Blown Away: I towed 7,000 lbs to see REAL MPG with 3.0 Duramax ZR2
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- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
- Can the 3.0 Durmax tow? What is the Miles Per Gallon towing with a 3.0 Duramax? We take the 2024 Chevy ZR2 for a 90-mile trip to see if it can keep up with a 6.2 Chevy Silverado.
Check out our ZR2 3.0 Duramax VS Z71 Trail Boss 6.2: Which is better?. ➡️ • ZR2 3.0 Duramax VS Z71...
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Question -Do you own 6.2 or 3.0 Duramax. Which one is better?
#zr2 #chevysilverado #truck
About this video:
test of a 3.0 Duramax engine, addressing its power compared to a V8 6.2 engine. The skepticism is mainly around the engine's ability to tow, with some viewers expressing a preference for a V8 engine for towing purposes.
To the gentleman I met tonight, it was great chatting with you and please reach out so we can exchange info!
I owned gas burners for 25 years. 3 years ago I bought a 2021 GMC 1500 Duramax 3.0 X31 with the Elevation Package (No chrome, Solid paint, black wheels) and I will NEVER go back to a gas burner. The trucks engine and drive train are Superior to any of GM's gas burners in every aspect of the game! I hate lugging hills with a load, this 3.0 don't lug! In fact you can feel the power being transferred to the road and it is impressive! My wife knows nothing about trucks and when she rode in it the first time she immediately knew it was better than the other gas burner trucks I had owned, she even said she wanted a Yukon with the 3.0 Duramax! She don't even know....and somehow she know's!!! You can feel, see and hear the difference folks!
I have a 2022 3.0 z71 and now have 68k on it. I absolutely love it and and doing everything in my power to talk my wife into a new Tahoe or Yukon with the 3.0! She is tight though and doesn't want to spend the $80k-$90k! lmao
I got a 2023 Silverado 3.0 not for the MPG but just because I like how the diesel drives more than the gas.
I love the way it drives and how it seems smoother and more effortless especially when going up hills.
I have a 2023 AT4 LZ0 and am extremely happy with towing performance. After decades of hauling heavy loads, I can say that the wind resistance is a much bigger factor than the weight. The camper you pulled is indeed a brick. I can also say from much experience that a strong crosswind actually hurts mileage more than a direct headwind. Lots of guys will argue this point, but it's a fact. Aerodynamics matter more than most people realize. I've pulled up to 10,000 with my LZ0 and love it. Empty mileage is awesome! For anything bigger than 10K, I use my F350 6.7L Powerstroke, but for the light loads, I love the 3.0 LZ0.
I agree that a side wind has more effect and the math proves it out by calculating the area of the trailer side vs the front.
Agreed. I wish RV manufacturers understood this. Aerodynamics is way more important than weight. Towing a boat is way easier than towing a box-shaped trailer.
Correct, the Frontal area is the issue not weight. Proven for me by towing the same load (my off roader) using a steel trailer and an aluminum one that is 1000lbs lighter. Wind direction matters as well. But its not just mpg that matters is Cost per 1000 miles. Factor in the cost of Def on top of diesel and higher service costs and the V8 saves my wallet every time.
I have a 2023 GMC 1500 slt with the 3.0. I’ve towed my vehicle and it did great. I was ranging from 14 mpg uphill and then 20 mpg regular roads.
It’s a great truck and combo. I’d just plan on doing a trans cooler.
14:10 exactly correct!! Thanks for touching on this!! People don’t understand that if you buy a truck built for offroad it isn’t going to tow like a truck with a “heavy duty towing” package, etc…thanks for that
You’re welcome! I want to make sure that those that may not know, understand the compromise. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, just something to be mindful of.
@@MOHAWKAUTO agreed, unfortunately I’ve seen it way too many times people going on their truck manufacturers website, finding a 2023 crew cab 4x4 short bed f-350 and assume OH, IT SAYS THIS TYPE CAN TOW 30k! When in all reality a Tremor package alone knocks this down severely. Payload, max tongue weight and even max trailer weigh are substantially different when these “packages” are added, meant for towing, offroad or otherwise. So many newbies don’t get this or think to look to begin with! Thanks again. I am subscribed to you now
@@ryanvegas777 you’re spot on and thank you so much for the sub!
Towing and offroad = 2500HD ZR2 Duramax
@@rsbreeze that’ll still have (should have) softer springs than the non ZR2 2500. The ZR2 2500 looks really nice too
I love the 3.0 but I needed to tow in the range of 18,000 . I’m retired and soon will buy another toy box . I bought first a 2024 Chev 2500 Diesel Duramax LT Z71 . I love it . Don’t know yet mileage towing but I do know I won’t struggle with weight towing . I still Iove the 3.0 as well. Great design and technology
With that weight you’d absolutely need to get a 2500. I think you chose a great truck though.
If you want to tow 18K I'd say you are looking at a 1 ton 3500, probably a dually.
I'd weigh yourself at a truck stop to see what weight is on your rear axle compared to max listed. That's a heavy trailer.
This is a totally a real world test... Kudos for your effort! I had a 2019 5.3 RST towed a 6k travel trailer all over NM,CO,WY,AZ .. it worked but damn the mileage sucked and if the wind blew.. I just wanted to pull over. Traded for a 2023 LTZ 3.0 ... different thing all together.. I get crazy mileage without the trailer 25 town, 28 highway and my 5.3 was around 9.5 pulling the trailer ( and I never checked it by hand and I'm saying that computer was a lying mofo), the 3.0 duramax 12.5 towing same trailer and actually better when hand calculated. Kudos to GM for erroring on the low side with the computer with this new truck. Oh.. I did put sumo springs on the new truck .. huge difference when towing as far a stability. Thanks for this great video.
Thank you, I’m glad you liked it! That’s awesome to hear a comparison with the 5.3 and that the LZ0 is working out for you much better.
I had the 5.3 in a 2018 before my 3.0 and you are dead right. It was a nice running truck with plenty of pep to get up and go but I swear mine would downshift before I even latched onto the ball with a small 16' lowboy trailer. lmao The 3.0 is truly something else with towing small to moderate loads. I pulled 3 tons of feed 240 miles west on IH 10 from San Antonio (pretty hilly drive) and ran 80 with the cruise on it and it got well over 16mpg. With that trailer empty on the way home I ran 85 and got over 20mpg! I also pull a gooseneck cattle trailer with it and even with 10 calves averaging 500 lbs it has absolutely no problem doing it!
