Hey, that got a diesel in it?

[airtime]

Anybody with a 6.0L or 8.1L not embarrassed to start up your truck in front of your friends? Especially those that have diesels? A friend of mine just sued GM for the way his 6.0L "clacked" like a diesel everytime he started it up. This lasted for some time, ie 10 mins. Mine (8.1) does the same, and uses oil but they say that using 1 quart of oil per 1000 miles is acceptable! I have an 84 gmc with a crate motor that hasn't used a bit of oil in 40,000 miles. (Nor does it sound like a diesel). Any input? Does anyone out there own an 8.1, or am I the only one?

airtime-

[rjwest]

My Maine Buddy has a 2001 6.0, Clatters like a diesel, He says it is REAL loud in the winter.

About 70k miles on it now, wonder how long it will last?

Is it fixed in the newer trucks ?????

[Tractor]

A close friend of my son, who is now living with us so he has a close drive to college, has a new 2004 GMC HD with a 6.0L gas engine. It is quite as can be when he starts it up. The truck has 4,000 miles on it in just a few months, The truck is great with no issues.
TRACTOR

[D-MAX]

Tractor, I see your from Sheridan also, What year Duramax do you have?? smile.gif

[ 09-16-2004, 05:48 PM: Message edited by: D-MAX ]

[8.1PWR]

My 8.1 used to make noise on cold start up. It turned out to be a bad belt tensioner. The dealer installed a new tensioner and belt and the noise is gone now.
My truck uses about 1 quart every 2000 miles which is still more than my wifes 93 Saturn with 170,000 miles on it.

[Tractor]

Hey D-MAX.
Will D-MAX, all we ever had were GM trucks and cars. Still got 6 GM,s even a 1948 Chevy truck that takes me to work every day. Last year I was in the market for a 1 ton dually with a SIX SPEED with leather seats and a whole bunch of options. GM does not offer much at all with their 6 speed, sound system, seats, interior options electronic shift 4 wheel drive, were not there. So I drove a 2003 CUMMINS with a six speed. Found one in Lander, Wyo that was just what I wanted. Will after one year I Love the truck. GM will have to offer me the options down the road if they want me back. Because If I had to do it all over again I would buy just the truck that I did. I compare it all the time to my buddies 2002 DURAMAX dually with the allision. GM with out a doubt has the best auto on the market with the duramax, but their 6 speed falls short to the competition. Something I think they need to work on. I,am a CUMMINS 6 speed owner.
TRACTOR and T.J. with 2 6.5,s and a CUMMINS

[B1powered]

How do you like the fuel mileage of that big block gas engine?

[HDV-rod]

Not embarrassed one bit. In fact, most guys like the truck just as much as their diesels. Yeah, it uses some oil, but I'd rather pour in a quart every now and again (1qt every 4-5K for my truck) than have to deal with all the maintenance issues on a diesel. Hell, one oil change with a diesel and you're in the hole big time!

I don't have any noises from the engine, and my truck has never seen the inside of the dealership since I brought it home March 01'. Still has the original tranny and diff fluids in it as well. 45K and still plenty strong! 11-12 mpg as well.

PS

Does your 84' GM pull like the 8.1L? I didn't think so... ;)

[lookin2buy]

HDV-rod,

"Still has the original tranny and diff fluids in it as well. 45K and still plenty strong! 11-12 mpg as well."

With 11-12MPG you could buy a diesel and still afford to change the oil in it, with the price of gas.

[HDV-rod]

LOL, yeah, I guess if you can afford to overlook the extra $4500 the diesel would have cost me off the bat...... :rolleyes:

That's quite a few trips to the pump. I made the right choice, in my opinion.

[B1powered]

Does the 8.1 use FORGED pistons?? That could cause the tolerance issue when cold.
I'd rather have the clacking with forged pistons than no clacking and get cast ones.

[Ardie]

$5,000 upfront for diesel
$1.70 average gas for last year
30,000 miles in one year average
9 mpg for big block towing
16 mpg for diesel towing
ONE year to offset cost of fuel
diesel goes 300,000 miles at least
gas goes maybe 150,000 miles

The difference......PRICELESS!

depends on wether you want the upfront costs, how long your going to keep the truck and what your using it for! Both make great trucks and both have their + and -

[rjwest]

Had three diesels, 1980 1982 and 1996.
(also 93 gasser)

Somewhat agree on the first 2,

300,000 k on a 6.5 , don't think so.

