Great honest review. I'm an old man and been building diesels all my life, mostly Ford 7.3's and Cummins 6 cyl class 8 truck motors. So this isn't my first rodeo with diesels. When I looked at the 3.0 specs I was pleasantly surprised to find GM dropped the compression ratio down to 15.0:1. and direct injection common rail with quicker higher pressure boost. Unlike Ford and Dodge at 16+ to 1 with less boost. The key to ANY efficient motor is volumetric efficiency with more room in the combustion chamber for charge air (less compression) and higher boost (Variable-geometry turbocharger). GM did that with this 3.0 motor unlike Ford and Dodge with their eco motors. That's the reason for the 3.0 mileage results and low end torque results. I bought a High Country 3.0 last year and I love it.
Actually the 3.0 diesel takes 7.0 quarts of oil and the v8 (5.3 and 6.2) take 8.0 quarts of oil. I believe oil filters and the cost of the oil per quart are a wash. You might have to change the fuel filter more but I own a silverado with this engine and if I'm not towing which is 90% of the time I can go 10k miles on a tank of DEF which is $8 per 2.5 gallons at wally world. I honestly believe there is very little difference in total cost to own between either because where I live diesel runs about the same as gas. However my overall average mpg is 28. I do believe depreciation will be less on this diesel and the engine will prove to be very reliable and outlast either of the v8 options.
@Snake Plissken I think your costs on that belt replacement are very high. I have not checked with my dealer but plan to soon. However, it is also dependent on your location and what the hourly rate is near you. My dealer's hourly rate is $100, I thought I saw some place it was said to be a 8 hour job so there's $800, maybe $1,000. I want to say the parts were under $500. At least for me I'm expecting it to cost around $1500. There has been talk that GM will extend the life expectancy on the belt. If you are servicing by the book you will need 5 fuel filter changes in that 150k miles at $30 a piece and it takes you 5-10 minutes so you could easily do it yourself for $150 total. As far as the emissions filter, that is not listed in the service schedule at all, I'm not sure that is something that has to be done on these trucks. As far as DEF goes tank of def costs me about $15 at the truck stop and will last me at least an oil change if I don't pull anything heavy. So you can say an oil change on one of these costs about $15 more than a gas truck and figure your DEF cost with that. The extra DEF usage while towing heavy loads will account for the better fuel mileage you will obtain while towing that heavy load and be a wash. Therefore you really see the gain in efficiency while driving daily non towing. It is my opinion that this engine will probably outlast the 6.2 if taken care of. Every inline 6 engine I've been around has been a tank, plus being a diesel gives it an advantage. The only downside is all the emissions stuff which will most likely be where a failure will come from.
@Snake Plissken I believe it will be roughly the same. Your estimation for that belt change is way off in my opinion. I thought I read somewhere the official book time on the job was 8-10 hours. My local dealer's rate is $100 an hour, so $1000 in labor and I'd bet part's are less than $500, I'm expecting it to cost me around $1500. That is if GM doesn't extend the life expectancy of the belt. To me DEF is a non issue, I can fill up for $15 at the truck stop and as long as I'm not towing a heavy load it will last me at least an oil change, so you can ad $15 to the cost of an oil change. I pay about $45 for oil change supplies at my local dealer so I spend total about $60 an oil change. While towing when I use more DEF i caulk it up to even out since I get better fuel mileage than I would with a gas truck. If you service by the book you will have about $150 in changing fuel filters over 150k miles as long as you do it yourself, it takes 5-10 minutes and is very easy. I'd change my gas fuel filter at least twice in that same 150k mile span. There is no mention of changing an emissions filter in the service schedule for these trucks. I've not heard of that with these either. So in MY opinion I see the cost of ownership really being about $2k more over a 6.2 not even taking into consideration the 27-30 mpg I get daily driving 80 miles round trip to and from work. I also believe the 3.0 will outlast the 6.2, I have yet to be around an inline 6 motor that wasn't extremely reliable. Where this one could fall flat is issues with the emissions systems especially given they put a lot of new ideas/tech in this truck in regards to the DEF system.
@Snake Plissken I'm honestly not familiar with the bigger diesels. I know this was a common thing with smaller direct injection cars though, specially remember people taking about it in wrx and civic groups I was in. I never had this problem because I drive so much. I have 30k miles and I bought my truck this past February. I don't think it will be a big deal, its like any car, you should take it on the highway or up to faster speeds from time to time. I mean as long as I can remember people have talked about taking cars out and "blowing the carbon out". I don't see it as being an issue....
I have been driving my 2021 Silverado for 15 months. I have almost 45K miles on it. I have pulled a 7,000 trailer from Long Island NY to Ocean Breeze Florida. On that trip i got 16.9 MPG. As my daily driver on NY roads i average 28 MPG. The speed and power out of this truck is much more than enough. Cruising at highway speeds i get easily 28 to 30 MPG. On a recent trip to Montauk Point with cruise control set at 53 i got 39.6 MPG over a 50 mile stretch of road. I have driven to the North Woods of Maine in the dead of winter with temps in the single digits, i had no problem with cold starts. The truck handled the snow on dirt logging roads very well. I could not be happier with this truck.
I saw it. I liked it. I leased it since I trade in my truck every 3 years. I got the 2500 HD AT4. Too many people overthinking this purchase. A truck this nice isn’t meant for beating the hell out of it. I can tow a RV or a boat. I’m not hauling cars. Good enough for me.
I bought my 2020 RST 3.0 duramax Z71 back in March. Since then drove 10,000+ miles on it. Took a 600 mile road trip with the family did some city driving also on the trip n managed to only fill up on my way out of town and still had a quarter tank left after the trip. I have done some towing with the truck pulling a 18’ boat and got about 19 mpg’s. I love the truck always wanted a diesel but didn’t want the bigger 2500. I paid $46,600 for my truck and even has leather seats. I previously owned the 5.3 n hated it compared to my tundra that I still own with 265,000 miles n still running strong. I love the straight 6 platform and the mpg’s I get from this truck. Also it’s really fun to drive n the pull is awesome. Waiting on the banks derringer to come out which said late 2020...
Bought 2020 3.0 Silverado, i drive an average of 450-500 miles a week (already 11 k on it in 3.5 months) and it gives me around 26 mpg combined and 29 hwy...being that i do mostly hwy i fill up with $45 for the whole week..my coworker has ford f-150 gas (14-16 mpg) ..savings in long run.. plus it drives awesome. Pulling trailers no issues and light diesel sound a plus..
I own a 2020 slt with the 3.0. It does cost more to do oil changes if you go to the dealer to have it done. If you do it yourself it's actually a little cheaper. It takes 7 quarts of oil which you can get for around 72 dollars. The oil filter cost the same as the gas truck. My old truck was a 5.3 and it held 8 quarts so an extra 12 bucks for a extra quart of oil. I used the mobil1 on both engines. I currently have 12500 miles on my diesel with an average of 26 mpg that's with idling and all since I've had the truck. I routinely get 30 mpg on my 45 mile commute to work. The fuel filter for the truck is 40 dollars and mine still says it has 75 percent remaining so maybe once a year spend 40 dollars on a fuel filter. As for def I've put it in twice since I've had it. And right now it's right below the full mark at 12500 miles. You can get 2.5 gallons of it at Walmart for 7.84 per 2.5 gallons. So I have spent 17 dollars on def since I've had the truck... Again if you go to the dealer and don't do it yourself it will cost you more. They want 120 dollars for a oil change at my dealer because they said it was a diesel lol. My argument is that the oil and filter is the same price so one less quart than the v8 it should be cheaper right? But they said no. So I just get the mobil1 oil and a wix filter and spend around 85 dollars and do it myself, that way I know it's done right anyway. But I would argue to anyone that this truck has not cost me anymore to own than any of my previous v8 engine trucks. In fact I see great savings because I averaged 16 to 17 mpg in the gas trucks versus 26. And as for towing I own a 20 ft boat and pull it occasionally. Last time I pulled it about 120 miles and ran 75 to 80 the whole way. I averaged 16.9 fully loaded with 4 people clothes and food for a week plus the boat full of fishing gear and gas. My old truck got 8 mpg doing the same trip. Going up and down hills towing is much more smooth than it was in the gas truck. Gas truck makes hard downshifts going up the hills holds the gear longer before shifting. The diesel just effortlessly goes up and down. Anyway just my opinion, hope it helps someone make a informed decision
Great "real world" relevant information. Thanks for posting. I think this is a great engine and clearly GM sees it's potential as they are utilizing it in there newly redesigned full sized SUV line up.
From what I read you have to replace the oil pump at 150,000 miles, and to do that you have to drop the tranny and remove the flywheel, if that's a fact I don't see any value gained over the gas engine.
Tim, thanks again for your passionate and comprehensive and honest deep dive into the cost vs return of a potential diesel pick up purchase without a lot of ego. I’m a big diesel guy but have had plenty of teething problems with the complicated emissions systems on them in terms of check engine lights , failing NOX sensors, DEF tank heater failures, glow plugs etc. Im hoping the LP EGR circuit will decrease the maintenance on this engine because it is filtered EGR and free of soot so hopefully that helps with some of these issues. Granted I’m a buy and hold ,out of warrantee kind of guy so it is on my Nickle. For someone who buys and then trades up all within warrantee there are no issues, your cost of ownership in depreciation is steep but hassle is less so it is convenient but more expensive. Two of the biggest benefits of diesels are 1, increased range which is great for long drive cycles although I do get that the tank is smaller on the Duramax due to the need for a def tank and 2 Monster torque. I just like how modern diesels drive on the highway when you want to go you push the pedal down and they just PULL without shifting down, LOVE IT BUT THEN IM A DIESEL GUY.
I have a 21 X31 Elevation with 5.3. Currently it's best is 27.4 and with constant highway driving gets 23.7. That us using Ethanol free fuel exclusively since I bought it. No mechanical modifications, a Tonneau cover and bug shield. What kept me from the DMax is the unknown emissions issues down the road and the associated costs. Time will tell.
I bought '18 F150 Platinum 3.0L powerstroke. Love it. No regrets. Tow 7000 lb camper occasionally in the mountains. Cost me about $1/month in def and genuine Ford oil and filter is $90 in parts every 10k oil change. My last 500 miles towing trip got 11.3mpg including going over 2 mountain passes.
1/2 ton diesels do not cost more for basic maintenance (oil changes, etc.). That is an incorrect assumption due to the higher cost of servicing a HD diesel vs a HD gas engine. The 1/2 ton diesels are about the same cost to maintain as a gas engine. For example, the 3.0 duramax holds 0.9 fewer liters of oil than my current 1/2 ton gas engine pickup and change intervals are longer than my gas truck (because I tow and haul payload every weekend, I change oil under "severe" intervals which is 5,000 miles and I argue that no one should be going over 7,500 miles between their gas engine oil changes, but that is a different story). On the 3.0 duramax, both standard and severe oil change intervals are 7,500, so I could go 1,500 more miles between oil changes and use 0.9 quarts less synthetic oil each oil change if I had a 3.0 duramax than for my current gas engine pickup. The fuel filter is cheap and easy to change and is only due every 30,000 miles so a non factor. So other than adding DEF, which is no harder than pumping gas and cheap and only needed every oil change or so, the 3.0 duramax is cheaper to do regular maintenance than my current 1/2 ton gas truck. So safe to say it's about the same as the average gas 1/2 ton. Something not mentioned is the gas tank is only 24 gallons rather than 28 like the gas trucks (to make room for the DEF tank), but because the diesel gets better gas mileage, the overall range is actually higher. which they could have figured out how to keep the same 28 gallon gas tank, though, to give even more range. Chevy is working on extending the 150,000 recommended oil pump belt change, but even at 150,000 miles, most private shops with a lift will get pretty quick at pulling back the transmission and can do the work without much fuss. And one will save a lot more in fuel, compared to a gas engine, even after paying for the belt change every 150k - 200k miles. My next truck needs to be a HD to handle 2,400+ lb payload, but I wish they would make a heavy half ton with this motor as I don't need the towing capacity of a HD; just payload and braking. And the HD diesel engine is $10k upgrade so makes no sense since I don't need the motor capacity. My perfect truck would either be the current HD with this small 3.0 duramax (I love inline 6 motors whether they are diesel or gas) or a heavy half ton with this motor and heavy duty springs, suspension, axles and brakes.
