New 6.0l Did Pretty Good

k3500CC8.1 · July 2, 2007

The Pickuptruck.com shoot out shows the 6.0L did pretty good against the diesels, even out running them at certain points in the test. I really like test like this, not what someone's friend of a friend said about a truck. You hear alot of the diesel fans talk about how a gas engine is not any comparison to the diesel if you need to tow. Or you hear, unloaded my Duramax will just leave 6.0L's and 8.1L's breathless, no comparsion. Well, here you have a little small block showing some pretty good guts. You also hear diesel guys talking about how gas engines can't compare to the torque outpout of diesels, and that's what matters when towing. Yeah, it's great to have, but people seem to forgot your getting only about 1300 rpm's worth of power out of the diesel. The 6.0L excells because it's power is spread out over nearly 6,000rpms of power. Different approach applied towards the same task, pulling a load.

With a nearly 300 ft-lbs advantage, you would think the diesels would just smoke the small block according to the torque is everything line you hear so often. I'm not saying the 6.0L is a better towing engine than the diesel, but for a $7K price premium, you'd think the difference would be much more noticeable. To bad the 8.1L wasn't still around for the test. The outcome would have been interest to say the least :-)

BAgerton13 · July 2, 2007

So far I love my 6.0L. My plan is get a little help from Ed Curtis @ FTI with the torque curve and number.

JoshS · July 2, 2007

Good articles. Looking forward to part 3!

omegafiler · July 3, 2007

After driving the 6.0l 2500 HD, I think it has plenty of power. Only thing holding it back off the line is GM's aggressive TM. But the $7k price difference is crazy... you'd have to really want that diesel.

s-ten · July 3, 2007

That was a good article. From the sounds of it much of the abilities that the new 6.0 has is due in a large part to the gearing in the new 6L90E. Overall it is pretty impressive.

LBYGUY · July 3, 2007

One of the best stories I've read in a long time. They did a great job testing. Cant wait to see the hill climb results!!!

2017HD · July 3, 2007

I like mine - tows the Arctic Fox 22H down the road like a real champ. Went over Cabbage Hill on I84 in Oregon in 4th gear, kept the revs between 3000 and 4000 and the speed was between 50 and 60. Downhill, the grade braking allowed a safe desent without haveing to touch the brakes.

ak63 · July 4, 2007

Thanks for the article, and fortunately reinforces my choice to buy my gas 2500HD based on my expected use.

2017HD · July 4, 2007

The only mistake I saw was in the spec table in part 1 where they say the 2500HD with the 3.73 rear end has a GCWR of 18500 when in reality it has a 16500lb rating- the 18500 is with the 4.10 rear end. I also noticed that they tested with 4wd engaged-it also looked like the track was wet. I am not sure that this is a recommended practice and how much effects it might have had on the results.

peter34668 · July 5, 2007

The Pickuptruck.com shoot out shows the 6.0L did pretty good against the diesels, even out running them at certain points in the test. I really like test like this, not what someone's friend of a friend said about a truck. You hear alot of the diesel fans talk about how a gas engine is not any comparison to the diesel if you need to tow. Or you hear, unloaded my Duramax will just leave 6.0L's and 8.1L's breathless, no comparsion. Well, here you have a little small block showing some pretty good guts. You also hear diesel guys talking about how gas engines can't compare to the torque outpout of diesels, and that's what matters when towing. Yeah, it's great to have, but people seem to forgot your getting only about 1300 rpm's worth of power out of the diesel. The 6.0L excells because it's power is spread out over nearly 6,000rpms of power. Different approach applied towards the same task, pulling a load.

With a nearly 300 ft-lbs advantage, you would think the diesels would just smoke the small block according to the torque is everything line you hear so often. I'm not saying the 6.0L is a better towing engine than the diesel, but for a $7K price premium, you'd think the difference would be much more noticeable. To bad the 8.1L wasn't still around for the test. The outcome would have been interest to say the least :-)

I have had both the 6.0L Gas and the 6.6L Diesel and I have to say they are 2 different animals.

The long story is in February of last year I bought a GMC 2500 4x4 extended cab SLT with the 6.0L. It was a great truck it had adequate power for me but I didn't do much heavy towing. After I had it for a year I convinced my buddy to buy a Chevy truck when his diesel blazer with 300k mikes finally blew a head gasket. He is a diesel man so he purchased the 07 classic with the diesel.

