As you know I traded up my 03 Duramax on an 04 LLY. Here are some first impressions.

I only have about 350 miles on it so they are subject to change. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clown.gif


Fuel mileage is way down especially towing. I never checked it yet but going by fuel guage it is about 1/3 worse. But it only has 350 miles on it so it could get better.


The turbo seems to build boost more smoothly if that makes sense. Throttle response seems to be better but it also seems to take longer for the turbo to spool up.


I don't have any complaints with power so far but I haven't really pushed it yet. I towed about 10,000lbs 150 miles with no problem.


The fan seems to run a lot more. I am going to remove my cloud rider screen front and put a window screen and see if that helps it. I think it should solve the problem.


It sounds different then my LB7. Not bad, just will take some time to get used to. Different at idle on the highway and under accelleration. It is quite a bit quieter all around. Especially at idle.


The exhaust is a lot quieter at idle standing by the tail pipe. I assume this is because of the CAT.


I have the infamous duramax tick again. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gif It went away after 5000 miles on my old truck and never came back.


The paint job is flawless. Very well done. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif I hope it doesn't chip as easy as my White one.


The door panels look a bit different. I have to get used to them but I think it looks cheaper.


The heated seat buttons are recessed http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif No more bumping them when going for the window switch. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif


Oil pressure seems lower then my LB7.


Juiced it smokes more then the LB7. Quite a bit more. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Evil Smile.gif


By LB7 seemed to crank too long, worse with the juice. The LLY fires up right away.





On my LB7 I never really noticed the pilot injection shutting off at 2500rpm. With this one I noticed right away. I think that is because the new one is quieter while the pilot injection is on and probably is as loud as my other one with it off.


The glow plugs never seem to come on. I turn th

Have you noticed the EGR kicking in and out? I did.

Oil preasure fluctuates in what seems to be a random patteren at first.

5000 seems to be a magic number. From there MPG went up, oil pressure settled down and I don't hear the EGR kicking in and out. Power is smoother too. Learned to roll the pedel instead of stomping on it. Still can't keep my foot out of it though.

Give it a chance to break in and I am sure you will have many good miles.

I have 3000 on my LLY now. combined milage is right at 19 with no load. Pulling a 18 foot fishing boat or my 4 place enclosed snowmobile trailer I'm getting 15. I'mm happy with it so far, its better than my 03 gasser I had. Exhaust, intake and juice coming soon.

7,000 miles on mine. No improvement in gas mileage since day one. Both loaded (11k lb fiver) and empty are still the same as they originally were. Approximately 10 mpg and 17 mpg for averages.

The turbo smoothness makes sense and Quiet man are they quiet.


Standing next to my buddies LLY and listening to it taking off it's hard to tell it's a DIESEL !





Mac

One more thing is how quick it starts. By LB7 seemed to crank too long, worse with the juice. The LLY fires up right away. Big improvement.

I can't stop rodding the damn thing. Only warm of course, but my foot's in it all the time. Makes a good break in lots of varied throttle position, and pushing it hard...EVERY CHANCE I GET!!! It seems to run better every day. It ROCKS out on the interstate @ higher speeds when I make the call for boost. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif I'm getting 13 MPG ave. combined, pretty consistantly @ 800 Mi. As the novelty wears off, and the miles go up, I'll be happy to get 15-16 Ave. Gonna change the oil and the Ally spin on @ 1000 mi. I'll change the rear axle after I tow my 13000 lb. boat/trailer a couple times, and yes the axle is full...I saw to that myself. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Wink.gif

More things I noticed.

On my LB7 I never really noticed the pilot injection shutting off at 2500rpm. With this one I noticed right away. I think that is because the new one is quieter while the pilot injection is on and probably is as loud as my other one with it off.


The glow plugs never seem to come on. I turn the key and the light flashs on for a millisecond and shuts off right away. This makes for a very quick start when combined with it firing up quicker. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

I noticed the glow plugs thing too. Shortly after I got mine, a guy from work gave me a ride in his older Dodge so he could check out my new ride. We had to wait probably 15 seconds before he could crank his, and I couldn't believe it. It was in January and it was in the 20s, but I had to wait just under a second. It was great. He couldn't believe it.


Dennis

max - nice to see you post some info on a good topic as you just made the change and im sure will be able to share alot with us. I noticed a lot of the same things you did as well, my buddy has an LB7 and I have the LLY..


My mileage is 4000 right now, probably 1500-1750 of that is towing a toy hauler, my mileage has been pretty much the same since day one as well - i get about 9-11 towing, depending on where, and about 16 around town, freeway i do get better, about 18-19.


The turbo is a big difference IMO, more sound but different all around then the LB7


The power is great, seems to have a lot of torque which I like, and I also run the TTS tow tune stacked with the edge attitude on level 5 - and that setup feels pretty dam good, lots of power and awesome torque, it hammers really nice and i havent had any problems after the first few days of the power changes.