My LZO Chevy tows like a dream at 65MPH...MAX!! Distributing hitch keeps it level which is a must...love my truck! Way better than my ECO diesel RAM!
Distribution hitches make an enormous difference.
Does your truck have the Max trailering package?
No....but honestly it doesn't seem to make a huge difference. the distribution hitch keeps me level and it tows like a dream. Effortlessly....and the exhaust brake works great.@@shadowsabre194
How much does your camper weigh and length, thanks.
6880 lbs dry weight
I have a 22 Sierra SLT 1500 with the 3.0. I ordered it with the max tow package so it has minimal squat when hooked up to our trailer. Took it on a road trip last fall from north Idaho, through Montana, down through southern Idaho and back. Total trip was a little over 1,400 miles. Towed our Jayco 22RBS travel trailer. It's about 7,000 lbs. Total MPG for the whole trip was 16.8. The truck did awesome. I was very happy with it.
That’s impressive mileage!
I have the same truck. It’s a 2022 GMC SLT with 3.0 and max trailering package. I went with the 6.5 foot bed rather than the short bed. To date I’ve only towed a max of 3k pounds with it and not very far. Looking forward to testing out it’s true ability next year where I should be towing in excess of 10k pounds with it
Great mpgs! Does it have the 3.73 axles?
Crap. I should get this babymax one. I really regret buying AT4X HD Duramax. Horrible mileage empty. 12mpg city and 14 highway. 250 miles less on full tank of fuel vs my old Denali HD LML Duramax. I don't get it. As per dealer all is good within their specs
Did you use weight distribution hitch for this trip?
Nice video, i went from a 1 ton dually to the 1500 and towing is different. Towed 1700 miles round trip last week lots of hills and rain ended the trip with 13.1 mpg average. Very impressed with this little 3.0 duramax.
How much did your trailer weigh?
@@adamcrouch 7800 lbs.
How many gallons of def did you use?
@@tannerfox2992 my def consumption doubled while towing. Used close to 5 gal.
What's your weight of trailer.?
I'm averaging 12-13 MPG with 2021 LTZ, Z71, 3.0, towing in all Montana conditions towing 14k camper at 70mph. Hills are no problem at any speed. Sometimes gearing down very steep mountain roads, it smokes real bad exhaust and the dealer doesn't know why? I agree, It sure uses more DEF when towing. I have 70k miles on it and love the ride.
Just got home from a 3200 mile national parks trip out west with our 23 LZO. Towing 26ft Lance trailer at 6-6500lbs I got 14 driving 65-68mph heading east (with the wind), and 12-13 on the return trip heading west (strong head winds). When unhooked from the trailer we did 1100 miles of driving around the parks (2 week trip), and regularly saw 32-35mpg. Total MPG for the trip was 17.1mpg, with 9.5 gallons of def used (adding $0.0015 per mile of cost).
Compared to our Toyota 5.7 we did a similar trip with 2 years ago with the same trailer, we got 8.5mpg towing, and 9.5mpg for the total trip. So a 90% improvement in MPG, and it was way more comfortable towing the load then the Toyota.
Thank you for this detailed input of your experience towing with the LZO. I have a 5.7 Tundra also and am considering the LZO as my next truck. I also tow a smaller (20ft) dual axle toy hauler and am looking for the best truck without getting into HD as it’s overkill for a daily driver/commuter. These GM 3.0s tick a lot of the boxes.
I had a pretty long trip, about 1800 miles (much higher percentage towing) and my trailer is 6300lbs dry, I estimate I was around 7000lbs. I was towing with a 2020 Ford Ranger (yes I'm within the boundaries of the truck). I make 24-25mpg without the trailer. Going north I made 9.5mpg and south I averaged 13mpg for a trip total around 11.3mpg towing pretty consistently at 65-67mph. I do think one of these 3.0 diesel trucks would be good but I was proud of my little ranger! I could maintain 60mph up an 8% grade!!!
Diesel costs more than gasoline
@@stevelanders9602 You get less MPG's with the gas engines. You are not getting the 32-35mpg's that @brianduncan3267 was talking about when not towing.
@@JustOutHereTinkering Does your truck have the optional Max Trailering Package?
I drive a 2021 Sierra AT4 with the 3.0 Duramax. We pull our Dune scooters with it. On longer drives I get about 26.5 mpg but the same trip towing, it drops to 18 mpg while towing about 4500 lbs. Plenty of power and torque too. We like he Duramax so much that we bought a 2023 Yukon with the new Duramax. It gets like 28.5 mpg on the freeway at 80+ as my wife has a very heavy foot.
I think it’s a great motor and that the Yukon with it is going to quickly be considered one of the best SUVs you can get.
Love my 21 Sierra SLT 3.0. I installed a set of timbrens to help with the squat. On an 18 hour trip into Canada pulling a 3,000lb boat with the bed packed with gear including 30 gallons of extra gas i averaged 21 mpg. Truck preformed great, i was impressed.
My 2020 Trail Boss with the 6.2 gets 9-10mpg towing a 29 foot trailer with a 6300lb dry weight and loaded with all gear for trips with full propane tanks and an extra battery so it's probably closer to 7200lbs. When not towing I get 16-18mpg in the city and 18-20 on long freeway trips. Road Active suspension springs solved my problem with the 2.5 inches of squat and took away about 2 inches of it so the truck rides level when towing. Great video illustration of the MPG's from the baby Duramax.
Really glad you did this video. I've been considering the zr2 with the duramax but was on the fence about it towing my trailer. This answered and lot of the question's I had.
I have a AT4 with the LZO and tow a 7,000lb travel trailer in California. I average between 12-13mpg while towing. Worst mileage I’ve had was 10.5 mpg towing steep grades. California has a wide mix of terrain from flat to very steep almost everywhere you go. Unladen I get 25-27mpg hwy and 21-23 combined. I’m not easy on the throttle either.