Diesel 2.22 in JAX, Gas 1.85

5.7 gasser went 232K miles

Run a truck camper. 10.5-11.5 on my old gasser.
12.5-13.5 0n the diesel....

Can't see where the diesel is saving me anything.
and never know when it will quite running.
And I really doubt it will go to 200k miles....

[B1powered]

Also the 6.5 turbodiesel isn't even in the same class(ballpark) compared to the Duramax Isuzu motor.
Not even close. :eek:

[motorhomeguy]

I've got a 38' Class A (bus) motorhome with the 8.1L GM engine and Allison tranny. Tips the scales at 24,000 lbs. solo, 29,000 towing my pickup behind it. Fuel mileage runs 7-10 mpg depending on terrain and weight, with comparable 350-horse Cat & Cummins diesels getting the same. No other gas engine can touch it for power and speed on the road, and only the high end diesels can run with it in the mountains.
Oil consumption on a recent 7000 mile cross-country trip was 1/2 qt.

No funny noises, no problems at all. GM rates the service life of the 8.1 in the 26,000-42,600 lb. GVWR range at 200,000 miles. Judging by what I've seen with other RV'ers running 8.1's I'm fairly confident mine will go 200k and then some. In a light-duty pickup truck it should last much longer- at least another 50k miles or so...

Happy trails! :cool:

[ 04-02-2005, 07:24 AM: Message edited by: motorhomeguy ]

[madmatt]

and the price of the diesel pusher in a motorhome is un freakin real. while working for CAT a guy told me his 3126E was a $30K option. Ouch...

[XTOCAK]

I guess I've been lucky with my 8.1 as it doesn't sound too bad when I start it up. Granted, I went ahead and got personalized license plates so I wouldn't be asked if it had a diesel in it, should the thing ever develop CSK, but nothing yet.

Possible license plates for us 8.1 owners:
496 CI
8100
81L
CSK tongue.gif
YEPCSK ;)
GOTCSK :D

All in good fun....

[billfarmer]

here in ohio our gas is about 1.87 diesel is 2.15.

Have a friend who got the dealer to extend his warrantee on this 6.0 it makes so much noise at start up. He is an ASE mechanic and thinks on a cold start up it will eventually ruin itself.

[madmatt]

my 6L done it for 180K hard miles and it never missed a beat. I've seen a ton of 5.3 and 6.0s that did it as well w/ no adverse effects.

[cwolfe]

Those of you with the 8.1 should do some surfing and find the web sites devoted to "suing" GM. From 99'-03', there are several engines with "piston slap". This causes excessive oil consumption and unusual wear inside the cylinder. I talked to my GM dealer about my 01' Sub with the 8.1. There are several bulletins out regarding this problem. Check and see if any apply.. However, you must find a dealer that is willing to help you out, because GM keeps making excuses....

[madmatt]

the 8.1 oil consumption problem was not due to "pison slap" but rather inporperly sealing intake gaskets and bolts.

[Steve N AZ]

I'm very satisifed with the 8.1 in my Avalanche and the truck overall. But I do prefer diesel engines even if they cost more. I get 6 MPH towing one 4200 Lbs trailer with the 8.1 or I get 6 MPH towing 3 4200 Lbs trailers plus the trailer to haul them with the Dmax.

But I would agree most that own a diesel don't really "need" one. Either way you don't buy a 8000 lbs truck for fuel economy anyway.

I have a VW TDI that gets 46 MPG, and I get that driving it like I stole it too. hehe

[markrinker]

Truck #3 (6.0 gasser) is quiet on startup, but I am used to diesel noises, so its relative. I think it does make a different noise for awhile, but most motors do.

My '97 (5.7 gasser) had a distinct slap upon cold startup. My rule was it didn't go into gear until the piston slap stopped. A good reminder for warm-up time. Sold it at 135K with a plow for 8K. Never heard from the new owner, so I assume its still running hard.

I think a solid gasser is a better bet than the old 6.5s, but I own both and love 'em for what they do best. The Duramax's are head and shoulders above the 8.1 for someone that tows regularly - like a contractor or industrial courier like myself.

Transmissions seem to live longer behind the low end torque of diesels, rather than the high RPMs of a gasser. That is another real cost down the road if you expect to drive your rig for 150K+ miles.

Just my .03 worth... smile.gif