express duramax [Archive] - TheDieselPage.com Forums

Indydiesel

10-13-2005, 17:54

I ordered a Savana 3500 duramax on 9/05/05 it arrived at the dealer on 10/07/05. It was suppose to ship through to adrian steel for a bin package but didn't. It will go to local adrian distributor the first of the week, I should take delivery by the middle of the week or so. After that I will let You Know.

Indydiesel

WNFD

10-14-2005, 03:36

I was driving by a dealer in New Hampshire and found a 3500 van with the Duramax. It had the same badge as the pickups just above the 3500. Anways you can definetly tell it has less power, but compared to my econoline it was much more responsive. It also shifted a little differently which i suspect it because of the transmission not being the allison.

Talked to my dealer and he said my van should be in around the middle of november. Winters coming I need it.

6.5NOVA

02-02-2006, 01:34

and, how are the duramax van`s doing?? smile.gif

D-max Man

02-02-2006, 08:51

I drove one in 1999 while I was at The GM Proving Ground. It was a Prototype I had to put 60 + thermocouples (Temp. sensors) in various locations around the engine compartment to measure how well it disipated the heat.

It drove pretty good but I'd hate to have to work on it. Very tight fit in the van, the injector driver had to be moved off of the valve cover for clearence. Of course the new vans gave a longer nose (prototype didn't have that)to better fit the intercooler.

WNFD

02-02-2006, 09:52

The new van is doing great. Been in service for a couple weeks now, I think the driver has about 1200 or so. I dont know the fuel mileage yet, but it seems to be right where the econolines are now and they have been broken in. The power is much less than the pickups 250hp and you can tell, but this thing flies compared to a 6.0 PS Econoline. I dont really want my guys speeding, but when the vans are loaded down the fords are hard to pull out into traffic.
Another thing I noted with the Chevy is the fuel filter. Unlike the Ford where you have to remove half the intake, the Chevy has a primary and a secondary underneith the drivers side. It really looks well planned out.

6.5NOVA

02-02-2006, 11:26

D-max man,
intresting to here that you were testing it already in 1999. :rolleyes:

WNFD,

good to here the van is doing good, curious what
the mpg will be. smile.gif

Arjan

D-max Man

02-02-2006, 12:16

6.5 NOVA,

The original plan was to release it in 2002 but the demand for the pickups was too high and when you have to choose, you always go with the bigger demand first.

The D-Max plant has been running 24/7 - 7 days sense they opened and they have already doubled their size just to meet the pick-up market.

Now they are finding ways to be more efficent and increasing the number of engines that they can produce (and still keep the quality) so they can offer them in other applications.

wurk_truk

02-02-2006, 20:25

I have extended 2500 w/ 5k miles. I like it way better than the gas econoline I have, but that is because chevy vans steer better. Dash is UGLY compared to the Ford. Wipers are slower, too. Put Silverstars in headlights, and REALLY good lights now!

I think I might end up disappointed with mileage for the diesel. I get 15/16, but its winter and its still new.

Last diesel was 7.3PSD. Wow, glow plug system; filters; noise, etc are such an improvement. I have the optional heater. If I plug it in at night, it blows warm air within 5 minutes. That heater is pretty cool.

I bought it to tow box trailers, THAT it does very well!

More Power

02-03-2006, 23:25

Keep us posted on fuel economy... smile.gif

Jim

wurk_truk

02-04-2006, 09:13

JUst completed a two tank MPG check. Temp was around 40 degrees and it was a good mix of city and highway. I got 17.1 MPG. NOW, that is starting to look really good to me. Come summer, maybe I will be in the 20's.

This is used as a service truck w/ steel bins and racks. With my fat self... probably 1500 lbs extra from stripped work van.