That’s a lot better economy than you’ll get from the gas engines
Great review! I have a 2022 3.0 in the Z71 package and love it. Head winds definitely affect it quite a bit. Just 2 weeks ago a buddy and I took it to the casino about 170 miles from my house and ran into a 20-25 head wind most of the drive (70%) and it only showed 22.1 mpg when we got there. The next day on the way home without that head wind it showed 28.3 mpg when I pulled into my gate. I have 68k on it now and it averages over 25mpg every week and up to 26.5 and my daily driving is through pretty bad traffic on my commute home as it is 22.5 miles and can take up to an hour to get home so there is a lot of crawling and stop/start driving on it. I like the 3.0 so much that I sold my older 6.6 duramax and installed a gooseneck hitch and air bags on the 3.0 and use it for the towing I do now which it handles with ease. I've hauled 10 calves that the avg weight was 550 and my GN cattle trailer weighs about 3500 empty. The torque this little engine makes is awesome and the 10 speed transmission is great especially on the highway where at 80mph it is running around 1650 rpm.
I have the 3.0 Duramax and towed my TT to Yellowstone and back, around 2300 miles. My TT is closer to 8000 lbs. Got around 11.5 mpg. But the big consideration for me in trading my 5.3 v8 for the 3.0 was operating rpm. My 5.3 had to spin around 4300 rpm to handle mountain grade hills and couldn’t really go much over 50 mph. The Duramax handled them at 2500-3000 rpm and could maintain 65 mph and usually accelerate up those grades.
Last July, I towed my camper, similar to your camper from Omaha Ne to Loris SC. Travele speed 60 to 65, got overall 14 mpg there and back. Mine is 2021 LM2 engine. Doing the trip again soon.
That’s still pretty good mileage!
What kind of DEF consumption did you get?
I used a box a day while towing
Nice info, I have a 2013 f350 super duty 6.8 power stroke. I towed a 11000lb heartland fuel 250 from Buffalo NY to Nashville Tennessee. I got 9.8 miles per gallon.
I have a 23’ GMC SLE 3.0 Maxtow package. 4x4 Crew cab with a 6’7” bed. So I have enhanced cooling. The 9.76” rear diff with 3.73 gears. At 18,000 mi my life time average is 24.2mpg. Thats with 2 winters of using remote starts. Unloaded averages 26-32 mpg. I pull a loaded down 22’ enclosed trailer. With a 5th gen Camaro. Around 9k lbs. Running at interstate speeds 70+. I have been averaging 12.4 mpg. Right at a 45% improvement over the 6.2. Also pulling up the larger hills in Kentucky. The LZ0 3.0 will not only maintain speed with power to spare. But can accelerate. The 6.2 on the same grade is pretty much on the floor struggling. And my 5.3 would lose MPH.
But the sound of the 6.2 is just music lol.
The 3.0 will walk away from a 6.2 if they are both loaded down heavy. Unloaded the 6.2 is way faster.
The 6.2 sounds so good! I’m happy with my 3.0, I just wish I could tune it to give it a little more pep.
@@MOHAWKAUTO just wait, it took them a minute to unlock the lm2, in no time the lz0 will be tuneable.
@@chrisguillen1495 I can’t wait!
This is the build if your towing with a half ton. The standard beds are always going to give you significantly more stability towing and better payload. I currently have a 21 GMC Sierra SLT with the 6’7 bed and 5.3 and it feels great towing my livestock trailer, but leaves much to be desired in terms of efficiency and power. I’ve been looking to upgrade to an SLT with a 6’7 bed and 3.0. The 6’7 beds are just hard to come on dealer lots so I may have mine built to spec.
Good job on the video. I laughed at one of the people in the comments that couldn't believe that someone would tow at 80 mph. He obviously hasn't driven through Boise before. Lol
Towing at 80 is a normal thing here. I’m not sure that everyone is making sure their trailer tires are good for it, but they do it all the time.
But why?? It seems outrageously irresponsible towing st that speed due to disregard for safety alone. Just my opinion. @@MOHAWKAUTO
@@jl75750 I’m not saying it’s safe to do everywhere, and I’m not saying everyone should do it, but I don’t think it’s disregarding safety to travel at a speed that prevents you from impeding traffic. In fact, driving well below the posted speed can actually cause a lot of accidents too.
Or Texas, at all.
@@HenryRodriguez-vq1ee no joke
Have over 52,000 on my 21 and mileage has stayed pretty consistent at 13.8-14.7 towing and 25.8 city, 29-31 highway. Love mine!
I assume your 3.0 is not the ZR2 or Trail Boss with that high mpg??
AT4, crew
Had a 15 high country 6.2 that got 10 mpg towing my 5800 lb camper. My lm2 3.0 gets 16.5 and didn't drop lifters and beat the lobes off the cam so I'm saying the 3.0 is superior towing .
I think we’ll see the 3.0 become a legendary motor
Sick Truck!!!! I get around 11 mpg towing my 5000lb travel trailer with my 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 with the 2.7 turbo.
I have the 2023 Silverado 1500 RST 4X4 Diesel... Towed about 5000 lbs. from NC to South Florida my Sea Hunt CC boat and I was getting 10 - 11 mpg and it drank DEF fluid worse than an alcoholic... Normally DEF fluid lasts and still does a few FULL fill ups so no biggie... Go for a 12 hour tow and plan to bring a few 2.5 gallon DEF boxes in your truck bed... Sucks DEF fluid BIG TIME while towing that type of distance... At least mine did... Please NOTE: This truck set up NOT IN TOW drives like a Caddie on the HWY and pulls like a Champ... The torque makes other vehicles wonder what's under that hood when you leave them in the dust... Keeper for me... Thank you for this video... !!!
Get the valve cover replaced I heard that's why it's doing that
@@frolfking35 Huh... It only probably had a few thousand miles at that time... However, you could be right... Things do break... !!!
Have the same issue
I wish they would just get rid of that DEF crap. Its choking those Diesel Engines along with the genius engineering of the exhaust systems.
Cool video. I have a 6.2L Trail boss and pull that same trailer. With my 2 inch level the squat is loyal lol pulls nicely tho
Thank you, and that’s great to hear how someone else does with the same trailer
Great info in this video! I like the fact that you actually calculate your mpg, rather than just commenting only on the dashboard computer. (In my experience, it is rare that the onboard computer is accurate, no matter the brand.).
