OT: Longevity of Duramax Diesels

Iowa Farmer · Jul 26, 2009

The local Chevy dealer has a 2005 2500HD Duramax with the Allison Automatic. It is a nice truck, looks excellent and was an expensive truck to purchase new. I have always wanted a Duramax, but the problem with this one is that it has 300,000 on it. They are nearly all Hwy miles as it hauled newspapers from Des Moines to Chicago daily. How long will a truck like this last (assuming by the book care)? Is she near wore-out? Thanks for you input. (By the way they want 15K for it, Kinda High?)

Anonymous-0 · Jul 26, 2009

Anything with that kind of mileage(including me) is worn out.

Joe Pro · Jul 26, 2009

I think that you could find a truck of the same nature with about half that many miles in that kind of price range

keep looking thats not the only one out there

mmoore · Jul 26, 2009

I personaly have seen several that have over 450000 on them and are still doing fine. My son has one with over 2000000. Mine only has 54000 these are great trucks and the engines and trans should last 500000 or more.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 26, 2009

Personally, I will not buy any motor designed by the nnalert, Although I saw one recently that had 675,000 miles, his major complaint was that he had six sets of injectors. L O L if who can drive a truck with a Isuzu designed engine.

JDemaris · Jul 26, 2009

Duramax was tested under hard use and given a "B10" rating of 220,000 miles. It was not B50 tested. That means 10% failed by 220,000 miles and 90% made it that far with no major repairs.

For comparison, here are some "B" ratings on other engines.

Ford (Navistar)Max-force 7- 6.4 liter. B10 262,500 miles (6,730 engine hours).
B50 - 375,000 miles (9,600 engine hours).

Cummins 5.9 diesel has a B10 rating of 210-250,000 miles (6,400 engine hours) and a
B50 of 350,000 miles (9000 engine hours).

Isuzu 6H diesel - B10 durability rating of 410,000 miles (10,000 engine hours)

International DT466E has a B10 of 300,000 miles (5200 engine hours), and B50 of 450,000
miles (11,500 engine hours).

Brandon Frazier · Jul 26, 2009

I have a 2003 with 270,000 now. Im on my 2nd set of injectors, which you chouldnt have to worry about on the 05 because they are a different style and dont fail as often,and im on the 3rd allison automatic, which ive heard has been improved in the 05 and up trucks. No other problems what so ever with my truck. 15K is kinda high I think though with that kind of mileage.

Dean Barker · Jul 26, 2009

I talked with a retired GM engineer at last winter's Louisville Farm show that was in charge of Duramax engine testing. Their testing included 30 pickups loaded to the max pulling trailers loaded to the max going from Detroit to California to Arizona and back to Detroit until all 30 trucks had 500,000 miles. The engine oil in all the engines was never changed and any brand of oil was added as needed. All engines were disassembled at the end of the test and all components were within new factory specifications. I would think you could expect at least 500,000 miles with regular engine oil changes. I have a 2005 Duramax with 27,000 miles and have had zero problems so far. I really like the truck. I call it my second Corvette with an 8 foot box. My only disappointment is the computer limits it to 97 miles per hour.

Ray · Jul 26, 2009

I've got a 2001 duramax with 58000 miles,sets most of the time.It is a 4x4 dually one ton pickup with the extended cab.I've been thinking about trading on a new one for tax purposes,but the dealer hasn't got back to me with any figures.Anyone have an idea what it should be worth?

aFORDable · Jul 26, 2009

Remember that it isn't just the engine that has that many miles on it but everything else mechanical. Yes, that is high $ for an 05 with 300,000. Keep looking would be my advice.

Wesley Stephens · Jul 26, 2009

If the price was right, it might be ok but that's mighty steep for a truck with that many miles, especially with the current vehicle market.

4010 puller · Jul 26, 2009

Where are you located? Is it sle or slt (leather)? have injectors ever been changed? Probably 15 or 16 thousand dollars, maybe more for the right person. It does have the allison auto doesnt it?

Anonymous-0 · Jul 27, 2009

John, what are the confidence numbers for those Weibull ratings?

greygoat · Jul 27, 2009

I've always had Chevy trucks, my first was a
1951 1 ton, but "no thanks" i'll pass on that
Japanese built Isuzu Engine!

MN Bob · Jul 27, 2009

(I have a 2003 with 270,000 now. Im on my 2nd set of injectors.)
Brandon; Just wondering what the earlier symtons were for the injector failure? I am at 100K on my 03 and notice a reduced milage, wife thinks I am in tow haul when I'm not but unless the hearing aids are in I couldnt tell anyway. First Diesel truck so no experience. emil is open. Bob

olgentdc · Jul 27, 2009

Only on a CUMMINS would I put my Hard earned $$$ on with that Many Miles....But THats JUST Me .........

