3.0 Duramax

[Htown_LTZ]

I had a first Gen 3.0 Duramax back in 2020 and had a few issues with it. I sold that truck but I want to get another Duramax. My main concern is that, it's not gonna be my daily and I want to know how long I need to drive it for it to regen. I had to take my 2020 Duramax to the dealership a few times for check engine lights, but it was for some sensor. Any information would be appreciated. 

[Htown_LTZ]

Just now, Htown_LTZ said:

I had a first Gen 3.0 Duramax back in 2020 and had a few issues with it. I sold that truck but I want to get another Duramax. My main concern is that, it's not gonna be my daily and I want to know how long I need to drive it for it to regen. I had to take my 2020 Duramax to the dealership a few times for check engine lights, but it was for some sensor. Any information would be appreciated. I did have a service advisor tell me to run it about 20-30 minutes once a day. 

 

[Z45]

I have had my 2024 LZ0 for over a year and I cannot tell you when or how many regen events occurred.  Maybe its just me and over 50+ yrs of driving that things like this are not a big deal; as long as it starts, gets me where I need to go and back, I am happy.  

Edited August 16, 2025 by Z45

[Atlas]

My understanding is that if you interrupt a regen by shutting the truck off, it will pick up where it left off on the next run cycle.

 

My experience is regen events usually take place over 10-20 miles when they occur.

[Z45]

 I read the diesel supplement and there is nothing that says not let it finish is a bad thing.  All it says is to avoid extended idling because the DPF is not capable of cleaning at idle.  And it will regen approx every tank of fuel.  So for me its roughly 650-700 miles on a tank of fuel, so its occurred about 7x on my truck and I was not aware of it.  Its also possible since I am using a additive+cetane boost my engine is running more efficiently? 

 

People make up things to worry about.  

Edited August 16, 2025 by Z45

[redwngr]

5 hours ago, Htown_LTZ said:

I had a first Gen 3.0 Duramax back in 2020 and had a few issues with it. I sold that truck but I want to get another Duramax. My main concern is that, it's not gonna be my daily and I want to know how long I need to drive it for it to regen. I had to take my 2020 Duramax to the dealership a few times for check engine lights, but it was for some sensor. Any information would be appreciated. 

 

Lots of misinformation out there.  (sometimes just people trying to wind you up...)

 

You don't need to 'take it for drive to regen'.

If it has trouble, it will give a 'keep driving message'.

Most owners will never see a 'keep driving'. 

 

If a regen is interrupted, it will resume next trip.

 

The 3.0 completes a regen in about 11 or 12 miles.  

(6.6 LML was about 30 miles; 6;6 L5P (2018) was about 20 miles) 

 

I've had 100's of interrupted regens on LML, L5P, LM2 and LZO) 

15 years and I've had one keep driving and I think it was a glitch.  On the L5P it came up a couple miles from an appointment I was going to.  Figured I'd be seeing how 'keep driving' goes, but when I got back in the truck the message had already cleared. 

 

 

 

 

[Htown_LTZ]

Thank you for that information. It's more than I've been told before. 

[Port Tack Farm]

I've got nearly 22K miles on my 24 Sierra Duramax.  Unlike my Kubota tractor, I have know idea if and when it's done a regen.  DEF usage is about  normal or better than expected.  While I do a limited amount of short trips and running around town, 80% of the mileage is trips of 50 miles or more.  I love the Duramax - averaging 28 mpg and with diesel at most in-town gas stations cheaper than the premium gas I have to use in my BMW, I am thrilled.

[Velocity12]

I have a 2024 LZ0 and researched a lot before I bought it. Saw all the things about regen and stuff. This was going to be my first diesel truck so I was worried, the stories of great fuel mileage is why I was buying it. I bought the Banks idash when I got the truck so I could watch things closely. I drive around 60% highway and 40% city. As stated in the above posts, regens take about 12 miles to complete, mine regens every 200-300 miles in the warmer months and 300-400 miles in the cooler months. I have stopped the truck in the middle of countless regens and it just restarts when I start the truck the next time. I refill the DEF tank (around 5 gallons) every 5000 ish miles for my normal driving. Get around 600-700 miles to a tank (24 gallons) of diesel. I am at 30k miles right now. Had a check engine light for the NOX sensor about three weeks ago, I cleared it with the idash and it hasn’t come back yet.