Gas Or Diesel?

[gcadby1]

I'm in the market for a new truck and have been debating what to get. I have been looking at 4x4 chevy and gmc 2500 vs the 4x4 chevy gmc 1500 w/ 6.0 L Vortec. I'm just hoping to get some opinions as to the pros and cons to each. I plan on putting a 7-9" lift kit. I have a 19' bass boat to pull but I don't think thats a problem for either. I'll probably put 15k miles on it a year. I know diesel gets better gas mileage but I don't know how much and the diesel cost probably 10k more new. please help!

[dogzapper]

If you lift it, so that you can put larger tires on it, you'd absolutely run out of power with the 6.0 liter (which is marginal, anyway).

 

Diesel would be much better.

 

Steve

[mschuyler]

Diesel will get you 17+ mpg, 20 or so with some miles on it. Cost varies by state. Right now it's 50 cents cheaper than medium octane where I am. Who knows if the ratio will stay like that since it tends to bounce around, but if this difference stays, figure in the greater mpg and that $10K could break even quicker than you might think. One advanatge if you're brave enough: biodiesel. Let 'em do what they want with gas, you can have your own tank regardless. I'm running B-99 with no issues. 655 pounds of torque (lmm) ain't too shabby either.

[superbee]

I'll never go back to a gas truck. I love my diesel, you won't regret it, especially not a Duramax.

[Kenbow]

The initial extra cost will pay off on resale, Go Diesel.

[curly]

I have a gas but if something were to happen to my truck, I would go back with a diesel. Diesel gets better gas mileage (and right now diesel is cheaper) and there is more power when you need it.

[gcadby1]

Wow! I did not think it would be so one sided. They shoe the 6.0L at 367hp, would it really run out of power? Also do they still make the classic body style? That is another big decision I am struggling over. What is a good price for a new diesel? Thanks

[THE BIGPUNN]

you should be able to haggle invoice pricing on new trucks including rebates. lot of us save 5-9k off sticker. if you drive 15,000 miles a year i would also go diesel. this is my first one, ive had 5.3L, 8.1L and now a dmax. i tell ya, i love it. the power is tremendous. as long as i tow and drive a lot I will stick with diesel.

[k3500CC8.1]

When it was time to buy a new K2500 Suburban, I was not happy that the 8.1L wasn't available... I too wondered if the 6.0L would be a complete dog and barely able to pull itself up small hills. Anyhow, I did buy a Suburban with the 6.0L and have not be the least bit dissapppointed. The Sub has been turning in about 15.5mpg on the city mission and a little over 17mpg on highway trips. With 4.10 gears.

 

Two weeks ago I picked up a few pallets of very wet sod, trailer weighed a little over 11,500lbs. The K2500 pulled it like a champ. Coming back over the Arbuckle Mountains on I-35, I was able to maintain 72mph(although that was at the top of second gear. I make this haul about once a year, and when I had my 03 K3500 Duramax, that truck would carry the same load over the same mountains at 74mph(this was at the top of 5th gear on a ZF 6speed trans). 2 mph difference. ??? Marginal power.... BTW My 06 8.1L will pull the same load at 83mph... I know the latest LLY or LMM has more torque than the 03, but the stated story here is my experience with my trucks. Not someone's friend of a friend, or someone who has never owned specific examples of these trucks.

 

6.0L weakness- The darn computer software has a throttle delay in it. sometimes, the computer will not allow you to have 100% throttle immediately, you have to wait between 4-7 seconds to get full power. Very, Very frustrating... 1st gear of the 4L80E trans just kills any possiblity of a quick launch with anything over a moderate load. But merging on a onramp between 45-70mpgh, the 6.0L will just flat out surprise you even with 11,500lbs behind you. Diesel is much cheaper than gas right now, although this has not been a stable fact over the last ten years, it could very well reverse at any time.. Not the best engine to have if your pulling heavy regularly, GM has left you only one very good choice for that, the diesel.

 

6.0L pros- Good mileage for the type of truck it's in.. Simple, non complex design with inexpensive parts, plus you can work on it yourself and get parts very easily. You don't have some filter in the exhaust system that turns into a furnance for the EPA. Much cheaper than the diesel upfront(although you will get more on resale for a diesel, it ain't $8,000(more like $4,000-$4.500) to cover the much higher retail cost for a new purchase)

 

Just stating the 6.0L experience because I was also skeptical... They way people talk about the 6.0L, it sounds like it has the power output of a 305 in a 1984 Chevy half ton. People forget that most of these trucks are pushing 400hp! During the 80's and first half of the 90's, trucks were doing good to break 200hp. I can hook my 87 K-5 Blazer to one of my trailers, and pull 6,000lbs fine down the road. And that is with a massive rated 210hp...

 

 

It sounds like if your putting a lift on it, then the truck will be somewhat of a play toy, in which case budgeting is not the first concern.... In this case, I would go with the 3/4 ton with the diesel... If budget is your first concern..

 

Have fun on the decision!!!

[wellinghurst]

My brother and I took his '07 3/4 ton suburban to Florida from KY about 3 months ago and got 22mpg with the new 6.0. Too bad that motor won't get that in an '03! This was a full load of people and luggage, but no trailer. I bet you diesel guys would love 22mpg!

 

Whatever that motor does with the new VVT-it works!

 

I agree with the previous note-if you're putting a 7-9" lift on it, you don't seem worried about spending the money-go with the diesel. Don't get me wrong, I would buy a diesel in a minute above my 6.0 '03, but I still wouldn't have made up the difference because I only put about 5,000 miles/year on mine. Since I will keep it for 10-12 years like I do all my trucks, resale wasn't an issue with me. For the amount I drive, the diesel for me didn't make sense.

[dreese_us]

Not sure if money is a factor on your decision, but GM has a calculator for medium duty trucks that may apply here. Here is the link to the site.

 

http://www.whygasengines.com/

 

When you enter the information, use Kodiac 4500 with 6.6 Duramax and it should be close.

[Erik F]

22 mpg? Is its 2wd?

[varsis]

I too am looking into this and am surprised. I am looking to do a lift too but I need to buy something used my budget isn't for a new one but a used one for about 15,000 maybe 20 if im lucky. I am also wondering how these are for life? Do they go the 500k km's +? or do they die like most of the trucks out there. Also the tranny how are they? is the 6L backed by something that would handle maybe a 8ich? I know people with a 1/2 ton gas probably 5.3L and they have some 36 mickey thompsons with 8 or 6 even im not sure. But they seem to be okay with it.

[Highmiles]

I have had two HD gas powered GM products with no regrets. Have gotten 235K out of one, and have 150K on a 6.0. In my area, diesel is almost always more expensive. I get 14-15.5 mpg. I did not do the math, but it would be interesting to run the numbers, my guess is the gas comes out cheaper despite the mileage/resale $.

[ak63]

I bought the gas 2500HD in my sig after much thought and a test drive of the diesel version. My final choice came down to usage. I only tow or haul stuff less than 25% of the time, largely in flat country, so could not see a benefit to diesel. Also a diesel engine costs more to maintain (I've read arguments for/against this), and I didn't want the new and untested diesel emissions stuff which appears to also lower mileage. That plus the extra cost pushed me to the gas.