Anyone Own The Chevy 1500 3.0 Duramax?

[tdhanses]

I have over 27k on mine, love it, it’ll also pull a 12,000lb load just fine but I wouldn’t recommend it. Best 400+ miles I’ve had was 31.4mpg computer and the computer has been low every tank i’ve hand calculated. With a tank being 100% in the city i get 23mpg. Def usage is hardly any unless towing, then it drinks the def fast.

I have nothing negative to say about mine.

8-9k is nothing for this, it has pretty much the same hp and torque of an early 2000’s 3/4 cummins.

I try to keep my dump trailer in 9k range just because it’s within the legal limits but by no means is the truck struggling with that load, it pulled the accidental 12k load just fine even up a nice grade.

 

[dtrkyman]

Everyone brags on fuel mileage for diesel, diesel averages another dollar a gallon around here. Never owned a diesel so I have never done the math to see if it saves money?

 

[Weldor]

I own a 2018 Ram 2500 megacab, average 20-21 mpg ( checked with a calculator) not engine computer. 16 mpg towing 10k in mtns. I still can't see a need for a lighter duty diesel except for a grocery getter or just hualin around a side by side. All the HD's are still ford chevy ram considered light duty trucks by Diesel standards.. I see every brand on the side of the road here in AZ pulled over on the mtn. grades with a triple axle 5 wheel or 30 plus bumper tow hoods up. If you remember Ram had to pull their eco Diesel off the market for awhile because they couldn't tow what manufacturer stated. Good luck guy's

 

[tdhanses]

Everyone brags on fuel mileage for diesel, diesel averages another dollar a gallon around here. Never owned a diesel so I have never done the math to see if it saves money?

Look at it this way, on 20 gals you can go on avg with a gas engine 375 miles, with a diesel you can go 600 miles. That 20 gals cost an extra $20 to go not quiet twice as far with the diesel and also had maybe $0.50 in def cost in that mileage.

 

[chapman8523]

I have a '21 GMC 3.0, working it all over remote areas in AK this summer, towing and hauling. Just rolled 15k miles, no complaints.

 

[hoff1ck]

Bought a 21’ GMC Sierra last week with the 3.0 Duramax. Hand was sort of forced as my truck got totaled, but after seeing what trucks with the 5.3 were going for in comparison, was a fairly easy decision for my needs. Averaging between 27-30 mpg so far, and definitely a smooth riding truck.

 

[dtrkyman]

Diesel fuel is more, Diesel maintenance is more, insurance is more and initial price is more. If you do not tow something large not sure they are worth it?

 

[Wrench]

Considering I owned the powerstroke, duramax and a cummins at the same time and been sitting on a cdl for 25 years....I don't think I need an education, just other's experiences with this particular platform.

 

[tdhanses]

Diesel fuel is more, Diesel maintenance is more, insurance is more and initial price is more. If you do not tow something large not sure they are worth it?

Maybe you should actually own one and see just what the real costs are, might be a good learning experience.

 

[Wrench]

How's the clearance for tire chains?

 

[tdhanses]

How's the clearance for tire chains?

Not great, I added a 3” lift but still wouldn’t run them, they make clearances so tight on all new pickups, I would run them on the rear possibly but no way on the front.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Maybe you should actual own one and see just what the real costs are, might be a good learning experience.

I owned a 2015 RAM ecodiesel. The mileage and towing performance were fantastic (25ish average combined mpg) (18-20mpg towing 17' Lund Deep-V) after installing a Green Diesel Engineering tune. I traded it for a '19 hemi, and while I miss the towing performance (virtually no downshifting and engine braking), it cost more to operate across the board. Oil changes were $100 vs. $35. Fuel was at least $1 more per gallon. Def wasn't a significant input at all as it used very little. In addition, with a gasser you can just jump in and go. With the diesel I was always stressing about this or that repair down the road similar to the belt turn oil pump mentioned for the Chevy.

If a guys does his own service you can save some money on a diesel, but you're still going to be more than a gasser. Just my $.02. Bottom line, if you don't tow trailers regularly/professionally, the juice likely isn't worth the squeeze.

 

[tdhanses]

I owned a 2015 RAM ecodiesel. The mileage and towing performance were fantastic (25ish average combined mpg) (18-20mpg towing 17' Lund Deep-V) after installing a Green Diesel Engineering tune. I traded it for a '19 hemi, and while I miss the towing performance (virtually no downshifting and engine braking), it cost more to operate across the board. Oil changes were $100 vs. $35. Fuel was at least $1 more per gallon. Def wasn't a significant input at all as it used very little. In addition, with a gasser you can just jump in and go. With the diesel I was always stressing about this or that repair down the road similar to the belt turn oil pump mentioned for the Chevy.

If a guys does his own service you can save some money on a diesel, but you're still going to be more than a gasser. Just my $.02. Bottom line, if you don't tow trailers regularly/professionally, the juice likely isn't worth the squeeze.

Yeah I get some worry, I don’t I just jump in and drive, it has warranty.

I never have a dealer change my oil but is the $35 a dealer oil change price for full synthetic?

I change my oil every 7500 miles for $65 using Amsoil, you can do it cheaper using AC Delco oil, dealer does charge $100 but think they charge close to that for the gas pickups now as well for full synthetic, the 3.0 diesel uses 7qts, think the gas engines either are 6 or now 7qts as well.

The GM fuel filter is $30 every 30k max, I change that every 20k.

Def cost is around $14 every 5k, I use bulk from truck stops, might be $20 now, been awhile since I filled last.

Warranty is 100k vs 60k for gas, my buddy put a new hemi in his 2015 ram, under 100k miles, cost him $12k, gas trucks are cheaper to work on but not by much, I don’t like not having warranty so prefer to get something with 100k warranty and not worry, after 100k I will upgrade or chance any repair costs.

Also the purchase price of the 1/2ton GM diesel over the 5.3 gas engine is $900 or was last year, resale of a 100k mile 1/2ton diesel will be much higher then resale of any gas 1/2 ton with 100k, well historically, lol.

Fuel cost while $1 more per gal currently gets you much further mileage per tank then gas, with city/hwy driving I can go 550 miles on around 21gals of diesel, I bet most gas pickups max out at 350 miles every 21 gals with mixed use driving.

Once you get to a 3/4ton+ diesel I agree with you.

I also added a 55gal transfer tank which gives me a range over 2200 miles when traveling without towing or around 1100 miles towing, can’t do that with gas, this also allows one to hedge pricing of fuel in higher priced areas where you can stop to pee and keep going vs having to fuel up.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

My local mechanic charged $100 for the RAM ecodiesel oil changes. However, it took 11 quarts of oil vs. your Duramax's 7. He charges $35 for oil/filter in the hemi and it takes 7.

I like the transfer tank idea. Just curious, why can't you do that with gas? Static risk or something?

I forgot to mention that you don't have the PIA of gassers gelling up in the cold either. I had a factory block heater on my RAM and never had any problems. However, my brother's '06 Duramax has gelled up on him several times. So if you live in colder climates you have to add in the cost of running fuel treatment in your diesel motors too.

 

[sram9102]

My local mechanic charged $100 for the RAM ecodiesel oil changes. However, it took 11 quarts of oil vs. your Duramax's 7. He charges $35 for oil/filter in the hemi and it takes 7.

I like the transfer tank idea. Just curious, why can't you do that with gas? Static risk or something?

Look up a bleve on google. Does not sound like a fun time.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Look up a bleve on google. Does not sound like a fun time.

I've heard of bleves on train car tanks. Definitely not a good time.

 

[tdhanses]

My local mechanic charged $100 for the RAM ecodiesel oil changes. However, it took 11 quarts of oil vs. your Duramax's 7. He charges $35 for oil/filter in the hemi and it takes 7.

I like the transfer tank idea. Just curious, why can't you do that with gas? Static risk or something?

I forgot to mention that you don't have the PIA of gassers gelling up in the cold either. I had a factory block heater on my RAM and never had any problems. However, my brother's '06 Duramax has gelled up on him several times. So if you live in colder climates you have to add in the cost of running fuel treatment in your diesel motors too.

He probably is putting conventional oil in at that price.

Transfer tanks for gas are not DOT approval like for diesel, due to the fire hazard gas is, diesel really isn’t easy to ignite.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Roger that, and we use diesel for starting fires for just that reason.

 

[Wrench]

My powerstroke is a 4 gallon job on oil changes.

10 minutes and $75.00. I won't let a dealer touch my rigs. They're paid by the job and could care less if they round a bolt or bust a zip tie.....the customer will never know....

Btdt.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Man I love my 3.0 duramax. It goes forever on a tank and it feels like I never put def in. My buddy has a hemi and he’s lucky to get 14-15mpg. I’ll do 26-28 pretty easy with the z71 off-road package.