Great review :) and the words "Check your ego - check your needs" is good advice :) I'll also rarely tow with mine. Also not putting many miles on mine either. So it was an easy choice. I got the diesel anyway :P
Thanks for the video, traded my 17' f150 3.5 ecoboost for a 21' sle sierra with the 3.0 and couldn't be happier. After incentives, price dropped to around 42k, plus the equity on the trade in made it a no brainer!
I see a problem with the math, The fuel cost are based on EPA estimates. The EPA rates my Canyon 2.8 Diesel 28 mpg hwy, I’m consistently getting 32-33. Basically 30% better economy than my previous Colorado with 3.6L gas engine. In my area, diesel costs 10% more than regular gas resulting in a 20% fuel cost savings. Plus the added purchase price is offset by higher resale value. I’m sold on diesels!
I love this video. I have very similar thoughts over the early '80 6.2L Diesel engine with the Square Bodys which are becoming classics, the 1973-87 generation of GM pick-ups. Since that one also gained some weight over the previous generation, I'm more likely to get a 4X4 of it for a little off-roading on some rugged terrain. And their first diesel engine in the late '70s was poorly designed. But then it got replaced with a 6.2-liter Detroit Diesel. That was a good diesel but not much more powerful than its inferior predecessor and had no off the line acceleration. And the interchangeability on older Chevy/GMC trucks has been unbeatable. So, I think one could bolt an '80s 6.2L into a late '70s truck. But just like passing on the 3.0L turbodiesel in this vid., I'd still pass on the 6.2L for a square body for much of the same reasons. Not enough benefits to justify it. And therefore, I'd go with a 454, or 400, or 350, or even a 305 if its 2WD 1/2 ton. Using a beater for off-roading, it doesn't really matter if it has any power at all (that diesel 6.2 was very underpowered and not turbocharged). Pre 1980 trucks were a little simpler than '80s as well. So, I'd consider a 454 big block with a TH400 Transmission to be a bonus. Big blocks weren't on the engine option list for 4X4s, just 2WD until 1981. But It's still possible to fine one as some 4X's may've ended up with big-blocks regardless. I'd consider it a bonus because it can come to life a bit more than any of the others on the strait stretches once you're back on the paved roads and back in 2WD mode. And gas mileage down in the single digits hasn't been too uncommon on 350s either. Infact sometimes 454s have even gotten just as good gas mileage as 350s, but probably not all the time.
For peeps who say there's no 4cylinder half ton, a similar thought prevailed 10 - 15 years ago in the German sports-luxury automotive realm, previously the domain of exotic 5,6, and 8 cylinder engines. Then BMW introduced the 5-series with a standard 4 cylinder, which was headlines among the press back in the day. Now it's par for the course; the amount of power they can extract out of engines nowadays is incredible!
Love the "check your ego and check your needs" comment at the end. Much of it breaks down to want over need, which is fine, but don't bag on the next guy if they buy what they need and don't care about an engine with way more power than they need for the job (and costs way more in gas through bad mpg or requiring premium). We see that mentality way too much, especially in truck forums and truck channels. So tired of seeing "If you care about gas mileage, go buy a Prius". Truly unoriginal and unrealistic comment. If two trucks do the same job that a person needs (whether than is mostly running empty or is loading up to max payload or max towing), why would a person NOT take gas mileage into consideration when comparing truck brands or even engines offered without a brand's model. I don't drag race my pickup (in competition or for bragging rights); I have other vehicles that far outperform the most hopped up pickup at 1/10 the price. If you do value a truck that is quicker 0-60 than a different truck or like to hop up your truck, who am I to say anything about it. Go for it! Buy the truck with that need weighed into your buying decision. For those that value getting a few mpg better when driving around empty or when towing, then they will weigh the MPG rating more and shouldn't get a hard time for it. Too many people worried about what other people want out of a pickup and can't stand that the needs for another person are different than their needs as if that difference is somehow saying they are wrong. Strange how people push their egos onto everyone else. Ha.
I love that comment too. Heck, I may just steal it! Then again, it is a free country and you can buy what you want. Personally for me, right now I rather make sound financial decisions based on setting myself up for retirement than buying something influenced by what others might think or say.
Great review for your needs. I own a 2020 SLT with the diesel. IMO, it’s the best bass boat towing rig I’ve ever experienced. At 5000lbs most big bass rigs sit right in the sweet spot for the light duty diesel. Nearly doubling the mpg of the gas engines in my personal real world situations, I would never go back to gas. Close to 1/3 of my miles have my boat hooked up so, for me, the new diesel just makes sense.
I like your comments on would I buy this. I think it was about as honest as you can get in terms of utility for the cost. Not being a critic I would like your view if you had a few hypothetical buyers who drive more miles than you in the city or on the highway. Those who tow every weekend or during the summer. I personally like a diesel for the way they pull even at speed, the range you get and all the ones I have ever had got better than the highway number and that is in the hilly part of PA and always got a better average. With gas engines it always was the opposite. I also like that historically they last longer. Not sure that is the case any longer and the things you do not have to replace like plugs and such are built for the life of what most of us would ever keep a vehicle for. If it is a wash cost wise I go diesel. Even if it costs more over the life of the time I will have it I go diesel.
Owned one for six months now. Actually it is a towing machine for a bass boat or smaller camper. Pulled a 20' bass boat 2,000 mile round trip with plenty of power, torque and 17 mpg while towing 5000 lbs 75 mph. I am averaging 25 mpg around town and 31 on highway trip with no towing.
I loved my two 5.3l trucks. Between the two, I put roughly 400k miles on them combined. "Bulletproof" for the most part and towed what I needed just fine. BUT....Occasionally I'd want to add more weight and especially towing sleds to the UP from here in NE Wi in the winter I just felt I needed a little more in the greasy stuff. Very few reviewers actually haul or tow in the snow/slush. I haven't seen one trying to BACK in a sled trailer in a greasy parking lot or trailhead. I think those two instances is where my brand new AT4 (yes, I actually found one...our dealers up here cant keep them on the lot more than a few hours) should shine over the V8's due to it's lower torque band. So far(I only have 300mi) it's a wonderful driving truck, very comfortable and quiet. I don't get too wrapped up in the relatively small numbers either way. If the differences are a couple family dinners out....it's NOT a deciding factor to me in the big picture.
I've played in the snow at times with a review vehicle. It isn't that we don't want to do it, it is just timing. Hard to get the right vehicle for the right storm and everything else lined up.
I purchased the exact model / color as your test truck. This is the truck I have been waiting for 20 years for GM to make. I tow quite often but seldom over 5k lbs, I live in Denver and tow at elevation frequently and this truck is my daily driver. Couldn’t ask for more. I love the factory lift and realistic truck tires that come on the AT4 package without having to upgrade immediately upon purchasing a truck with a sticker North of $60k. Fuel economy is fantastic for a full size truck and the drive ability is better than the 6.2 liter (at least at elevation). The 6.2 is awesome but for daily (non spirited) driving the diesel is just better suited to this large of a vehicle in my opinion.
I really appreciate you pointing out the differences between the diesel engines for the lights duty trucks compared to the heavys. I completely agree that people expect the diesel to automatically tow more, but that's because we're used to the heavy-duty truck towing more and associate the diesel with them. These things are going to be wonderful for fuel economy if a person tows often or drives highway. If they want to jump from 0-60 in an instant... it ain't gonna happen. I appreciate your review. Have a wonderful day.
Some people are getting high 30's and low 40's on mpg! I've owned several 5.3L and they can get 20-23 mpg but thats it. Seems like a big difference in the long run for me. Also, the torque the diesel puts out can't be matched by the gas engines without killing mpg.
Just traded my 2020 SLT 3.0 with 39k for a 2022 SLT 3.0. Obviously loved my experience. Only pulled a camper for a relative once for a couple hours, did fine. I got it for the mileage. Penciling out my cost of owning my first 3.0 made my new ride a no brainer.
Fantastic thanks so much . Just shopping for 2021 GMC 1500 Searra Elevation X31. In Canada . 5.3 price Shopping at this time after learning more . And for what I need Enjoy your humble reviews ☺️ Best Regards Don Schlegel
Great calm comparisons. Did that on the AT4, my only real interest and came to the same conclusion and walked away, Just way too expensive even if you have money to burn.
Bryon Drill I’m going to miss my 6.2s I had a 17 and 19 LTZ Z71 the 17 was great the 19 was not so great. I traded the 19 for a new Ram limited so time will tell.
That's a beautiful truck. For me, if I wanted to buy a diesel, I'd buy a 2500 or 3500. In a 1500 I'd opt for the 6.2L. However I know that the 5.3L with some power adders and tune can really come alive. I am a very purpose purchase person, I like my vehicles for specific purposes, never been an all around usage vehicle type person. I think when they try to make a vehicle that does it all, it just fails in a lot of areas. "Jack of all trades, master of none." kind of thing. This is why I am leaning towards an SUV for my next purchase. I have a vehicle for everything else. The secured cargo, and comfortable ride with room for friends is missing in my life. Great video though, Tim. I do like Diesel and that torque pull in them is amazing! Just dislike the DEF systems... I know several diesel mechanics that can't stand it either.
I have heard the oil pump belt maint issue needing replaced at 150k mi. I have seen videos that this may be a $2k cost. Also regarding the mpg comparisons. I believe the gear ratio is key factor of why the 3.0 gets good gas mileage. It has 3.23 and the 5.3 Ecotek has 3.43 which is why the fuel ratio is lower but allows a 9400 lb towing capacity vs the 8800 for 3.0l. I asked a dealer if GM will be increasing the gear ration on the 3.0 and he said probably not.
I would like to what the engineers say about extended idle times. Some diesels have a way to manually elevate your idle for increased oil pressure. Thanks for the reviews on this truck. Great job!
I bought one. That said fuel mileage was the difference. A V-8 6.0 just can't compete with the diesel for mileage. I tow a boat a lot, on mountain roads. For me I think I made the right decision. Time will tell but I believe the LT Duramax will be come a classic.
Just bought one of these in a denali. Was all set to buy a gmc hd 3500 sle gasser and when i showed up he said i could have either one for same price. I put 40k plus miles on a year so kind of a no brainer. Most diesel guys dont just put on 15k a year. That hd prob only gets 14mpg at best and also heard these 3.0s are getting up to 30 mpgs so thats huge. Like all things time will tell on how these hold up. First anything always a crap shoot but i hope its a homerun. My first gm ever after owning lots of fords and ram. Thanks for all the homework you do!
@@Em_jiggy I traded in my 15 cummins so im still crying about that lol. Had 190k on her and just an awesome truck. Dont have much seat time yet but it handles extremly well. Getting 26mpg around town. I just bought it a week ago. Also impressed with the power this thing moves. The hd 3500 was a super nice truck. I drove both them for a 1/2 an hour and was a super hard decision. The 6.6 gasser was kind of a terd. I also have another hd truck so thats ultimatly what made me choose half ton. I dont tow much but a snowmobile trailer 10 times a year.
I feel like for me the 6.2 is probably the better engine. I feel the new diesel will have issues. Where the 6.2 evolves from 90s Vortec motors. So it is nothing radically different and has proven its self. Plus that 6.2 makes a hell of an exhaust note.
Yeah exactly. Ordered a new Yukon Denali. The diesel and 6.2 were the same price you can pick what up want. A brand new engine in a brand new model shape makes me nervous ..
When you accelerate do you get a moderate fuel knock/rattle in the cylinders and then it comes and goes? Just wondering trying to compare to others if they have the same issue. Some say its the DEF injectors.