Buck

02-04-2006, 14:18

We had a stripped version(no interior except the dash) in our shop the other day. Great access to the turbo!!! I was wondering how it sounds with the turbo about 2 feet from the driver? There appeared to be a pre-filter lift pump under the driver's seat area about 3" from the fuel filter. Easy to change fuel filters on these to. Dido on TIGHT squeeze under the hood, WOW!

wurk_truk

02-04-2006, 17:32

Slight turbo whine when one lets off of the accelerator. I have a lightning and am addicted to that kind of whine. Wish it was louder! Lift pump means NO manual priming if runs out of fuel tongue.gif
Turbo would hardly be noticable to someone not addicted to whine.

jbplock

02-05-2006, 05:18

Originally posted by Buck:
.. There appeared to be a pre-filter lift pump under the driver's seat area about 3" from the fuel filter. Easy to change fuel filters on these to...Interesting! ... Was the lift pump similar to the style used for the 6.5TD's? It would also be interesting to know the pressure/vacuum level at the schrader valve test port with the lift pump running ...

smile.gif

Buck

02-05-2006, 10:05

Dang it! I had my Kennedy Diesel Restriction/PSI gauge in my truck to. Rats :( I didn't remember even seeing the schrader valve. If I see another one of these vans I will get a reading for you guys.
I am not familiar with the 6.5 lift pumps :eek: .

WhiteTruck

02-05-2006, 21:10

The fuel pressure is supposed to be a minimum of 10 PSI with the lift pump running. This will peg either the Kent Moore or the KD tool. GM released an adapter for this application so the higher pressure gas engine fuel gauge can be used. Just an FYI.

Buck

02-11-2006, 02:23

Thanks Dennis ;)

jbplock

02-11-2006, 05:16

Originally posted by White Truck:
The fuel pressure is supposed to be a minimum of 10 PSI with the lift pump running. This will peg either the Kent Moore or the KD tool... Interesting! :cool:

So there is 10 psi feeding the low pressure side of the injection pump ?? Is this just for the DMAX express version?

Out of curiosity I went to www.GmBuyPower.com (http://www.GmBuyPower.com) and "built" a 3500 Express Van with a Duramax and the Summary listed the engine as an LLY

This would seem to confirm that it's safe to run external lift pumps in the 10PSI range - as many are already doing.

smile.gif

[ 02-11-2006, 04:39 AM: Message edited by: jbplock ]

WhiteTruck

02-11-2006, 08:48

Originally posted by jplock:
This would seem to confirm that it's safe to run external lift pumps in the 10PSI range - as many are already doing.

smile.gif I would certainly agree to that statement.

The lift pump is used only the van. It is mounted on the LH frame rail just in front of the fuel tank. I haven't seen one yet, am just going by some pictures I have. The 10 psi pressure I mentioned is just the minimum too, could be as high as 40 psi. This is from some early literature I have, so may not be entirely accurate. The 10 psi min spec is current though. I guess Buck will have to be our "eyes" for the real thing until more of these are out there.
The picture also shows 2 filters, one on the pump itself, and the other one next to it. I don't have any information about the filter ratings, but the one next to the pump looks like the same filter we have on our trucks.

wurk_truk

02-11-2006, 10:36

Hah, Im bored, I'll go take pictures. Hmmmm, how to post them on this site?

wurk_truk

02-11-2006, 11:19

http://pic19.picturetrail.com/VOL1071/4257988/8938680/129019818.jpg

http://pic19.picturetrail.com/VOL1071/4257988/8938680/129019815.jpg

http://pic19.picturetrail.com/VOL1071/4257988/8938680/129019813.jpg

http://pic19.picturetrail.com/VOL1071/4257988/8938680/129019809.jpg

wurk_truk

02-11-2006, 11:24

my understanding, from elsewhere on this site, is the LBZ and the 2006 LLY are one and the same, it's the tune or whatever. 06 LLY isn't same as 05 LLY

jbplock

02-11-2006, 14:46

wurk_truk,

Thanks for posting the pictures .. Excellent! http://forum.thedieselpage.com/ubb/icons/icon14.gif

So the first picture shows the pump ?

wurk_truk

02-11-2006, 15:38

Nope, the first picture is a water heater that is a $825 option on vans. Not trucks? Diesel fired/auto turns on to heat cabin/engine.

Rest of pics concern fuel.

Pump filter combo... Spin on filter and??? this cooler does what exactly? Explain this to me.

wurk_truk

02-11-2006, 15:41

That small cooler has fuel running through it. Why? And the cooler on one side- fuel on the other side looks to me to have a 'box' that surrounds the ABS.