Another 6.6 gas question

GDS-3950BH wrote:
I don't get the 10 speed OCD discussions. I drive a different truck every day at work, all 3 US flavors and probably almost every combination at one time or another. Unless your always in Flatlands running empty/not towing and going for squeezing every last drop for fuel mileage, all those extra gears are wasted fluff. In hill country loaded or towing you'll never be up in them much if at all and it does not matter what is in front of the tranny. More gears = more heat and more parts to wear.

Mostly agree. Regardless of gears you still need the same HP/TQ to climb a mtn or cruise the interstate.
However an 8sp or 10 speed will have better spacing between gears and allow the vehicle to maintain speeds easier without lugging or over revving.

I guess I should mention that most of my towing is in the Arizona mountains with many 6-7% grades.

GDS-3950BH wrote:
I don't get the 10 speed OCD discussions. I drive a different truck every day at work, all 3 US flavors and probably almost every combination at one time or another. Unless your always in Flatlands running empty/not towing and going for squeezing every last drop for fuel mileage, all those extra gears are wasted fluff. In hill country loaded or towing you'll never be up in them much if at all and it does not matter what is in front of the tranny. More gears = more heat and more parts to wear.

I agree on most of what you are saying but the 10 speed has 7 gears before it hits the overdrives. I went from a 6.0 4 speed to my 5.3 8 speed and its always got the right gear for towing. So I would rather have the 10 than the 6 but if its not available then I may end up with the 6 speed. It has 4 gears before the 2 over drives.

GDS-3950BH wrote:
I don't get the 10 speed OCD discussions. I drive a different truck every day at work, all 3 US flavors and probably almost every combination at one time or another. Unless your always in Flatlands running empty/not towing and going for squeezing every last drop for fuel mileage, all those extra gears are wasted fluff. In hill country loaded or towing you'll never be up in them much if at all and it does not matter what is in front of the tranny. More gears = more heat and more parts to wear.

So what you're actually saying is you don't have a clue what the advantages are, based on your perception of "never being up in them gears" anyway.
Allow me to help you understand.
1st gear is considerably deeper than the 6 speed (which is already decent 4.03 vs 4.70). = better in that hill country and loaded/towing which you're all about.
Upper gear or gears, you're not up in "them gears" with either trans if you're pulling a hill. Difference is you're keeping out of 5th and 6th with the right load/conditions vs not getting into 8th-10th gear.

BUT WAIT, there's more!

You're the hill country, loaded and towing kinda guy, right? Want to keep the engine closer to the peak powerband more often? Guess what? After you get going easier in a lower first gear, you then have 6 more gear splits before you get into "them gears", vs 3 more with a 6 speed.
The upper gears are no taller either (well 10th is marginally taller, .64 vs.67 or something like that). It's not like the 10 speeds are geared to cruise at 130mph at 2000 rpms, lol.

So actually, you have it almost completely backwards. IF you're only driving unloaded in flat terrain, less gears in NOT a hindrance whatsoever....to the point that the 8 and 10 speeds will skip shift under light load conditions.
BAM, it's a 6 speed when you're driving Miss Daisy and a 10 speed when you're a wanna be Ice Road Trucker!

Maybe this will clear it up for you...or you could just yell at me and tell me to get off your lawn!

Long live the Powerglide!!!!!

The 6 speed is a really good transmission, and u know how good the 6.0 already is. The new 6.6 is even better. The engine is the LT1series now and are better then the LS... hard to say that since I’m a die hard LS guy... but if you look up the difference then you will see how much more improved this engine is. Stock, you can easily add more HP and Tq, more so then on the 6.0. It’s all based on the internals and block design. Heads flow better, much better cooling, oil squirters in specific locations such as under the piston, direct fuel injection... the list goes on. I still love my 09 6.0 with 6 speeds though. I like the idea of the 10 speed... I think close ratios are better. It all depends on what you are willing to pay for. Regardless it will be a great truck I’m sure...

I don't get the 10 speed OCD discussions. I drive a different truck every day at work, all 3 US flavors and probably almost every combination at one time or another. Unless your always in Flatlands running empty/not towing and going for squeezing every last drop for fuel mileage, all those extra gears are wasted fluff. In hill country loaded or towing you'll never be up in them much if at all and it does not matter what is in front of the tranny. More gears = more heat and more parts to wear.

LITEPHIL wrote:

Geo*Boy wrote:
Wait for the 10 speed transmission and 4.10 rear gears.

I don't think they'll ever go back to a 4.10 gear since even the 6 speed has a 4.030 1st gear as compared to the 4L80 with a 2.4 1st gear that needed a 4.10

Ugggg, you’re right! They actually saddled the “new” gasser with only 3.73 gears and marginally more power??? = more power cancelled out by taller gears!
Bright move GM.....end result, basically zero improvement in towing ability....compared to the outgoing 6.0 6 speed.

Wanted to add, big thing towing is the giant gas tank, less stops. So you get there faster.

For what i have the 6 speed is fine. Gas millage is about the same, a little better then my 2012 1500 sierra. Better towing , the same for driving. I regularly drive fast, without the trailer. So , 75 to 80. I find myself at 90 way too often with the 2500. It just seems im going slow. Inside is about the same. Not many changes. The new , for me anyway, backup camera is kick ass for hook up the TT. The sceen and interface are good also. The flip up front seat qas the aame as when i had my 2002 siearra, lol. Power for me is way more then i had with the 1500. I never had a 2500 to compare it to. My TT is also light. Its way better then my 1500 that struggled up steep inclines. Overall it was a big upgrade. Waiting for something you want and need is like buying a TV if you keep waiting for the better model, you will always have an old one.

kellem wrote:
Chevy ain't letting Ford run away.
6.6 is a great engine and 10sp coming.

I would think that but, its two years now with the 6 speed.