Well said it depends on your needs.... I had a 2018 Jeep JL unlimited hauling a 4 x 8 camper going 450 km I’d be coming in on fumes.... sick and tired of packing Jerry cans.....Towing and stopping.... was a bit Of a stretch.... what would cost me 350 in gas in the jeep is only 110 in my Ford F150 2020 Power stroke fully loaded only 1500 RPMs going uphill in ninth and 10th Gear... hauling my trailer I can do 760 km on almost the same size as the Jeep tank....My trucks a year old in a few months so I saved 18,000....Not to mention the truck is like a Cadillac....lol So is a half ton diesel worth it to me it’s a no brainer....Great video PS I almost went for the 2.7 so glad I went with the diesel.
I have an 09 silverado with the 4.8. Get less than 16mpg. My next truck will be a diesel purely for mileage. I put on 500 a week, mostly highway. I do all my own oil changes so any "doubling of costs" there is not that much for me.
My wife and I used to have his and her Ram 1500 pickups. Hers was a '14, 3.6L gas, 3.21 ratio. Mine is a '16, 3.0L diesel, 3.92 ratio. Both were 4wd, 4dr, 8sp. Both trucks got similar fuel economy. But the differential ratios and high altitude performance were dramatically different! With Bilstein shocks, both truck rode about the same. Hers had the Trutrac diff. Mine is open diff. But on ice or in snow, my diesel was superior. The gear ratio gave me more finesse with the throttle. Usually we took trips in her truck. Mine is usually loaded up with stuff. But one time we took a trip in my diesel. She liked the hill climbing ability of my truck. And the VGT turbo does have some engine braking capability. When I explained the 6.7L Cummins has dramatically more engine braking capability. She took note of that. A year later when I wanted to upgrade her truck to have a backup camera and a bigger screen radio. Or buy a new one. Her choice was new. She looked at the '19 Hemi and v6 choices. Then she drove the '18 2500 with 6.7L. And an hour and half later. We drove home in her new 2500. All pickups are expensive! And most people neglect the wheel bearings and many other maintenance items. The topic is diesel or gas in a half ton. My answer, in a well matched application. I would prefer diesel. My experience with rock steady cruise control. My diesel would make a trip in less time than the gas v6. And the diesel is nicer for overlanding trips. I live out west where a lot of places fuel can be pricey for gas. And when I go adventuring with friends. I don't have to buy the crazy priced fuel in Bridgeport, CA, or other small towns. Offroad my diesel gets double the fuel economy of my friends gas trucks. So in the big picture. The price looks the same to me. I also drive a 2020 Dodge Durango GT AWD. I wish it had the 3rd generation Ecodiesel. And odd as it may seem. The Durango has 20lbs more payload than my Ram 1500.
Totally agree. Considering other increased costs, it seems like a wash at best. I wouldn't knock anyone for buying one. But I wouldn't envy their purchase either. It's a pretty good time to be a truck buyer/user; lot's of options on the market.
Great vid and thoughts!! I came to a similar conclusion - the price premium attached to this wee diesels just isn’t worth it. Which is a shame because I think they’re great engines. But there seems to be no desire or incentive for the manufacturers to support them.
The Ecodiesel has known bottom end engine issues. Reason why appreciation number is not holding up. In most cases with diesels, you get back the upcharge on the diesel equiped truck for resale compared to same equipped gasser version.
Great cost comparison! I recently looked at the Duramax 3.0. I loved it! I easily obtained high mid twenties mpg on a combined loop test drive. The engine was flawless. But, in the end, I can’t justify a $60,000+ truck! That buys a butt-ton of gas. If the Duramax was sold at the same price as the V-8, I might seriously consider one in the future.
All trucks are outrageous now, even used ones. You have to figure out what's important to you. I love a luxury interior and diesel engine but couldn't justify the price of a 2500HD. Plus the big Duramax with all the maintenance and 15mpg for light-duty towing? The 3.0L feels stronger than the 6.2L and its a lot of fun PLUS 25mpg. The maintenance on the 3.0L D is really nothing more than a gas engine (7qts of oil normal filter changes at 30K intervals) So it's a $2500 upgrade from the 5.3L V8...its all about the bottom line price and resale value for me. I got a fully loaded 2020 SLT, 4x4 with X31 package with every available option except sunroof for 49K(sticker was $62.5K). I figure I can sell a diesel truck with 150,000 miles on it for a really good price...a gas engine truck is viewed as being at the end of its life. I looked at all the brands and I drove everything, The GMC 3.0L diesel was the most fun to drive and by far the best for light-duty towing(9000 lbs or less).
@@Rscmgw23 I wasn't a fan of all the chrome on the SLT but the black looks really good with chrome. The black and the satin steel color look the best with chrome. I was the same as you looking at the elevation but I couldn't find one with the options I wanted on it. leather and heated/cooled seats were on my must-have list. Mine came with everything I wanted, driver assist, x31 package came with spray-on bed liner. Ive got 11k miles on it and my fuel economy is awesome. I get 26-28 with mixed driving. I tow a 7k lb camper and it tows it effortlessly. The fuel economy towing near the max load is around 13-14 mpg, still great compared to gas. I love the truck, it's rock solid. You probably want the AT4 package, it has all the features but does run about 4-5k more.
I have a 2020 Denali with the 3.0 and have owned it for roughly 10 months and have just over 10k miles. I drive about 45 miles daily for work unfortunately none of that is highway, at best lets call it mixed. I average 26-27 mpg so a little better than the 24 advertised. I have had no issues. Historically in my area Diesel fuel is often cheaper than regular fuel, always cheaper than premium (which the 6.2 recommends ) To me I don't really care if the cost of ownership might be a little higher, there is just something overly satisfying when I can say I'm averaging high 20's in the MPG department. I recently did a weekend round trip from Chicago to St. Louis I set a new personal best for the 50 mile average at 39 MPG. These 3.0 are so smooth and have plenty of power if it cost me a little more, it's totally worth it. My buddy has the exact same truck, but with the 6.2 also an amazing truck as someone else said in the comments, it's a great time to be a truck owner.
I like the idea of having a 3.0 litre turbo diesel engine. Why should the only Duramax available be a 6.6 litre engine? I remember when one could get a 2.8 litre Duramax Diesel engine. No engine is perfect, but I believe that if service stations are available that can keep the small displacement Duramax Diesels running, then it might be worth the money.
All of you can ask anything about mine. I've had mine since the day it was released. Fuel economy is WoW.i have over 10000 miles so far on mine still have 60 percent on fuel filter life
Great review Tim .The fuel mileage is great on the 3.0.and 9000 tow is not so bad either .The chevy lt and rst are much easier on the wallet with the 3.0 than the gmc at4 .Chevy should put the 3.0 in the trailboss that would be the comparison to the at4.maybe soon
Enjoyed the video ! I just picked up my own 3.0 duramax and started doing some videos on it as well. A lot to learn with this, you provide a lot of good information.
I really like this “Would I buy..” format! Also thank you so much for getting a rode mic and even using it inside the truck. Audio sounded great! Even big channels like TFL have terrible audio from inside the cab because they use their camera mics instead of external ones.
Wow thanks. I figured if I have the mic, why not keep using it. I've gone through the ringer trying to get the best audio I can. Glad to hear it is finally working out. Now if I can just slow the F down talking while doing videos...
I just purchased a 2020 diesel Sierra 1500 personally i reallylike it alot. The point is for a half ton is to treat it as a half ton. If you want to pull a big trailer then you need a 3/4 ton or 1 ton its just that simple. I dont see the point of running a truck to its absolute limits because that's when bad and expensive things happen. Pulling is one aspect, stopping that load is another consideration that gets overlooked.
I am looking at the 3.0l because I want the MPG while towing. If you don't tow very much, then I would go with a smaller engine for sure. I don't need the HD for the 6500# trailer I tow, and I want to get better than the 7 MPG I currently get when towing. So it makes sense for me. But I am waiting until Toyota comes out with their new Tundra, (if fricking ever), and the refresh of the GM trucks before I plop down the huge money it takes to buy any new truck these days.
I can see your point in the US. But if you paid what we pay for fuel in Canada the diesel is a big savings. Diesel is cheaper than gas in Canada. At approximately 4.50 a gallon for gas driving a truck is very expensive. I owned 4 Rangers in a row. The best I got was 20 mpg. FLT trucks tested the new Ranger and got 18-19 mpg in real world driving. My Colorado 4x4 long box diesel gets an easy 30-32 mpg. It only holds 6 quarts of oil. It uses very little def. It pulls 7600lbs. It is very impressive to drive and cheap on fuel. Fuel prices have been very low for a few years now. But they will not stay that way. Lots of people with V8s will not be able to afford to drive there trucks if fuel prices rise. Diesel is the way to go.
Tim, driving the GM 3.0 in-line 6 diesel is fun and always draws attention from other truck guys and even car guys, too. The in-line feature conjures up images of BMW and Mercedes straight 6s, gas and diesel, renowned for their inherent smoothness. Still, I can't justify the extra expense of the diesel when it can't tow 10K lbs. My 5th wheel be 32 feet long, which is not especially long, and weighs 11K lbs which is not especially heavy. This dicey for a Ford Ecoboost or PowerBoost. Where do I go? Will have to go up to a F-250 HD.
This engine has always been attractive to me, it makes sense for some of us. My question about newer diesels nowadays is how do they behave in the cold weather? Is it easy to start? Does this come with a plug in block heater?
I've dealt with squat on a TRD Pro and talked with engineers about it. They pointed right to their off-road shocks and said their stock shocks wouldn't squat as much.
I question the accuracy of that fuel economy chart. It lists the same fuel economy for 3.0 4wd and 3.0 AT4. It also lists a 5.3 6 speed available for AT4 which is not correct. I think at the $995 price, it is more appealing of an option than it was before. So much of it depends on how long you plan on keeping the truck from a maintenance perspective. Also where you live in the country could influence the decision because diesel price fluctuates a lot based on location
It would depend on your towing needs ultimately I believe. If you do a good bit of towing then yes it might justify it. Course I'd like to the maximum towing capabilities of the 1500 before making that decision. The simple fact of it is pure costs. One of the best reasons for the diesel option is fuel economy. Hands down it beats it's gas competitor on fuel economy but the difference in cost is just simply to much money in my opinion so I could agree with your assessment of the vehicle.
@pickup truck SUV talk I think you missed the mark here. I have a 2020 AT4 with the 3.0 duramax and for me it was between the 6.2 and the duramax. When you compare the towing and other items I personally don't think the 5.3 is in the same league. Also it does have an exhaust break that is linked to the tow haul mode that i know you have mentioned in one (or more) of your other videos reviewing the truck. As for your depreciation argument on the Ram it is irrelevant due to EPA snafu they had with those early model years. That is the reason why there depreciation is not better. I would not buy one of those early ecodiesels and I personally was questioning the new ecodiesel because of that. Also growing up with big truck diesels the straight 6 is much better for reliability and performance. These new diesels (built in the last year or so) are much better and have finally fixed some of the EPA dependability issues. So you are comparing apples to oranges when you are talking about depreciation of a Ram Ecodiesel to this truck. I think they will see a lot more people buy this when they drop the price. GM is making a good move here in my opinion.
Also if you wanted to compare for that exact truck you should have been looking at the AT4 numbers. I can confirm the EPA MPA are accurate if not underrated for the duramax. I also know someone that has the 6.2 and that is rated above what he gets for MPG. From what I have put together i would guess the 6.2 and 5.3 need to be adjusted down 1 to 2 MPG overall and the duramax could be adjusted up 1 to 2 mpg.
Hey Ray, yeah, I screwed up the exhaust brake. I had it backwards in my head and have since edited the video. Thanks for your in-depth comment and the point on the EcoDiesel EPA snafu. That's a very interesting point and I wonder how much those kinds of things actually do affect resale value. I was really just trying to find a comparable and since the 3.0L Duramax has only been out for a little while, I couldn't use that as an example. I'm still a big fan of the truck and like you said for towing it is a much better than the 5.3L. If I towed more, I'd probably have come to a different conclusion. I hope I made that clear in the video.
I really like your approach and your way of analyzing your subjects. Btw, in this case, if you lived in Canada, in the province of Quebec, where gasoline is around US $ 4 per gallon, your choice might go more towards the diesel version. That's my case.
It makes sense if its in your budget, basically if u fished every weekend with a 5k pound boat yea sure worth it. If you don't care about the cost whatever dont matter.
U could do the same with the 4.3 v6 base if u wanted to put some 20 in Denali wheels all terrain tires call it a day. Sometimes just need to be a badass get the upgrade.
james kilburn THIS DIESEL DOES NOT COST ANY MORE THAN MY GAS TRUCKS. , I CHANGE MY OWN OIL AND THE OIL AND FILTER AT MY DEALERSHIP IS $55.00 TOTAL WITH TAX. THE ONLY THING THAT IS EXTRA IS THE FUEL FILTER AND DEF. DIESEL IN SOUTH LOUISIANA IS $1.80 PER GALLON, ABOUT THE SAME AS 87 OCTANE GAS. MY PREVIOUS GAS 6.2 L I ALWAYS USED 93 OCTANE PREMIUM GAS.
1/2 ton diesels do not cost more for standard maintenance (oil changes, etc.). That is an incorrect assumption due to the higher cost of servicing a HD diesel vs a HD gas engine. The 1/2 ton diesels are about the same cost to maintain as a gas engine. For example, the 3.0 duramax holds 0.9 fewer liters of oil than my current 1/2 ton gas engine pickup and change intervals are longer than my gas truck (because I tow and haul payload every weekend, I change oil under "severe" intervals which is 5,000 miles and I argue that no one should be going over 7,500 miles between their gas engine oil changes, but that is a different story). On the 3.0 duramax, both standard and severe oil change intervals are 7,500, so I could go 1,500 more miles between oil changes and use 0.9 quarts less synthetic oil each oil change if I had a 3.0 duramax than for my current gas engine pickup. The fuel filter is cheap and easy to change and is only due every 30,000 miles so a non factor. So other than adding DEF, which is no harder than pumping gas and cheap and only needed every oil change or so, the 3.0 duramax is cheaper to do regular maintenance than my current 1/2 ton gas truck. So safe to say it's about the same as the average gas 1/2 ton. Chevy is working on extending the 150,000 recommended oil pump belt change, but even at 150,000 miles, most private shops with a lift will get pretty quick at pulling back the transmission and can do the work without much fuss. And one will save a lot more in fuel, compared to a gas engine, even after paying for the belt change every 150k - 200k miles. My next truck needs to be a HD to handle 2,400+ lb payload, but I wish they would make a heavy half ton with this motor as I don't need the towing capacity of a HD; just payload and braking. And the HD diesel engine is $10k upgrade so makes no sense since I don't need the motor capacity. My perfect truck would either be the current HD with this small 3.0 duramax (I love inline 6 motors whether they are diesel or gas) or a heavy half ton with this motor and heavy duty springs, suspension, axles and brakes.
NOAH DUNAWAY I guess time will tell. Here in Connecticut diesel fuel cost more and so does DEF. I have nothing against diesel trucks I think the GM 3l is a great design. Great fuel economy and power.
If u were to have the dealer do your services you would need tons of lube on both ends lol! I buy my own oil and have a express mobile 1 change it for 20$. My cummins was only 75$ to change and i didnt touch it. I could buy a 2 pack of fuel filters for 100$ would last close to 30k miles. Im sure this 3.0 uses less oil and fuel filter change every 30k miles and is getting almost double the mileage with way more power. Just hope reliability is there.
Anyone else having a problem with emissions sensors? Our truck has been in dealership for over 6 weeks. Both sensors emissions sensor and diesle particulate sensor went bad. Message says service engine speed reduced to 55 miles per hour. No update on when parts are going to be available.
Really, to me, the only way these new half ton diesels make sense strictly from an mpg standpoint, is only if the pickup is used to tow a lot. The difference in towing mpg between the diesel and gas (5.3 and 6.2) is fairly substantial. For just daily driving however, the total extra cost of the diesel(s) doesn't get offset by mpg.
Great video as always. Super informative. I was suckered into believing the marketing from Ford about the 3.5 Ecoboost being amazing on fuel and heck, it's name has "eco" in it lol. But when towing or in traffic it is HORRIBLE so this time around I am going to be more careful at real world overall fuel economy..Moving on, I like what you did and brought up resale because that is an under thought out thing some of us do in choosing our next truck. I even liked your reasons not to buy one. My big issue is a 6.2L gas runs optimally on super (93 octane) which is substantially more expensive or it would be a no brainer for me to get the 6.2 given the better tow rating and sportiness. 93 Octane fuel here is just shy of $1.00 more expensive per gallon than diesel currently here in Eastern Ontario Canada (Just North of Syracuse USA) but damn I LOVE diesels....
Hey bud I had a 2011 silverado with the 5.3 for 9 years it was cheap as hell on maintenance! G.M makes quality. Well I traded it in on a 2020 6.2l 10 speed midnight edition. This truck is 2x as sweet and I know It will run strong for a long time! I have owned many GM vehicles in my life and they are way more reliable then the competition!
I am actually thinking about selling my 2019 RST and getting a 2022 RST diesel when available since I also want the new interior. I have a 70 mile round trip to work daily.
So without getting into the weeds and summarizing this video in say 30 seconds.... pick the truck that meets your needs? I am not that smart as you all know but seems like good advice. :)
Trevor Harper No grief. More frustration at myself than anything. I hate being inaccurate. I do have a point there and it is more about the springs on off-road trucks. Not the shocks. I just screwed it up. I’m working on a follow up video with an engineer that hopefully will explain this better and have us all informed.
Generally springs do carry the load. But gas charged shocks do end up supporting some of the load. I have put new gas charged shocks on several light duty vehicles. And with no other changes. The vehicles sit taller. Springs and shocks are not as textbook as some engineers want us to believe.
Wow, I have to say that you are and awesome, data driven, objective reviewer. I recently purchased the 1/2 ton diesel GMC Elevation here in canada. We pay a LOT more for vehicles here than the USA. The cost of the diesel was the same and, after negotiations on my trade and pricing, incentives, etc. I actually got it a lot cheaper than a 6.2 and it was appointed with better options than the gas elevation in stock. One question I don't know much about would be the longevity of the engine. Other than the maintenance of the belt discussed I've witnessed diesel engines lasting a LONG time. Are gas and diesel engines similar or different in their lifespan based on mileage? Thank you very much for all this work you do. I've subscribed and look forward to many more.
I agree- I own a company that buys a few trucks a year and we came to the same conclusion; I love the diesel but check your ego and check your needs. We buy gas.
Very interesting! Beyond all this, is it true to say that if this engine is not used enough, problems will arise? A lot of people have told me that by only doing 10,000 miles a year the engine will try to clog causing problems. There is also the fact that here the temperature varies between -30 and 95 degrees, Thanks
So, if someone wanted to pull a horse trailer, a two horse, you add the weight of the horses, maybe 2.5k lbs, trailer around 4-5k for a total of 7k lbs, that leaves 2k lbs for people and equipment?
Sorry, guess I was typing out loud. Not being a towing nerd, does the half-ton truck have the capacity to haul safely in the scenario I mentioned or is that hypothetical weight too close to the maximum of the vehicle.
@@warrenstemphly5756 You should be good with any half-ton truck towing that weight. Once you get around 10k lbs, then you have a to be a little concerned.
@@Pickuptrucktalk Thanks for the replies, sometimes the numbers get confusing, especially for a newbie. For instance, if they say a truck has a hauling rating of 13.5K lbs, that's including the weight of the truck itself? Or is that the weight hooked just onto the hitch, or the hitch, people and cargo?
@@warrenstemphly5756 13.5k lbs is just the trailer. The weight of the truck doesn't factor in. The weight of the people and cargo is the payload number.
In today's economy it the best you can get for your dollar..If a sale rep. said I have a 3.0 D/ for 47k or 6.2 L for 47k well I like 6.2 L Bottom line with job loses who can afford these freak-in trucks..
Not sure if Dodge would be the best gauge for diesel depreciation since they had a class action lawsuit about their 3.0L diesel. I am sure that lawsuit hurt its resale value by quiet a bit.
One thing I didn’t hear you touch upon was the longevity of the diesel. Do you think this engine has was it takes to reach 300,000+ miles like the daddy Duramax and other V8 diesels?
Nope. I think you’ll have more issues with the emissions equipment which will effectively limit the diesel’s longevity. Plus, I tend to believe through my interactions with owners and engineers, gas engines have largely caught up with diesels for longevity.
my 2017 Tahoe with 5.3L NEEDS alottle more UMPH !!!!!!!!!! wished i had the 6.2L or DIESEL Torque or ACCESS to E85 FUEL !!!!!!!!!!!!! to UNLEASH THE BEAST
Here's more on the Duramax 150k mile belt inspection: ruclips.net/video/pG0vzuZjito/видео.html
Great honest review. I'm an old man and been building diesels all my life, mostly Ford 7.3's and Cummins 6 cyl class 8 truck motors. So this isn't my first rodeo with diesels. When I looked at the 3.0 specs I was pleasantly surprised to find GM dropped the compression ratio down to 15.0:1. and direct injection common rail with quicker higher pressure boost. Unlike Ford and Dodge at 16+ to 1 with less boost. The key to ANY efficient motor is volumetric efficiency with more room in the combustion chamber for charge air (less compression) and higher boost (Variable-geometry turbocharger). GM did that with this 3.0 motor unlike Ford and Dodge with their eco motors. That's the reason for the 3.0 mileage results and low end torque results. I bought a High Country 3.0 last year and I love it.
Actually the 3.0 diesel takes 7.0 quarts of oil and the v8 (5.3 and 6.2) take 8.0 quarts of oil. I believe oil filters and the cost of the oil per quart are a wash. You might have to change the fuel filter more but I own a silverado with this engine and if I'm not towing which is 90% of the time I can go 10k miles on a tank of DEF which is $8 per 2.5 gallons at wally world. I honestly believe there is very little difference in total cost to own between either because where I live diesel runs about the same as gas. However my overall average mpg is 28. I do believe depreciation will be less on this diesel and the engine will prove to be very reliable and outlast either of the v8 options.
@Snake Plissken I think your costs on that belt replacement are very high. I have not checked with my dealer but plan to soon. However, it is also dependent on your location and what the hourly rate is near you. My dealer's hourly rate is $100, I thought I saw some place it was said to be a 8 hour job so there's $800, maybe $1,000. I want to say the parts were under $500. At least for me I'm expecting it to cost around $1500. There has been talk that GM will extend the life expectancy on the belt. If you are servicing by the book you will need 5 fuel filter changes in that 150k miles at $30 a piece and it takes you 5-10 minutes so you could easily do it yourself for $150 total. As far as the emissions filter, that is not listed in the service schedule at all, I'm not sure that is something that has to be done on these trucks. As far as DEF goes tank of def costs me about $15 at the truck stop and will last me at least an oil change if I don't pull anything heavy. So you can say an oil change on one of these costs about $15 more than a gas truck and figure your DEF cost with that. The extra DEF usage while towing heavy loads will account for the better fuel mileage you will obtain while towing that heavy load and be a wash. Therefore you really see the gain in efficiency while driving daily non towing.
It is my opinion that this engine will probably outlast the 6.2 if taken care of. Every inline 6 engine I've been around has been a tank, plus being a diesel gives it an advantage. The only downside is all the emissions stuff which will most likely be where a failure will come from.
@Snake Plissken I believe it will be roughly the same. Your estimation for that belt change is way off in my opinion. I thought I read somewhere the official book time on the job was 8-10 hours. My local dealer's rate is $100 an hour, so $1000 in labor and I'd bet part's are less than $500, I'm expecting it to cost me around $1500. That is if GM doesn't extend the life expectancy of the belt.
To me DEF is a non issue, I can fill up for $15 at the truck stop and as long as I'm not towing a heavy load it will last me at least an oil change, so you can ad $15 to the cost of an oil change. I pay about $45 for oil change supplies at my local dealer so I spend total about $60 an oil change. While towing when I use more DEF i caulk it up to even out since I get better fuel mileage than I would with a gas truck. If you service by the book you will have about $150 in changing fuel filters over 150k miles as long as you do it yourself, it takes 5-10 minutes and is very easy. I'd change my gas fuel filter at least twice in that same 150k mile span.