We swapped trucks for a day and I really liked the Alison transmission and the way it would down shift in tow mode. I also like the torque of his diesel truck. You could really feel the power on this rig and more then that it sounded like a real truck. At this point I was hooked but I could not justify getting a new truck after only having mine for less then a year.

A month goes by and another friend of mine takes a ride in my 06 gasser and my buddies 07 classic diesel. He ends up buying a GMC 07 classic diesel extended cab long bed because he said out of the 2 he like the mileage of the diesel

At this point I'm really getting heat from them for having the only gasser in our bunch. The real sad part was I ended up racing the first buddy and I won't say he smoked me but I did pull away and beat me. The 3 of us hang out all the time and have common interest. We are all shade tree mechanics so there are always projects needing to be pulled from here or there. Every time the situation would come up I would get the "Let a real truck do it" and I would end up in the back seat while one of them does the tow.

Well 3 weeks ago I went looking to see what was out there in the way of a new style 07 (LMM) and found my dream truck. My intent was not to buy it but just to see what my truck was worth and if I liked the new style truck. Well I found one I love, it's a 2500, crew cab, Z71, SLT with every option including the Duramax and Alison. 2 weeks ago I traded in my 06 on the 07.5 and I love this truck. I don't love the grief I got at home for spending the money on a new truck when I was already driving a new truck but I do love the truck.

Now keep in mind I'm going from a 6.0 gas engine with a 4 speed auto to a 6.6 Diesel with a 6 speed Alison. So when I compare the 2 I'm not just comparing the engines but the engine-tranny.

The diesel has more power and I don't care what anyone says there is no question in my mind. Also with the 6 speed the engine is always in the right gear and that make a big difference. The big misconception that I saw posted here is how there is only power for 1300 RPMs. OMG that is wrong and only applies to old diesel engines. The news ones have plenty of power well up to 4400 rpm. I have yet to have to wait for a glow plug and on the highway at 65 MPH I get 19 MPG. I have yet to smell any diesel fumes and the exhaust smells like propane. These new trucks also do not have any of the black exhaust that we commonly associate with a diesel engine.

The other point I need to clear up is the $7500 more it cost for the diesel. First off diesel is cheaper and second my 06 would average 11 MPG and the best would be 14. With this truck my average is 15.8 and the best is 19/20. Also the resale value of a diesel is much higher especially when you get past 150k. On a gas truck the buyer things wow... that's a lot of mikes where as on a diesel the buyer thinks hmm it's half way through. Don't get me wrong I know gas engines can go way past 150k mile but the perception is there anyway and if you don't believe me look at KBB and do a comparison.

The common downsides to a diesel are said to be:

Smoke - there is NONE

Noise - Not on the GMC. You can hear it's a diesel but it's not nearly as loud as they old diesels are. I also love to hear the turbo!

Fuel availability - This one is true, only 25% of the fuel stations in my area sell diesel. However that means that there are 6 stations local to me that have the fuel.

Repair cost - Perhaps but I will not know for a long time. With modern engines there is not much us back yard mechanics can do anyway diesel or gas/

----

The upsides is

Reliability - A diesel is known to be more reliable but IMHO both are reliable

Resale value - Don't think anyone here can say otherwise

Longevity - Again, you can't ague with that one.

MPG - That's a fact too

HP and Torque - yup there again

Now with the above being said there is some defiance's that should be addressed. My old gas engine would coast very well where as this one slows down when I let off the accelerator. Also a gas engine is something I understand better on how it works but give me time on that one.

In the end here and I know I am rambling... Hands down the 6.6 is a much better engine for ME but that doesn't make it the best engine for everyone. It's faster, stronger and feels more like a man's truck. The only thing I ask is before you guys say how bad a diesel is go and experience one with an open mind. Mash down the accelerator and see what you think...

It's easy to cut on things you haven't tried. Also if you haven't tried a modern Duramax you are just not comparing apples and apples.

k3500CC8.1 · July 5, 2007

Peter34668,

I think the point of this topic is to steer people towards a well done measured test on all the Big 3's heavy duty offerings. Not hearsay. I think a lot of people will be surpised to read that the 6.0L outran the Duramax unloaded in the quarter mile. And the difference in timeslips towing goes against the typical thinking that a truck with a 300 ft/lbs disadvantage can't tow anywhere near what a diesel would. Part 3 will be interesting with the grade climb. The diesels should shine a bit better here..

I would have never considered a 6.0L, but I had to buy a new 07 K2500 Suburban and GM didn't offer the 8.1L, so that's what I got. I very happy with it's performance and mileage. At interstate cruising speeds above 80mph, the sub is getting better mileage than my 03 K3500 Duramax did at the same speed... All the 6.0L's I test drove prior to 07 felt gutless, but the 07 really gets going above 3500rpms and by 4500rpms, you really start to question if this thing is underrated on it's HP output. In Suburban form, the 6.0L's weakness is getting to 3500rpms, especially with the 4L80E's first gear ratio and while towing large weight's, but once there, all is good.. It look's like the new 6 speed auto really helps in the area.

I don't think anyone is saying the 6.0L is a better engine than the Duramax, especially for daily heavy usage... But, you pay a significant premium for the Duramax, and more people maybe asking if it's worth it especially with it's ever increasing complexity. It's nice to see a test like this so people can get factual data. The one thing they need to add to the test is mileage for unloaded and loaded conditions. It might help to clear up the myth of the diesel's get twice the real world mileage as a gas engine. Apparently, my 06 8.1L is suppose to be getting 10mpg unloaded and 5 mpg while pulling a load. It must be a big secret because my truck doesn't know about it, or maybe that A I got way back in College Calculus was a shame.

After reading the test, I think most people will agree that all the offerings from Ford, GM, and Dodge are more than up to the task of doing some serious work in style.

peter34668 · July 5, 2007

Peter34668,

I think the point of this topic is to steer people towards a well done measured test on all the Big 3's heavy duty offerings. Not hearsay. I think a lot of people will be surpised to read that the 6.0L outran the Duramax unloaded in the quarter mile. And the difference in timeslips towing goes against the typical thinking that a truck with a 300 ft/lbs disadvantage can't tow anywhere near what a diesel would. Part 3 will be interesting with the grade climb. The diesels should shine a bit better here..

I would have never considered a 6.0L, but I had to buy a new 07 K2500 Suburban and GM didn't offer the 8.1L, so that's what I got. I very happy with it's performance and mileage. At interstate cruising speeds above 80mph, the sub is getting better mileage than my 03 K3500 Duramax did at the same speed... All the 6.0L's I test drove prior to 07 felt gutless, but the 07 really gets going above 3500rpms and by 4500rpms, you really start to question if this thing is underrated on it's HP output. In Suburban form, the 6.0L's weakness is getting to 3500rpms, especially with the 4L80E's first gear ratio and while towing large weight's, but once there, all is good.. It look's like the new 6 speed auto really helps in the area.

I don't think anyone is saying the 6.0L is a better engine than the Duramax, especially for daily heavy usage... But, you pay a significant premium for the Duramax, and more people maybe asking if it's worth it especially with it's ever increasing complexity. It's nice to see a test like this so people can get factual data. The one thing they need to add to the test is mileage for unloaded and loaded conditions. It might help to clear up the myth of the diesel's get twice the real world mileage as a gas engine. Apparently, my 06 8.1L is suppose to be getting 10mpg unloaded and 5 mpg while pulling a load. It must be a big secret because my truck doesn't know about it, or maybe that A I got way back in College Calculus was a shame.

After reading the test, I think most people will agree that all the offerings from Ford, GM, and Dodge are more than up to the task of doing some serious work in style.

I admit I am bit over enthusiastic about this truck and the Duramax/Alison. The reason is that for years I did the same thing as many other people and look at the diesel as some odd beast because I didn't understand it nor personally experience it. Now after owning one I can't believe I have gone so long without one.

I know they are not the right choice for everyone nor every vehicle. I wouldn't want one in a sports car but for a heavy duty truck it does feel like a perfect match. What is down right surprising is how the subject triggers so much heat. It may be worse then the Ford/Chevy debate. You have been well mannered and educated in your response but that is not always the case. Just bringing up a diesel in a gas community can set some people off.