I was considering getting a new Silverado or GMC with the 3.0 Duramax for daily driving and the occasional towing of a travel trailer. I was thinking of getting the Max Tow Package for the reasons you mentioned, but wonder if the included 3.73 rear end would harm the fuel mileage very much for my daily driving. Especially since I wounld be 90% daily driving and only 10% towing. If anybody knows how the 3.73 affects mpg as compared to the standard rear end, I would love to hear about it.
Depends on your daily driving. The 10 speed allows it to still be in the lower rpm range for in town driving. You might actually see improved in town driving as it will accelerate better. At highway/interstate speeds you’ll be at a higher comparative rpm vs non max tow package.
@@MOHAWKAUTO OK, thanks. Being at a higher rpm vs non Max Tow Pkg is exactly what has me a bit concerned that it would cause poor fuel mileage.
@@danieldornes8416 from what I’ve seen owners report, it’s a few MPGs difference ultimately. I honestly would have gotten the max tow if I went with a different trim. I drive 90-95% in town driving so it would have been more or a benefit than not in my case.
You should’ve done a third test, towing the trailer in standard mode instead of the tow/haul mode
Given how low it sat in the rpm range and how it wasn’t shifting a lot or hunting for the right gear, I’m not sure it would have made too much of a difference. I am thinking of doing another tow test and if I do, I may consider this as you’re not the only person that’s suggested it.
Why in the hell would anyone purposely tow a travel trailer at 80+ mph? THIS is why I never loan out my trailer. smh
No one, and that’s the point 😉
are you not doing a video people can realate to? Weird attitude to have.@@MOHAWKAUTO
@@Joeyhurt1990 I think I’m making a video people can absolutely relate to. I wanted to tow the trailer as fast as I could safely, and I did. Did I expect to be able to actually tow it going 80? Not really, but I wanted to try if it was safe. I’ve driven 1 ton work trucks with much heavier trailers when I did drywall work a longtime ago and was able to go 80 without issue. Those were very different trailers that were properly balanced and level and the truck was level too. I never experienced trailer sway like I did during this video. So I think you might be speaking out of turn, which is a weird attitude to have.
Towing at 80, while doable is ridiculous. No reason to pull over 70. Things happen fast when towing and running 80 leaves you no room for error.
@@howebrad4601 I agree for the most part. Depending on what you’re hauling and what’s doing the hauling, terrain, weather, and where you’re driving, 80 is the speed limit and can be done safely as it’s flat, wide open multi lane interstate or highways. Plenty of space to have a big gap between you and the people in front of you. I just wouldn’t recommend it for most situations.
I went from a 2019 6.2 to a 23 3.0 LZ0 and tow the same camper regularly (about 7,000lbs loaded). Highly recommend a weight distribution hitch and Road Active Suspension if you want to go 70-75mph. I average about 11.3mpg with a mix of driving from 60-75mph.
How does the 3.0 compare to the 6.2 for you?
@@MOHAWKAUTO no comparison absolutely love the 3.0 and would never go back. Fuel economy and towing being the main reasons. I’ve had the same tires and 3” lift on both rigs with BFG KO2 285/65/r20 and averaged:
6.2 normal driving about 15-16mpg
6.2 towing same camper about 7-8mpg
3.0 normal driving 21-22mpg
3.0 towing 10.5-11.5mpg
@@chrisregister510 that’s awesome! I know some people are saying that they feel like the 3.0 is gutless compared to the 6.2. Do you feel like that’s the case?
I'm actually impressed! Seems solid. That squat 😂
this trim isn't geared for towing. it compromises towards off-roading, not towing.
That squat was crazy, but it handled well all same.
You’re correct and I thought I made sure to mention that in the video. Despite being built for off-roading, it’s still a truck and can tow as well as you’d like a half ton truck to be able to do. Although, I’d recommend air bags or something similar to help with stability and confidence.
The ZR2 has springs like a marshmallow lol. Intended to soak up big hits smoothly. You like to see squad look at Ford equipped off-road trucks.
@@slickcasner4205 you’re absolutely right and I knew it would squat because of what it’s designed for. It honestly could be a lot worse.
Awesome, realistic video. We have the 3.0 LTZ with the max tow package and a shorter, but slightly heavier camper. Using the Blue Ox Swaypro WD hitch, we averaged around 13-15 mpg's while towing on a 500 mile round trip through the White Mountains and New England.
We have a bit less sag, but your set up is probably much smoother on normal driving.
Miss Mtn Home...first duty station in the AF. Thanks for the informative video.
I think if you’re going to tow everyday a heavy duty is the way to go. I have a 22 f250 and was going back and forth about getting the 3.0 duramax but was nervous I was going to get significant mpg drop when I was towing. For reference I avg about 18 mpg with empty and about 15-16 well towing in the city with traffic on the highway and streets.
I’d be inclined to agree unless it was a small/light trailer. I’d personally get a heavy duty if I towed everyday
Towing our mini wini , watching a big toy hauler fifth wheel doing 75 mph . In the fast lane , I said that’s not safe to my wife . I few minutes later I’m looking around , oh shit we smell tire burning . Then we see up ahead, he’s headed for the shoulder . All hell almost broke loose . Drive 65 😎🇺🇸
@@johnnydangerously9426 there’s a lot of factors that determine what speeds are safe to tow at. I say never tow faster than what the situation allows.
Nice video! You were very thorough. Appreciate that.
You’re welcome and thank you!
V…… that’s the shape of your rig. Trailer nosed, truck tail dipped. 🤣 I have GMC 3.0 and absolutely wouldn’t pull without trailer distribution hitch. But you wouldn’t either, I’m sure. I May change the rear shocks due to sag while towing even with the WD. hitch. The sag is unacceptable if you ask me. Anyway great video!! Thank you!
Spent 4 yrs stationed at Mt. Home AFB! Loved Boise and Idaho in general!
It’s a great area!
@@MOHAWKAUTOno no no. It’s a terrible area and doesn’t even exist on any map.
@@AnontheGOAT sure it is! It’s right below Minnesota and right above Missouri.
I got 2023 escalade with LM2 with grand design 30 ft trailer. With fully loaded and 4 adult and 2 kids. Towed camper to Joplin mo from Indiana and back. Average speed 70 to 85. Both vehicles fueled up and passenger on board grossed at 14480 on CAT scale.😂 cruise at 75 and up to 85 when passing average 12.38 to MO and 12.22 on the way back. Calculation was done on the apps. It's pretty impressive.
