantly higher payload capacity (yes I know options make that vary)

I would REALLY like if the Chevy had at least 4.10s, but sounds like the 3.73s are doing fine.

I'm in the same boat. Towing ~8K now with a 1500 (max trailer) but looking at a 350/3500. Also not a Ram fan. Plan on upgrading the trailer in a few years, but not excessive so still want gas. Also, could get by with a 3/4 ton, but BC adds 3% sales tax to 3/4 ton and lower, so the 1 ton ends up cheaper.

Been a GM guy all my life, but the lack of a 10 spd and axle choices are making me lean towards a Ford.

What is the death wobble? Off to google I go.

So why buy GM over Ford?

heymrdjCW · November 26, 2020

I'm in the same boat. Towing ~8K now with a 1500 (max trailer) but looking at a 350/3500. Also not a Ram fan. Plan on upgrading the trailer in a few years, but not excessive so still want gas. Also, could get by with a 3/4 ton, but BC adds 3% sales tax to 3/4 ton and lower, so the 1 ton ends up cheaper.

Been a GM guy all my life, but the lack of a 10 spd and axle choices are making me lean towards a Ford.

What is the death wobble? Off to google I go.

So why buy GM over Ford?

It seems to be an issue with out of tolerance steering parts, a lack of oversight on quality control. Ford, RAM, and GM all have class actions against them for death wobble. GM also had the Chevy Shake on the K2 trucks that went for years without resolution. Tolerances are getting tighter to make more refined and more efficient trucks. As things tighten up, more manufacturing imperfections come out. It’s such a tiny percentage of vehicles, I wouldn’t let it steer my decision in the slightest. Whichever brand you get stuck with a death wobble with, they are going to fight tooth and nail to keep from fixing it under warranty, that’s the sad truth of it. Russian roulette with any brand these days. GM loves warranty denials just as much as any of the others.

gmckenzie · November 26, 2020

1 hour ago, heymrdjCW said:

It seems to be an issue with out of tolerance steering parts, a lack of oversight on quality control. Ford, RAM, and GM all have class actions against them for death wobble. GM also had the Chevy Shake on the K2 trucks that went for years without resolution. Tolerances are getting tighter to make more refined and more efficient trucks. As things tighten up, more manufacturing imperfections come out. It’s such a tiny percentage of vehicles, I wouldn’t let it steer my decision in the slightest. Whichever brand you get stuck with a death wobble with, they are going to fight tooth and nail to keep from fixing it under warranty, that’s the sad truth of it. Russian roulette with any brand these days. GM loves warranty denials just as much as any of the others.

I have a tiny shake in mine. Never enough to bother me, but I know it's there at ~120kmh. I don't go that fast often. But certainly wouldn't call it a death wobble, so that was new to me. But I do see it impacts all 3 brands for HD trucks.

I wish the GM had the 10 spd.

C/K Man · November 26, 2020

Ford's 'Death Wobble' can be very violent. The 'Chevy Shake' issue is a minor annoyance. They are 2 very different issues, I believe Ford's problem is due to the radius arm SFA front suspension design, as Jeeps use a similar design and have the same problem. I would not at all be surprised if Ford goes to IFS on the next Super Duty redesign.

heymrdjCW · November 26, 2020

Ford's 'Death Wobble' can be very violent. The 'Chevy Shake' issue is a minor annoyance. They are 2 very different issues, I believe Ford's problem is due to the radius arm SFA front suspension design, as Jeeps use a similar design and have the same problem. I would not at all be surprised if Ford goes to IFS on the next Super Duty redesign.

There’s posts on this very forum in the 15+ HD section regarding death wobble. It’s head in the sand to believe that GM doesn’t suffer from it as well. Chevy Shake is a completely separate issue that GM had that should have been fixed but instead cost owners a lot of money. But GM *also* has death wobble, on top of Chevy Shake in the past.

cmysstailights · November 26, 2020

I would imagine the towing range on e85 would be "less tha ideal"!!!

I get 6mpg towing 14k lbs. Hit 7 mpg on njtp from exit 3 to exit 14 with a 14k lb 5th wheel.

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Ray Pickle · November 26, 2020

I have NEVER heard or gad a customer complaint omrwgarding "death wobble" in a G.M. truck. Shake, yes, with almost every circumstance due to worn parts on a truck with miles. Have had numerous Ford products with a violent shake, "death wobble" , with low miles. The issue is production tolerances are exceasive and the design is flawed.