There is no mention of changing an emissions filter in the service schedule for these trucks. I've not heard of that with these either.
So in MY opinion I see the cost of ownership really being about $2k more over a 6.2 not even taking into consideration the 27-30 mpg I get daily driving 80 miles round trip to and from work. I also believe the 3.0 will outlast the 6.2, I have yet to be around an inline 6 motor that wasn't extremely reliable. Where this one could fall flat is issues with the emissions systems especially given they put a lot of new ideas/tech in this truck in regards to the DEF system.
@Snake Plissken I'm honestly not familiar with the bigger diesels. I know this was a common thing with smaller direct injection cars though, specially remember people taking about it in wrx and civic groups I was in. I never had this problem because I drive so much. I have 30k miles and I bought my truck this past February. I don't think it will be a big deal, its like any car, you should take it on the highway or up to faster speeds from time to time. I mean as long as I can remember people have talked about taking cars out and "blowing the carbon out". I don't see it as being an issue....
I have 313,000 miles on my 350, never touched except, battery, alternator, tune ups, transmission rebuild
@Snake Plissken diesel is cheaper than regular gas here.
I have been driving my 2021 Silverado for 15 months. I have almost 45K miles on it. I have pulled a 7,000 trailer from Long Island NY to Ocean Breeze Florida. On that trip i got 16.9 MPG. As my daily driver on NY roads i average 28 MPG. The speed and power out of this truck is much more than enough. Cruising at highway speeds i get easily 28 to 30 MPG. On a recent trip to Montauk Point with cruise control set at 53 i got 39.6 MPG over a 50 mile stretch of road. I have driven to the North Woods of Maine in the dead of winter with temps in the single digits, i had no problem with cold starts. The truck handled the snow on dirt logging roads very well. I could not be happier with this truck.
I saw it. I liked it. I leased it since I trade in my truck every 3 years. I got the 2500 HD AT4. Too many people overthinking this purchase. A truck this nice isn’t meant for beating the hell out of it. I can tow a RV or a boat. I’m not hauling cars. Good enough for me.
I bought my 2020 RST 3.0 duramax Z71 back in March. Since then drove 10,000+ miles on it. Took a 600 mile road trip with the family did some city driving also on the trip n managed to only fill up on my way out of town and still had a quarter tank left after the trip. I have done some towing with the truck pulling a 18’ boat and got about 19 mpg’s. I love the truck always wanted a diesel but didn’t want the bigger 2500. I paid $46,600 for my truck and even has leather seats. I previously owned the 5.3 n hated it compared to my tundra that I still own with 265,000 miles n still running strong. I love the straight 6 platform and the mpg’s I get from this truck. Also it’s really fun to drive n the pull is awesome. Waiting on the banks derringer to come out which said late 2020...
Bought 2020 3.0 Silverado, i drive an average of 450-500 miles a week (already 11 k on it in 3.5 months) and it gives me around 26 mpg combined and 29 hwy...being that i do mostly hwy i fill up with $45 for the whole week..my coworker has ford f-150 gas (14-16 mpg) ..savings in long run.. plus it drives awesome. Pulling trailers no issues and light diesel sound a plus..
I own a 2020 slt with the 3.0. It does cost more to do oil changes if you go to the dealer to have it done. If you do it yourself it's actually a little cheaper. It takes 7 quarts of oil which you can get for around 72 dollars. The oil filter cost the same as the gas truck. My old truck was a 5.3 and it held 8 quarts so an extra 12 bucks for a extra quart of oil. I used the mobil1 on both engines. I currently have 12500 miles on my diesel with an average of 26 mpg that's with idling and all since I've had the truck. I routinely get 30 mpg on my 45 mile commute to work. The fuel filter for the truck is 40 dollars and mine still says it has 75 percent remaining so maybe once a year spend 40 dollars on a fuel filter. As for def I've put it in twice since I've had it. And right now it's right below the full mark at 12500 miles. You can get 2.5 gallons of it at Walmart for 7.84 per 2.5 gallons. So I have spent 17 dollars on def since I've had the truck... Again if you go to the dealer and don't do it yourself it will cost you more. They want 120 dollars for a oil change at my dealer because they said it was a diesel lol. My argument is that the oil and filter is the same price so one less quart than the v8 it should be cheaper right? But they said no. So I just get the mobil1 oil and a wix filter and spend around 85 dollars and do it myself, that way I know it's done right anyway. But I would argue to anyone that this truck has not cost me anymore to own than any of my previous v8 engine trucks. In fact I see great savings because I averaged 16 to 17 mpg in the gas trucks versus 26. And as for towing I own a 20 ft boat and pull it occasionally. Last time I pulled it about 120 miles and ran 75 to 80 the whole way. I averaged 16.9 fully loaded with 4 people clothes and food for a week plus the boat full of fishing gear and gas. My old truck got 8 mpg doing the same trip. Going up and down hills towing is much more smooth than it was in the gas truck. Gas truck makes hard downshifts going up the hills holds the gear longer before shifting. The diesel just effortlessly goes up and down. Anyway just my opinion, hope it helps someone make a informed decision
Great "real world" relevant information. Thanks for posting. I think this is a great engine and clearly GM sees it's potential as they are utilizing it in there newly redesigned full sized SUV line up.
From what I read you have to replace the oil pump at 150,000 miles, and to do that you have to drop the tranny and remove the flywheel, if that's a fact I don't see any value gained over the gas engine.
@@vt1340 It's the belt, not the actual pump for clarification.
@@barberdean4714 Yup! Oil pump belt was my intent, jumped ahead of myself :)
Tim, thanks again for your passionate and comprehensive and honest deep dive into the cost vs return of a potential diesel pick up purchase without a lot of ego. I’m a big diesel guy but have had plenty of teething problems with the complicated emissions systems on them in terms of check engine lights , failing NOX sensors, DEF tank heater failures, glow plugs etc. Im hoping the LP EGR circuit will decrease the maintenance on this engine because it is filtered EGR and free of soot so hopefully that helps with some of these issues. Granted I’m a buy and hold ,out of warrantee kind of guy so it is on my Nickle. For someone who buys and then trades up all within warrantee there are no issues, your cost of ownership in depreciation is steep but hassle is less so it is convenient but more expensive. Two of the biggest benefits of diesels are 1, increased range which is great for long drive cycles although I do get that the tank is smaller on the Duramax due to the need for a def tank and 2 Monster torque. I just like how modern diesels drive on the highway when you want to go you push the pedal down and they just PULL without shifting down, LOVE IT BUT THEN IM A DIESEL GUY.
I drove one of these home tonight. My Trail boss is getting some body damage fixed. I've driven this same truck on a 100 mile trip. It got 30mpg.
That is flipping bananas on a giant truck. Love it!
I have a 21 X31 Elevation with 5.3. Currently it's best is 27.4 and with constant highway driving gets 23.7. That us using Ethanol free fuel exclusively since I bought it. No mechanical modifications, a Tonneau cover and bug shield. What kept me from the DMax is the unknown emissions issues down the road and the associated costs. Time will tell.
I bought '18 F150 Platinum 3.0L powerstroke. Love it. No regrets. Tow 7000 lb camper occasionally in the mountains. Cost me about $1/month in def and genuine Ford oil and filter is $90 in parts every 10k oil change.
My last 500 miles towing trip got 11.3mpg including going over 2 mountain passes.
Try Rock Auto online for GM 3.0 Duramax Delo oil.. Less than $5 a quart shipped in July 2021.. GM Filter $6..
1/2 ton diesels do not cost more for basic maintenance (oil changes, etc.). That is an incorrect assumption due to the higher cost of servicing a HD diesel vs a HD gas engine. The 1/2 ton diesels are about the same cost to maintain as a gas engine. For example, the 3.0 duramax holds 0.9 fewer liters of oil than my current 1/2 ton gas engine pickup and change intervals are longer than my gas truck (because I tow and haul payload every weekend, I change oil under "severe" intervals which is 5,000 miles and I argue that no one should be going over 7,500 miles between their gas engine oil changes, but that is a different story). On the 3.0 duramax, both standard and severe oil change intervals are 7,500, so I could go 1,500 more miles between oil changes and use 0.9 quarts less synthetic oil each oil change if I had a 3.0 duramax than for my current gas engine pickup. The fuel filter is cheap and easy to change and is only due every 30,000 miles so a non factor. So other than adding DEF, which is no harder than pumping gas and cheap and only needed every oil change or so, the 3.0 duramax is cheaper to do regular maintenance than my current 1/2 ton gas truck. So safe to say it's about the same as the average gas 1/2 ton.
Something not mentioned is the gas tank is only 24 gallons rather than 28 like the gas trucks (to make room for the DEF tank), but because the diesel gets better gas mileage, the overall range is actually higher. which they could have figured out how to keep the same 28 gallon gas tank, though, to give even more range.
Chevy is working on extending the 150,000 recommended oil pump belt change, but even at 150,000 miles, most private shops with a lift will get pretty quick at pulling back the transmission and can do the work without much fuss. And one will save a lot more in fuel, compared to a gas engine, even after paying for the belt change every 150k - 200k miles. My next truck needs to be a HD to handle 2,400+ lb payload, but I wish they would make a heavy half ton with this motor as I don't need the towing capacity of a HD; just payload and braking. And the HD diesel engine is $10k upgrade so makes no sense since I don't need the motor capacity. My perfect truck would either be the current HD with this small 3.0 duramax (I love inline 6 motors whether they are diesel or gas) or a heavy half ton with this motor and heavy duty springs, suspension, axles and brakes.
Looks like you got your wish. 2022 3.0 duramax with max tow package can tow over 13000 pounds!!😱👏
Great review :) and the words "Check your ego - check your needs" is good advice :) I'll also rarely tow with mine. Also not putting many miles on mine either. So it was an easy choice. I got the diesel anyway :P
Thanks for the video, traded my 17' f150 3.5 ecoboost for a 21' sle sierra with the 3.0 and couldn't be happier. After incentives, price dropped to around 42k, plus the equity on the trade in made it a no brainer!
I did the same thing. 2011 ecoboost which I loved and switch to a 21 gmc 3.0. I am so happy I made the switch.
I see a problem with the math, The fuel cost are based on EPA estimates. The EPA rates my Canyon 2.8 Diesel 28 mpg hwy, I’m consistently getting 32-33. Basically 30% better economy than my previous Colorado with 3.6L gas engine. In my area, diesel costs 10% more than regular gas resulting in a 20% fuel cost savings. Plus the added purchase price is offset by higher resale value. I’m sold on diesels!
I love this video. I have very similar thoughts over the early '80 6.2L Diesel engine with the Square Bodys which are becoming classics, the 1973-87 generation of GM pick-ups. Since that one also gained some weight over the previous generation, I'm more likely to get a 4X4 of it for a little off-roading on some rugged terrain. And their first diesel engine in the late '70s was poorly designed. But then it got replaced with a 6.2-liter Detroit Diesel. That was a good diesel but not much more powerful than its inferior predecessor and had no off the line acceleration. And the interchangeability on older Chevy/GMC trucks has been unbeatable. So, I think one could bolt an '80s 6.2L into a late '70s truck. But just like passing on the 3.0L turbodiesel in this vid., I'd still pass on the 6.2L for a square body for much of the same reasons. Not enough benefits to justify it. And therefore, I'd go with a 454, or 400, or 350, or even a 305 if its 2WD 1/2 ton. Using a beater for off-roading, it doesn't really matter if it has any power at all (that diesel 6.2 was very underpowered and not turbocharged). Pre 1980 trucks were a little simpler than '80s as well. So, I'd consider a 454 big block with a TH400 Transmission to be a bonus. Big blocks weren't on the engine option list for 4X4s, just 2WD until 1981. But It's still possible to fine one as some 4X's may've ended up with big-blocks regardless. I'd consider it a bonus because it can come to life a bit more than any of the others on the strait stretches once you're back on the paved roads and back in 2WD mode. And gas mileage down in the single digits hasn't been too uncommon on 350s either. Infact sometimes 454s have even gotten just as good gas mileage as 350s, but probably not all the time.