That’s very impressive and I’ve been curious how the 3.0 performs in the SUVs. Thank you for sharing!
100% you are over payload. Plus pulling that much weight at 85mph is very dangerous.
@@fit4ya1975 not sure he asked for your input.
@@ericschroeder784 Not sure either. But I know for sure I didn't ask for yours.
😂
interesting comparison on fuel consumption 3liter Duramax I have a 2020 3 liter that I tow a 27 ft enclosed car trailer I'm very happy with my truck. I noticed you mentioned the wind affected the stability of the trailer I installed air tabs on my trailer I am very impressed with the improvement of the stability of trailer with the air tabs do a search for air tabs I would like to see a comparison with that product
Rather than MPG.. maybe do a Cost Per Mile... Considering Gas (87/85 Oct) Cost vs Diesel/DEF Cost. what's the difference in cost per mile, because MPG doesn't consider DEF usage and difference in fuel prices.
You’re right, but I wasn’t comparing this to gasoline. DEF usage varies greatly based on a ton of factors so that’s hard to calculate anyhow. I also consider DEF to be inexpensive enough ($15 for a 2.5 gallon box) that I don’t factor it in. I have almost 7k miles on my truck and I’ve only bought 2 boxes. $30/7000 is 0.004 cents per mile. If I towed a lot more, that would change and it would be something more to consider. I usually look at the percentage cost difference between fuel vs percentage difference between mpg. The cost per mile method is a great way to look at it also.
I have a duramax Zr2.
I average 25 mpg. I previously had a ram hemi it averaged 15.
Even after the increased fuel cost I’m still saving like 1,200 a year running my average 12,000 miles.
Just food for thought…the closest comparison on gassers from GM is the 6.2 (also mentioned in this video), but lots don’t realize the 6.2 recommends 91 or higher octane…the price per gallon ( here in vegas, today ) diesel is around $4.10/gal and the cost of premium is around $4.35/gal…now add in the worse gas mileage and there is no doubt how a video like what’s suggested would turn out…
@@johnmorris77 thank you for sharing!
Diesel is cheap if you run offroad fuel.
My friend and I have exact same trucks other than I have the 3.0L and he has the 6.2L. Pulling almost identical campers (29'), i get just shy of 14 mpg and he gets just shy of 9 mpg. I really like my 3.0. It is very quiet under load and lots of power on acceleration. Also, I do not tow a lot and I drive about 12,000 miles per year. Last year my cost per mile was $0.167.
That’s awesome to hear! I really enjoy how quiet my engine is under load and the overall power and acceleration has been great for me. I’m looking forward to the summer months to see how much better the fuel economy gets.
I have a 23 with the LZO engine, max tow package and regular tires. I tow a Lance 1475S -small camper. Over 10,000 miles we are averaging 17.2 mpg. I try to not go faster than 65. I have the transparent trailer feature and is fantastic. John
Very nice video. My experience with LZ0 AT4 towing 7400 lb extra height enclosed is 11-12 mpg over the mountains of eastern Tenn. Avg. 26 City every day. Love it.
That’s great city economy and not bad towing over those mountains!
I think the ZR2 is probably more of an issue than the 3.0 LZ0 as far as towing. That off-road suspension is just a little loosey-goosey for me. But I am absolutely kicking myself for trading my 3.0 LZ0 for a 6.2 as I do pull a heavy boat 6 times per year, but the other 359 days per year I commute. MAN I miss that 27 MPG on my 3.0 Silverado. I also miss the drama-free driving up and down hills in the 3.0. so buttery smooth and almost no gear kick downs due to the power is in the lower rpm range. Just love that motor! If I was pulling a travel trailer or even my boat regularly, I would go 3/4 ton, but 90% commute and light utility hauling in the bed, the 3.0 is my favorite motor/powertrain ever in a 1500.
@@dalelangehennig161 I agree. The suspension is one of the ZR2’s best qualities, but it is also the reason it sags more than other trims. However, that can easily be corrected. Since this video was posted I purchased a trailer very similar to this and a weight distribution hitch and I’ve had no issues towing.
@@MOHAWKAUTO Awesome! Such a great truck and drive train, and I love the ZR2 suspension, just mentioning about the towing issue. I bet the Weight Distribution hitch helps a lot. Either way, it is a super great truck! Hope GM keeps the 3.0 in the line up as a staple and continues to refine. After owning all brands full size and HD, the 1500 3.0 is my final choice as the best combo unless extra heavy towing. I can see myself driving that drive train in all my trucks going forward. Absolute butter smooth. Thanks again for the great video and content!
I find that I typically get better mileage in Fuelly than what my ‘24 AT4 shows. I haven’t towed yet though, and only have about 1,800 miles on the engine.
I think that the difference in your trailering app vs the dash is the fact that you reset the dash trip when you filled up, and the trailering app was calculating from when you hooked it up.
If you’re going to tow regularly, the PPE intercooler and transmission base cooler would be really good upgrades to make.
I agree and I think no mater what I’ll do the PPE transmission cooler bypass valve
80mph towing a camper that size?! Jesus man. Most trailer tires aren’t rated for that speed.
@@mminniear984 I never went anywhere near that fast while towing in this video. Also, the tires on this trailer and my personal trailer are rated for speeds greater than 80.
Thank you for posting and sharing such a thorough review. I just purchased a 2024 1500 ZR2 Bison with the Duramax 3.0 LZO. Given the owners manual recommends the use of only top-tier diesel and how scarce access to such diesel is not only in my area in California, but also nationally, lam wondering what other Duramax LZO owners use to fuel their trucks.
@@danzante85 I’ve been using normal diesel and B20 on rare occasions while traveling. I also use Power Service Diesel Kleen +Cetane Boost every few tanks for a piece of mind. However, after seeing recent videos, I’ll be using Archoil diesel treatment as it looks to be doing a great job cleaning everything including the DPF filter and it’s having a positive effect on DEF consumption by increasing mileage between regens.
I took a 29' camper (7400lbs) behind my 92 Suburban with a 350 TBI to Florida back in 2017. I got about 6mpg. Usually I could only maintain 60mph. It was rough. But it's a tough little engine.
