2011 Silverado/Sierra

[JESSE1]

The 6.4 came out in June '07 in the new '08 models. It was used in the '08, 9 and '10 year models so actually it was around for 3 1/2 years. It's a very powerful, smooth engine, don't know any reason to avoid owning one. If Ford and International were still partners I'm sure it would still be used.

 

[Diamondpilot]

What kind of truck are you looking for exactly? I priced a bunch last year. 1-Ton 4x4 diesels. I ended up buying a used 6.0 Ford Diesel. So far the 6.0 has been fair but I either have an injection problem or worse. I need to have it looked at but I'm too scared to see the repair bill. Right now it runs ok, just real rough at start-up and until it gets warm, then no problem. I'm gonna do a EGR/Cooler delete sometime in the near future.

I priced the Duramax 1-Ton 4x4 (I need single cab for my truck, which is very hard to find used) at about $40K, +/-2K, depending on options etc. Dodge was slightly cheaper, maybe in the $36K range. Ford was about even with Chevy, but no way I would get the 6.4 when they only put the engine in the truck for 2 years. IMO, the 6.4 engine should be avoided like the plague. I know they are somewhat similar to the 6.0 but only having 2 model years makes it an odd duck and I predict that resale value is way lower than a comprable 6.0 or the newer 6.7.

I would pick the duramax simply because it's the most proven engine right now....

What oil are you running? If Rotella change. I have 2 6.0's and have heard of the same issues along with high fuel consumption running Rotella. This engine has hydraulic injectors that are opened by oil pressure. The story I got is Rotella foams causing issues. I run Dello 400 or Mobil Delvac with no issue on 2 trucks and 160,000 miles.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

The 6.4 came out in June '07 in the new '08 models. It was used in the '08, 9 and '10 year models so actually it was around for 3 1/2 years. It's a very powerful, smooth engine, don't know any reason to avoid owning one. If Ford and International were still partners I'm sure it would still be used.

I am with you. ONLY complaints I have heard on the 6.4 is high fuel consumption. 14mpg at best. I know well over 6 guys with them and they all love them for the comfort, power, and amenities. I have read that if you delete the DPF you can get 20mpg. Also, the tech I know at Quadzilla said they make crazy power for not much money.

Chris

 

[brain55]

What kind of truck are you looking for exactly? I priced a bunch last year. 1-Ton 4x4 diesels.

I would pick the duramax simply because it's the most proven engine right now....

I need a truck capable of towing 16K+ lbs. daily. I have a 28 ft. gooseneck trailer with a complete mobile shop inside for repairing CUT's, construction, and other equipment. I will easily put 20K miles a year on it primarily towing. It must be at least a 1-ton dually with 4wd and diesel engine. I agree with your statement about the Duramax being the most proven right now, along with the Allison. If I buy the GM product it will be a new one, it doesn't make much sense to not buy all of the improvements they made for 2011 model year. The only reason I am looking at the 2008 F450 was that it was local, in stock, I like the bigger chassis, and it was similar in price to a 2011 single cab K3500 Silverado/Sierra.

Brian

 

[Dargo]

I agree with your statement about the Duramax being the most proven right now...

I would strongly disagree with that statement. I feel, without any doubt, the Cummins engine is by a large margin the most proven engine in pickup trucks.

 

[schoolsout]

Well, I'm going to bite the bullet in the next week or so and buy a new truck. I have been fighting my 2001 GMC Sierra K3500 with the 8.1L and Allison for the last 2 years. It was a great truck and was nearly flawless for the first 165K miles.

I decided to have the engine and transmission gone through even though they hadn't shown signs of failure because I was going to start towing heavily everyday again and wanted to avoid buying a new truck for a few years.

I had both done at reputable shops, that I had done plenty of business with over the years. Unfortunately, my plan backfired. The engine almost immediately doubled its oil consumption and eventually had to come out and be rebuilt again. I think the transmission has been out 6 times now in the last 45K miles. I think it actually went 25-30K one stint but is acting up again right now. My workhorse has become unreliable and is costing me business. It is hard to go out and sell work when I am not sure if I will be able to make it to the job.

I avoided buying the Duramax the last time because it was the first year and I wasn't sure how they would hold up. Now that they have proven themselves I wouldn't have anything else. I'm pretty gun shy about looking at a Ford after their 6.0 fiasco. I have never been a Dodge/Cummins fan and I still don't think they have a transmission that will hold up. When I bought my GMC the transmission was the deciding factor. I was confident that the Allison would hold up to daily towing and I was right (at least until I "fixed" it).

The salesman is thinking I will need to order a truck. I am hoping to find one with most of the options I would like, mostly because I need a truck sooner than later. It has to be a dually with the Duramax/Allison, 4wd and cloth interior. The rest is negotiable. There is about a $10K price swing between what I have to have, and what I would like to have. I would prefer power windows and door locks, bluetooth and navigation would be nice. The factory navigation requires an extended cab which sucks, I only need a regular cab. Power seats would be a plus also.

He is telling me that I can order one with the 4.10:1 gears, but everything I have seen shows only the 3.73:1 ratio being available with the diesel. If I can actually order one with the 4.10's that might be nice with all of the towing I do.

Brian

Is Dodge using an Aisin transmission? I thought I read somewhere that they were.

If that is the case, they make good transmissions. Used in Isuzu/Mitsubishi Commercial trucks. I sell Isuzu and very, very rarely is there a transmission issue.

 

[schoolsout]

I am with you. ONLY complaints I have heard on the 6.4 is high fuel consumption. 14mpg at best. I know well over 6 guys with them and they all love them for the comfort, power, and amenities. I have read that if you delete the DPF you can get 20mpg. Also, the tech I know at Quadzilla said they make crazy power for not much money.

Chris

I've traded out many customers with the 6.4L that have had nothing but probs...

 

[schoolsout]

The 6.4 came out in June '07 in the new '08 models. It was used in the '08, 9 and '10 year models so actually it was around for 3 1/2 years. It's a very powerful, smooth engine, don't know any reason to avoid owning one. If Ford and International were still partners I'm sure it would still be used.

Hmmmm.....warranty disputes on 6.0 and 6.4 engines was part of the reason for break-up.

 

[brain55]

I would strongly disagree with that statement. I feel, without any doubt, the Cummins engine is by a large margin the most proven engine in pickup trucks.

Let me restate that. I think the Duramax/Allison is the most proven engine/transmission combo right now.

Brian

 

[Bigkrank]

A shop around has replaced several 6.4 engines in Ford trucks w/ Cummins, looks factory.

That being said, Duramax/Allison seems to be the hot ticket around here, sure like my 2007.5 as far as powertrain.