Duramax ?? before buying

[XO FAB]

I'm in the market for a new truck. Thinking of going with a duramax this time. I've had Cummins and power strokes before, but don't know much about details on duramax's. Any specific years better than others? Any common issues to look out for? Any info would be great. Thanks

 

[megatoy66]

I'm in the market for a new truck. Thinking of going with a duramax this time. I've had Cummins and power strokes before, but don't know much about details on duramax's. Any specific years better than others? Any common issues to look out for? Any info would be great. Thanks

If you don't mind shifting they made the duramax with a 6 speed until early 2007......they get awesome mileage and tons of power.......

 

[datsunon40s]

Lb7s had an injector recall look for the blue tag to make sure it was done

 

[Lucky Jeff]

Lb7s had an injector recall look for the blue tag to make sure it was done

Lb7's and lly's also liked to take out cp3's. They're great trucks. I drove a bone stock 08 dually to LA and back with an enclosed 28 footer, loved it.

 

[datsunon40s]

I have a cummins and have been thinking about switching to duramax lately they are great trucks and so smooth

 

[t1h5ta3]

can make good power, but maint is key to long life.
i recomend having a trusted 3rd party mech look it over before buying.

 

[crash2]

Lb7s had an injector recall look for the blue tag to make sure it was done

What recall and what blue tag?

There was never a recall on the injects only a special policy covering failed injectors 10 years or 200k..

 

[crash2]

Lb7's and lly's also liked to take out cp3's. They're great trucks. I drove a bone stock 08 dually to LA and back with an enclosed 28 footer, loved it.

oh really....

 

[Avanteone]

IMHO, the '06 is the ideal truck. You get the motor before it got all loaded down with extra emissions bull****, plus the six speed auto that the '05 didn't get. They're GREAT trucks overall, LOVE my '05.

 

[crash2]

The LLY's are a better version than the previous LB7 and as john said just prior to getting more emission goodies. The big key on those with the variable turbo is keeping good oil in them to keep from gumming up the armature in the turbo. Another key is a good lift pump/filter setup to keep from damaging the injectors since they are more prone to high return rate failures due to internal damage due to stuff getting past the OEM filter (those are the biggest 2 failures I have seen)..

 

[benw1]

IMHO, the '06 is the ideal truck. You get the motor before it got all loaded down with extra emissions bull****, plus the six speed auto that the '05 didn't get. They're GREAT trucks overall, LOVE my '05.

This. The 2006 and 'classic' 2007 LBZ trucks are the best. The 2005s are a close second.

 

[Lucky Jeff]

oh really....

Yes, my cousin has gone through 2 cp3's and a few sets of injectors. Found out from the local diesel shop that it's common. They go through dozens of diesels a week. So I'm pretty sure they've seen a couple...

The only thing done to my cousins truck is an edge. I think they're junk, so I told him to get rid of it. We'll see what happens.

 

[KarlVP]

I have an 03 duramax.

So far I've had the injectors replaced due to the extended warranty. I've also toasted my head gaskets. And just recently had to rebuild the rear differential due to a failed G80 limited slip differential. The diff flew apart and parts of it had run through the bearings.

The head gaskets were ENTIRELY my fault goofing around with too hot of a tune on the engine. I would ensure the PO never tuned the engine. Or check the cooling system after letting the truck run for a bit. A little pressure in it is okay, but if you pop the coolant overflow tank and coolant comes gushing out that is a sure sign of toasted head gaskets.

The rear diff was my fault too. Poor maintenance on it and I beat the truck like a red headed step child. It now sports a grizzly locker so I won't have that stupid G80 fail on me again.

All that said, I effing love my truck. I've ridden in some dodges and I think the second gen is the way to go for those trucks. The cummins engines are nice, but IMHO, the seats and interiors on dodge truck are ****. Not to mention the "half" of a backseat you get with their quad cabs. If I were to go ford, the only comparable trim level to mine has the King Ranch package and those are $$$$$.

 

[KarlVP]

IMHO, the '06 is the ideal truck. You get the motor before it got all loaded down with extra emissions bull****, plus the six speed auto that the '05 didn't get. They're GREAT trucks overall, LOVE my '05.

We are doing head gaskets on Tom's 05. His entire intake system past the EGR is FILTHY. Like someone took an oil soaked **** in there.

When we pulled my non EGR truck apart to do the same thing, it was surgically clean in the intake system.

The trucks made for sale to Canada don't have the egr bull**** on them.

 

[Lucky Jeff]

EFIlive cures all. If you don't have it on a dmax, you're living in a cave.

 

[KarlVP]

EFIlive cures all. If you don't have it on a dmax, you're living in a cave.

I do pretty well with my PPE tunes. Plenty of power and it doesn't smoke at all. :awesomework:

 

[Lucky Jeff]

I do pretty well with my PPE tunes. Plenty of power and it doesn't smoke at all. :awesomework:

PPE is good, it's definitely better then all others if you can't afford EFIlive.

 

[XO FAB]

Thanks for all the info. I went and checked out a 06. Had a edge juice tho, which I'm not to sure about-probably was beat on. Is there anything bad about the pre 05's? I found a pretty good deal on a 03.

 

[crash2]

Yes, my cousin has gone through 2 cp3's and a few sets of injectors. Found out from the local diesel shop that it's common. They go through dozens of diesels a week. So I'm pretty sure they've seen a couple...

