Need feedback from GMC owners on Duramax

[chambrick]

I'm looking at a 2006 GMC 2500 Savana Cargo Van with the Duramax engine--133000 miles.

For those with the same engine how many miles on it do you have and has it been a sturdy engine?

With 133K I'm a bit leary--diesel or not.

Thanks.

[Shed]

You can look at the forum above titled "high mileage contest". Very interesting the different setups and aftermarket combinations and the amazing amount of miles logged. Shed

[chambrick]

Thanks. That will be great.

I've not owned a diesel yet and would like to but man prices for new are so high I have to go used right now.

[hapaschold]

i ve had a few diesels, here s a breakdown. not many dmax vans out there, i ve only scene 3 on the road so far. overall gmc dmax has won my business :D

1985 chevy s 10 pickup with 2.2 isuzu, 200k on odo only problem really ate lotta clutchs, my fault thou

1996 ford E350 with 7.3 psd, 50k on odo, flawless

1999 same as above with 45 k on odo

2002 GMC dmax long box 4x4, lotta injector problems but more related to poor dealer service imo.

2004 ford E350 with 6.0 psd 40k lotta problems egr turbo batteries ,worse dealer service ever, breach of warranty rewarded.

2006 gmc dmax just traded for my 2009 dmax......06 had 41k....flawless...

just saw a 2001 ? ford van on ebay with 7.3 diesel, ole reliable for ford imo went for 14k ? with only 8,000 documented miles or something like that.

[npauli]

I've not owned a diesel yet and would like to but man prices for new are so high I have to go used right now.

That may be a blessing in disguise. As time goes on, diesels tend to improve in some ways (performance), but get worse in others due to the complexity and compromises that tend to come with ever stricter emissions regulations.

2004 brought EGR to the masses
2007 brought DPF's
2010 will bring urea (to most, at least)

I don't think any of those are particularly good for anything but keeping the air clean. I don't think EGR has been too bad (at least for the duramax), but 2007 emissions haven't helped fuel economy from the sound of things.

[More Power]

The biggest difference between the powertrain used in the vans and the pickups is the transmission. The pickups got the Allison, while the vans got the 4L80-E. The 4L80 is a fine transmission, but it's not as robust as the Allison. As such, the van Duramax was detuned to allow the transmission to live (250-hp/440 lb-ft if I remember correctly).

Jim

[JohnC]

Given that the engine is loafing along in its detuned state, I wouldn't be concerned about the mileage. I'd prefer a newer, higher mileage truck to an older low mileage one. Running is better than sitting.