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Pickups Diesels Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra Duramax Fuel Mileage
490 messages, Last post on Oct 09, 2009 at 6:05 AM
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I just bought a new 2004 Duramax Chevy, extended cab with short box. I filled the tank at 226 miles and showed 17.2 mpg. I filled again at 500 miles and now show 15.2 mpg. This is kinda discouraging. Is this normal? I bought the D/MAX expecting 18-20 mpg. The only difference is a tonneau cover being added between fill-ups. I drive 25 miles to work on four lane highway at approx. 70mph. Any comments??
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Replying to: blackmax (Sep 19, 2004 1:26 pm)
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The worst tank I ever got was 17, and the best was 22. Overall average between 18-19, city and highway. But...manual transmission (6 spd), and lightweight regular cab. And the new LLY is a completely new design, new heads, new injectors, new garrett turbocharger.
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Replying to: quadrunner501 (Sep 19, 2004 3:34 pm) Is that the new GM DuraMax? Is it a 2005 model engine? How is the power compared to the older models? |
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Replying to: gagrice (Sep 19, 2004 8:23 pm) The hp and torque increase is for Allison 5 speed automatic equipped models only, not the ZF-6spd manual. The hp and torque of the previous LB7 was 300 hp, 520 lb/ft torque. |
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...of the new Duramax LLY are the new heads, which put the injectors *outside* the valve covers, rather than underneath them as on the previous LB7. This is important because if an injector leaks, it will spill diesel fuel down the outside of the engine, rather than cause the crankcase to fill-up and overflow from the inside. Unfortunately, that's exactly what's been happening. GM recently sent out notices to owners of 2001-2002 Duramax diesels that they *may* experience injector failure caused by high fuel return rates or cracked injector bodies, and that accordingly, GM will extend the warranty on *covered* failures (not all) to 7 yrs/200,000 miles. While that's a small positive step, my $0.02 is that GM has not gone far enough. Since they KNOW they have a problem with the Bosch injectors, the appropriate and ethical course of action would be to issue a recall for all affected vehicles, and replace the bad injectors with the updated ones the owners should have expected in the first place. FYI, these injectors operate under very high pressures, up to 30,000 psi, making them completely different animals than cheap injectors in gasoline engines which operate at a lowly 50 psi, and cost less than $100 each. The bosch diesel injectors cost upwards of $500 each, 8-12 hours labor to replace them, and some have been replaced 8 at a time under the GM warranty. You do the math...that's quite a bit of exposure for an owner to accept. Diesels are fun, but you could pay to play if you hold on to one beyond the warranty period. The bosch injectors are on national backorder at this time. Dealers cannot give a time frame if you are unfortunate enough to suffer this malady, except first come-first serve. The other features behind the new heads and variable inlet garrett turbo-charger are primarily to address emission concerns and future low sulfur diesel fuels.
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Replying to: quadrunner501 (Sep 20, 2004 6:44 pm) |
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Replying to: quadrunner501 (Sep 19, 2004 3:34 pm) |
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No reprogramming on mine...stock all the way. The quality of fuel can make a difference, also summer blends or #2 versus winter #1, which is thinner so as not to gel in the cold. The cetane rating of fuel affects mileage and power, but it's hard get reliable information, or even know what you are getting at the pump. Find a reputable fuel source that you trust, and stick with it. I think your mileage will get better, however if you have the newer LLY design, some reports are that it hasn't been getting as good a fuel mileage. It makes more horsepower, so the re-programming that matters most is possibly located underneath your right foot.
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2001 2500HD,6.0, Automatic transmission. Just bought used. When accelerating truck feels like its under load. Is this normal for this truck? How does yours feel. Also, seems like there is slight slip when going from a dead stop to start. You can feel it a little.
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