I must learn to cool my tone and respond with "yeah, it nice" but secretly I look for any chance to drive it.

k3500CC8.1 · July 5, 2007

Peter34668,

I think the point of this topic is to steer people towards a well done measured test on all the Big 3's heavy duty offerings. Not hearsay. I think a lot of people will be surpised to read that the 6.0L outran the Duramax unloaded in the quarter mile. And the difference in timeslips towing goes against the typical thinking that a truck with a 300 ft/lbs disadvantage can't tow anywhere near what a diesel would. Part 3 will be interesting with the grade climb. The diesels should shine a bit better here..

I would have never considered a 6.0L, but I had to buy a new 07 K2500 Suburban and GM didn't offer the 8.1L, so that's what I got. I very happy with it's performance and mileage. At interstate cruising speeds above 80mph, the sub is getting better mileage than my 03 K3500 Duramax did at the same speed... All the 6.0L's I test drove prior to 07 felt gutless, but the 07 really gets going above 3500rpms and by 4500rpms, you really start to question if this thing is underrated on it's HP output. In Suburban form, the 6.0L's weakness is getting to 3500rpms, especially with the 4L80E's first gear ratio and while towing large weight's, but once there, all is good.. It look's like the new 6 speed auto really helps in the area.

I don't think anyone is saying the 6.0L is a better engine than the Duramax, especially for daily heavy usage... But, you pay a significant premium for the Duramax, and more people maybe asking if it's worth it especially with it's ever increasing complexity. It's nice to see a test like this so people can get factual data. The one thing they need to add to the test is mileage for unloaded and loaded conditions. It might help to clear up the myth of the diesel's get twice the real world mileage as a gas engine. Apparently, my 06 8.1L is suppose to be getting 10mpg unloaded and 5 mpg while pulling a load. It must be a big secret because my truck doesn't know about it, or maybe that A I got way back in College Calculus was a shame.

After reading the test, I think most people will agree that all the offerings from Ford, GM, and Dodge are more than up to the task of doing some serious work in style.

I admit I am bit over enthusiastic about this truck and the Duramax/Alison. The reason is that for years I did the same thing as many other people and look at the diesel as some odd beast because I didn't understand it nor personally experience it. Now after owning one I can't believe I have gone so long without one.

I know they are not the right choice for everyone nor every vehicle. I wouldn't want one in a sports car but for a heavy duty truck it does feel like a perfect match. What is down right surprising is how the subject triggers so much heat. It may be worse then the Ford/Chevy debate. You have been well mannered and educated in your response but that is not always the case. Just bringing up a diesel in a gas community can set some people off.

I must learn to cool my tone and respond with "yeah, it nice" but secretly I look for any chance to drive it.

Over enthusiastic, Heck No!!! You just bought a truck that can get near 20mpg unloaded, tow 8 tons with easy, and be programmed to run a 13 sec. 1/4 mile for about $500. If that's not worth getting excited for, than I don't know what is!!! And it's from the General :-)

peter34668 · July 5, 2007

Peter34668,

.

I admit I am bit over enthusiastic about this truck and the Duramax/Alison. The reason is that for years I did the same thing as many other people and look at the diesel as some odd beast because I didn't understand it nor personally experience it. Now after owning one I can't believe I have gone so long without one.

I know they are not the right choice for everyone nor every vehicle. I wouldn't want one in a sports car but for a heavy duty truck it does feel like a perfect match. What is down right surprising is how the subject triggers so much heat. It may be worse then the Ford/Chevy debate. You have been well mannered and educated in your response but that is not always the case. Just bringing up a diesel in a gas community can set some people off.

I must learn to cool my tone and respond with "yeah, it nice" but secretly I look for any chance to drive it.

Over enthusiastic, Heck No!!! You just bought a truck that can get near 20mpg unloaded, tow 8 tons with easy, and be programmed to run a 13 sec. 1/4 mile for about $500. If that's not worth getting excited for, than I don't know what is!!! And it's from the General :-)

Thanks!

I added some minor things like bed rails and a liner but I really want an aftermarket 52 gallon fuel tank. The stock 26 gals in any truck gas or diesel is just too small.

I might have to hide that purchase from the GF, she has already has given me a list of things we needed more then the truck

2017HD · July 6, 2007

You can not compare the old 4speed tranny to the new 6speed tranny in new 07. Even the reporters commented that the 6sp tranny was the key to GM's success with the 6.0L gasser.