I had an lm2 2 years ago. Crew cab slt 4x4 with 6.5 ft bed.Towed a dump trailer on occasion and it did not like it. Between the load and trailer it only weighed 7500 or so with my capacity at 9300. It struggled on a flat road to get to 45mph. The site was only 2.5 miles from my house and the small hills made it struggle even more. The pedal was in fact to the metal and was only able to go 25 mph. It was in tow haul mode. After that 25k the high pressure fuel pump blew. Not sure if it was connected to towing the dump trailer but was very strange. Now I’m back in an lz0 gmc elevation with max tow package.
That’s crazy about how the LM2 was for you. How does the LZ0 compare to you?
I’ve got a 24 Denali with an LZO and it seems to pretty much be good at everything. I love it
I have a 2022 with the same engine. You need a helper spring on these 1500’s to help keep the nose of the truck down. Before i did spring modification i had people flashing their brights at me all the time, it was blinding oncoming drivers with just the normal headlights.
So as a guy with a lower hp titan cummins, i agree with what you are saying. You bought a truck that suits you and your needs, not someone elses. I tow oftem with my truck, and also live in boise. My trailer is closer to 10lbs but my numbers are not far off of yours. 9-12 towing depending on speed and weather. No load 18-21.2 also depends on speed. Best i have gotten was no load, 55mph run at 23.4, from blacks creek exit to cloverdale and no traffic. People discount the small diesels, but only because they think they will tow a house all the time, 90 percent dont and use their diesel truck as a commuter.
I agree that so many people buy more truck than they need, which is fine. I just didn’t want to spend more to buy a truck and then spend more for fuel because of worse mpg. It’s far more cost effective to buy a distribution hitch and airbags (or something similar) to tow safer than it is to get a HD truck. The small diesel half tons are great options.
Excellent points! I know I love my 2022 3.0 Duramax and I don't see myself ever going back to a gas powered truck.
@@edwardpate6128 after owning this, I’m not sure I would either
I had a 2020 GMC Denali towing an aluminum car trailer with rock guard and a '69 Torino from Sioux Falls, SD to Sturgis, SD. Driving 75-80 mph and got around 20 mpg. Truck was in for repairs the next trip with a loaner X31 with a 6.2. As close to the same conditions as possible and got 9-11 mpg. Empty 24-27 with the 3.0 and 18-20 with the 6.2 empty.
Add air lift to help with the squat. I’m running a set on my truck and there’s no squat and rides a ton smoother empty. I was worried about how it would affect the ride being empty but hands down it’s a lot smoother and well worth the money 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
I am very impressed with the 3.0 and how good the milage is with a full sized truck compared to gas.
I have the Colorado 2.8 diesel and I tow a 24 foot duel axle travel trailer toy hauler at between 5000 to 6000 lbs depending if I take my Victory Vision with me and if I fill the water tank ect. I get 14-16 mpg. The tongue wt is 700 lbs and I use weight distribution hitch and I do get blown around a lot. But I am extremely impressed with the mileage while towing a square box at speed. My Colorado gets 30-32 mpg unloaded.
Those are great numbers!
Had a 2012 LTZ with the 5.3 and towed our 32' TT that will go about 7,000-7,200 lb. Over all on a number of long trips averaged right at 9.0 mpg. Now have a 2023 LTZ Z71 with the 3.0. Only taken one trip so far with the same TT. Averaged 13-14mpg on a trip of about 1,500 miles.
On the highway get between 25-28. Could probably bump that up some if I could get the CC to set around 65, but for some reason it usually is locked in around 78-79 because I have passed HP at that speed and they never even look twice and 65 on Texas interstates can get you run over.
Same issue here with fuel economy vs the interstate speeds. Really impressed with towing mpgs though!
I used to have the exact same camper...towed from south texas to pidgeon forge tenessee and back. Avaeraged 13.4 mpg. Thought that was great! I have a wdh and it tows safe and level.
Just flirted with a ZR2 3.0 at the local dealership. My ‘22 LTZ 5.3 really does great, but I like that diesel. Deal breaker is payload. I pull a 7,000 lb travel trailer with a 925 lb hitch weight. I need all the payload I can get. Mine has 1,756 lbs. Just enough. The ZR2 has 1,550. Not enough. My 5.3 averages 21-23 on the highway at 70-80. My towing mpg is 9.6 over 5,000+ miles towing this trailer and its similar predecessor, all on 87 regular. My 6.2s were nice but this “little” 5.3 does the duty quite nicely. Maybe I will look at an LTZ with the diesel? We will see, but the 5.3s I have looked at seem to have a few hundred pounds more payload.
@@johnwinter9722 I pull my travel trailer with a weight distribution hitch and it weighs 7k dry and I’ve never had an issue. 15mpg average while towing and the good thing about diesel where I am is that it’s not too much more than 87 gas and is occasionally cheaper. The ZR2 is a heavier trim level which of course lowers the weight it can tow. So an LTZ, RST, or any lower trim should have a higher towing. I don’t recall now, but I think the bed length could also make a difference and I believe a longer bed would increase payload and towing. The ZR2 is only available with the short bed. Just some things to look into while shopping around.
Im currently considering which engine to get in the Yukon. I tow nothing, but want to consider fuel mileage and also “immediate power” to swiftly pass cars if I have to. How good is the diesel in acceleration from zero…..and more importantly while driving at highway speed? As compared to the 5.3 and 6.2?
@@markkeller9378 the 6.2 is always going to feel better as is has more horsepower and similar torque, but it’ll have to downshift a few times to get to the right rpm range to make it happen. I’m not saying that’s bad, I’m just saying it’s a thing. I’ve heard the diesel has similar acceleration to the 5.3 at highway speeds, yet I think the diesel accelerates better and more quietly. This truck and engine has been a surprise highway cruising delight that’s quiet and comfortable and it can scoot when you put the pedal down. From a stop it will spin all the wheels if you’d like and it will even spin them while rolling. The traction system is good enough to prevent this but I noticed this being an issue when turned off while at the drag strip. In order to avoid wheel spin (even after rolling for a second or when shifting to second gear) I had to play with it a bit. What I’m getting at is that the immediate power is certainly there and shouldn’t be an issue. If I were getting a Tahoe or Suburban, the diesel would be my first choice.
2021 Silverado LTZ with 3.0. I tow a 7k gvwr car trailer with a stripped down Ford Ranger racer on it. Roughly 5000-5500lbs total. I tend to lead foot it when not towing, and run about 70mph when towing. Not towing and driving more normal speeds, I average about 27mpg on the highway but have seen as high as 32.
