buying a new to me Chevy/GMC truck

Brad in WI · May 25, 2009

I am looking at buying a new to me Chevy or GMC 2500HD. I am curious as to what sort of mileage I can expect to get and how long they will last. I am looking at one now with a 8.1L with 52,600 miles and a few with the 6.0L and miles ranging from 50,000 to 110,00 miles. All of the trucks are extended cabs with short boxes. This will end up as my daily driver and I drive mostly on 65 MPH roads. Thanks

PS Fords and Dodges are not an option as the woman will not allow me to purchase a truck if not a GM product.

just another old geezer · May 25, 2009

divorce the woman and buy a dodge cummins diesel.

farmerdon · May 25, 2009

All the 8.1 only run on 4 cylinders when not under load, I know a fella who get 18 mpg when empty and no trailer. The 8.1 also probably has the Allison automatic which should be superior to the automatic with the 6.0. Of course your mileage dpends too on the rear axle ratio.

Brad in WI · May 25, 2009

I really don't need the cummins diesel. only hauling medium loads like a Farmall H OR a farmall MD. one at a time for now but who knows what the future will bring

Gun guru · May 25, 2009

My neighbor has a 2002 Diesel duramax. He gets 25HWY mileage and 18 or so in the city.

Anonymous-0 · May 25, 2009

That should read buy a Dodge with the Cummins which by the way isn't fully a Cummins product but rather a CDC product.

Anonymous-0 · May 25, 2009

I don't think that technology is on the 8.1L's. At least not that I have read, heard of, or seen personally.

Bob · May 25, 2009

I have to agree with you there, JoeBob.
GM engines using active fuel management

Dave 2N · May 25, 2009

I have a Silverado 2500HD, 6.0, 4x4, short box extended cab. On a good day out on the highway at 65 mph, I can come pretty close to 15 mpg. Around town, about 12 mpg. Towing--less than that.

Howsomeever--I got this truck as a worker and it does that exceedingly well. Hauls my trailer with a Super H with weights right down the road like no problem. Didn't get it for a mileage
vehicle. Got it to do the jobs that a Corolla or a "green weenie" hybrid can't do.

I like this truck--a lot!

My daily driver is a 99 Ford Ranger 4 cyl/five spd. manual, 2 wd. 28 mpg on the highway and 25 around town.

super H · May 25, 2009

6.0 4.10 rear end- 14 empty 11-12 with a trailer

M Nut · May 25, 2009

I have relatives who have both, and have driven both while empty and while hauling loads. If I were buying a truck tomorrow, it would be a 2500 with the 8.1 and Allison tranny. No question. The 6.0's I'm familiar with get no better, possibly less mileage than an 8.1, have less power, and don't have the heavy duty Allison transmission.

MarkB_MI · May 25, 2009

With the 8.1, you'll never see better than 12 mpg. The 6.0 will do a little better, 14 or 15.

Roy Ward · May 25, 2009

I have 2 95's. One's a automatic 19MPG HWY 16 pulling. The other is a 5 speed 21MPH HWY 19 pulling. Wouldn't take anything for either one.

Brad in WI · May 25, 2009

what would my mileage be about with the 6.6L duramax. traveling mostly 65 mph with some city driving.

OliverGuy · May 25, 2009

Depends on what year. "04 and early is a 5 speed and "05 and later is a 6. Wish my "04 had that next gear. It"s humming down the road past 60 and uses way too much fuel. Those motors only barely need to be turning over to run down the interstate. Rear end ratio obviously matters also. We pull trailers every day and I would keep buying 8.1"s if they made them. Everything I have gets 8 mpg while pulling--8.1"s, 6.0"s, 350 Vortecs. But the 8.1"s pull 10,000 lbs. or more with ease. But if you"re not pulling all the time, the 8.1 gets really thirsty. Only GM"s here also.

Mike M · May 25, 2009

What are you going to buy when GM goes belly up ? Well they really allready have and would be long gone if congress would of stayed out of it !

I have to give Ford some props for not taking the bail outs so the dictators could dictate to them.

