GM's Duramax Diesel engine

gmason · Oct 2, 2001

GM\'s Duramax Diesel engine

Hello all, I'm looking at the GM line of trucks with this new Diesel engine that was introduced in last years trucks. They are a lot more quiet that the Ford/Dodge lines. It produces 300hp and has a turbocharger.

Has anyone been driving one of the models? Do they seem powerful enough when towing?

thanks for any comments

gary

Devildog · Oct 2, 2001

Re: GM\'s Duramax Diesel engine

Gary,
Here is a good place to ask Check This One Out there is a duramax forum there. Hope this helps.

ON EDIT: they also have the ford and dodge forums to.
______________________________________________
Take care, Jim

2001 B7500 HST 302 Fel R4 Tires, Befco BRB60
Semper FidelisEdited by Devildog on 10/02/01 03:09 PM (server time).

JATO_RaT · Oct 2, 2001

Re: GM\'s Duramax Diesel engine

Gary, good question. I have only heard good things about this Isuzu diesel for the GM. Perhaps its because of the lack of a good diesel for the GM trucks that has finally made this diesel such a big hit for them. Isuzu builds great diesels. I'm all for the quieter diesel. There are some owners that feel the noisy big truck sound on their light duty trucks is neat, I have never been one of them. The design is a V8. My understanding that this stock engine is the most powerful light duty truck diesel available. If I was in the market for a new truck, this one would get a serious look. I would love to replace my Ford 7.3L non turbo International Navistar diesel. For all that displacement, its pretty anemic. The Allison transmission coupled to the GM/Isuzu diesel is a great combination. Rat...

StanInCalif · Oct 2, 2001

Re: GM\'s Duramax Diesel engine

Some of us are concerned about the aluminum heads and alloy rods- but maybe we're just old-fashioned. BTW- the current Ford turbocharged, aftercooled power stroke is way more engine than the original.

stan

JATO_RaT · Oct 2, 2001

Re: GM\'s Duramax Diesel engine

I know Stan, the Powerstroke is a huge improvement. I have driven it and must say, there is no comparision, that engine really puts out the energy, I keep wondering if I went to the junkyard (auto dismantler) and found a wrecked Ford with a PowerStroke if I could just sort of slip it into my truck and do a direct trade with the junk folks, hmmm, that would work but it won't happen, Rat...

Devildog · Oct 3, 2001

Re: GM\'s Duramax Diesel engine

I have a 96 ford powerstroke and the newer ones have alot more power plus they are quieter than mine. I heard one of them duramaxes the other day and man them things are quiet.
___________________________________________________
Take care all, Jim

2001 B7500 HST 302 Fel R4 Tires, Befco BRB60
Semper Fidelis

DRFoster · Oct 3, 2001

Re: GM\'s Duramax Diesel engine

I have a Chevy 2500 HD Crew Cab Long Box with the Duramax/Allison combo. I've had it since January and couldn't be happier! The truck has a ton of power and is a towing beast.

During the winter I tow a 5000+ pound enclosed snowmobile trailer. During the summer I tow a 6000+ pound camp trailer/atv hauler. There's a section of I-80 between Evanston, WY and Ft. Bridger WY with three really good sized hills known as the 3 sisters. With my previous truck ('98 Dodge 12v Cummins, 5 speed) towing the camp trailer, I'd slow down to 50'ish at the crest of each hill. With the Chevy, I set the cruise on 70 and it holds it up and over these hills w/no drop in speed. It downshifts and does work at it but the power differential is amazing.

So far, I've had a few minor glitches (air flow sensor, ...) but nothing that would cause me to reconsider my choice. I did drive the latest Ford and Dodge diesels when I bought my Chevy. The quiter engine, the Allison transmission and the great power all pushed me towards the Chevy.

JATO_RaT · Oct 3, 2001

Re: GM\'s Duramax Diesel engine

DRFoster, the quietness of the engine has got to be a huge bonus. I know more folks who would have bought a Ford or Dodge in the past with a diesel if the things weren't so noisy, particularly at idle. I know that the salesman for Dodge said it was the one thing they were hoping for with the new 24 valve Cummins. I think the relative quietness of the Isuzu diesel will have a lot of folks considering the diesel engine when they never would before. Watch for it to become a priority for Ford and Dodge. Rat...

RobertN · Oct 4, 2001

Re: GM\'s Duramax Diesel engine

I know that section of highway! Coming up the Wasatch out of Salt Lake is steep too, I think steeper than pulling Donner.

Curious if you geared the new truck differently? I know the additional power of the Duramax would make it easier to pull, but are there other differences in the trucks that might be a factor?

Based on what Mark Chalkey has done to his Dodge, it would be easy to match the Duramax power. But, it is hard to beat the new tranny. Also, based on what I 've read, the Duramax is more expensive than the Cummins or Power Stroke, although that was general stuff on the web, not published facts. It would be cheap to chip and exhuast either motor to make comparable power.

My new Dodge is noisy. It's pretty quiet inside, but outside, wow!

I think it will be exciting to see how Dodge and Ford respond to this. Both the Cummins and Powerstroke are capable of lots more power, if they fit them with a tranny to handle it. It will be interesting to see if they work with the existing engines, or go with something new.

I bought my truck for the long haul; I hope they get better engines, but I'll be sticking with mine for a long time...

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

Devildog · Oct 4, 2001

Re: GM\'s Duramax Diesel engine

Gary
Drive all 3, Check out the diesel site forums ask questions and then since they all are pretty evenly matched it will come down to what your personnel preferance is. I dont like the brand wars because they all have there pros and cons as with anything they all are good machines just like tractors. Also if you are new to diesels there is little more maintenance to them unless you have the dealer do it then you wont have nothing to worry about. If you plan on towing in mountains you might want to think of getting a exhaust brake which is known as a jake brake on the big trucks. It uses the engine to slow down verses smoking your brakes. Also if you are thinking of buying used like I did, Is to do an oil analysis to see what the mechanical shape the engine is in. Well that is enough to get your head spinning/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
____________________________________________________
Take care, Jim

2001 B7500 HST 302 Fel R4 Tires, Befco BRB60
Semper Fidelis