Looking at a 2008 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD - advice?

[CincyRon]

My 2002 F-150 5.4L is really showing it's age and I'd like to move in to a diesel truck for the extra towing capacity. Stopped at a local dealer today and test drove a 2008 Silverado 2500HD with the 6.6L Duramax engine. It's in good shape, less than 73k miles, and they are asking less than $30k which is the upper end of my budget. I really know next to nothing about diesels and there seem to be a lot of knowledgeable folks on here. Any opinions or advice? I am at the very beginning stages of looking for a replacement truck so I'm not going to rush in to anything.
Thanks!

[ktmrfs]

B.O. Plenty wrote:

Passin Thru wrote:
Doubt you can find a kit as they fined companies making the computer programmers for it.I have an 06 Duramax, the last of the non DEF, would never buy one.DEF turns to Ammonia Crystals wehn heated and goes right to your lungs so you're just breathing it from the MH in front of you. Matter of time and the govt will say it causes cancer in Monkeys and sheep.

Regarding DEF, don't forget that every semi, diesel powered bus farm tractors and heavy equipment use DEF. It has been used in Europe as well for years. Does this mean we should stay away form all of those as well? I haven't seen any crystals coming out of my exhaust...

B.O.

Someone is feeding you BS on the "amonia crystals" There is NO amonia of any kind that comes out the exhaust. the amonia (NH3) combines with the nitrogen oxides (NOX) to form N2 (the nitrogen that is 80% of the air we breath and H2O, the water we all need to live on. Doesn' sound at all dangerous to me.

The chemical reaction is designed and controlled to use less amonia than can be used so there is NO free amonia released into the atmosphere.

And, BTW amonia doesn' exist in any "crystaline form" under atmospheric pressure anyway. it is either absorbed into a liquid such as water, or as a gas. It takes high pressure and cold temperatures to get any crystaline form of amonia.

Urea is a more complex version of amonia, and there are secondary and tertiary reactions that take place, but you still start with Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Oxygen and end up with N2 and H20 (water).

BTW this has been done for years in stationary power plants, (gas, oil, coal) for many many years using either anhydrous amonia, amonia solution in water or urea to reduce emissions.

[Splashers3]

I love my 2008 LMM, no real problems. I also hated the 26 gal tank, and replaced it with a Titan 52 gal tank. Love the range now. I get 10.5 - 11 mpg hauling my Silverback.

With only 32,600 miles, I hope it lasts me many more years. I am looking to add a BD VVT brake for better braking. The tow/haul mode does a decent job, but I think the VVT will help.

It's regened a few times while towing, but for the most part I have no complaints about that. I did add stronger(wider) wheels and wider tires to increase my towing margin on the rear.

[jareddustin]

any luck finding a new truck? i looked for 6 months and drove out of state to buy mine.
someone before was talking about 06 being the last year before the def, this is not true, the LMM has DPF but not DEF, LML has has both. service is a little more, little tip that works for me not sure if it would work in your state, i piggy backed on a fleet account at sears, i go there for my oil changes and only pay $60, every where else charges about $170. fuel and tranny filters are easy, i am not very good with tools and i do them no prob.

[kaydeejay]

ktmrfs wrote:
on the OP questions, my biggest gripe on the 04.5 is the 26 gallon fuel tank. GM finally went to a 36 gallon on the short box in 2015. But if 26 gallons is small on a diesel, it's outrageously small on a gasser when your towing.

I installed a 52 gal Titan tank in place of the original 26 gal one.
I can tow 500 miles PLUS before I need to think about fuel. (I get between 12 and 13mpg towing)
Have run over 900 miles with no trailer.
It gives the opportunity to fuel at leisure, rather than when needed, plus the advantage of filling where the price is best.
Could I justify the $1000 on a payback basis - no way! But it sure makes life easier.

[deltabravo]

deltabravo wrote:
duramaxforums.com seems to be the most active Duramax forum.

I just saw your thread there. 🙂

[deltabravo]

CincyRon wrote:
... What's the benefit of the larger tank, just fewer fuel stops or is it nice to fill up on diesel when you find a good price?

Fewer fuel stops on long trips.

I own a 2006 and 2009 Duramax trucks.

The 2006 is a short bed (26 gallon tank) and suits me fine during the RV transport runs I make with it.

The 2009 has the big tank (34 gallons).

Brakes have never been squishy on either truck.

in my 2009, Regens occur once during every tank of fuel. That's pretty much the norm.

duramaxforums.com seems to be the most active Duramax forum.

[ktmrfs]

bgum wrote:
Diesels are very expensive to maintain and sell the farm when they break. Injectors alone are a fortune. Also look at cost of fuel vs gas. You can buy a very nice new gas truck for $30000. You would have a 3 year warranty and a new truck. Take it from someone who have owned both.

expensive to maintain??? NOPE, not in my experience. my 04 duramax has 140K miles, regular oil changes every 10K and filter every 15K and that's about it. never had any thing fail. fuel more expensive, yes, but mileage is enough better to overcome that. DS has it now and I've got a 2015 denali sierra duramax

is it worth the extra initial cost?? that's an individual decision of what you want.

on the OP questions, my biggest gripe on the 04.5 is the 26 gallon fuel tank. GM finally went to a 36 gallon on the short box in 2015. But if 26 gallons is small on a diesel, it's outrageously small on a gasser when your towing.

