Ford or Chevy diesel?

TeamGreen · November 29, 2001

How come I always see f250 and 350 diesels but never any chevy diesels? Maybe the duramax with be more popular.

Shaners · November 30, 2001

See or Hear??? Alot of times you don't know if an HD is a Duramax unless you are actually within a few feet of it... You can't tell if it's a Duramax when it passes you going oposite directions on a 2-lane road...

I know when a PowerStroke is coming up the road when it is 1 1/2 blocks from here... Same goes for Cummins... And you definatly can hear them when you pass going opposite directions in town...

Jpshostr · November 30, 2001

GM hasn't had a well recepted diesel motor in its line up until last year when the Duramax came out. They have openly admitted that. The 6.2L was a good mileage motor, but not a good towing motor, bout the same for the 6.5L. Since most diesels go in towing or heavy hauling trucks, GM was pretty much out of the question, leaving just Ford and Dodge to choose from. Since Dodge doesn't offer a crew cab, all the people that wanted that were left with the Ford 'Stroke. The 'Stroke is a good motor, so its built quite a following. GM has its work cut out for it to convert some of those people back.

Kansas Kid · November 30, 2001

I just want to echo what Jp said. The 6.5 was crap compared to the PSD and Cummins. Not even close to being in the same ballpark. That is the main reason you won't notice many GM diesel pickups on the road, because the just didn't sell any (I think they had about 2% of the total diesel pickup sales)

I will say one thing though, I see more Duramax's in a week them I have 6.5's in a year. The Dmax is selling very good around here.

And one other thing, if you spend much time around rodeo people, their overwhelming choice is the Dodge/Cummins. Those cowboys/cowgirls love that Cummins.

quadrunner500 · November 30, 2001

In the big picture, where G.M. is going to trump them both, is by being the only one with a genuine HD automatic truck transmission. Dodge spent years with Allison to develop an automatic for the Cummins. What did G.M. do? They bought Allison, 100%.

BDBWTE · April 30, 2002

Chevy has a bad rap for making diesel motors that can perform and last. So people are scared of this new motor and the build quality it offers. So rather than try something new they stick with what they know works. The ISB Cummins which is just a outstanding motor, a Powerstroke which is also a very good motor. The Duramax is a good motor and I know this from personal experience. People will slowly come around to see this they are just being leary about what is new. I believe that all the diesels on the market today are very capable motors and any of them can meet your needs.

antig24 · May 1, 2002

GM finally made a good diesel that is equal or better than the competion and people are a bit careful about buying it b/c all of GM's other diesels were behind the competion.

walkerkd · May 1, 2002

one point i think we all are missing is that gm has always had gas converts.. and now they own something like 70% of isuzu and have a company that has proven its self just like cummins and navistar international. so they arent using their stuff they went out and got a diesel just like ford and dodge did. heck the early dodges were not that great because d/c put their crappy injector pumps on the truck but now they are doing it right.. i have run them all. and now im giving the dmax a chance.. and just by looking at it i can see that it will be a performer.

just my .02 cents

blk496 · May 2, 2002

You'll see more Chevy diesels as the months go by. Since they introduced the Duramax I have seen a steady increase in new GM diesels in my area. Gas motor HDs outnumber diesels here by a wide margin as of yet, but PSDs outnumber gas Superdutys. Cummins also outnumber gas Dodges here. As the Duramax continues to build a name for itself, their popularity will expand.

I currently own a '00 Powerstroke. It is an excellent motor in a pretty good truck. Good towing mileage and great power. I am told that the Duramax will outperform the PSD and from experience I can say that the Dmax is quite a bit quieter and faster than the 'Strokes.

SilveradoWV · May 2, 2002

Just to add a comment, I am not sure if they are diesels but the natural gas companies and similar companies are starting to use chevys now!!!! They have been using dodges!

JEBar · May 2, 2002

Isuzu's diesels have been proven world wide for many years. Really good motors and really bad motors roll off of every assembly line. With Isuzu/Chevy/Duramax, I beleive the really bad ones are few and far between. I've had my "02 3500 Duramax/Allison since last October. While no truck is the best at everything ... this one is without any doubt the best truck I have every owned and considering that I bought my first one back in 1965, that is saying something. :blush:

odoh · May 4, 2002

Another reason is PSD is pumping out 1100 a day and GM is making only 400 and 25% of those are being diverted to their med duty line. My D/M has been on order for 6 months ~ yes thats right, I ordered it in Nov of LAST YEAR ! !

Now ~ how many people will wait that long ? ~ odoh

CMNTMXR81 · May 6, 2002

Just to add a comment, I am not sure if they are diesels but the natural gas companies and similar companies are starting to use chevys now!!!! They have been using dodges!

This is actually becoming a huge business, the "conversion" motors as we call them. We have been wooing several municipalities to win contracts for 100's of these trucks.

hoot · May 6, 2002

one point i think we all are missing is that gm has always had gas converts.. and now they own something like 70% of isuzu and have a company that has proven its self just like cummins and navistar international. so they arent using their stuff they went out and got a diesel just like ford and dodge did. heck the early dodges were not that great because d/c put their crappy injector pumps on the truck but now they are doing it right.. i have run them all. and now im giving the dmax a chance.. and just by looking at it i can see that it will be a performer.
just my .02 cents

There is no such thing as a GM converted gas engine. The 6.2 and the 6.5 were designed 100% as diesel clean slate by Detroit Diesel.

Although the Olds 5.7 was rumored to be a converted 350, in actuality it only borrowed some parts. The block was cast specifically for a diesel application.

Allison has been a 100% subsidiary of GM since 1920. That was before Allison made transmissions.