LOL at the duramax tick, i had it initially and they changed out the pulleys and belt and it seems fine but i do get it from time to time still


THE FAN - im assuming youre referring to the fan clutch as that thing is annoying at times when towing and much different than the LB7


Oil pressure - again, you hit that right on the nose, not sure why this is different though ??


Glow Plug - barely noticeable, very nice


- on edit, i know theres some other things ive wanted to post and will start putting up some more info as this thread is now going, thanks againEdited by: tbone1227

tbone, I am going to have to convince you to hit a dyno. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif I really want to know what kind of power you are making stacking that combo.

you wont have to twist too much, i missed out on meeting up with Nick on friday when he dynoed the banks race box, we talked after the fact and could have done it then - i will certainly make a point to get that done as i was wondering as well. My first impression is that the edge/attitude stack with the TTS tow tune doesnt make as much HP as i thought it might (seat of the pants). I know the TTS Tow Tune made 60hp on the dyno, not sure what the edge is good for, i thought it +120hp on level 5 ?? but not sure, if thats the case, i dont believe it will make that # stacked with the TTS on the dyno but I could be wrong. It makes awesome power and is very smooth now with a lot of torque - Stay tuned !!

Your impressions are right on. I am new to this site and I just got my first DMAX after years of GM gas pickups. I have 1500 miles and have noticed the DMAX idle tick. What has been the source / solutions to what sounds like a common triat? What are the dealers / Gm saying it is ?


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

At 4000 some odd miles, my water barrier behind the door panels are falling down and are visible at the bottom of the door for about 2 inches.


Tick? I guess since I have zero point of reference with previous Duramaxs, I dont hear a darn thing. Coming from a 6.0L PSD, this thing sounds like a well tuned gas engine. Heck I had a full year of nothing but ticking that could wake the neighbors. I cant say I hear a darn thing with my LLY.


I did notice that under full throttle, there is a huge plum of black smoke. I hope this is normal for the LLY.


A/C seems to be terrible but I havent had time to bring it to the dealer.

At 4000 some odd miles, my water barrier behind the door panels are falling down and are visible at the bottom of the door for about 2 inches.





That is not the water barrier. My 2003 and 2004 both have that plastic hanging down. I don't know what it is for.


The water barrier can not fall down. It is glued and the door panel hooks also go through it. There is no way that sucker is falling down. I just had my door panel off 20 minutes ago so it is fresh in my memory.

I figured it was as it looks like what my Ford had. Its moveable and slowly falling what ever it is.

you wont have to twist too much, i missed out on meeting up with Nick on friday when he dynoed the banks race box, we talked after the fact and could have done it then - i will certainly make a point to get that done as i was wondering as well. My first impression is that the edge/attitude stack with the TTS tow tune doesnt make as much HP as i thought it might (seat of the pants). I know the TTS Tow Tune made 60hp on the dyno, not sure what the edge is good for, i thought it +120hp on level 5 ?? but not sure, if thats the case, i dont believe it will make that # stacked with the TTS on the dyno but I could be wrong. It makes awesome power and is very smooth now with a lot of torque - Stay tuned !!





I have the tech2 and the dyno is calling... whenever you are ready.. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Evil Smile.gif

LOL - i figured you'd be down for some testing. Well have to figure out a good day / time and git er done as they say.

Max Power wrote: "The door panels look a bit different. I have to get used to them but I think it looks cheaper."

The 2003 had a cloth insert above the arm rest. The 2004 covers this space with the same vinyl material used for the rest of the interior. I agree, it gives the interior a cheaper, more plastic look.

I figure this saves GM 5 cents per door along with an additional 5 cents for the removal of the window tint on the windshield http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

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As far as fuel milage, I have caravaned twice on a 200 mile trip with an almost identical 2003 LB7 (compared to my 2004.5 LLY), and the 2003 got 4.9 more mpg on both trips. The 2004.5 is stock with under 5000 miles. The 2003 has a K&N air intake, a PPE Tech IV set at level one, no cat, and about 20,000 miles. Tires are the same model and pressure. The odometers were within 1/10 of a mile after 200 miles. The milage was hand calculated and the trucks were fueled to the top. Most of the trip was on cruise control so there was no big difference in driving habits. The 2003 was about 300 lb heavier and both trucks were empty, not towing.

Figuring/assuming 1/2 mpg for the cat, 1 mpg for break-in, 1 mpg for the K&N air intake and the Tech IV, that accounts for 2 1/2 mpg. That still puts the milage of the 2003 almost 2 1/2 mpg better than the 2004.5.

Max, let us know if you figure the reasons for the difference in milage between your 2003 and 2004. I am wondering if there is a variation in rolling resistance between individual trucks. My 1997 gas truck picked up speed on the downhills much faster than my 2004.5 Duramax.

My new truck definately gets a lot worse fuel mileage. I am actually not very happy about this at all. I am still under 1000 miles though. I am only getting about 11mpg towing about 8000 lbs. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif

Well, after just turning 10,000 this weekend, my 04.5 LLY (bought this past March) is not missing a beat. Being my first fuel oil burner, I having nothing to compare it to. But the "tick" is still there. