Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire 2008 GMC Sierra w/ 6.0 L vortec max

Posted in another forum but figured this one would get more traffic.

I'm looking into the possible purchase of this truck. Since it's a little bit higher in mileage (115,000) I wanted to see what other owners, or opinions, have to say about its motor/transmission or anything else?

I imagine it still has a lot of good life left. Just trying to figure out the good, the bad, and the potentially ugly.

Yea, 115,000 miles is not much these days on a V-8 chevy motor
as long as the person did the oil changes like you should.
115,000 miles is time to do a brake job if has'ent been done
yet, belts and replace the plugs and six years on a battery its time for that to be replaced and then you will be good for the
next 120,000 miles, good luck .

Those motors are known for poor gas mileage. Hasbeen

We average about 16-17 with that motor in an H2 Hummer. Runs great, and has plenty of power.
I don't get all this gas mileage crap. If you can afford to buy it, ya should be able to afford to feed it.
Want "good" mileage, by a prius.

Hard to say that any truck really gets good gas mileage.
However, at a dealership I saw a sticker on a Ford F-150 saying 46 mpg city. I questioned the guy on it but he didn't really know.

My 2003 6.0 Silverado has 190K on it and still runs like a top. My son's 2000 5.3 has 280K on it and it still runs fine.
I really enjoy having the extra power the 6.0 gives me over the 5.7 I had in my 1993 GMC. I can live with the gas mileage for now when I see what the new trucks cost. I read somewhere this generation of GMC engines are designed to last a minimum of 250K miles. It seems to be pretty acccurate, if not a little underestimated, from what I've seen.

Bob

You are partly correct. Actually, there are two different 6.0 motors. There was the 300 horse 6.0 used in 3/4 tons. Those were notorious gas hogs. The OP's motor is a 367 horse 6.0 in a 1/2 ton, much better.

That mileage is barely broke in. I've run and my friends have run these trucks to much higher miles with hardly any problems. Engine and tranny in these gms are some of the best out there.

That's good to hear all of this. Haven't really found any negatives with this truck, so it looks like I might be giving it a new home!

I got a 2010 2500 with 6.0l. with 107,000 on her. Knock on wood i have not had any problems yet.Yes mpg is not the greatest. Knew that going in, it is what it is. I just wish they would have put bigger gas tank in. I think mine is around 24 gallons. Wish they would go back to reserve tank or at least have it a option.

I picked up a 2005 2500HD quad 4x4 with the 6.0 that had 115,000 miles on it. I've had it two years now and have done nothing but oil changes and tire rotations. According to the engine monitor the lifetime fuel mileage is 12.9 mpg and that's a mix of city driving, freeway trips over the continental divide and back, towing our 28 foot bumper pull and running around in 4wd hunting. Like another poster said, I bought it to do all those things, not for mileage. Even though a prius gets great mileage it doesn't even get out the gate when it comes to doing for me what that truck can do. Price a new one and you'll find you can buy a ton of gas for the difference in price. Go for it.

True. It's been a while since I owned a GM but my experience with 4 of them is they fall apart around the engine and trans. I asked a friend about his 2011 GMC diesel. He like the power and such but said it was already rattling way worse than another guys 2010 Ford F350. He felt they were more cheaply made than Fords.

Gearheads at work tell me its a "300k mile engine".

My 2003 with 137k has new water pump, alternator, and fuel pump... wear and tear stuff. Other owners tell me fuel pump failures are common. Also has a case-saver in the t-case, and case patched from pump rub (pump eats a hole in the housing). 2007.5 and newer shouldn't have that issue.

Mines a 3/4-ton Yukun XL with 6.0l and is a gas hog, but still runs great. It handles great on dirt logging roads, like a 3/4-ton rally car

I'd be more worried about the tranny. 200-250k is great for the 4L-60 usually found in the lighter duty trucks. If it hasn't been done yet, you will need a water pump before 150, belts,hoses, t-stat, and tune up when you do, and its good to go. If the trans does have to come out, do an oil pan and rear main seal at the same time, they will eventually leak.

All vehicles have their faults, just different emblems.

Everyone talks about the 6.0L being a gas hog but what 3/4 ton gas alternative does better? Compared to a 5.3 1/2 ton, sure it doesn't do as well but apples to apples?

While I don't have experience with that particular truck, we have a GMC Acadia that just ticked over 120K.

My concern with high mileage cars/trucks these days is everything EXCEPT the engine. Cars/trucks are essentially computers now and we've had sensor problems, door lock switch doesn't work on one side, window switch doesn't work on the other side, power steering rack is leaking, etc. etc. etc.

So I would ask the prior owner what [bleep] issues they've had - because those seems to annoy and cost money to fix.

My .02.

I have a 2004 that just last week it turned over 100k. I get about 10-11 mpg and thats it. It loves dino juice for sure. Been pretty trouble free. Just put new wheel bearings in front and U joints also last week. My FIL has an 03 and his idea of maintenance is fixing it when it is so broken u cant even move it anymore. He's got 225k on his. Trust me he abuses vehicles.

My 2007 has a 5.3. On a good day gas MPG is 12.5.
Runs great but I think I can watch the gas gauge move.

Probably not typical. But my 2004 F250 with 5.4 and 6 speed manual trans routinely gets 18 highway and will do 20+ if you grandpa it around. Best I ever did for a tank on the highway was 20.75mpg. Like I said, not typical but it can happen.

FIXED IT.