[miltvill]

CincyRon wrote:

miltvill wrote:
I got my 08 new in 09. It was a left over and diesels were not selling at the time. It is a 2W drive ext cab. MSRP was $42,000 and I paid $28,000. I have 25K on her at this time and she looks new. I did have to replace the drivers side window motor and power lock. I drove it off the lot and have not been back. I do my own maintenance and use Mobil1 oil and a good quality oil and fuel filter. She takes 10 quarts for an oil change. My truck is %100 stock with no mods. I get 18 to 20 mph highway at 70 mph. 15 to 16 around town. 13.5 to 11.5 towing 6000 pounds. I tow at 63 mph. I also have a LEER truck cap that is flush with the cab. I live in Florida with small hills so your towing experience may be different. I like to stop every 200 to 250 miles so the fuel tank is ok for me. At the time I could have purchased a 4W drive but did not want the extra weight and maintenance. Also in 37 years in Florida I have never needed 4W drive. I also only drive in the hot Florida heat/humidity and never have driven in temps below 20 degrees.

Hey Miltvill, you got a great deal on your truck! I've got a TC23QB also. I'll bet you can't even tell it's back there! I'm going to sell mine and get a bigger trailer but I've enjoyed mine for quite a few years now. It was my intro to rv'ing and I'm glad I bought it.

My TQ23QB has been a great TT. I am now looking at upgrading to an Open Range. My 2008 HD2500 will tow any TT in the 30' to 35' range. Your right. I really don't feel my TT. I like the fact I can drive with cruse control on.

[kaydeejay]

CincyRon wrote:
I test drove a 2011 Duramax yesterday, checking out a 2006 with the LBZ sometime in the next couple of days (although I think this 2006 looks kind of dated), and looking at a 2008 with crew cab and 2 wheel drive that I found on craigslist tomorrow.

The LBZ is the gold standard of D'Maxes! No DPF, no DEF and good performance AND economy.
Lots of guys on here would kill for a decent LBZ, I simply regret I didn't wait a year and got the '05 LLY. Been a good truck, but another 50HP and a sixth gear would have been nice!

[CincyRon]

miltvill wrote:
I got my 08 new in 09. It was a left over and diesels were not selling at the time. It is a 2W drive ext cab. MSRP was $42,000 and I paid $28,000. I have 25K on her at this time and she looks new. I did have to replace the drivers side window motor and power lock. I drove it off the lot and have not been back. I do my own maintenance and use Mobil1 oil and a good quality oil and fuel filter. She takes 10 quarts for an oil change. My truck is %100 stock with no mods. I get 18 to 20 mph highway at 70 mph. 15 to 16 around town. 13.5 to 11.5 towing 6000 pounds. I tow at 63 mph. I also have a LEER truck cap that is flush with the cab. I live in Florida with small hills so your towing experience may be different. I like to stop every 200 to 250 miles so the fuel tank is ok for me. At the time I could have purchased a 4W drive but did not want the extra weight and maintenance. Also in 37 years in Florida I have never needed 4W drive. I also only drive in the hot Florida heat/humidity and never have driven in temps below 20 degrees.

Hey Miltvill, you got a great deal on your truck! I've got a TC23QB also. I'll bet you can't even tell it's back there! I'm going to sell mine and get a bigger trailer but I've enjoyed mine for quite a few years now. It was my intro to rv'ing and I'm glad I bought it.

[CincyRon]

Thanks for the continued input guys. I've spent more time than I'd like to admit over at dieselforums and I'm getting a good grip on the different model years, engines, pitfalls, etc.

I'm kind of kicking myself for passing on the 2008 2500HD I originally posted about. Knowing what I know now I think it was a pretty decent deal, and someone grabbed it within a couple of days of it being listed.

I test drove a 2011 Duramax yesterday, checking out a 2006 with the LBZ sometime in the next couple of days (although I think this 2006 looks kind of dated), and looking at a 2008 with crew cab and 2 wheel drive that I found on craigslist tomorrow.

[kaydeejay]

bgum wrote:
kaydeejay talk about repair costs also. You are in error right now the fuel costs are the same not in favor of diesel but for much of the year diesel costs about 40 cents more per gallon around here. Sometimes as much as 79 cents more.

Did not talk about repair costs because I have had none.
I do recognize that engine repairs could be expensive.
As to fuel costs, diesel needs to be 40% higher than gas before it would be cheaper for me to drive a gasser. Right now in SE MI diesel is 5c cheaper than regular gas at my local station ($2.649 vs $2.699)

[Greene728]

CincyRon wrote:
bgum, thanks for the input. I tow a couple of times a year between Cincinnati and Hilton Head and the hills around Knoxville/Great Smokey Mountains are a struggle even with my small trailer. I'd really like to upgrade to a 5th wheel and just feel like I need the extra power of a diesel.

I understand what your saying here. But...today's gas engines and transmission's are light years better than what you have now! You'd probably think you had a diesel compared to your current TV. And as far as upgrading to a 5th wheel goes, gassers have higher payloads than equivalent equipped diesels and can handle 80% of most 5ers with ease. Now if your planning on going over say 12-13k weight 5er, then diesel wins. But there are also plenty of folks pulling 14k+ fifths with today's gassers and proper rear end gear ratios with no problem. Unless your towing heavy loads very regularly then don't over look a gas. Short drives, maintenance, must cheaper initial cost, etc are all things to consider. Just food for thought of course. And the diesel guys will be along very soon to tell you all the reasons I'm wrong. But research it yourself and I think you'll see my point.

[msjdbman]

I'm sure there are folks that don't care for the 08-10 LMM trucks. On the other hand, I love mine. Best tow rig I've ever owned. And I'm talking from late 60's vintage thru modern day for comparisons. Mine has just over 93,400 miles...is bone stock other than the BD VVT turbo brake, and I've towed from my 10k camper to my 20k gooseneck with tractors on it. The thing is a beast, and other than routine oil, filter, and fluid maintenance and a fan clutch, it has never been touched. A friend of mine had an 08 on the road hot shotting hauling RV's for over 2 years, and put well over 300k on it before he swapped it out for a newer truck. Take this for what it's worth;)