Duramax Diesel Questions

[JRolin]

Not sure what budget you looking at Steve.

I have had a few of them. All of them have been stout. Feel free to PM me if you need more advice than what Im covering.

The original 01-04.5 LB7 motor was prone to injector failure. My 2002 had the injectors replaced twice. Both times under a 200k / 7 year warranty. The 2nd set that was put in were a updated design and worked till the day I sold it.

The 04.5 -06 LLY motor was good. They all had the updated injectors. Folks that towed really heavy with them ran into over heating problems. However, this was remedied by "Stack Sealing". I never encountered any over heating in mine.

The 06-07 LBZ is the best. GM and Isuzu finally got everything refined right before the emissions bull**** started. It also is paired to the 6 speed Allison instead of the 5 speed from the previous year models.

The Allison transmission is a beast. If you can avoid using a programmer, you cant brake the thing. I towed a 26,000lb front loader with my 05. The motor worked like hell but the Allison didnt mind a bit.

The 14 bolt rear end that comes in the truck is extremely stout as well. You will brake the leaf springs / blow out your tires before you damage the axle.

The transfer case for the earlier year models had a issue with "pump scrub" which would rub a pin hole in the case causing a leak. Most folks wouldnt notice and it would eventually brake from running with no fluid. There is a update to repair this.

You can run a programmer and get good power. Just keep in mind, the Allison is weak with +100hp tunes in 4th and 5th gear. Keep the programmer on a lower setting to avoid damage.

Another way the GM/Allison defers from the older Dodge / Ford. The Allison is controlled by its on brain instead of sharing the ECM with the motor. It will "learn" and adapt to your driving style. Which was nice.

Hope this helps !

 

[JDG.]

Ford 6.0 is junk. If the egr delete has been done, headbolts replaced and oil tubes replaced the it'll last around 75/80k more. Not worth the headache.

where did you get these numbers? There are tons of 6.0's out there with well over 200k. EGR delete is the big issue and keeping the cooling system clean. If you know what cause the issue, you can either A. replace them with better parts, or B. keep proper care and inspection of the vehicles motor.

 

[JDG.]

Edit to add, I'm not super F250 and against the duramax. Dodge is the only one I wouldnt want because of the actually truck, not the engine. People just pass bad gouge without knowing the facts

 

[patracy]

I've had all of them.

7.3, 6.0 (oh lord), 5.9, 6.6

Rundown...

Interior = Ford
Horsepower = Chevy
Torque = Dodge (Cummins)

I'd stay well away from a 6.0 and their EGR and head gasket (bolts) issues. 7.3's are great, but you'll only find something with 200K miles now. I had an LB7 6.6. With nothing more than a chip it was at 400+ hp. BUT don't buy into the hype of the allison. While it's a great and stout transmission, they'll break just like the rest of them. I liked the engine in my dodge, but the rest of the truck was crap. Broken things here and there. I spent a fortune on turning it up. (Injectors, turbos, studs, valve springs, intake, exhaust, full billet trans, and a ton more) It put out 480hp on the dyno and 1100ft-lbs to the rear wheels. It would scoot.

If I were in the market for a "nice" truck. I'd probably go back to the duramax. I'm just a chevy guy. Although I could be swayed back to a dodge cummins if a deal were found. They do have straight axles still under them.

I'm tooling around in my 1985 Chevrolet M1008 CUCV (1 ton 4x4) with a 6.2 that I've turbo'ed. It's only got 30K miles on the clock. I just don't "need" a truck anymore. Especially with all the other deuces and 5 ton trucks I have.

 

[sniper22]

where did you get these numbers? There are tons of 6.0's out there with well over 200k. EGR delete is the big issue and keeping the cooling system clean. If you know what cause the issue, you can either A. replace them with better parts, or B. keep proper care and inspection of the vehicles motor.

From the 2 that I've wore out and pumped tons of money into. My 06 work truck has cost us $16k in the last year. Ill take any 02 or older pwr strk. I know they are good for up to 550k miles cause I've put that much on some I've had.
Yes I've owned 8 fords, 1 dodge and 2 Chevy diesels. The best of them all was my 07 chev.

 

[JDG.]

From the 2 that I've wore out and pumped tons of money into. My 06 work truck has cost us $16k in the last year. Ill take any 02 or older pwr strk. I know they are good for up to 550k miles cause I've put that much on some I've had.
Yes I've owned 8 fords, 1 dodge and 2 Chevy diesels. The best of them all was my 07 chev.

Im not disputing anything about your claim besides the numbers you made. EGR delete, Headstuds, AND coolant swap to ELC and the engine is bullet proofed as they say. Its mostly the gold coolant ford put in there that cuases most all the engine problems

 

[sniper22]

Im not disputing anything about your claim besides the numbers you made. EGR delete, Headstuds, AND coolant swap to ELC and the engine is bullet proofed as they say. Its mostly the gold coolant ford put in there that cuases most all the engine problems

Got one now that's had everything you named done and is struggling to wake every day. We also changed to turbo and added a block heater(cause they don't come on all of em anymore). For some reason, it eats fuel pumps, we are on the third one and its not well, we change both fuel filters every 2 weeks or so. I'm sure there are some 6.0's worth having but I promise you one thing, I'll never buy or own another.
On a lighter side the 6.7 ford stroke if tough as the old 7.3 from the best I can tell.

 

[JDG.]

hmm well there are always some crappy ones. I think OS would be better off with a duramax. I llike to tinker so the nicer interior of the ford wins me over

 

[Okuma]

I don't do a lot of heavy hauling, just a landscape trailer and boats. My budget is pretty low, trying to find something for less than $10k.

Personally I've only owned Chevy trucks and I have loved every one of them, but never a diesel. Just looked at some 07 Chevys on Autotrader, folks are proud of those!

 

[JDG.]

for 10k, youll be hurting. prob looking at a low end with over 200k miles. Guys love their diesels