Anybody running a Chevy Duramax?

[the-ex-files]

My Pappy might be buying a new Chevy Duramax Diesel. Have any of you fellow owners had any problems? I hear they can get into the high teens in mpg. Any problems running in winter? Some diesels don't do to good in the cold. Thanks for th help!

[GNCC#829]

I love mine. I have gotten as good as 25 mpg. I also have never had any problems in the winter. Over two winters I have never used that "bra" that they gave me, and It always gets warm. I noticed that the Allison Tranny runs about 25 degrees cooler when it is real cold out. I have heard of people having problems with the bottom end of the motor, but no one that I know. If he gets one, he won't regret it.

[GNCC#829]

Forgot to mention. Going to work every day (7 miles on way) I get about 15mpg. And average on the interstate is about 17 mpg.

[MOFO]

A buddy of mine has two of them. A 2500HD 4x4 4 door and a 3500HD 4x4 4 door dually. Both are used for his escavation business and haul heavy equipment daily. I think the 2500 has around 80-90,000 miles and the only problem was his injectors working loose. Simple fix. His 3500 has around 40,000 miles and is also used to haul his 38ft 5th wheel camper around. Neither truck has had tranny problems or major engine problems. Before this he had a couple Ford Powerstrokes and likes the GMC's alot better. Much nicer truck all around.

I think he gets around 17-18mpg highway unloaded and around 12-13mpg loaded (over 5,000lb load or more)

I know if I had the extra cash, I would be driving one...

[GOMER007]

yaa there good trucksI've heard the first year one guy was driving dwon the road and the thing just whent in to reverse on it's own
(I've only heard of that happing onse):ermm:
I like the new dodge wit da cummins! :devil:

[L.Vegas400]

i help a guy at the dunes here that had a brand new one. he gernaded the front u-joint and it knocked a big hole in his oil filter. he wanted to drive it out to the hiway. :rolleyes: i saw it happen and he was maybe going two or three mph.

cummins is the king of diesel mpg.

[Glow Plug]

get a cummins :D

[JustRace]

My dads new one is AVERAGING 19mpg, and he is loving it.

[Glow Plug]

my dad said he used to average 24 mpg on his older 96 psd (before he sold it) but then again that isn't us gallons i emm think

[Adam202]

we looked at some today, my mom and grandma are getting a 2500 hd duramax SLT its 40,000$+, this is the exact truck i would dream to have. Chevy trucks own.

[Taco]

Originally posted by Glow Plug
my dad said he used to average 24 mpg on his older 96 psd (before he sold it) but then again that isn't us gallons i emm think lol or miles

[mrusk]

I am 17 and got 1900 miles on my first truck. Its a 2003 2500hd. I couldnt afford the dmax/allison but i got the 6.0. It is a pretty good engine. I love this truck. Its an LS, extended cab, short bed, bose sound system. Its dark metallic green. The truck looks awesome when its all waxed up. Once i order my billet grill and a few other parts it will look even sicker.

No my dad did not buy this for me. The truck is in my dads name but i give him the money each month for the payment. At age 17, it is impossible to get a 34k line of credit. You guys may still be wondering how i afford this. Well, i work my *** off. I pay alot each month, but i always have extra $ in my pocket because i work hard. I work 70hrs a week during the summer, i don't have to, but i do so i can get all sorts of cool stuff for the truck. I cant wait to pull into the school parking lot on the first day.

matt

[Bad Habit]

Originally posted by MOFO
Before this he had a couple Ford Powerstrokes and likes the GMC's alot better. Much nicer truck all around.

:grr: :cuss: :blah: Don't just stroke it, POWER stroke it.:macho
I get about 11-12 pulling my 11,000lb camper/toy hauler.

Actually, since they came out with the Duramax and Allison 5sp auto, I have considered getting a Cheby. Boy, I know my dad is turning over in his grave as I say this. He raised me in a hardcore Ford household. I think I was like 12 before I knew anyone else made trucks.:D The Duramax is the best motor for upgrading too. New chip, exhuast, air intake mod and sssshhhaaaaaaaawing.

[crazybuffalo]

my neighbor has one and he loves it. he uses it for everything.he runs a land excevating thing with his dad and brother. he uses it there all the time and has never had a problem yet.id say to go for it.

[jokerman_28]

quit PowerStrokin and start Cummin! go dodge

[Adam202]

Originally posted by jokerman_28
quit PowerStrokin and start Cummin! go dodge cummins are nice, but dodge/chrysler is the worst company ever, id rather buy a Kia....... [not really but you get my point]

[JD400exrider]

I have a friend that has one and has had no problems. Loves it.

I bought The Dodge Cummins 2500 quad cab last week. It was a between the Duramax and the Dodge Cummins. (I don't do fords)
I have heard the duramax has had problems with head gaskets blowing in the earlier years. Cast iron block and aluminum head. I think they have this problem fixed with a special head gasket.
The Allison trany speaks for itself.

I could not beat the price and deal I was getting on the Dodge. Chevy was a few thousand dollars more for the same truck. Same warrenty 100,000 on the motor.
Cummins is a proven motor been around a long time. I asked many people who owned the cumnmins. They all had no complaints. If the D max was in the same price range I would have looked at the D max allot closer.
My past trucks were Chevy & GMC Wife drives a Chevy Tahoe. GM makes good trucks .

For Diesel - Dodge Cummins :muscle: :muscle: :blah:

Thanks again to George W. for the nice business tax incentive.