Towing I average about 19mpg but have had it as high as 22mpg
I have a 2023 Sierra 1500 with the LZ0. It pulls our boat, which is about 6K lbs., at 70 with no problems and gets 13 MPG.
I had a 5.3 RST and now have a 23 RST with 3.0. So far love this engine. The RST sits at a normal hight so fuel economy seems much better then the lifted versions with bigger rubber. A good mod for anyone that tows heavy allot is to get quality E rated tires. 10 ply tires are not needed for the GVW, but they take allot of sway out and gives more of a sure footed feel. An extra leaf added to rear or air bags would be also be worth it before deciding to step up to a 2500 IMO.
I got a 23 at4 with the LZ0. Towing my 7x23 inline enclosed trailer and I get anywhere from 11.5-15 mpg depending on time of year. Winter diesel is worse mpg vs summer diesel. Empty I get about 22-28 mpg on highway going 75-80 mph and I’ve gotten as good 34 mpg going 60-65 mph. Never gotten below 11.5 mpg towing.
That’s impressive!
Pretty much what I expected. Have a 2016 Colorado 2.8 and tow a 29' toy hauler at 6000 lbs. and get 12-14 mpg at 65. Get 30-32 mpg with no trailer at 65.
That’s impressive!
I get about 32 with my 3.0 running 70 with the cruise set.
Last spring I purchased a 2024 silverado rst with the 3.0 and got 30mpg for an average in 500miles, hooked it up to my 7300lbs camper with weight distribution hitch and was getting warning lights and messages on the main display saying I was over loaded. Because i tow my travel trailer frequently I ended up returning the vehicle back to the dealer
I’ve never once gotten a message saying I was overloaded. I’d be surprised if I did too as it says 8700 on the sticker. For our next tow test, I’ll load it up more and see what happens.
It’s always a head wind going from Boise to mountain home lol my truck feels it all the time but coming back to Nampa is a breeze
Great job at real world testing I. get 26-28 mpg on the highway when not towing and when towing a 8800 Ib boat it stays at 13.2 at 65. does use more def when towing . Never felt like it struggled or wasnt enough power . pulls so much better then my last truck with the 6.2
I have a 2022, High Country, 4x4, LM2 3.0 Duramax towing a Grand Design 2500RL (about 6,750lbs). I get about 12.5 at 65mph through the midlands to the coastal areas of North Carolina. Not towing I get from 24 to 27 mpg at 75 to 80mph.
That’s still good mpg, especially for a half ton
I pull a 23 foot Holiday Rambler trailer with a 2012 3500 Ram with a 6.7 Cummins and a 6 speed manual trans. I get 15+mpg.
Ive got a 2023 RST with 12,000 miles. Heaviest load was 8K hauling logs on a 24ft flatbed. Rolling hills for 180 miles at 65mph. I got 19mpg. My average mpg is 25mpg mostly in town (i keep the auto stop/start on) i had the 6.2 before. For hauling i would take the 3.0 anyday.
That’s awesome mileage towing!
@@MOHAWKAUTO Your material is great. Thanks for the videos!
Man Diesel is much cheaper down in twin falls, nice truck, good video! ZR2s really lose some mpg vs the standard truck
@@ZebulonJohn91 it’s true that they do lose the mileage, but that suspension is so much nicer.
@ that’s why I want to get one, but I don’t want to get rid of my LBZ
@ I’d love to have an LBZ and I don’t blame you for wanting to keep it.
I have a 24 Sierra with the LZ0 with a 6” lift on 35x12.5r22 mud terrains and on my recent trip towing a 7200-7500lbs trailer 180 miles trip I got 13.9 mpg. Compare that to my 20 Denali with similar lift and tires with the 6.2 I got 6.6-6.8 mpg on the same trip.
Pulled a similar trailer with my '18 w/5.3L and averaged 10.5 mpg over 1500 miles (including climb the grapevine in CA.)
Have any of you had issues with engine light coming on with the new 3.0? Code says it is the fuel management system that has to be repaired. I have a 2023 ZR1 LT Duramax Silverado and it has done it 5 times now, 3 last year and 2 this year. In the shop now, GM trying to figure it out again. Last year they down loaded a new program per GM and that fixed it for a while. Just curious if anyone else has that issue?
I haven’t and I have over 12k miles on it now
Okay thanks, I am at 17,450 miles now, must just be the lucky one. Great video! Sent it to my buddy who is thinking about getting one. Besides my issue, love my truck, I got the standard bed, since I haul dirt bikes in the back. Hauls my 4 seater Can am pretty easy. Had the 8 cylinder Duramax 2006 crew cab Silverado before this one. Loved that truck, but fuel economy sucked. Thanks for the reply!
Hola muy bueno el video,la Chevy duramax para mí es la mejor opción,los motores diesel son confiables y bajo mantenimiento saludos desde Córdoba Argentina 😊
Thinking of getting one of these. Think it can handle a two horse trailer easily? Total is about 5300lbs.
@@petered92 absolutely. My camping trailer weighs a lot more than that and tows it great with a weight distribution hitch.
My 2023 Z71 RST gets awesome gas mileage. Towing my cattle trailer with 3000 lbs of cattle, I have averaged 13 to 15 miles per gallon. Wind definitely plays a factor.
That’s great mileage for sure! Does your RST have the 3.0 also?
So my high country with a 6.2 got 9 mpg with a bigger trailer 6800 dry 34 feet long 850 toung on a 70 mile drive. Went from 3200feet to 3800 feet with 3 big hills.
I’m sure the high country version with the 3.0 diesel would get better economy than what I was getting.
Towing 6,800 TT gets about 14-16 in normal conditions. I go 65-70 mph though. The best one ever was with a 30 mph tail wind I cleared 20 mpg! But that's an outlier and shouldn't really count.
Overall great engine, you made a great choice or that weight range of TT. Anything over 10k wet, I'd go HD.
I’d agree with going HD. There are some half tons that can tow 13k, but I’d be more likely to upgrade to HD if I was towing 10k often.
I got the diesel because the 5.3 and 6.2 have had a lot of problems
Reliability is one of the reasons I got the diesel also
I found in that state the only time the wind doesn't blow you away is when it's super hot.
