3.0 long term

TeamSaris · January 30, 2023

Sorry if this has already been beat to death. Anybody have a high mile 3.0? Any long term cost of ownership inout? Expensive services or other wise? I know it needs a fairly major service around 100k

Currently on the hunt for a 20-22 used at4 and really considering the 3.0

Currently have a 21 elevation with the 5.3/10spd. Very happy with it but really love the 100k mile warranty on the 3.0

Thanks for any insight

SVG · January 30, 2023

You're thinking of the oil pump drive service. It was originally set for a 100K mile checkup/replacement.

The interval has since been raised to 150K by GM.

I find the claim of dramatically increased maintenance costs to be somewhat bogus. Slightly higher but nothing major. Yes you have buy DEF but unless you are consistently towing it's really no big deal. The 3.0 likes to chug DEF when towing so keep that in mind.

Fwiw, I am completely happy with my 3.0 and would buy another if something catastrophic happened to my current truck.

My advice is go test drive one. You probably already know this but the new PU truck 3.0 are the second gen which is called an LZ0. Slight increase in both HP and torque. They do still install the first gen LM2, which is the engine you're talking about, in the SUV's.

mjonesjr84 · January 30, 2023

1 hour ago, SVG said:

You're thinking of the oil pump drive service. It was originally set for a 100K mile checkup/replacement.

The interval has since been raised to 150K by GM.

The LM2 oil pump drive belt has a service interval at 150k, not 100k. The LZ0 oil pump drive belt service interval was increased to 200k, not 150k.

I'm on my 3rd 3.0, all LM2's. The first one was a company truck that I drove 43k miles in the first 10 months of having it (left job). My second I drove for 8k in 8 months and traded it even for a refresh with the LM2. I love the engine and the fuel mileage they get. They have great power for a small diesel. My second 3.0 was a 2021 AT4. It got about 3-4 mpg worse than my first (RST) and current (LTZ) 3.0 trucks. All of them have been the same configuration, crew cab short bed 4wd.

There are extra maintenance cost with the fuel filter, DEF, and oil being higher per quart. Some of that negates itself with mpg differences, however diesel is almost $2 more per gallon for me currently. The link below is a great tool for comparing EPA rated mpg's and local gas/diesel cost to vehicles.

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbsSelect

I would suggest looking at a 2022+ refresh as the new interior is 100x better than the 2019-2022 (Limited) interior.

Edited January 30, 2023 by mjonesjr84

TeamSaris · January 30, 2023

Id love a 22 or newer but they're just out of the budget. Thanks for the info guys!

Booger T · January 30, 2023

I have a 2020 with 53K trouble free miles. Only thing that I have had to do is have a glow plug replaced about 25K ago. I usually trade before now but like this truck very much so I plan on keeping it for at least a couple more years

Ronjon · February 5, 2023

This year should yield some tunes and performance parts from bigger companies (Banks) and the northern brothers are working on deletes and more in depth tunes. I bought my 2020 with 48k miles. Currently have 53k. No plans of ever getting rid of it. Towed a 3k pop up camper 1600 miles and averaged 24mpg.