What would YOU do??

[Elwood 2000]

I have been looking for a 2500 Suburban for quite a while. I have always been a big block fan and after owning my '04 Z71, I love a Suburban, but prefer the ride of the 2500's and I do want more power. Finding a 2500 Suburban in the used market is difficult because for every 200 Suburbans for sale, only one is a 2500. Ones with an 8.1 is even more rare.

 

What I want: An '03-'05 2500 Suburban LT 4x4 with ALL the options. Roof, DVD, Quad seating, under 30k miles and I have been really wanting the 8.1. I only tow about once per week and it is not that much weight, but when the rare occasion comes up that I want to tow more, the Suburban would sure be nice to use instead of a farm truck, especially when going very far. When on the interstate, towing or even empty, I want gobs of power on tap for when I need it. Nothing worse that traveling thru the mountains and having to constantly upshift to go up hills when empty, or just losing momentum because of less power.

 

Like I said, in the past, I have always been a big block fan, but with todays gas prices, is it REALLY necessary? I have talked to a couple people here via PM with the 6.0 and a custom tune. From what they say, they are real pleased with the power and the milage. How much of a difference is there really, towing or empty between the 6.0 and the 8.1. Either way I go, it would get a Westers 89/91 octane dual tune, like I have in my Silverado.

 

Is the power difference worth the extra price paid in MPG? How much worse would the MPG be with the 8.1 than the 6.0? I am figuring around 2-3 MPG.

 

Why I ask, is I found a Suburban with the options, milage and color that I want, with the 8.1L. The price is also a fair starting point as well.

 

It is time to do it now, if an 8.1 is really what I want, but I am not sure. The entire 8.1 issue is a lot more of a "want" issue than a "need" issue, but I just don't want to get it and be unhappy with the outcome of extremely poor milage when a 6.0 with better milage would have been plenty. Also, I don't want to get a 6.0 and be unhappy with the power and wishing I had gotten the 8.1 to begin with. That is sortof where I am now. I originally wanted a 2500 Suburban, but found my 1500 Z71, with exactly the options I wanted at a very attractive price and I bought it. Now, after a year, I am unhappy with the type of ride and the power available. I don't want to be in these shoes again in 6 months or a year.

 

Thanks so much for your help!

[Buggle_96]

When on the interstate, towing or even empty, I want gobs of power on tap for when I need it. Nothing worse that traveling thru the mountains and having to constantly upshift to go up hills when empty, or just losing momentum because of less power.

 

Thanks so much for your help!

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

Better get the 8.1 .......

[SS Crew]

If you were looking for a truck, I'd say get the Duramax, but in a Suburban....

 

If you tow on a regular basis, do the big block. If towing is a once in while thing, the 6.0 would probably do for you. But and a big but, I have the 6.0 in my truck and I thought something was wrong with it powerwise. I went from a 5.3 in a 1500 ecsb to a 2500 with the 6.0. I thought that engine was a dog with fleas until I got the Wester's 91 hot tune. It's still no hot rod, but it will get out of its own way now. And at 10.5 to 12 mpg in the city and maybe 14 on the highway with the 6.0, I don't think you'll notice the lesser mileage in the 496.

 

Just my $0.02.

SS

[als1984z28]

I went from the 6.0 to the 8.1, what a difference. It made a huge difference with the 8,500lb fifth wheel I tow. I have also towed my father-in-laws 12,500lb fifth wheel and no issues either. The 8.1 never seems to run out of power, that engine is amazing and it's a big block! Funny, I get some people that ask me what engine I have in my truck, I tell them I got the big block and they reply with "Oh, you have the 6.0 in there?" Anyway, the 6.0 runs great without a load, but when I was towing my 8,500lb fifth wheel the 6.0 just got by, never tried to tow the 12,500lb one it was over my limit. I have no experience with the engine tune so they might help it a bit, but then again you can always get a tune for the 8.1.

 

BTW, I get about 1.5 MPG worse on the highway with the 8.1 than I did with the 6.0. Around town is a different story, I only get between 8 to 10 MPG!