I have a 2022 RST 3L and I pull a 224BH Jayco (2021) 7500lbs total. When pulling the trailer on the highway around 65 mph I average 12-15mpg, in perfect conditions i went to about 16-18 mpg. Comparing to a V8 gas truck to this new little diesel I will take the diesel mileage all day long.
That’s great mileage by comparison and I’m excited to see what mileage I get with my new trailer
I have a 2020 RST double cab and pull a 27' Airstream Flying cloud probably around 6800lbs Went to Chattanooga,TN and back to Charlottesville, VA for a camping week, keeping it at 65mph we averaged 17.8 mpg. My old 2010 GMC w/5.3 averaged 8.0 mpg. Baby Max does a great job, as does the 10 speed transmission.
This shows why a leveling kit is counterproductive to towing
Great Presentation! I have noticed that in several RUclips videos, many have commented on the DEF and also, the unexpected high usage of diesel oil, and it appears that the diesel oil is headed towards the turbo. In the video, it mentions that PPE has developed a Prototype Catch Can for this oil problem and is being tested on vehicles. Please provide a comment in future 3.0 LZ0 Duramax ZR2 video, whether your Dealership and your mechanic can provide any feedback on if the current 3.0 LZ0 Duramax oil leakage problem is a problem and will be address by GM / Chevrolet. Best, Steve from Western Mass.
I have heard of some vehicles experiencing these issues. While I’m interested in the catch can PPE is developing, it’s purely to reduce oil and other crankcase vapors that don’t belong in the intake, out of it. This is something common on many engines. I haven’t had issues with what I consider to be unexpected DEF consumption, although I know that it uses a lot while towing and that’s what other RUclipsrs have been doing more of compared to me.
Great info, put that mic under your shirt, no need for the dead cat lol
@@GrinderTV thank you for the feedback. I believe I’ve tried it under the shirt and the mic picked up the rustling as it moved under my shirt. We’ll have to experiment again with placement, but the dead cat works for the moment
@@MOHAWKAUTO Its just a pet peeve of mine that I have to make a comment when I see it lol. You shouldn't pick up any rustling, I use the magnet and put them under the shirt on a daily basis with clients. Thanks again for the video.
My 2020 6.2 1500 Sierra is terrible pulling 9000lb 28ft travel trailer!! Avg about 5-6 mpgs going about 65-70 mph over 180 miles on flat freeway!
That’s crazy!
my 22 trailboss with the lm2 towing my viper (roughly 5k lbs total ) on an open trailer gets almost 20mpg if I keep it 60-65mph and than at 75 I get around 15.5-16 mpg
That’s really impressive!
Pulling the same jeep and trailer (8550 lbs), My 2020 3.0 gets 18% better fuel mileage than the 2012 6.6 Duramax and 2017 Nissan Titan Xd 5.0 Cummis I had. And when I am not towing the 3.0 gets 47% better fuel mileage than the other tow trucks did. I do run a weight distribution hitch to make the 3.0 truck ride level when towing the jeep and trailer.
That’s an awesome boost in fuel economy. I plan to use a distribution hitch for towing heavier loads.
How did the Titan XD handle the load while pulling? Not power wise, but stability?
@@exordis It handled every bit as good as the 2500 6.6 Duramax trucks.
@@lt99ls1 Good to hear. I love the idea of the 3.0, but also love the idea of the heavy half ton. Especially if the ride isn't too compromised (with the gas 5.6).
Squat in my opinion doesn’t mean very much. What’s going on is the leverage and force being applied behind the rear axle which is taking weight off the front axles making your set-up dangerous. Unfortunately airbag manufacturers market airbags like they actually do some something. A load distribution hitch will actually transfer the weight as it should be for much safer towing.
I agree with your thoughts and airbags wouldn’t be my first choice.
2024 GMC Denali Ultimate 3.0. 750 total miles so far in first week of ownership. 75% highway . Overall mpg 32.5 . Towed 4700 pound boat 190 miles and it averaged 13.0 mpg 1/2 highway 1/2 back hilly roads . Compared to my 2023 Ram eco diesel this motor is far more powerful and gets about 20 % better fuel economy . Hope that helps . As a side note I bought a truck with this motor because I love this duramax not for the fuel economy.
I have a 2022 Trail Boss (full size bed) with the 3.0L Duramax. I get about the same mileage towing a camper around the same weight as in the video. Traveling from Florida to Ohio (Cedar Point), the biggest issue I had was the amount of DEF the truck consumed. I went through it like crazy. I have a bit heavier camper now but won't travel that far with it because of the DEF issue. I have added air bags and leaf spring helpers and have a weight distribution hitch because the new camper's tongue weight is a few pounds over the "max". I have gotten close to 15mpg even with the heavier camper, but the roads in Florida are pretty flat and that is staying below 70mph. Without any towing, I average about 25mpg. Crazy for a full size truck. Yes, most of it's highway driving but if it's highway only, I will easily get over 30. My Colorado 2.8L Duramax was awesome on mileage too.
Just for comparison, I have a 2019 5.3 with the tow package. I pulled my jeep on a trailer (about 6000 LBS) too Utah and back, round trip was about 2200 miles. I averaged about ten miles per gallon, and It did tow with easy. I would rather have the 6.0 or the 3.0 diesel, but this is what I could afford at the time.
That’s good information! Thank you!
Coming from a 3/4 ton truck , i am getting use to the squat on the 1/2 ton ZR2 , i tow a 7x16 double axle enclosed trailer with the 6.2 , definitely likes the fuel when towing but not as much as the 2022 hemi dodge i drove for a couple months .
That’s good to know! I debated getting the Ram 1500 with the Hemi and e-torque.
Easy to fix with air bags
@@100pyatt
Save the $$$ and hassle and use a weight distribution device.
I have a 23 z71 with the baby-max and i use DEF almost every 1000 miles, but it’s hooked to my work box trailer 95% of its life. AVG mileage is 15 MPG with a heavy load.
I have a ‘21 LM2 RST and I tow a 38’/10k lb Travel Trailer. I get 13.5-14.5 MPGs Towing and I tow often because my wife and I are Full Time RVers.
I have the LM2, towing my 7k lb camper I average 12mpg. The winds play a HUGE factor in fuel economy; so much that sometimes I pull up behind tractor trailers to catch the draft, which always saves me about 3-6mpg. No joke