For peeps who say there's no 4cylinder half ton, a similar thought prevailed 10 - 15 years ago in the German sports-luxury automotive realm, previously the domain of exotic 5,6, and 8 cylinder engines. Then BMW introduced the 5-series with a standard 4 cylinder, which was headlines among the press back in the day. Now it's par for the course; the amount of power they can extract out of engines nowadays is incredible!
Love the "check your ego and check your needs" comment at the end. Much of it breaks down to want over need, which is fine, but don't bag on the next guy if they buy what they need and don't care about an engine with way more power than they need for the job (and costs way more in gas through bad mpg or requiring premium). We see that mentality way too much, especially in truck forums and truck channels. So tired of seeing "If you care about gas mileage, go buy a Prius". Truly unoriginal and unrealistic comment. If two trucks do the same job that a person needs (whether than is mostly running empty or is loading up to max payload or max towing), why would a person NOT take gas mileage into consideration when comparing truck brands or even engines offered without a brand's model.
I don't drag race my pickup (in competition or for bragging rights); I have other vehicles that far outperform the most hopped up pickup at 1/10 the price. If you do value a truck that is quicker 0-60 than a different truck or like to hop up your truck, who am I to say anything about it. Go for it! Buy the truck with that need weighed into your buying decision. For those that value getting a few mpg better when driving around empty or when towing, then they will weigh the MPG rating more and shouldn't get a hard time for it.
Too many people worried about what other people want out of a pickup and can't stand that the needs for another person are different than their needs as if that difference is somehow saying they are wrong. Strange how people push their egos onto everyone else. Ha.
I love that comment too. Heck, I may just steal it! Then again, it is a free country and you can buy what you want. Personally for me, right now I rather make sound financial decisions based on setting myself up for retirement than buying something influenced by what others might think or say.
Thanks. Kind of a spur of the moment comment. Just came to me.
Great review for your needs. I own a 2020 SLT with the diesel. IMO, it’s the best bass boat towing rig I’ve ever experienced. At 5000lbs most big bass rigs sit right in the sweet spot for the light duty diesel. Nearly doubling the mpg of the gas engines in my personal real world situations, I would never go back to gas. Close to 1/3 of my miles have my boat hooked up so, for me, the new diesel just makes sense.
Exactly. If you tow a lot around 5,000 lbs, then this is a great engine and truck. I just don't. No disrespect to the truck or engine.
I like your comments on would I buy this. I think it was about as honest as you can get in terms of utility for the cost. Not being a critic I would like your view if you had a few hypothetical buyers who drive more miles than you in the city or on the highway. Those who tow every weekend or during the summer. I personally like a diesel for the way they pull even at speed, the range you get and all the ones I have ever had got better than the highway number and that is in the hilly part of PA and always got a better average. With gas engines it always was the opposite. I also like that historically they last longer. Not sure that is the case any longer and the things you do not have to replace like plugs and such are built for the life of what most of us would ever keep a vehicle for. If it is a wash cost wise I go diesel. Even if it costs more over the life of the time I will have it I go diesel.
I love the design...I hope it turns out to be durable and trouble free. Only 180 cu inches !! And puts out those numbers !! Beautiful !!
Owned one for six months now. Actually it is a towing machine for a bass boat or smaller camper. Pulled a 20' bass boat 2,000 mile round trip with plenty of power, torque and 17 mpg while towing 5000 lbs 75 mph. I am averaging 25 mpg around town and 31 on highway trip with no towing.
I loved my two 5.3l trucks. Between the two, I put roughly 400k miles on them combined. "Bulletproof" for the most part and towed what I needed just fine. BUT....Occasionally I'd want to add more weight and especially towing sleds to the UP from here in NE Wi in the winter I just felt I needed a little more in the greasy stuff. Very few reviewers actually haul or tow in the snow/slush. I haven't seen one trying to BACK in a sled trailer in a greasy parking lot or trailhead. I think those two instances is where my brand new AT4 (yes, I actually found one...our dealers up here cant keep them on the lot more than a few hours) should shine over the V8's due to it's lower torque band. So far(I only have 300mi) it's a wonderful driving truck, very comfortable and quiet. I don't get too wrapped up in the relatively small numbers either way. If the differences are a couple family dinners out....it's NOT a deciding factor to me in the big picture.
I've played in the snow at times with a review vehicle. It isn't that we don't want to do it, it is just timing. Hard to get the right vehicle for the right storm and everything else lined up.
I purchased the exact model / color as your test truck. This is the truck I have been waiting for 20 years for GM to make. I tow quite often but seldom over 5k lbs, I live in Denver and tow at elevation frequently and this truck is my daily driver. Couldn’t ask for more. I love the factory lift and realistic truck tires that come on the AT4 package without having to upgrade immediately upon purchasing a truck with a sticker North of $60k. Fuel economy is fantastic for a full size truck and the drive ability is better than the 6.2 liter (at least at elevation). The 6.2 is awesome but for daily (non spirited) driving the diesel is just better suited to this large of a vehicle in my opinion.
It’s a great truck for sure. I hated seeing it go!
I love my'n. Only issue i've had with it, was the "long start" but GM did a update at the next oil change and I hav'nt had the issue since.
I really appreciate you pointing out the differences between the diesel engines for the lights duty trucks compared to the heavys. I completely agree that people expect the diesel to automatically tow more, but that's because we're used to the heavy-duty truck towing more and associate the diesel with them. These things are going to be wonderful for fuel economy if a person tows often or drives highway. If they want to jump from 0-60 in an instant... it ain't gonna happen.
I appreciate your review. Have a wonderful day.
Some people are getting high 30's and low 40's on mpg! I've owned several 5.3L and they can get 20-23 mpg but thats it. Seems like a big difference in the long run for me. Also, the torque the diesel puts out can't be matched by the gas engines without killing mpg.
Analyzing the pros and cons with data. This analysis was on point. Thanks a lot!
Whether its diesel or gas sure makes a big difference to the dealers asking prices!
A part of me hopes GM launches huge American trucks in Europe now that they have a good diesel option!
Just traded my 2020 SLT 3.0 with 39k for a 2022 SLT 3.0. Obviously loved my experience. Only pulled a camper for a relative once for a couple hours, did fine. I got it for the mileage. Penciling out my cost of owning my first 3.0 made my new ride a no brainer.
Fantastic thanks so much .
Just shopping for 2021 GMC 1500 Searra Elevation X31. In Canada . 5.3 price Shopping at this time after learning more .
And for what I need
Enjoy your humble reviews ☺️
Best Regards
Don Schlegel
Great calm comparisons. Did that on the AT4, my only real interest and came to the same conclusion and walked away, Just way too expensive even if you have money to burn.
Good review. I went with the 6.2 gas in my 2020 silverado. Glad I did.
Bryon Drill I’m going to miss my 6.2s I had a 17 and 19 LTZ Z71 the 17 was great the 19 was not so great. I traded the 19 for a new Ram limited so time will tell.
Better trade it before a lifter collapses. How do you like the start/stop feature?
@@DH-mf2lv yeah that could be a problem if I had the l86 but I don't this truck has the l87 redesign 6.2 for 2020 bro!
Is that what you call DFM? What is the difference?
I hear it's awesome. You can bypass the stop/start feature you know.
That's a beautiful truck. For me, if I wanted to buy a diesel, I'd buy a 2500 or 3500. In a 1500 I'd opt for the 6.2L. However I know that the 5.3L with some power adders and tune can really come alive. I am a very purpose purchase person, I like my vehicles for specific purposes, never been an all around usage vehicle type person. I think when they try to make a vehicle that does it all, it just fails in a lot of areas. "Jack of all trades, master of none." kind of thing. This is why I am leaning towards an SUV for my next purchase. I have a vehicle for everything else. The secured cargo, and comfortable ride with room for friends is missing in my life.
Great video though, Tim. I do like Diesel and that torque pull in them is amazing! Just dislike the DEF systems... I know several diesel mechanics that can't stand it either.
I have heard the oil pump belt maint issue needing replaced at 150k mi. I have seen videos that this may be a $2k cost. Also regarding the mpg comparisons. I believe the gear ratio is key factor of why the 3.0 gets good gas mileage. It has 3.23 and the 5.3 Ecotek has 3.43 which is why the fuel ratio is lower but allows a 9400 lb towing capacity vs the 8800 for 3.0l. I asked a dealer if GM will be increasing the gear ration on the 3.0 and he said probably not.
I would like to what the engineers say about extended idle times. Some diesels have a way to manually elevate your idle for increased oil pressure. Thanks for the reviews on this truck. Great job!
I would get the diesel for 2021 model year with the price reduction. I put on about 35k to 40k kms per year. Well worth it for me
Yes that is my game plan aswell , also I believe in Canada the power train is covered to 160 k rather than then the gas engines covered to 100k .
How much was the price reduced?
I bought one. That said fuel mileage was the difference. A V-8 6.0 just can't compete with the diesel for mileage. I tow a boat a lot, on mountain roads. For me I think I made the right decision. Time will tell but I believe the LT Duramax will be come a classic.
Congrats on the new truck!
Just bought one of these in a denali. Was all set to buy a gmc hd 3500 sle gasser and when i showed up he said i could have either one for same price. I put 40k plus miles on a year so kind of a no brainer. Most diesel guys dont just put on 15k a year. That hd prob only gets 14mpg at best and also heard these 3.0s are getting up to 30 mpgs so thats huge. Like all things time will tell on how these hold up. First anything always a crap shoot but i hope its a homerun. My first gm ever after owning lots of fords and ram. Thanks for all the homework you do!
I’m between that Rn. 3500HD gasser or 3.0L AT4. I can’t make up my mind bro. How u liking the truck?
@@Em_jiggy
I traded in my 15 cummins so im still crying about that lol. Had 190k on her and just an awesome truck. Dont have much seat time yet but it handles extremly well. Getting 26mpg around town. I just bought it a week ago. Also impressed with the power this thing moves. The hd 3500 was a super nice truck. I drove both them for a 1/2 an hour and was a super hard decision. The 6.6 gasser was kind of a terd. I also have another hd truck so thats ultimatly what made me choose half ton. I dont tow much but a snowmobile trailer 10 times a year.
Great review! I really liked "check your ego and check your needs" you need the right tool for the job, I couldn't have said it better.
I feel like for me the 6.2 is probably the better engine. I feel the new diesel will have issues. Where the 6.2 evolves from 90s Vortec motors. So it is nothing radically different and has proven its self. Plus that 6.2 makes a hell of an exhaust note.
Yeah exactly. Ordered a new Yukon Denali. The diesel and 6.2 were the same price you can pick what up want. A brand new engine in a brand new model shape makes me nervous ..
Just bought 2020 Sierra 1500 3.0L diesel elevation. It’s awesome
When you accelerate do you get a moderate fuel knock/rattle in the cylinders and then it comes and goes? Just wondering trying to compare to others if they have the same issue. Some say its the DEF injectors.
@@MrChiefy420 haven’t noticed anything nope.
Well said it depends on your needs.... I had a 2018 Jeep JL unlimited hauling a 4 x 8 camper going 450 km I’d be coming in on fumes.... sick and tired of packing Jerry cans.....Towing and stopping.... was a bit Of a stretch.... what would cost me 350 in gas in the jeep is only 110 in my Ford F150 2020 Power stroke fully loaded only 1500 RPMs going uphill in ninth and 10th Gear... hauling my trailer I can do 760 km on almost the same size as the Jeep tank....My trucks a year old in a few months so I saved 18,000....Not to mention the truck is like a Cadillac....lol So is a half ton diesel worth it to me it’s a no brainer....Great video PS I almost went for the 2.7 so glad I went with the diesel.
Meant to say the truck is only 110
I am averaging 38mpg in my duramax on highway. This is a great truck
I have an 09 silverado with the 4.8. Get less than 16mpg. My next truck will be a diesel purely for mileage. I put on 500 a week, mostly highway. I do all my own oil changes so any "doubling of costs" there is not that much for me.
