Chevy 6.0L w/ 6 speed tranny

[iceman]

Do any of you have the new 6 speed tranny in a 2500HD? I am trying to decide between a gas and a diesel but don't want a gas verses diesel debate.

I am pretty sure going with the gas, but my main concern is how busy the tranny will be with the new 6 speed. How does it compare to the 4 speed? Any experiences with the 6.0l and tranny, I am kind of concerned about the tranny shifting all the time when pulling.

Is there any increased fuel economy from the older 4 speed to the new 6 speed (not that I care much, just checking)

 

[zr600]

I think the 6 speed will actually shift less than the 4 speed. The 6 speed gear ratios are closer togethor than the 4 speed. I have a 6.0 with 4 speed and when it goes from 3rd to 2nd gear man that is a big jump. Pulling a heavy load it will shift between 3rd and 2nd a lot. Hasn't been an issue thought other than not getting any mileage.

 

[STORMY]

look for one with 4.10's I got the 373's and the tranny is pretty busy pretty much everywhere

 

[rideon]

I do not think the 4.10 rear end is available anymore due to the new 6 speed transmission. I have not researched it much yet, but I believe the 3.73 is as low as you can get from the factory. Most of them are being ordered into the dealers with 3.42 as far as I can tell.

 

[Osborne Performance]

we have both a diesel and gas the 6.0 is a fun truck to drive it shifts a bit more than are d max but it is towing a 28 3 horse goose neck trailer are d max does pull the hard grades better but it is does but it is giving up 250 foot pounds of torgue but it does get around 15 mph empty

 

[Hawkeye]

my 6 speed seems to shift alot, but it is a very smooth shift, almost like its slipping

 

[grandpaj]

6.0 vs ds

I bought a 2009 6.0 6 spd with the 3.73 gears. Best fuel economy I ever got unloaded freeway driving was 15. figured with a calculator. Have a 6 place open trailor, and with 5 sleds on it the truck would run in 4 gear most the time to maintain 65 and 3 if any incline present at all. Fuel economy was about 7 doing this. Kept truck 2 months, 0% came out on the Duramax and it was a no brainer to go back to the diesel.
Pulling same trailor with 6 sleds it gets 12-13, runs is 6 gear until you hit a real hill and just never really shifts and just goes. If you can afford the difference in price theres no question. Running empty the truck is getting about 17-19mpg.
Made a trip when it had 200 miles on it where I drove 200 miles empty and 200 miles with a M7 in the back and it got 18mpg round trip. This is just my experience so take it for what its worth.

 

[octane]

I have the new 2500HD w/ the 6.0L and 3.73 gears and 6 speed tranny. When pulling a 29 foot enclosed I put the manual shift into 4th gear and drive about 65 MPH at 2800 to 3000 RPM. The only time it shifts down is when pulling long and/or steep grades. If I leave it in auto, it will jump back and forth between 5th and 4th. I can hold it into 5th longer by driving 70 to 75 MPH. Fuel milage around 8 to 8.5 pulling.

 

[snosumitcsr]

Got an 09 work truck, 3.73 gears suck, i would go 4.10. i get 11-12.5 mpg empty. tranny shifts alot and cannot hold speed on cruise pulling slight inclines, where my old 05 with 4 speed 4.10 would hold speed great, and get a little better mileage 12-13.5.

I thought the 09 would get 1-2 mpg better than the 05, but it don't.

this is a work truck with alum tool box and gear in back seat, however, I cant have more than 1,000 pounds of gear/tools.

rod

 

[IWantATurbo]

mine is an 07 im guessing that is the 6 speed? it shifts all the time empty or towing!!!! and the mpg sucks!!! im going to get a diesel very soon!!!

 

[08Alaska800]

I have an 08 2500 suburban with 6.0 and 6 speed pullling 23 ft enclosed. It
downshifts alot. Works better with the tow haul button on. If you stay under
65 mph the downshifting isn't too bad. Over 65 mph and slight hills and it is constantly downshifting. I get about 8MPG with the trailer and 14-15 MPG highway. Probably could get better on the highway in any other state besides
Alaska(Lots of 2 lane highways with constant traffic). I think the 4 speed tranny would have been a better choice. Actually, the 6.0 with an allison would
be even better. Is that an option on the newer 6.0's since the 8.1 is no longer available?

 

[iceman]

Thanks for the replies guys, now I am getting the answers to my questions. Might reconsider going w/ the dsl. It would be a dsl hands down if I didn't have to put up with the gelling, and a few 2 mile trips here and there.

 

[IWantATurbo]

i live in wyoming and have and many diesels and i have yet to have one gel yet? and i have never pluged one in!!!

 

[iceman]

Thanks guys, I made the plunge yesterday and ended up with a sweet 2010 silver duramax.

If anyone is looking to buy a used 2004 1/2 ton Silverado Crew w/ 94,000 miles I have one. $15,000 b/o

 

[sno sub]

Thanks guys, I made the plunge yesterday and ended up with a sweet 2010 silver duramax.

If anyone is looking to buy a used 2004 1/2 ton Silverado Crew w/ 94,000 miles I have one. $15,000 b/o

You made a great choice but I want to let others that read this thread that I got a 09 Sierra 5.3 w 6 speed. It is far better than the 4 sp I had there is a correct gear for what you need instead of the 4 sp causing lugging or over revving. Just the upgrade to six speeds was worth it to me. Now I hope it holds up, had to rebuild my 4sp at 100,000 miles.

 

[likinit2]

Just a word of advice for anyone else considering the gas 6.0. Just Make absolutely sure to get the 4:10 gears. Both 5th and 6th gears are overdrive! The salesman told me they were not available but they are. I had to order the truck but it is night and day. My partner at work bought one same time i did and got the 3:73's. He isn't very happy because it shifts up and down going down the hwy empty! He also doesn't get as good of mileage as I am getting. Also if you are living and doing a lot of driving at any elevation above 3000 or so feet it is a no brainer, go with the diesel.

 

[mattsoreide]

I miss my diesel bad. Have an 07 Vortec Max with lots of goodies including 4:10's. Shifts alot, MPG's 15 is the best ive got and 8-9 pulling my 27' enclosed. Thinkin bout goin back to a dmax if i keep pulling alot!!! check out my truck in my garage...it may come up for sale soon!!!