Gonna buy a 2010...how bad really is the chev 6L gas

[portgrinder]

Looks like I'm going on vehicle allowance. Gonna pick up a new truck and put a deck on it. Truck is going to be worn out in 3 yrs + maintenance cost = I"m buying a gas engine.

Ford - not a chance
Toyota - nice, but a bit light
GM - nicest to drive, but the 6L is a dog
Dodge - new model year, hemi, should be decent

I will get the best local service out of GM, but I think the Dodge is a better truck. Way better engine obviously.

Anyone have the 6L GM? how bad is it?

Gonna have a deck and at most pull a 2 placer

Sure like the Toyota, but looking at the price its not worth it for a truck thats going to be driven on a mine site.

thoughts?

 

[Dogmeat]

The 6.0L with the 6 spd transmission will be just fine.

We have an entire fleet of work trucks that are all 2007+ 6.0L 2500 and 3500 trucks ...

We went to them because the diesels were costing us so much money.

I would still prefer the 8.1L over the 6.0L because it tows better and only gets marginally worse mileage, but the 6.0L is a pretty good workhorse motor when mated to the 6L80E ...

 

[Rotax-Guy]

We love ours in our Escalade

 

[ndmtnsledder]

If you can get by with a 1500 get the 6.2L. My dads had 2 denalis with it amazing engine to bad they wont put it in a 2500 yet.

 

[Shawnmcgr]

The 6l I had was a gas hog; of course so was the Hemi. I went to a 7.4 and it got better gas mileage. The 6l had good power but it's up in the RPM range (same as the Hemi). The 8.1 is a much better tow vehicle with torque down low in the RPM range and will get better mileage than the 6l or Hemi while towing. Worse while empty though.

I'm guessing your driving low kms per year but after 3yrs the vehicle is pounded out by driving around a mine? And your not paying for fuel? If your paying for fuel and doing more than 160,000km in 3 years a diesel would likely be cheaper. Better resale and cheaper fuel.

 

[carguy]

A buddy of mine has an older 6L (2004) I think with the 4spd auto trans. Gas mileage is worse than my older 5.7L (1997) when you have your foot into it. Drive nice and it will outperform my 5.7L in all ways including mileage. I have also heard that then 6L with the 6spd trans are better, better mileage first as well as performance. Can't say the Dodge is better or worse...no experience with the 5.7L hemi gas....still less displacement and probably higher rpms for HP/Torque. I am looking to buy a Chev 6L gas with the 6 spd trans in 2010.

 

[SilverGriz]

I have a 2008 Chevy Crewcab 2500 LTZ Z71. The 6.0 with the 6 speed is not a dog. I pull heavy loads all year around and it handles it great. I can pull our local pass at 70 MPH if I want too with a 26 foot travel trailer. The interior of the LTZ is next to none in my opinion. You won't be dissapointed if you go with the Chevy/GMC.

 

[Dogmeat]

If you can get by with a 1500 get the 6.2L. My dads had 2 denalis with it amazing engine to bad they wont put it in a 2500 yet.

IMO, the 6.0 or 6.2L in a 1/2 ton truck is a waste of a motor at least if you want to tow with it ...

My dad has a 2008 Vortec Max (6.0L) 1500, and the motor goes to waste because it is mated to the same 4L60E transmission GM has been using for years .... there is way way way too big of gap between 1st and 2nd and 3rd and 4th on that transmission for towing more than about 3,000-lbs ....

The newer 1/2 tons (as in 2009+) I think have a 5 or 6 speed which would help, but I would not recommend a 1/2 ton with any motor and that 4 speed for towing any significant amount of weight ....

 

[ndmtnsledder]

I dont disagree but in GMs infinite wisdom just wont let the 6l die and put the 6.2l in the entire line. I never was a fan of the 6l though. The 6.2l has more hp torque and better mileage mated to the 6spd works great. The 6.2 will actually out do the newer 5.3l for gas although im sure some of it is the 6spd.

 

[likinit2]

I have a 2008 3500 6.0 gas crew cab single wheel 4x4. This is a great truck, mileage is pretty decent. As for the power, it makes really good power! Just be sure to go with the 4:10 gears otherwise you will have a dog that has to hunt gears going down the hwy empty! I can't believe they would even offer 3:73 gears as standard gears, what a JOKE! My work partner and I bought trucks the same time, mine stated as above and his is a 2500 crew short box 4x4 6.0 gas but with 3:73 gears. My truck pulls better and gets better mileage. Keep in mind that both 5th and 6th are overdrives. This is the first truck that I have had that I can actually stay with my freinds diesel when towing our sled trailers and maintenence costs are minimal compared with his filter changes and now the issues with this new fuel he isn't getting the greatest mileage either. I'll quit rambling, as you can tell I like my truck!