My wife and I used to have his and her Ram 1500 pickups. Hers was a '14, 3.6L gas, 3.21 ratio. Mine is a '16, 3.0L diesel, 3.92 ratio. Both were 4wd, 4dr, 8sp.
Both trucks got similar fuel economy. But the differential ratios and high altitude performance were dramatically different! With Bilstein shocks, both truck rode about the same. Hers had the Trutrac diff. Mine is open diff. But on ice or in snow, my diesel was superior. The gear ratio gave me more finesse with the throttle.
Usually we took trips in her truck. Mine is usually loaded up with stuff. But one time we took a trip in my diesel. She liked the hill climbing ability of my truck. And the VGT turbo does have some engine braking capability. When I explained the 6.7L Cummins has dramatically more engine braking capability. She took note of that.
A year later when I wanted to upgrade her truck to have a backup camera and a bigger screen radio. Or buy a new one. Her choice was new. She looked at the '19 Hemi and v6 choices. Then she drove the '18 2500 with 6.7L. And an hour and half later. We drove home in her new 2500.
All pickups are expensive! And most people neglect the wheel bearings and many other maintenance items.
The topic is diesel or gas in a half ton. My answer, in a well matched application. I would prefer diesel. My experience with rock steady cruise control. My diesel would make a trip in less time than the gas v6. And the diesel is nicer for overlanding trips. I live out west where a lot of places fuel can be pricey for gas. And when I go adventuring with friends. I don't have to buy the crazy priced fuel in Bridgeport, CA, or other small towns. Offroad my diesel gets double the fuel economy of my friends gas trucks. So in the big picture. The price looks the same to me.
I also drive a 2020 Dodge Durango GT AWD. I wish it had the 3rd generation Ecodiesel. And odd as it may seem. The Durango has 20lbs more payload than my Ram 1500.
Totally agree. Considering other increased costs, it seems like a wash at best. I wouldn't knock anyone for buying one. But I wouldn't envy their purchase either. It's a pretty good time to be a truck buyer/user; lot's of options on the market.
ITs not good time now
Great vid and thoughts!! I came to a similar conclusion - the price premium attached to this wee diesels just isn’t worth it. Which is a shame because I think they’re great engines. But there seems to be no desire or incentive for the manufacturers to support them.
The early eco diesels had so many problems it made them depreciate more than expected!
Yes, the early ones did but they have the bugs worked out now. Therefore, I feel that this is no longer an issue.
The Ecodiesel has known bottom end engine issues. Reason why appreciation number is not holding up. In most cases with diesels, you get back the upcharge on the diesel equiped truck for resale compared to same equipped gasser version.
Great cost comparison! I recently looked at the Duramax 3.0. I loved it! I easily obtained high mid twenties mpg on a combined loop test drive. The engine was flawless. But, in the end, I can’t justify a $60,000+ truck! That buys a butt-ton of gas. If the Duramax was sold at the same price as the V-8, I might seriously consider one in the future.
All trucks are outrageous now, even used ones. You have to figure out what's important to you. I love a luxury interior and diesel engine but couldn't justify the price of a 2500HD. Plus the big Duramax with all the maintenance and 15mpg for light-duty towing? The 3.0L feels stronger than the 6.2L and its a lot of fun PLUS 25mpg. The maintenance on the 3.0L D is really nothing more than a gas engine (7qts of oil normal filter changes at 30K intervals) So it's a $2500 upgrade from the 5.3L V8...its all about the bottom line price and resale value for me. I got a fully loaded 2020 SLT, 4x4 with X31 package with every available option except sunroof for 49K(sticker was $62.5K). I figure I can sell a diesel truck with 150,000 miles on it for a really good price...a gas engine truck is viewed as being at the end of its life. I looked at all the brands and I drove everything, The GMC 3.0L diesel was the most fun to drive and by far the best for light-duty towing(9000 lbs or less).
@@zog-man3518... did you get the color matched bumpers or chrome? I can’t stand the chrome on the SLT but the elevation isn’t available with leather.
@@Rscmgw23 I wasn't a fan of all the chrome on the SLT but the black looks really good with chrome. The black and the satin steel color look the best with chrome. I was the same as you looking at the elevation but I couldn't find one with the options I wanted on it. leather and heated/cooled seats were on my must-have list. Mine came with everything I wanted, driver assist, x31 package came with spray-on bed liner. Ive got 11k miles on it and my fuel economy is awesome. I get 26-28 with mixed driving. I tow a 7k lb camper and it tows it effortlessly. The fuel economy towing near the max load is around 13-14 mpg, still great compared to gas. I love the truck, it's rock solid. You probably want the AT4 package, it has all the features but does run about 4-5k more.
The low rpm diesel drive "feeling" specifically the smooth "low rpm pull" is to me worth it when considering going diesel....
I have a 2020 Denali with the 3.0 and have owned it for roughly 10 months and have just over 10k miles. I drive about 45 miles daily for work unfortunately none of that is highway, at best lets call it mixed. I average 26-27 mpg so a little better than the 24 advertised. I have had no issues. Historically in my area Diesel fuel is often cheaper than regular fuel, always cheaper than premium (which the 6.2 recommends ) To me I don't really care if the cost of ownership might be a little higher, there is just something overly satisfying when I can say I'm averaging high 20's in the MPG department. I recently did a weekend round trip from Chicago to St. Louis I set a new personal best for the 50 mile average at 39 MPG. These 3.0 are so smooth and have plenty of power if it cost me a little more, it's totally worth it. My buddy has the exact same truck, but with the 6.2 also an amazing truck as someone else said in the comments, it's a great time to be a truck owner.
I like the idea of having a 3.0 litre turbo diesel engine. Why should the only Duramax available be a 6.6 litre engine? I remember when one could get a 2.8 litre Duramax Diesel engine. No engine is perfect, but I believe that if service stations are available that can keep the small displacement Duramax Diesels running, then it might be worth the money.
All of you can ask anything about mine. I've had mine since the day it was released. Fuel economy is WoW.i have over 10000 miles so far on mine still have 60 percent on fuel filter life
Great review Tim .The fuel mileage is great on the 3.0.and 9000 tow is not so bad either .The chevy lt and rst are much easier on the wallet with the 3.0 than the gmc at4 .Chevy should put the 3.0 in the trailboss that would be the comparison to the at4.maybe soon
Enjoyed the video ! I just picked up my own 3.0 duramax and started doing some videos on it as well. A lot to learn with this, you provide a lot of good information.
Does the Diesel engine have start stop. I would think they wouldn’t On the diesel. Just one more thing to go wrong. Thanks.
@@navyvet3660 it does, but it also has a switch to turn it off after you start the truck. Thank you for your service ! 🇺🇸
I really like this “Would I buy..” format! Also thank you so much for getting a rode mic and even using it inside the truck. Audio sounded great!
Even big channels like TFL have terrible audio from inside the cab because they use their camera mics instead of external ones.
Wow thanks. I figured if I have the mic, why not keep using it. I've gone through the ringer trying to get the best audio I can. Glad to hear it is finally working out. Now if I can just slow the F down talking while doing videos...
@@Pickuptrucktalk You're doing great on your talking speed. It is very clear -- and I'm a Southerner 😆
@@scottandrews4822 that’s quite a compliment! Thanks.
Great information. I think your right the gas versions do make more sense
The most disappointing thing about this particular truck is only 1400lbs of payload capacity. As a reminder, that ALSO includes passengers.
That's because the diesel engine is heavier eating into the payload. All 1/2 tons suffer from this. RAM is the worst.
I just purchased a 2020 diesel Sierra 1500 personally i reallylike it alot. The point is for a half ton is to treat it as a half ton. If you want to pull a big trailer then you need a 3/4 ton or 1 ton its just that simple. I dont see the point of running a truck to its absolute limits because that's when bad and expensive things happen. Pulling is one aspect, stopping that load is another consideration that gets overlooked.
@@patcady310 excellent comment.
Same payload as a gmc canyon w V6.
I am looking at the 3.0l because I want the MPG while towing. If you don't tow very much, then I would go with a smaller engine for sure. I don't need the HD for the 6500# trailer I tow, and I want to get better than the 7 MPG I currently get when towing. So it makes sense for me. But I am waiting until Toyota comes out with their new Tundra, (if fricking ever), and the refresh of the GM trucks before I plop down the huge money it takes to buy any new truck these days.
I can see your point in the US. But if you paid what we pay for fuel in Canada the diesel is a big savings.
Diesel is cheaper than gas in Canada. At approximately 4.50 a gallon for gas driving a truck is very expensive.
I owned 4 Rangers in a row. The best I got was 20 mpg. FLT trucks tested the new Ranger and got 18-19 mpg in real world driving.
My Colorado 4x4 long box diesel gets an easy 30-32 mpg. It only holds 6 quarts of oil. It uses very little def.
It pulls 7600lbs. It is very impressive to drive and cheap on fuel.
Fuel prices have been very low for a few years now. But they will not stay that way. Lots of people with V8s will not be able to afford to drive there trucks if fuel prices rise.
Diesel is the way to go.
Sure. Canada is a different scenario.
I want a diesel to run a lift and 37 inch tires but I'm not sure if that half ton transmission is built to handle that long term like a HD truck
Tim, driving the GM 3.0 in-line 6 diesel is fun and always draws attention from other truck guys and even car guys, too. The in-line feature conjures up images of BMW and Mercedes straight 6s, gas and diesel, renowned for their inherent smoothness. Still, I can't justify the extra expense of the diesel when it can't tow 10K lbs. My 5th wheel be 32 feet long, which is not especially long, and weighs 11K lbs which is not especially heavy. This dicey for a Ford Ecoboost or PowerBoost. Where do I go? Will have to go up to a F-250 HD.
I'd go 3/4 ton truck for sure with that setup.
This engine has always been attractive to me, it makes sense for some of us. My question about newer diesels nowadays is how do they behave in the cold weather? Is it easy to start? Does this come with a plug in block heater?
@Boco LWN Thanks for the info
Yes to all, I live in Canada and temps are -10C starts right up and I’ll start using block heater when temps get down to -15
I was interested in the 5.0 V-8 cummins in the Nissan. 310 hp and 555 torque. that sounds like magic to me. To bad it went away.
springs = squat, but I get what you were trying to say with shocks. I do believe there is an exhaust brake.
I've dealt with squat on a TRD Pro and talked with engineers about it. They pointed right to their off-road shocks and said their stock shocks wouldn't squat as much.
I question the accuracy of that fuel economy chart. It lists the same fuel economy for 3.0 4wd and 3.0 AT4. It also lists a 5.3 6 speed available for AT4 which is not correct. I think at the $995 price, it is more appealing of an option than it was before. So much of it depends on how long you plan on keeping the truck from a maintenance perspective. Also where you live in the country could influence the decision because diesel price fluctuates a lot based on location
You mean the government didn't get it right? :)
@@brianfinn7644 I know what a shocker lol
It would depend on your towing needs ultimately I believe. If you do a good bit of towing then yes it might justify it. Course I'd like to the maximum towing capabilities of the 1500 before making that decision. The simple fact of it is pure costs. One of the best reasons for the diesel option is fuel economy. Hands down it beats it's gas competitor on fuel economy but the difference in cost is just simply to much money in my opinion so I could agree with your assessment of the vehicle.
A little surprised you didn’t mention the long crank issue with this motor……. Or the lifter problem with the 5.3.
Those issues both came to my attention after shooting this video.
@@Pickuptrucktalk ok, tough question for you here. Which engine would you buy, 5.3 or 3.0? Price isn’t a problem…..
@@raybonzani5437 3.0. I love that engine.