630rich · May 25, 2009

my 01 max gets 18 city and 24-25 highway

Brian Jasper co. Ia · May 25, 2009

The 8.1L does not have active fuel management. Only the 5.3L in trucks 07 and newer do.

buickanddeere · May 25, 2009

It's not mileage, it's cost per mile. The truck is usually worn out before the cost of the diesel option breaks even.
As for service it's the opposite of the good old days. Now the gasser is simpler and more durable than the diesel.

Anonymous-0 · May 25, 2009

You dont know what to buy and you ask us. If your wife dont like anything else but Chevy tell her to buy GM stock.

DoubleR · May 26, 2009

My 6.0 gas with a 410 gear 6speed gets 14-15 if I drive like a old lady. About 10-11 pulling 16ft cattle trailer or flat bed with a load. About 9 mi pulling 30ft 5th wheel camper with small trailer on the back and a wind deflector on the roof of truck.

rustyfarmall · May 26, 2009

Go with the 8.1 It will walk all over the 6.0 and the miles per gallon will be every bit as good. I own a dually with 8.1. I've seen fuel mileage all the way from a low of 8mpg when the truck was new and hauling a tractor over the Rockies, up to 16mpg with 52,000 miles on the odometer and using full synthetic motor oil.

Anonymous-0 · May 26, 2009

If you can get a good 8.1 with the Allison Tranny you will not be dissatisfied. It will pull and give you very good performance. I had an 01 2500 and it is a great truck. I have three 6.6 D-Max and I like them. I have bought them because I can no longer get a new truck in the 2500 & 3500 with the 8.1. In my opinion it is one of the biggest mistakes GM has made in light truck power plants. The 8.1 with the Allison tranny and 3.73 gears is a great combination. I don't worry much about fuel economy - but the 8.1 is about as good as any 6.0 with 4.10 gears.

Anonymous-0 · May 26, 2009

Brad, I have three Duramax's. A 2005 with 5spd allison, a 2006 with 6spd Allison and a 2007 new style with 6 spd. When pulling a gooseneck with 9 - 10 k payload I will get in the range of 14mph with 06. The 05 is about the same. When running with no trailer on these two trucks I will get about 20mph if I hold my speed 60 or less. Diesels will use the fuel when you crank them up. Keep the RPM's under 1800. The 6 speed allison and 3.73 will run about 1600 rpm's at 60. My 2007 gets very good mileage at 60. I have seen 23 many times - depends on wind, etc. If you are buying a used truck I would ask for maint records and get an oil sample if possible.

RockRon · May 26, 2009

Being a Ford man, I was shocked this winter when I was considering the purchase an "05 6.0 GMC Sierra 2500 HD. What a nice truck! Then I drove it for a few days...never got above 12.2 mpg. I talked to a friend with same truck and he gets the same mileage; dropping to 7 mpg with a trailer. GM didn"t seem to think this was a problem. That is why that truck and many like it are piling up on their lots. For now, I"ll keep driving my 17 mpg "92 Ford!

Brad in WI · May 27, 2009

If that truck and many like it are piling up on their lots where the heck are you located at. I am in NE wisconsin and a truck like that only stays on the lot for a few days before it is sold. last 2005 2500HD I looked at had the 8.1 and was put on lot on friday and was sold at 3pm on tuesday. Dealer was closed saturday afternoon thru tuesday.

Anonymous-0 · May 27, 2009

I have a early 04 d-max 1 ton 4X4. When it was new I got 21 just crusing, and 14 with a 15,000 pound load. Around the 100,000 mark it was down about 1 1/2 MPG less, I have 275,000 on it now and still has not had ANYTHING done to the engine, the allison 5 speed crapped out at 200,000. But the mileage had steadily fell now I get 17 on the highway empty and about 10 loaded. I guess you could say it is deffinately "broken in"

RockRon · May 27, 2009

Guess you need to come to PA! I've been looking at the same trucks on the lots since last Fall. The only time they move is when they take them to auction. Then they end up on someone else's lot. Did you hear GM now stands for Government Motors?

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