 

Al

[gave20]

I went from the 6.0 to the 8.1, what a difference.  It made a huge difference with the 8,500lb fifth wheel I tow.  I have also towed my father-in-laws 12,500lb fifth wheel and no issues either.  The 8.1 never seems to run out of power, that engine is amazing and it's a big block!  Funny, I get some people that ask me what engine I have in my truck, I tell them I got the big block and they reply with "Oh, you have the 6.0 in there?"  Anyway, the 6.0 runs great without a load, but when I was towing my 8,500lb fifth wheel the 6.0 just got by, never tried to tow the 12,500lb one it was over my limit.  I have no experience with the engine tune so they might help it a bit, but then again you can always get a tune for the 8.1.

 

BTW, I get about 1.5 MPG worse on the highway with the 8.1 than I did with the 6.0.  Around town is a different story, I only get between 8 to 10 MPG!

 

Al

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

Your 8500lb fv'er was that GVW or unloaded? I'm thinking about getting a forest river with a GVW of 8K, a friend of mine has the same trailer and it pulls well with his 98 1500 5.7L; I'm jsut wondering how the 6.0L will do.

 

 

Sorry to hijack your thread Elwood, but I would go with the 8.1L loosing a 1or 2 MPG is far outweighed by the increased tq and hp.

[Haulin' 8.1]

How many miles a week will you be driving and in what type of traffic (highway or city)? If it's light and or mostly highway get the 8.1. If it's heavy city or over 250 get the 6.0.

 

If it's a tie get the 8.1. It will be a lot easyier to live with the gas mileage than with the lack of power. You can always drive carefully to conserve fuel.

 

Vernon

[SilveradoWV]

I have about 40 miles of country road where the speeds vary and about 10 miles of city driving in my work commute per day. With my 2002 Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 4x4 8.1L I have never got 12 mpg or above or never got 11 mpg or below, usually its around 11.5 mpg. A buddy just bought an '03 Silverado 2500 HD with the 6.0 (not sure if its reg, ext, or crew), and he said he averages 11.9 mpg on about the same road conditions. I wouldnt consider a 6.0 unless the mileage was about 6mpg better.

[MASH4077]

Since you asked what I would do, I'll say get the 6.0. It's a good power unit, it'll get the job done. I know a few guys with the 8.1 and they get about 2 mpg less than I get with my 6.0. 2 mpg adds up after awhile, especially at $2.50 r $3.00 per gallon.

 

You seem to want the 8.1 awful bad, buying something cheaper and upgrading later isn't a good idea if you want to save money.

 

You won't get the Allison in a Suburban if that means anything to you, it'll be the 4l85E.

[sirhuntalot1]

2003 extcab long bed 6.0 - 4:10

Getting steady 11.7 city/ hwy 20 miles to and from work at 70-75 mph

pcmforless tune now gets

12.5 - 12.9 city/ hwy

Straight hwy run can get as good as 13.6

pulling 6500lb RV 9.5 mpg at 65-70 any faster fuel mileage drops like a rock

 

the pcm tune probable netted about 1 - 1.7 mpg depending on whether u were doing a city / hwy or just straight hwy

 

Pulls the trailer fine though

 

If I were planning on pulling anything heavier say in the 9000lb range then I would look more towards the 8.1

[Trouttrooper]

Another thing to consider is that suburbans are a heavy vehicle even empty. As close as the mileage is between the two engines I'd go for the 8.1. I'd bet the 8.1 would probably get a little better than pickups since it won't have the extra weight of the Ally tranny.

 

Now that I've gotten the 8.1 I'll never go back.