The only thing done to my cousins truck is an edge. I think they're junk, so I told him to get rid of it. We'll see what happens.

I have seen more misdiagnosed cp3's than anything and I have seen more regulator solenoids failed than cp3's....

 

[ain'tstuckjustresting]

I love my '03. Bought it new and has been a great truck. Had a Juice in it for a while and hated it. Been running bone stock for a while and my truck almost always has a camper and trailer on it. Still pulls just fine. I just ordered my EFIlive so we'll see what that will do for me.:corn:

 

[Lucky Jeff]

I have seen more misdiagnosed cp3's than anything and I have seen more regulator solenoids failed than cp3's....

Well... When they replaced the CP3, all was good again. But I'm not the expert on Dmax's. So I'll just toss out the info I have.

 

[Avanteone]

We are doing head gaskets on Tom's 05. His entire intake system past the EGR is FILTHY. Like someone took an oil soaked **** in there.

When we pulled my non EGR truck apart to do the same thing, it was surgically clean in the intake system.

The trucks made for sale to Canada don't have the egr bull**** on them.

I think the EGR stuff fell off my truck. :haha:

 

[84Toyota4x4]

I have been looking at these off and on for a while now, and just recently kind of back into them again.

I personally was looking for a 2001 to mid 2004 LB7 truck because it had none of the emissions stuff (no EGR, no cat, no DPF, etc), no variable turbo stuff, etc. Seemed more simple to me I guess. The valve cover design made changing injectors more difficult if I remember right, but that's not a huge deal IMO. Granted, they also make the least horse power and torque, but I think it would still be ok for my purposes. Not to mention I have read they were popular because they get a little better mileage than the later trucks, but that could be subjective. Also, they supposedly have the "weaker" 5 speed Allison instead of the 6 speed, but again, for me personally, I don't see that as a problem for my plans. Not to mention, they're older so they're a little cheaper.

I personally see the mid 2004 to mid 2005 trucks with the LLY as a "weak spot" in the production since they upped the HP and torque with the "weaker" 5 speed transmission and then added emissions crap to them. I remember reading the input torque spec for the 5 speed was something like 650 ft lbs, and the LLY trucks were putting down something like 600 stock (verses 500 or so for the previous LB7 trucks). Too close for comfort for me, and no room to "play".

Once you get past mid 05 with the LLY and get the 6 speed, or into the LBZ trucks (06-07) with the 6 speed Allison, I think that would be the way to go. They're the last years before they added the DPF, not to mention more HP and torque, but this time through a "stronger" 6 speed with manual shift capability.

In my opinion, get a mid 05 to 07 truck if you can swing it. Of course, this is all based on what "I've read" and may or may not be true... :D

~T.J.

 

["S"-box]

I think I may be a little late with all the lawsuit **** going on, but now that my warranty is kaput:mad: I need to make all my emissions stuff fall off real soon! I absolutely love my d-max! I have either been in or driven several new diesels and the d-max is superior in my opinion. I love my lmm:awesomework: I put a 10' camper in her and a trailer in tow and it always surprises me! Then it's calm enuf for my wife to daily drive.... Super in an all around package.

 

[KarlVP]

Thanks for all the info. I went and checked out a 06. Had a edge juice tho, which I'm not to sure about-probably was beat on. Is there anything bad about the pre 05's? I found a pretty good deal on a 03.

The 03's are the "injector year" you can get them replaced for 10 years or 200K miles whichever comes first. And it being 2013 I would talk to a service writer before I pulled the trigger.

The injectors WILL fail on those trucks. Even replacing them yourself you are looking at $350 per injector.

I had mine replaced on my 03 after 150K miles. The truck was still driveable, but it smoked gray smoke at idle ALL the time.

 

[crazybluerider1]

The injectors WILL fail on those trucks. Even replacing them yourself you are looking at $350 per injector.

There are a couple places selling Bosch injectors for around 225$ now.

Still not cheap but a lot better than 350$

 

[XO FAB]

The 03's are the "injector year" you can get them replaced for 10 years or 200K miles whichever comes first. And it being 2013 I would talk to a service writer before I pulled the trigger.

The injectors WILL fail on those trucks. Even replacing them yourself you are looking at $350 per injector.

I had mine replaced on my 03 after 150K miles. The truck was still driveable, but it smoked gray smoke at idle ALL the time.

Thanks for the info. Good to know. No go on an 03 for me then. Are there any other trouble years on the injectors? I am really wanting a newer body style if I can find the right deal on one. Are there any issues with the mid 07-currents?

 

[crash2]

The 03's are the "injector year" you can get them replaced for 10 years or 200K miles whichever comes first. And it being 2013 I would talk to a service writer before I pulled the trigger.

The injectors WILL fail on those trucks. Even replacing them yourself you are looking at $350 per injector.

I had mine replaced on my 03 after 150K miles. The truck was still driveable, but it smoked gray smoke at idle ALL the time.

Its not just a "replace"--there has to be failure..

 

[Avanteone]

Its not just a "replace"--there has to be failure..

X2... and unless you're driving an '03 that sat on the dealers lot for a year, all of these trucks are out of their 10 year period.

 

[KarlVP]

X2... and unless you're driving an '03 that sat on the dealers lot for a year, all of these trucks are out of their 10 year period.

Hence why I stated that I would talk to a service writer before I pulled the trigger. :awesomework: