Diesel Tow vehicle options

[Chevy454]

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The dmax pickups get 20 mpg empty.

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I'd be hard pressed to say our Dmax has even gotten *close* to 20mpg...we had (and still have) the 8.1L, and heard all the "20mpg" quotes before we bought our Dmax, and thought it all sounded perfect: great fuel mileage *and* a better towing package, where do I sign! But we haven't seen it...mid-teens at best empty, probably. And then you figure in the all the extra cost @ every service interval, and then the 30 cent per gallon premium for diesel fuel (which I have *yet* to understand!). FWIW, the gentleman we bought our Dmax from pulls a 45ft horse trailer w/living quarters, and said he thought his 8.1L powered truck actually handled the load better and was *the* setup for heavy towing...but then again, he was selling the Dmax dually to help pay for the new Dmax powered TopKick he had sitting in his driveway! LOL!!

Don't get me wrong, I *love* our Dmax, and other than the obligatory injector failure and a burnt ring & pinion, the truck has been flawless...pulls our 45ft 2-car very well. But our 8.1L is a brute...I just wish I could plug into the harness and turn the wick up another 100hp like with our Dmax! Seems like I heard GM is doing away with the 8.1L this model year, though? Any word on that? I wish they'd pour the development into that powerplant like they did the LS series engines...

[BUIZILLA]

my 2006 Dmax 4WD gets right at 20 mpg at 75 mph, and 15.3-15.7 around town, 100% without a doubt.

[bilede]

My 2005 4x4 duramax got 20 empty and 16 pulling open car trailer with 6000 pound chevy truck on it. sure miss that truck.

[m22mike]

I have a 01 Silverado 8' box, 8.1L, Allison, 3.73 gear. Bought it new and at the time did not feel I would get the use out of the Duramax, I only have 20K on the truck now.
I pull a 24' box and the thing can run 75 with little effort. I love the Allison, awsome tranny.
I see around 10 mpg when I tow and the same just around town, I love jack rabbit starts from a traffic light ! Hard to keep your foot out of it.
I do not think Chevy offers that motor anymore ??
One small issue with the my 8.1, since new I have always had to top off the oil about every 1500 mi. or so.
Mike

[YenkoYS-199Stinger]

My 05 Duramax with the Banks upgrade got 20-21mpg on the highway running 70-75 with stock wheels no trailer. When I put 20x9's with extra width rubber it dropped to 18-19 no trailer.

My 01 8.1L got 10.0 unloaded at the same speeds. After I upgraded it to Hypertech Programmer only, it went up to 11.5mpg. I had to have one heck of a tailwind to get any better. Towning a trailer or the boat it dropped to 7mpg. I never had an oil issue with my 8.1 and it usually needed a quart when it was time to change the oil. I did put 230,000 miles on it and it still did not use oil.

Both of mine have been the 5 speed Allison and I love it. I did grenade one in my 05 with 120,000 miles. Thank god for sponsorship from the dealer. They put a new one in for $4400.00 out the door. All other dealers wanted $7000.00-$8500.00.

If was was buying another new one this year I would do the Duramax again-no questions asked!!!!

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Chris
1967 Yenko Stinger YS-199
Southeast of Disorder