@pickup truck SUV talk I think you missed the mark here. I have a 2020 AT4 with the 3.0 duramax and for me it was between the 6.2 and the duramax. When you compare the towing and other items I personally don't think the 5.3 is in the same league. Also it does have an exhaust break that is linked to the tow haul mode that i know you have mentioned in one (or more) of your other videos reviewing the truck. As for your depreciation argument on the Ram it is irrelevant due to EPA snafu they had with those early model years. That is the reason why there depreciation is not better. I would not buy one of those early ecodiesels and I personally was questioning the new ecodiesel because of that. Also growing up with big truck diesels the straight 6 is much better for reliability and performance. These new diesels (built in the last year or so) are much better and have finally fixed some of the EPA dependability issues. So you are comparing apples to oranges when you are talking about depreciation of a Ram Ecodiesel to this truck. I think they will see a lot more people buy this when they drop the price. GM is making a good move here in my opinion.
Also if you wanted to compare for that exact truck you should have been looking at the AT4 numbers. I can confirm the EPA MPA are accurate if not underrated for the duramax. I also know someone that has the 6.2 and that is rated above what he gets for MPG. From what I have put together i would guess the 6.2 and 5.3 need to be adjusted down 1 to 2 MPG overall and the duramax could be adjusted up 1 to 2 mpg.
Hey Ray, yeah, I screwed up the exhaust brake. I had it backwards in my head and have since edited the video.
Thanks for your in-depth comment and the point on the EcoDiesel EPA snafu. That's a very interesting point and I wonder how much those kinds of things actually do affect resale value. I was really just trying to find a comparable and since the 3.0L Duramax has only been out for a little while, I couldn't use that as an example.
I'm still a big fan of the truck and like you said for towing it is a much better than the 5.3L. If I towed more, I'd probably have come to a different conclusion. I hope I made that clear in the video.
In your opinion for the best bang for the money what pickup would you buy for everyday driving and not for towing a lot of wait .?
I really like your approach and your way of analyzing your subjects. Btw, in this case, if you lived in Canada, in the province of Quebec, where gasoline is around US $ 4 per gallon, your choice might go more towards the diesel version. That's my case.
It makes sense if its in your budget, basically if u fished every weekend with a 5k pound boat yea sure worth it. If you don't care about the cost whatever dont matter.
U could do the same with the 4.3 v6 base if u wanted to put some 20 in Denali wheels all terrain tires call it a day. Sometimes just need to be a badass get the upgrade.
If they were less expensive to maintain I would consider it.
james kilburn THIS DIESEL DOES NOT COST ANY MORE THAN MY GAS TRUCKS. , I CHANGE MY OWN OIL AND THE OIL AND FILTER AT MY DEALERSHIP IS $55.00 TOTAL WITH TAX. THE ONLY THING THAT IS EXTRA IS THE FUEL FILTER AND DEF. DIESEL IN SOUTH LOUISIANA IS $1.80 PER GALLON, ABOUT THE SAME AS 87 OCTANE GAS. MY PREVIOUS GAS 6.2 L I ALWAYS USED 93 OCTANE PREMIUM GAS.
1/2 ton diesels do not cost more for standard maintenance (oil changes, etc.). That is an incorrect assumption due to the higher cost of servicing a HD diesel vs a HD gas engine. The 1/2 ton diesels are about the same cost to maintain as a gas engine. For example, the 3.0 duramax holds 0.9 fewer liters of oil than my current 1/2 ton gas engine pickup and change intervals are longer than my gas truck (because I tow and haul payload every weekend, I change oil under "severe" intervals which is 5,000 miles and I argue that no one should be going over 7,500 miles between their gas engine oil changes, but that is a different story). On the 3.0 duramax, both standard and severe oil change intervals are 7,500, so I could go 1,500 more miles between oil changes and use 0.9 quarts less synthetic oil each oil change if I had a 3.0 duramax than for my current gas engine pickup. The fuel filter is cheap and easy to change and is only due every 30,000 miles so a non factor. So other than adding DEF, which is no harder than pumping gas and cheap and only needed every oil change or so, the 3.0 duramax is cheaper to do regular maintenance than my current 1/2 ton gas truck. So safe to say it's about the same as the average gas 1/2 ton.
Chevy is working on extending the 150,000 recommended oil pump belt change, but even at 150,000 miles, most private shops with a lift will get pretty quick at pulling back the transmission and can do the work without much fuss. And one will save a lot more in fuel, compared to a gas engine, even after paying for the belt change every 150k - 200k miles. My next truck needs to be a HD to handle 2,400+ lb payload, but I wish they would make a heavy half ton with this motor as I don't need the towing capacity of a HD; just payload and braking. And the HD diesel engine is $10k upgrade so makes no sense since I don't need the motor capacity. My perfect truck would either be the current HD with this small 3.0 duramax (I love inline 6 motors whether they are diesel or gas) or a heavy half ton with this motor and heavy duty springs, suspension, axles and brakes.
NOAH DUNAWAY I guess time will tell. Here in Connecticut diesel fuel cost more and so does DEF. I have nothing against diesel trucks I think the GM 3l is a great design. Great fuel economy and power.
MrChadx1 thanks for the information I work at a Chevy dealer, I’m aware of this info already
If u were to have the dealer do your services you would need tons of lube on both ends lol! I buy my own oil and have a express mobile 1 change it for 20$. My cummins was only 75$ to change and i didnt touch it. I could buy a 2 pack of fuel filters for 100$ would last close to 30k miles. Im sure this 3.0 uses less oil and fuel filter change every 30k miles and is getting almost double the mileage with way more power. Just hope reliability is there.
Anyone else having a problem with emissions sensors? Our truck has been in dealership for over 6 weeks. Both sensors emissions sensor and diesle particulate sensor went bad. Message says service engine speed reduced to 55 miles per hour. No update on when parts are going to be available.
Really, to me, the only way these new half ton diesels make sense strictly from an mpg standpoint, is only if the pickup is used to tow a lot. The difference in towing mpg between the diesel and gas (5.3 and 6.2) is fairly substantial. For just daily driving however, the total extra cost of the diesel(s) doesn't get offset by mpg.
Best line of the entire video....
Check your EGO
Check your needs
Great video as always. Super informative. I was suckered into believing the marketing from Ford about the 3.5 Ecoboost being amazing on fuel and heck, it's name has "eco" in it lol. But when towing or in traffic it is HORRIBLE so this time around I am going to be more careful at real world overall fuel economy..Moving on, I like what you did and brought up resale because that is an under thought out thing some of us do in choosing our next truck. I even liked your reasons not to buy one. My big issue is a 6.2L gas runs optimally on super (93 octane) which is substantially more expensive or it would be a no brainer for me to get the 6.2 given the better tow rating and sportiness. 93 Octane fuel here is just shy of $1.00 more expensive per gallon than diesel currently here in Eastern Ontario Canada (Just North of Syracuse USA) but damn I LOVE diesels....
Hey bud I had a 2011 silverado with the 5.3 for 9 years it was cheap as hell on maintenance! G.M makes quality. Well I traded it in on a 2020 6.2l 10 speed midnight edition. This truck is 2x as sweet and I know It will run strong for a long time! I have owned many GM vehicles in my life and they are way more reliable then the competition!
What about engine / truck life? Seems diesel engines last much longer mileage wise.
Not really the case anymore for diesel to outlive gas.
Obviously AT4 package might not fit most budgets maybe an elevation package with 3.0 is more reasonable.
Very informative. Thanks !
I am actually thinking about selling my 2019 RST and getting a 2022 RST diesel when available since I also want the new interior. I have a 70 mile round trip to work daily.
Vicarod - is the new interior confirmed for 2022?
@@officialyasir
Not officially that I am aware of
So without getting into the weeds and summarizing this video in say 30 seconds.... pick the truck that meets your needs? I am not that smart as you all know but seems like good advice. :)
Good video thanks. FYI shocks carry no load ,therfore have 0 effect on how much a truck " squats "
Thanks. After several comments and following up with some engineers, I've edited this part of the video out.
@@Pickuptrucktalk no worries. As a licensed mechanic things sometimes jump out at me. Apologies if it caused any grief
Trevor Harper No grief. More frustration at myself than anything. I hate being inaccurate. I do have a point there and it is more about the springs on off-road trucks. Not the shocks. I just screwed it up. I’m working on a follow up video with an engineer that hopefully will explain this better and have us all informed.
@@Pickuptrucktalk awesome looking forward to it . I enjoy your videos . The quality is quite good . Keep up the good work
Generally springs do carry the load. But gas charged shocks do end up supporting some of the load. I have put new gas charged shocks on several light duty vehicles. And with no other changes. The vehicles sit taller. Springs and shocks are not as textbook as some engineers want us to believe.
Had an F-150 with the diesel for only six months was maxing out the payload had to go bigger during towing.
Wow, I have to say that you are and awesome, data driven, objective reviewer. I recently purchased the 1/2 ton diesel GMC Elevation here in canada. We pay a LOT more for vehicles here than the USA. The cost of the diesel was the same and, after negotiations on my trade and pricing, incentives, etc. I actually got it a lot cheaper than a 6.2 and it was appointed with better options than the gas elevation in stock. One question I don't know much about would be the longevity of the engine. Other than the maintenance of the belt discussed I've witnessed diesel engines lasting a LONG time. Are gas and diesel engines similar or different in their lifespan based on mileage? Thank you very much for all this work you do. I've subscribed and look forward to many more.
Thanks for watching!
City fuel costs and heat in the winter is what I’m looking for.
I agree- I own a company that buys a few trucks a year and we came to the same conclusion; I love the diesel but check your ego and check your needs. We buy gas.
Very interesting! Beyond all this, is it true to say that if this engine is not used enough, problems will arise? A lot of people have told me that by only doing 10,000 miles a year the engine will try to clog causing problems. There is also the fact that here the temperature varies between -30 and 95 degrees, Thanks
That's the old diesel guys talking. The newer diesels don't have those issues.
@@Pickuptrucktalk Perfect! Thank's Tim!
What's the payload? What's maintenance cost? Does it tow any better?
So, if someone wanted to pull a horse trailer, a two horse, you add the weight of the horses, maybe 2.5k lbs, trailer around 4-5k for a total of 7k lbs, that leaves 2k lbs for people and equipment?
Huh? You lost me.
Sorry, guess I was typing out loud. Not being a towing nerd, does the half-ton truck have the capacity to haul safely in the scenario I mentioned or is that hypothetical weight too close to the maximum of the vehicle.
@@warrenstemphly5756 You should be good with any half-ton truck towing that weight. Once you get around 10k lbs, then you have a to be a little concerned.
@@Pickuptrucktalk Thanks for the replies, sometimes the numbers get confusing, especially for a newbie.
For instance, if they say a truck has a hauling rating of 13.5K lbs, that's including the weight of the truck itself? Or is that the weight hooked just onto the hitch, or the hitch, people and cargo?
@@warrenstemphly5756 13.5k lbs is just the trailer. The weight of the truck doesn't factor in. The weight of the people and cargo is the payload number.
Main reason I would not buy one is that I’d never trust my local dealership to fix properly if I were to have problems with it.
In today's economy it the best you can get for your dollar..If a sale rep. said I have a 3.0 D/ for 47k or 6.2 L for 47k well I like 6.2 L Bottom line with job loses who can afford these freak-in trucks..
Not sure if Dodge would be the best gauge for diesel depreciation since they had a class action lawsuit about their 3.0L diesel. I am sure that lawsuit hurt its resale value by quiet a bit.
One thing I didn’t hear you touch upon was the longevity of the diesel. Do you think this engine has was it takes to reach 300,000+ miles like the daddy Duramax and other V8 diesels?
Nope. I think you’ll have more issues with the emissions equipment which will effectively limit the diesel’s longevity. Plus, I tend to believe through my interactions with owners and engineers, gas engines have largely caught up with diesels for longevity.
@@Pickuptrucktalk I appreciate your response. You’ve basically extinguished all the reasons I wanted one of these 3.0L diesels hahaha
@@MattySquared 😂
my 2017 Tahoe with 5.3L NEEDS alottle more UMPH !!!!!!!!!!
wished i had the 6.2L or DIESEL Torque or ACCESS to E85 FUEL !!!!!!!!!!!!! to UNLEASH THE BEAST
Great video and thorough comparison!
Thanks!
So if you can't really tell much difference in the gas vs diesel, shouldn't one just buy what they want?
Yes, you should always buy what you want.