[bdeboer]

I have the 6.0L 2500 Suburban listed in my signature, Pulled a 27' Travel Trailer, around 5300 lbs empty to Maryland from Ohio across I-70 last summer. I've pulled the same trailer with a 5.7L van and a 5.3L Sierra. The 6.0L was better able to keep up with the Semi's on the longer grades where the van and the Sierra were about equal. The only thing I noticed was the transmission temperature would climb to about 220 and stay warm longer than the engine. I do plan on investing on a larger transmission cooler before next summer. The best freeway mileage I have seen is around 14.5 before the tune without the trailer. It averaged around 11 pulling the travel trailer. I am going to be taking a couple of trips over the holidays and will check the mileage again. In my opinion, if the 8.1L has everything you want for the right price go for it. Although when I traded in my '99 ECSB Sierra on the Suburban, I never realized how much I would miss owning a truck. When my work car gave an excuse to get rid of it, I did not hesitate buy another truck.

[Shawn T]

Your looking at a sub so the 6.0 will be more comparable to the 8.1 in terms of power and the Allison is a moot point in this discussion. We essentially have to throw out the comparisons in the HD pickup lineup because the HP and torque numbers vary alot more. Here are the numbers your looking at:

 

8100

325 HP @ 4200 RPM

447 LB-ft @ 3200 RPM

4L85E

 

6000

335 HP @ 5200 RPM

375 LB-ft @ 4000 RPM

4L80E

 

Comparing the SUV's to the HD's, the 6.0 puts out 35 more ponies and 15 lb-ft of torque, also the 8.1 is 5 less in the HP area and 3 less ft-lbs of torque. I would drive Subs with both motors, I bet unloaded the 6.0 runs better. If you don't tow alot I would consider it in the SUV, myself.

[PaulieK]

Judging from the mileage pols I would be more concerned as to the distance between gas stations in your area!

[Elwood 2000]

Thanks so much for all the replies. The Suburban I was going to go after sold yesterday!

 

I will however keep looking and from what the general concensus here is that I should stick to my guns and keep a lookout for another 8.1.

 

Right now, we are trying to turn two rigs into one. My Silverado and Suburban are for sale and actually, I would like to trade my current Suburban for one of like equipment and miles for a 2500 model or maybe even get one with less miles. Living without a pickup will be strange, but if I "really" need one, there are farm trucks. Not very comfortable (compared to todays rigs), but strong and reliable.

 

Thanks so much for all the input, it really helps!

[dcsnyder]

I went from the 6.0 to the 8.1, what a difference.  It made a huge difference with the 8,500lb fifth wheel I tow.  I have also towed my father-in-laws 12,500lb fifth wheel and no issues either.  The 8.1 never seems to run out of power, that engine is amazing and it's a big block!  Funny, I get some people that ask me what engine I have in my truck, I tell them I got the big block and they reply with "Oh, you have the 6.0 in there?"  Anyway, the 6.0 runs great without a load, but when I was towing my 8,500lb fifth wheel the 6.0 just got by, never tried to tow the 12,500lb one it was over my limit.  I have no experience with the engine tune so they might help it a bit, but then again you can always get a tune for the 8.1.

 

BTW, I get about 1.5 MPG worse on the highway with the 8.1 than I did with the 6.0.  Around town is a different story, I only get between 8 to 10 MPG!

 

Al

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

Your 8500lb fv'er was that GVW or unloaded? I'm thinking about getting a forest river with a GVW of 8K, a friend of mine has the same trailer and it pulls well with his 98 1500 5.7L; I'm jsut wondering how the 6.0L will do.

 

If your GROSS Veh. Wt is 8000lbs, the curb weight is probably closer to 6000/6500lbs. Load the camper and truck to a Combined wt. of, say 14000lbs and your 6.0L will do just fine. I have a 6.0L and pull a camper with a GVW of 9500Lbs. My Combined wt. is close to 16000lbs.( Max for this truck) I'm considering going to the 8.1L. My 6.0L (all stock) doesn't do bad at all. It's just when I hit a long uphill grade that it need to downshift. I'm not convinced that some basic engine mods. wouldn't be enough to make me happy. But then MORE IS BETTER!

Sorry to hijack your thread Elwood, but I would go with the 8.1L loosing a 1or 2 MPG is far outweighed by the increased tq and hp.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>