 

[Dogmeat]

I have a 2008 3500 6.0 gas crew cab single wheel 4x4. This is a great truck, mileage is pretty decent. As for the power, it makes really good power! Just be sure to go with the 4:10 gears otherwise you will have a dog that has to hunt gears going down the hwy empty! I can't believe they would even offer 3:73 gears as standard gears, what a JOKE! My work partner and I bought trucks the same time, mine stated as above and his is a 2500 crew short box 4x4 6.0 gas but with 3:73 gears. My truck pulls better and gets better mileage. Keep in mind that both 5th and 6th are overdrives. This is the first truck that I have had that I can actually stay with my freinds diesel when towing our sled trailers and maintenence costs are minimal compared with his filter changes and now the issues with this new fuel he isn't getting the greatest mileage either. I'll quit rambling, as you can tell I like my truck!

I definatley agree.

I've got 3.73's on my 8.1L and it does pretty well with those, but even on the 8.1L I wish I had the 4.10's ..

My work truck on the other hand has the 6.0L, 6spd, and 4.10's ... I wouldn't want that truck without the 4.10's.

But yeah, it is kind of stupid GM offers anything but the 4.10 ratio on the 2500 and 3500 trucks with that motor.

Hell on the 3500 trucks I'd be perfectly happy with 4.30's if they offered them.

 

[AndrettiDog]

The more recent 6.0 (GMT-900's) has much better power than the previous 6.0 (Classic trucks). It's up to 365 HP from 300ish. The older 6.0 was just a gas hog and only had a few more HP than the 5.3 (but better torque). The changes to the 6.0 was GM's plan to kill the big 8.1 and improve on MPG. I agree with whoever said that they should just bring the 6.2 in. Probably waiting on the 6.0 parts to run out.

If you can get by with a 1500 get the 6.2L. My dads had 2 denalis with it amazing engine to bad they wont put it in a 2500 yet.

Sweet truck, but it won't handle a sled deck. It's only a 5.8" bed with half-ton chassis. I've considered this truck a few times. Also, I think that it is full time 4 wheel drive (AWD) and doesn't have a low range transfer option.

 

[AbnRangerM7]

This is some great info on the new 6.0 guys.
I currently have a 2002 1500HD (6.0, 3.73 gears). It's been a great truck and now has 145,000 miles. The only major repair has been a fuel pump around 95,000. It uses about a quart of oil every 4000 miles but I can live with that. The four speed trans and the gap between 3rd and 4th gear are definetly one of the downfalls when combined with the 3.73 gears. When towing my 32 foot travel trailer I just leave it in 3rd and don't push it past 60-65mph.
I am also looking to get a new 2500HD with the 6.0 and the info posted here by everyone is helping my decision on gear ratio etc.

Thank you for the info. Keep it coming!

 

[snoschu]

6.0

My work truck is a 2007 6L newer body stlye with 3.73. The gearing sucks, get 4:10's. You can feel it laboring just driving down the highway. The major complint that I have, is when you get stuck and try to get out in reverse the rev limiter shuts you down before you get any wheel speed. I think it shuts down just under 3000 rpm, no fun. But it has been a good truck, no major problems.

 

[Dogmeat]

I am sort of curious how a 427 ci Gen IV small block would do as a truck motor .....

That could be interesting

 

[Rememberme]

My wifes 09 2500 chevy gets less milage per gal then my 03 2500 duramax both are 4x4's..

 

[stalefish_132]

well of course your duramax will get better mileage.

 

[Rememberme]

well of course your duramax will get better mileage.

She gets 12 at best both city, hwy, mine with a chip and no muffler,23 hwy 19 city that is if I keep my foot out of it...

 

[Rotax-Guy]

I'm curious to why gm has diffrent power ratings for the 6.0 Someone stated that the "classic" body style gm was at 300hp. I'm looking at the window sticker from our 05 escalade and it reads "vortec 6.0L engine 345hp" if same motor why does the suv get more ponies?

 

[Highmarker]

I'm curious to why gm has diffrent power ratings for the 6.0 Someone stated that the "classic" body style gm was at 300hp. I'm looking at the window sticker from our 05 escalade and it reads "vortec 6.0L engine 345hp" if same motor why does the suv get more ponies?

not too sure what a escalade has in it, but just because they are around the same year and the same size doesn't mean they are the same motor. i am sure the fuel program would be different as well as maybe heads or exhaust to get you that extra power. just like a standard 350 5.7 vs an LS 5.7 same displacement....huge jump in power.