OT-calling the Queen of All Things Diesel

Tell me again.

Do we like 2011 3500 Duramax?

We know it will never be another Dodge and we can't afford to keep this one. Now we know there were 3 yrs cursed with a mix of heavy duty and REALLY heavy duty parts, we will continue to have the lighter heavy duty stuff fail. Can't 'afford to buy new, but can't afford to own this one, either.

Must move on. Sorta like deciding to have surgery to stop the problem. Just cut it OUT and get on with the healing.

I subscribe to Consumer Reports, and recently bought a new car. I realized then that they want me to buy ANOTHER  subscription which is separate for that. Grr. I can't find any useful info there on the Duramax or any trucks. If I need a separate subscription for each thing I may look at there, I don't need them any more. Consumer Reports can bite me.

Thing is, our 2007 might've been rated highly for its new (that year) 6.7L motor.

The problems with the other stuff didn't start showing up til later.

So, if they did CR on vehicles at 3-5 yrs, then we'd have a more accurate picture, but we can't do that, right? We can't go back and unbuy a new 07, NOW.

They do have the used car ratings, and they also have ratings for the new ones with pretty good projections on how they will hold up for durability and expected costs.

The new ratings have been reasonably accurate for things we've purchased, but its often because they already know that engine or tranny or whatever from other models, and when it's really a new piece of technology, I figure it's only a good guess.

Michelle, we had always been Ford people. When DH stumbled onto a used Silverado which, of course is a Duramax, he was like a little kid. He LOVES it! I do not think he will ever go back to Ford for a diesel truck. Funny how he gets better mpg than I do in my new Edge. We have minis/ponies and this truck has never let us down with pulling or hauling. He also is a owner/operator truck driver. This man knows his diesel! LOL

Thanks for your input. The more non-dealers we speak to, the more we are learning that not all Dodges are cursed. But the 07, 08, 09 years were transitional, dinking around with heavy and heavier duty components. Bt 10, they had it figures out.

But since Chrysler did not stand behind their product, TWICE, and knowing the flaws were inherent to the year, no more Dodge for us. The motor is strong and perfect, I think it's move the mountain, as well as climb it. Too bad the other components were not all factored in before they tossed them together

I'm only thinking your callin me out, LOL!

Yes go for the D-max! I've not met anyone truely un happy with it. The early versions (LB7 2001-2004) had some issues but the new LBY & LBZ are good to roll! With now 10 years of reliability behind it, its a safe call. But stay FAR FAR FAR away from the Ford Power strokes, the 6.0, 6.4 were absoltule garbage and the new 6.7 is breaking valve stems when under a load. RUN. In the last 6 years Ford has been through 3 different diesels...that alone would tell you run. Pre 6.0 the 7.3 Powerstroke was a good strong but loud engine (so your looking 2003 or older trucks to find thoes and good luck they cost a fortune eveyone wants them ...wonder why)

The D-max is good on milage (especially if you put out a little extra and go get a performance tuner like EFI Live or a Bully Dog). Heck I would have put one in my 92 crew cab long bed if I had more time and money. But it got the good ole reliable 5.9 6BT Cummins (all mechanical...no electronics here)... but sadly in your case its the truck its self not the engine causing your problems. Plus you can't go wrong with the Allison transmission that backs the D-max. And honestly you will probably prefer the ride of the Chevy/GM truck, ESPECIALLY when pulling/towing. They left the "soccer mom truck market" and went back to their working roots with the 2007 and up trucks.

***SWOON***

If you knew how much I WISH I understood diesel engines!  I understand gasoline recip, and jet engines (got my A & P license, dontchaknow), but I am stymied by diesels.

So, am standing here beside of myself in awe.

LOL Thanks Caprice.

You could almost say diesel is in my blood. Out of all the things that have been in our household in my lifetime half were diesel powered.

My dad makes a living on fixing and maintaining turbine generators (specialist in Pratt & Whitney and GE), well and ship repairs (which are usually diesel). I'm facinated by turbines. Gas engines, I know them like um to a point but gimme a diesel any day. Diesels are super efficent, my 454 was giving me 8 mpg out of my truck at 6600 lbs, My Cummins 6BT now in said truck 20 mpg at 7000lbs (the Cummins 5.9 weighs 400lbs more than the 7.4L 454). Im pushing maybe 180 horse from the diesel but 460 ft/lbs or torque. The Gaser was 350 HP but only 280 ft/lbs. Oh and the Cummins is an inline 6 and the 454 V8 obviously.

But diesel unlike anything "gas" powered works a bit different. Gas power works on ignition of fuels, diesel works on compression. You can throw a match on diesel fuel and it will not ignite. It takes air compression and heat...not spark. Thus why diesel has glow plugs and gas has spark plugs. But look at RPMs of turbines and gas motors they are way higher than a diesel. At 45 mph I'm only going at about 1200 RPM, some gas engines idle at/near that.

So I do know how diesels can stymy. It takes the whole idea of a gas engine and blows it out the window. But once you know them, you really don't want to stray. As they are also built for the long haul, most gassers are dying by 200,000. In the diesel world a diesel isn't broken in till 100,000+. Diesels can go millions with just basic over hauls if treated right. I knew of multiple diesels that pushed the 2 million mark before needing an over haul, because of basic wear.

Personally? Make it 4 cylinders and put in the back, where the push belongs. Make it round (or mine were convertibles) and make it go ticka-ticka-ticka with a tuned exhaust and I'm a happy girl.

All the trucks have the motor in the back end and don't have that beloved sound. Mind you, I have nothing against a nice loping cam, but I daren't put me half-still-16-year-old-self into a position with that much power.

And in the meantime, we took our Dodge to a place that is known for after market stuff, and they confirmed that 07-08-09 have weak systems and our U-joints were twisting. We took it to our own dealer to fix under warranty. We took it in a 50,505 miles. And of course, we've certainly NEVER mentioned all these problems (below a loud roar) before.

When does the power train warranty expire? You got it, 50k. What a surprise, coming from Dodge. BUT Chrysler is not the dealer. Our extended warranty covered it, minus deductible and a few other things. They say they damaged a tire and put 4 brand new ones on it. They found a 2011 to our exact specs - in KS (we are in WA state), and the deal is about 10k less than the chevy. So, for about 4 hrs, we were tempted because the dealer has tried to make it right. It was the local dealer who got back about 1/3 of the 1st clutch.

BUT, in the end, we are afraid to have another Dodge. Since this one cost us nearly 10k per year in everything NOT covered by the bumper-to-bumper, covers everything, and they didn't honor brakes or clutch, even when it was closer to NEW than used, 2011 Chevy it is.

And yes, I realize brakes and clutch are consumables. But again I maintain, I'd like to be able to actually consume them before replacing. Brakes at 28k, clutches at 32k and 42k, and now it wants brakes AGAIN?

And the damage is visibly NOT us. Since I've carried around more (tiny) clutch parts than most people ever see in a lifetime, I know what wear looks like as opposed to burn spots. The clutch disk looked brand new, but the other parts had blue spots and apparently the 11:00 and 5:00 positions told them specifically where the problem was. I didn't study the first one, but I saw this one before they finished removing it in Orlando.

Sooooooooo, in order to stop us from hemorraging money again next summer, it goes today. I would not sell it to a friend, even with the sheaf of papers listing all the new parts, and the shiny new tires. I could not, knowing what I know.

Blue. The Chevy is blue.