Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Chevy 1/2 ton Duramax diesel

Anyone own or know someone who owns a Chevy 1/2 ton Duramax diesel?

Do they even make one?

Bing is your friend

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2...-1500-duramax-review-the-perfect-engine/

I just purchased a 2020 Silverado LT with the I-6 Duramax. Only had it about a week so not a huge report. So far it has been excellent. I have had Silverado trucks for years, always with the 5.7 or 5.3 liter gas motors and this 3.0 diesel is a fully adequate replacement. Not quite as much step off the line but after that it pulls hard up to highway speeds. And, in the first 450 miles the hand calculated mpg has been 24.2 mpg with a mix of 70% highway and 30% in town driving. And this is with larger 305/65/18 tires on it.

I was interested in those UNTIL I saw that the oil pump is driven by a belt.

150K mile replacement.

Belt has to be accessed from the back of the engine, so, transfer case and tranny gotta come out.

No thanks.

It looked like a nice engine for a 1/2 ton until I found that little gem.

I will likely trade off before then so hopefully won't be an issue.

All modern diesels are hamstrung by a nexus of EPA mandated ULSD paired with fuel pumps that aren’t rated for the ULSD, EPA mandated EGR systems that reduce mileage and hinder power and reliability, EPA mandated DPF and SCR systems that are failure prone leave you in a government mandated limp mode. All of these things reduce mileage when diesel already costs more than gas. In a HD truck that pulls a lot it may be worth it. In a 1/2 ton grocery getter/deer hauler I would take a hard pass.

Around here, diesel is about 6 cents more than gas where I fill up. Doing the numbers saves me about $550 a year in fuel costs. Not a lot but enough. And I was thinking of the 6.2 liter motor at first, which is exactly the same cost as the diesel. So up front costs are the same, actually less because the diesel was available in the LT trim and not the higher LTZ or High Country.

The 6.2 requires 93 octane.
Gotta factor that in.
But it is available in the LT/Trail Boss trim.

I'm really liking my 6.2. Never even considered the baby diesel.

That is true. In that setting, diesel is cheaper than premium.

Had a short road trip last night, only about 50 miles on 2 lane highway. Cruise set at 58 mph. No wind last night. Trip computer indicated steady 30-32 mpg. FYI.

That's really good! My 6.2 in a TB crew has done 25mpg for a short empty interstate run.

I have a friend that has had one for a couple months now and she has been 38MPG highway driving.

I am going out to the ranch this weekend. 225 miles each way. If the wind is calm, should get a better picture of highway mileage

I got a GMC with one in May. Currently over 9K miles.

The GMC are rated lower MPG due to aerodynamics & weight. I'd say I average 22-27 doing 77-80mph, depending on wind. Around home doing mostly short trips about 21mpg. I've gotten as high as 29 in an area where the interstate speed is lower - doing 65ish.

I like it a lot better than the 5.3 in my last truck.

I bought one the end of February.

AT4 package and immediately put 10ply Falken tires on it.

I have 12K on it. 35% of the time towing something and 10% of that has been pulling my 27' toy hauler which runs about 8K pounds.

To date overall average is 17.9 mpg, If I run empty down the interstate at 80, I will get about 22mpg.

I had the 6.2 half ton. I really liked it, but for towing the diesel wins hands down. When pulling my camper, it would get between 6-8mpg. The diesel is between 9-10mpg, but tows so much better.

Does the Chevy have a compression brake? That's what I really love about my Dodge diesel.

I think that the brake is based on the transmission, not a true compression brake.

Trip to the ranch with 68-70 on the highway and then some puttering around out there yielded 24 mpg. I thought that seemed low until I realized that I had put it in 4wd Auto and forgotten to take it out....!

I will say that the new 10 speed auto tranny seems really good.

My 2019 definitely does. When you kick it in going down grades with a load,you can hear it.I had an after market one on my 1998 Dodge 5 speed manual and I think it worked better though.Could be the difference in the 2019 is a 6 speed auto