Little Ed · Jul 27, 2009

I recently purchased an 01 Silverado with the 6.6 duramax, 4x4, Allison, ext. cab, short bed, 160000miles. Dealer had it advertised at 14,500 and talked down to 11,ooo perty easily, and down to 10,500, but said I was killing him at that price. Already had the injectors replaced at 110,000. The front suspension is all greasable from the factory,and mine seems nice and tight. The Caterpillar mechanic told me that the power strokes and Cummins should all be able to expect 400,000 to 500,000, but he didn't know about the Dmax,as he had never been into one and didn't know anyone who had. HTH

Little Ed · Jul 27, 2009

Just want to add that I have 5000 miles on this oil change and the oil is still so clear that I have trouble seeing it on the dipstick. never had that problem on any old diesel tractors. LOL

JBMac · Jul 27, 2009

I"ve got a "07 classic and love it. It"s about to hit 100K and no problems. Just got tires on it, while the wheel was off I inspected the rotor and pads, they look like new, pads probably 3/8" thick. I"ve added an aftermarket intake and Superchips tuner. She"ll run like a scalded dog when you up the hp by 100! I keep it in tow / economy mode and average 17-19 on the interstate (anybody that tells you they get 22-24 mpg with a 3/4 ton 4x4 pickup is fibbing or not good at math).

OliverGuy · Jul 27, 2009

Too much $$$. Talk him down or keep looking--there"s others around. We"ve abused our Alison"s (3 behind 8.1"s) pretty good and they keep chugging along. Hard to plow snow with, they don"t shift quick from D to R. Probably a good thing, extends their life! Really like my "05 duramax, just wished I had the 6 speed Alison so the engine didn"t turn over so fast going down the interstate.

jose bagge · Jul 27, 2009

my 04 2500HD just turned 140k, and it has all been for the most part trouble free. No engine/ trans issues to speak of...front hub bearings (4wd) went right at about 70k.

anyone give me insight into injector issues on 04s? what's the cost ?

bradk · Jul 27, 2009

Quoted from www.pickuptrucks.com website.

The Great Debate - Maybe

Sure to be a point of contention for some heavy duty buyers is the Japanese origins of the Isuzu designed Duramax engine, but consider the following. The Duramax will be built and assembled in Moraine, Ohio at a joint GM / Isuzu facility known as Duramax Ltd. The Duramax uses Bosch fuel injectors of German manufacturing origin. The Allison transmission most Heavy Dutys will probably come with is from an American company and subsidiary of GM. The Allison team worked very closely with Isuzu during all stages of development even going so far as to fly Allison employees to Japan weekly for team meetings and engineering sessions.

We consider the Duramax to be a truly global diesel engine and after driving it we believe that folks are going to judge this diesel based on its class leading merits and not on issues related to engine origin.

If GM claims hold true, people who do judge this engine and dismiss it because of its design heritage do so at the peril of possibly missing out on an engine with very real economic benefits for those who use heavy duty trucks at work every day.

Mike M · Jul 27, 2009

They musta done that testing with the 6.2 when they brought it out too.
I think they stuck one of those test engines in my "NEW" 1983 truck. What a POS ! This would explain alot of what I saw in my engine.

Mike M · Jul 27, 2009

The GM dealers do see plenty of them in for head gasket failures and injector warranty's under 100,000 miles.

MN Scott · Jul 27, 2009

The 03 and older ones had the injector problems. The 04's injectors are much improved and I have not heard of much trouble with them.

Dean Barker · Jul 27, 2009

I thought the Duramax was designed by Isuzu, but built by GM in Moraine, Ohio.

Ray · Jul 27, 2009

It's a silverado,cloth seats,power windows,locks,amfm.The engines never been touched,runs great.I got a letter from Gm saying the injectors were under warranty for 200000 miles.I'm in ohio.

Ray · Jul 27, 2009

That head gasket thing is a rumor been around forever,nonsense.

jd b puller · Jul 27, 2009

Shop around, I bought an 06 w/the 6 speed Allison, 4x4 SLT Ext cab for 17k and it had a little under 100k miles on it. Wish I would have kept looking for a Crew Cab though.

Mike M · Jul 28, 2009

I worked at a GM dealer, before they closed, it was not a rumor.

He needs to price the parts for a head gasket replacement,and price the injectors BEFORE he buys a truck with that many miles !

Anonymous-0 · Aug 15, 2009

Well I'm a GM mechanic and specifically work on the Duramax's here. GM training specifically stated that they were made to run reliably for 200,000 miles. Injectors are a common problem with them. You'll never get the glow plugs out of them like you could with the old 6.5L. They twist right off. I've done headgaskets on one, but never an injection pump. I've seen alot replaced by other dealers but I don't think they fixed anything.

Just a few other things. Replace the fuel filter every 15,000 miles and spin on trans filter every 30,000 miles. There is supposed to be a magnet shaped like a donut either stuck to the filter or on the filter stud. Don't overload it as the allison won't take it. We get dump trucks in here with burned up transmissions.

Wheel bearings and front end parts are common to those trucks. Along with rusted rotors.

OT: Longevity of Duramax Diesels

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