diesel pickups

[Dargo]

In the "diesel" crowds, the Isuzu diesel is not as well received and respected as the Ford or Dodge. I have several friends who own GM dealerships and they are heavily pressuring GM to get a different diesel supplier for the GM diesel pickups.

 

[_RaT_]

Odd, everyone, I mean everyone that I have talked too loves the Duramax diesel. I must not be talking to the "diesel" crowds, but then, I don't really hang with any crowds that would accept me as a member. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[KAB]

The only reason that I here of why they would want to get a different supplier for diesel is supply. The dealers would love to have more of the Duramax diesel but the plant (located in Ohio) is running at full production. Also at last search Isuzu wass in the top 3 of worldwide diesel production. (I actually think it was the top 2)

Kurt

 

[Dargo]

Several of my friends are ASE Master mechanics that work at GM dealers. They are Chevy loyalists to the end. Heck, one of 'em has a number "3" tattoo on his arm and also a "Chevrolet bowtie" right under that.

He wants a diesel truck in a big way, but even though he works on the Duramax engines each week, he won't buy one. Apparently the GM Duramax engine was not an existing, proven, Isuzu engine, but a new design. He has been very displeased with GM using the "sweep it under the rug" and act like the problem doesn't exist rather than address the issues. They do have issues. Just do a search on the internet, or ask a few diesel mechanics.

Heck, even my own father and his best friends are positive Chevrolet nuts, and they won't buy a GM diesel. His friend who owns a custom home building company tried two of them, but had constant head problems with the Duramax. He now drives a PowerStroke. He says he wanted the Cummins diesel, but just couldn't take the ribbing he would get after running Dodges down for the last 40 years. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Now he gets it from all his friends for driving a Ford. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Mosey]

I guess I'll throw in a couple more things. The Duramax is a great engine, we've not had any problems and it comes stock with a lot of power. Maybe people don't like the idea of it being an Isuzu and not an American engine. I try to buy American made products myself whenever I can. But, don't forget that everything these days is a mix of American and foreign parts and labor. I worked for Cummins for 7 years and I can tell you for a fact that even though the Dodge pickup diesel engine is assembled here in Columbus IN, a lot of the work and parts are outsourced to companies outside the US and they are pushing hard to send even more of it overseas. Yes, the Duramax engine is a new design, but it was designed by a company with over 60 years of experience in designing and building diesel engines and it was a joint project with GM. Check the Duramax web site and under FAQ www.duramaxdiesel.com it states:

Q: Where is the final assembly point for the Duramax Diesel?
A: Flint and Pontiac East (both located in Michigan) manufacturing facilities are the final assembly locations for the Duramax Diesel.

Q: Does GM have part ownership in Isuzu and Allison, and was that part of the reason in selecting them as a vendor?
A: Yes, General Motors owns a piece of Isuzu. However, GM looked at every diesel manufacturer individually to develop a new diesel engine. Isuzu offered the best product. GM owns all of Allison, but it is an independent business.

Q: Is The Duramax engine another "converted gas engine?"
A: No, this engine was designed from the ground up with the most current technology by Isuzu Motors Limited. Isuzu has designed and built high-quality diesel engines for over 60 years.

I get tired of buying foreign products all the time too, since I feel like I should help the US economy rather than some unappreciative foreigners, but unfortunately it's either that or go without. Almost everything I buy nowadays seems to come from China. I wanted to buy an inflatable water slide for the kids - they are all made in China. In my opinion, the Cummins, Duramax, and Navistar diesels are all excellent engines. The Cummins engines are built in Columbus IN, the Duramax engines are built in Flint and Pontiac East MI, and the Navistar engines are build in Indianapolis IN.

 

[Bird]

Mosey, I think a lot of people object to the idea of the engine being an Isuzu simply because of a lack of familiarity with Isuzu diesels since they no longer sell the diesel sedans and small diesel pickups in this country. Personally, I was glad to hear GM went with an Isuzu engine. I owned an Isuzu diesel sedan at one time, my dad had one of the little pickup trucks, and I knew several other people who owned them. I don't recall ever talking to an Isuzu diesel engine owner who was not happy with it. Of course they were all, admittedly, the 4 cylinder diesels of the 1980s.

 

[edski]

Dargo,
I have a '02 DMax w/ near 60K miles and love it.
To date, my experience has been 100% positive.
It's much quieter than the PStroke or Cummings, and isn't tuned to blow black smoke ever time you put your foot in it.

All,
I went to a drag strip last Sat (my 1st) and ran this truck.
It's an 1/8 mile track.
My best time was 9.67 sec, not bad for a 7K+# diesel.
Even left the trailer hitch on (called it my wheely stand).
Granted, not the 11 sec 1/4 mile video that's posted above.

Let's face it...Dodge, Ford, GM...they get nicer every year.
If you tow heavy loads, IMHO, diesel is the way to go.

 

[gsxr1100]

I like the gm diesels. I would take that motor over there old gm diesels...talk about bad...

Oh, you forgot diesel is the way to also go in tractors! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Dargo]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( All,
I went to a drag strip last Sat (my 1st) and ran this truck.
It's an 1/8 mile track.
My best time was 9.67 sec, not bad for a 7K+# diesel.
Even left the trailer hitch on (called it my wheely stand).
Granted, not the 11 sec 1/4 mile video that's posted above.

Let's face it...Dodge, Ford, GM...they get nicer every year.
If you tow heavy loads, IMHO, diesel is the way to go.
)</font>

Look up the records in each class of diesel drags and in each class of diesel pickup truck pulls; the Cummins is tops in each class. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I had a 6.2 and a 6.5 GM diesel. Perhaps that is why I'll hold off for quite a while before I venture to anything GM diesel (much to my dad's displeasure). I spoke with Harold, the GM master tech at the Chevy store, and he told me that they are on a 2nd version of the Duramax now. He is still upset with some "obvious" change that GM should make, but won't. Apparently it's the cash flow problem with GM. I've also had a 7.3 Powerstroke (1997) F250 4X4. Now I have a '96 Dodge that is rather bombed. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Of all the diesel trucks, I'd say that I like the ride and drive of the Ford the best, the Allison in the Chevy, and the Cummins in the Dodge. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif So I need a F350 crew cab 4X4 dually with a juiced Cummins with the Allison transmission behind it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[johnday]

Dargo; Dream on. Thats only a dream I wish could come true myself. Now maybe if they routed everything thru some third world country....nah, never happen! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif