FORGET GAS

BDBWTE · November 25, 2002

I've been driving my dad's truck for the last two weeks because he has to move stuff for my grand parents and needs an 8' bed that doesn't have grease and stuff in it so he is using my truck..Anyways I'm driving his DMAX/ALLI truck and I love this truck...I've drove it before but not for anytime..this truck is awesome..Great gas mileage and will absolutely make my 6.0L look stupid in acceleration..I've always loved that diesel clatter.....Man I wish someone would kick me in the junk for buying a gas motor...That's just my $0.02 :thumb:

Jpshostr · November 25, 2002

Great gas mileage

Not for long if you keep this up in a Duramax.....

Gas + Duramax = Uh Oh

bluenote · November 26, 2002

...Very good BDBWTE...give in to your urges...feel the power...soon, like your father, you will call me master...give in to the dark side of the (diesel) force...

Once you've driven the DMax/Alli, and especially towed with it, it's hard to imagine why you'd ever want anything else. This is my first diesel pickup, and after 1 year and 30K miles, I'll never own a gasser again.

Frank S · November 26, 2002

Already got almost 7k on ours in just over 9 weeks and it still puts a smile on my face.

I towed 6,000 lbs (trailer and hay weight) with it 5 weeks ago last saturday and couldn't even tell it was back there.

This thing is pleasently frightening.

DigUout · November 26, 2002

I recently had to deliver a new truck to SW Colorado, about an 800 mile trip. The boss let me take an 02 crewcab dually Dmax to pull an ext cab long bed Dmax on a one place car trailer. I drove through rain, some snow and over a 10,800 ft pass. I figure the trailer weighed about 1500 lbs and the truck maybe 9,000?

Well forget BMW. For me it was the ultimate driving experience. Between the power of the Dmax on the interstate and the Ally slowing me down in tight mountain switchbacks, I'm hooked. Throttle response, comfort, brute towing force, easy downshifts.... Tits all the way!!

If I had the real world need and wherewithal, I'd get one so fast my wife wouldn't have the chance to say no. Interestingly enough - 12mpg going, 14mpg coming back (unloaded). Not bad, but not what I'd hoped to see -

CMNTMXR81 · November 26, 2002

I've had the opportunity to drive (and work on a few) D-Max's in everything from 2500HD's up to the 4500 Kodiak's/Top Kick's. It has great acceleration and is easily modifiable compared to gas Big Blocks. I even sat there and questioned why I didn't get the D-Max/Allison combo until my friend (who is the fleet manager at the dealer) reminded me that the D-Max is also a $4,500 upgrade! That was a rude wake up call.

Dig, if you were getting 14mpg unloaded, and I normally get between 10-12mpg with my Big Block, it'd take ten years to offset the $4,500 in additional premium I'd pay to get it. Also, unless you live around the airport in Elk Grove Village, Des Plaines, WoodDale, etc, Diesel ISN'T available at every gas station here which is another mark against it.

Despite any oil consumption or cold knock related (of which, mine really doesn't suffer from), I'll still take a Big Block Rat motor anyday.

Sorry, Diesel's are awesome, just not my cup-o-tea.

bluenote · November 26, 2002

14 mpg unloaded? ??? There is either something wrong, or you were going 90+ mph!! Driving it with the cruise on 70, I get 20-21 mpg.

CMNTMXR81 - Saying that the Duramax is a $4500 isn't accurate. It's actually less than 4 grand more than the 8.1 upgrade. It will take me about 4 years to make the cost back in fuel savings. Plus, the trade-in price of a DMax-equipped truck is almost 5 grand over the gassers. To each his own, but the DMax rocks! :thumb:

Frank S · November 26, 2002

Yeah we're getting just a shade under 20 right now and it seems to get just a little better with ever fill up.

Me thinks maybe Digs has ledfootitus.

Dihappy · November 27, 2002

I dont know what some of you guys are smokin

But No way will a stock Duramax beat a Gasser on accelaration or even teh 1/4 unless youve got some mods.

The ONLY reason id get a Diesel is for the mileage and towing.

I ABSOLUTELY HATE the friggin noise and smell!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS-Every diesel ive raced, in my LIFTED truck ive beaten.

That includes 2 F-250's!

99silveradoz71 · November 27, 2002

Of note is diesel at the corner is $1.60 vs. $1.20 for regular.

CMNTMXR81 · November 27, 2002

14 mpg unloaded? ??? There is either something wrong, or you were going 90+ mph!! Driving it with the cruise on 70, I get 20-21 mpg.

CMNTMXR81 - Saying that the Duramax is a $4500 isn't accurate. It's actually less than 4 grand more than the 8.1 upgrade. It will take me about 4 years to make the cost back in fuel savings. Plus, the trade-in price of a DMax-equipped truck is almost 5 grand over the gassers. To each his own, but the DMax rocks! :thumb:

I'm well aware of that. BUT! If you are opting for the D-Max from the standard Vortec 6000, the price of the Vortec 8100 isn't a factor. Hence, it still is roughly a $4,500 option. I was solely using 10 years sarcastically.

I figure it this way. The Big Block cost is $850. The DuraMax is a $4,810 option, Diesel as of last night here in Chicago (at least at the station I stopped at) was $1.63 a gallon...the same as premium 93 Octane. However, I've been putting midgrade in lately which is $1.53.

-So on the purchase of the truck I save = $3,960

Now more importantly onto mileage. Let's use a nice round figure like 30,000 miles a year put on the vehicle (some do more, some do less, I know). Let's say the D-Max gets on average 16mpg and the 8.1 gets 11mpg average.

30,000/16 = 1,875 gallons of fuel used on a D-Max

30,000/11 = 2,727 gallons of fuel used on a 8100

1,875 * 1.63 a gallon for diesel = $3,056.25 spent on diesel for the year

2,727 * 1.53 a gallon for mid grade gas = $4,172.31 spent on gas for the year.

So the diesel saves $1,116.06 a year.

$3,960/$1,116.06 = 3.5 years for a D-Max to pay for itself. Right in the ballpark of your 4 year calculation.

Nonetheless, in 3.5 - 4 years, I might not even own this truck anymore. I'll have moved onto the latest and greatest version of the Big Block V8. So shelling out $4,810 up front for the D-Max isn't a smart decision on my behalf for a little bit better fuel economy and a slight towing advantage.

Now if I planned on keeping the truck 10+ years and towed cars and other stuff with it 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year, THEN we're talking about a completely different story, I wouldn't hesitate dumping the $4,810 upfront for the D-Max.

As to trade in value, DUH!!! That's a given! You pay more upfront, you get more for it later. A $50,000 Caddy Escalade is worth more 10 years down the road than a $10,000 Cavalier. Naturally I won't get as much for it on trade in or resale with a Big Block, but then again, I also had an extra $4,810 in my pocket when I bought it.

As to performance numbers, the Big Block is relatively tame in stock setup with it's rather low 60 degree V6 like compression ratio of 9.1:1. That leaves LOTS of room for Heads and Cam work as well as potential oversizing (say to 540 cubes). Add on top of that, you can still run a supercharger at a modest amount of boost like 6psi and still do it on higher octane pump fuel. At which time, a heads and cammed and blown Big Block motor is gonna be an absolute monster. It just costs more to do it, but more on that later. Either way, if you mod a D-Max or 8.1, you can throw out the fuel economy argument, so that's a moot point.

Like I said, and you said, to each his own. By my finances, the D-Max doesn't fit the bill.

And Di, in many published acceleration tests, the D-Max HAS edged the 8.1 by a tenth here and a tenth there. Not the same as real world testing but nonetheless a documented number.

Kansas Kid · November 27, 2002

Either way, if you mod a D-Max or 8.1, you can throw out the fuel economy argument, so that's a moot point.

Maybe for the 8.1, but most of the good boxes for the diesels can actually increase fuel economy. They sure as heck won't hurt it, provided the owner can keep his foot out off the go pedal (like that would happen) Everyone I have talked to that has the Juice on a Dmax has seen their mileage stay to same or go up anywhere from 1-2mpg. Not too shabby for adding 125 RWHP and over 250ft-lbs. Wish I could pull that off with a gas motor.

btw, don't you only drive about 10,000 miles a year? No way a diesel makes sense for you then, unless you actually wanted it.

CMNTMXR81 · November 28, 2002

Yea, I drive A LOT less now that I take the train everyday (Which is a GM diesel BTW :thumb: ) , otherwise beforehand I was putting nearly 60,000 a year on vehicles.

Oh well, I didn't buy this thing for fuel efficiency anyway.