[JD400exrider]

Originally posted by Adam202
cummins are nice, but dodge/chrysler is the worst company ever, id rather buy a Kia....... [not really but you get my point]

You probably drive a kia :devil:

[popo]

I am dumping the Dodge and going with the Duramax. Tired of replacing rear diff, plus after Dodge's trade in vaule stinks, no matter if it's a Cummins or not.

[MOFO]

Originally posted by JD400exrider

I have heard the duramax has had problems with head gaskets blowing in the earlier years. Cast iron block and aluminum head. I think they have this problem fixed with a special head gasket.






FYI, this was a boatload of crap that was spread around by the ford and dodge guys. I do computer work for one of the largest GM dealers on the east coast. These motors have been fine from day one (other than some computer updates for engine and tranny).

[Adam202]

Originally posted by JD400exrider
You probably drive a kia :devil:
i drive a Pontiac, we own a 99 dodge sport 4x4 half ton with a turd *** 318, it sucks it has had lots of problems, it rides like ****, it only has like 88,000 miles and my dads 95 gmc sierra 4x4 half ton has 215,000 miles and it runs, looks, and will last alot longer than the dodge. i told my mom and grandma to get a GM, they didnt listen, now they want a 250 hd duramax, they shoulda listened to me in the 1st place. ;) the only thing dodge has is the cummins diesel. the viper is nice, and there new dodge neon that runs a 14 flat stock is pretty impressive for under $20,000. but there cars dont last worth ****, i have NEVER seen a dodge with over 200,000 miles.

[MOFO]

Originally posted by Adam202
i have NEVER seen a dodge with over 200,000 miles.


Ummmm, a Dodge powered by Cummin's will easily have those miles. As for the rest of the truck, it probably wont be pretty, but the engine is strong.

[jokerman_28]

i have a 97 1500 dodge ram 4x4 with the dinky 230 hp auto 318. it currently has 160,000 miles. it was my dads old work truck until 150,000. he carried a 110 gallon fuel tank. and 2 fullsize tool boxes. the only problems have been the tranny was rebuilt at 90,000 (33in bfg's are tough on a little automatic like that). one speaker doesnt work (soda spilled on it). horn went out. 4wd went out once. that truck has been thru hell.

but other than that, just regular maintance

[Bean]

my tranny/rearend/anything motor related besides the fuel pump has never went out, and i have 35's

chebby power right there

but my speaker is blown, i blew it, got pissed, and turned it up louder till it fixed itself and stopped making noise

[d-14 rider 27]

i think the duramax is a good motor too, but i was brought up to never trust a diesel in a "V" configuration. i havent heard of too many probs with them yet, cept the allison tranny likes to be at a complete stop before you shift, i know of 3 people locally that plow snow and a tranny slammin all the time had their dodge trannys last longer than the allison :huh the duramax is quiet as hell too, but even tho im a die hard chevy fan im gonna still have to stick with the big bad cummins power, or maybe i find chevy and put a cat in it:D

btw i gots me a 2000 dodge 3/4 ton, quad cab, 4x4, bully dog chip, and bully dog 4" stainless exhaust, and we pull a 32ft enclosed 5th wheel with living quarters, a foot extra height (so its a wind bucking b@stard) i have no complaints yet, even at 100,000 miles the tranny still hits hard i musta got a good one

[JD400exrider]

I have had chevy trucks in the past and had no complaints with the motor or trany. Going to a diesel I thought i would give Dodge a try. Cummins has been a proven motor. If I were to go gas motor i would have gone chevy again.

I just was not real impressed with all the other chit that went wrong with the last chevy truck with under 100,000 miles.

Power brake booster, seat tracks, four door handles replaced.
complete A/C system ($1200.00), two different belt tensiors, two brake calipers, Auto shift lever becoming very loose. power steering pump leaks.
Then the normal stuff that goes out on any car or truck. Alternator, fuel pump brake rotors.
Sounds like i am hard on the truck. Not hardly. Always serviced and maintained.

So we will see how the dodge performs. :)

[d-14 rider 27]

what year dodge? if not the new style, buy the best damn lifetime brakes you can find, them rims turn black for a reason.

[JD400exrider]

The dodge is a 03. The The breaks are awsome. Stops very well. I think they changed them this year. Largest in its class.

[MOFO]

Originally posted by d-14 rider 27
even at 100,000 miles the tranny still hits hard i musta got a good one


sorry to tell ya, but in the near future, dont be surprised if you need to sink some $$$$ into that tranny. Out of all the guys I knew with a Cummins from those years always end up having tranny problems. Especially since you are putting out a good bit more power.... just keep you eye on it.

[MXQUAD294]

I saw a Duramax broke down on the side of the highway yesterday. I just smiled and kept driving....with my Powerstroke:blah:

[MXQUAD294]

Originally posted by Adam202
i i have NEVER seen a dodge with over 200,000 miles.
My dad had an 89 1/2 ton Dodge 4X4 with a 318 ci engine. It had a little over 225,000 miles on it before he sold it. This is on the original motor and tranny. Only thing that ever went wrong was a water pump.

[d-14 rider 27]

.... just keep you eye on it.
i am, check fluid all the time, still nice and red


The dodge is a 03. The The breaks are awsome. Stops very well. I think they changed them this year. Largest in its class

thats cool, i checked out the new ones a while back and the brakes look sweet. did you get the reg cummins, or HO?


I saw a Duramax broke down on the side of the highway yesterday. I just smiled and kept driving....with my Powerstroke
its a chevy, the driver was takin a leak :blah:

[2002xr250rider]

did you know isuzu makes the engine for the dmax and the have been making diesel engines the longest.

[MXQUAD294]

Originally posted by d-14 rider 27
its a chevy, the driver was takin a leak :blah:

With the hood up:confused: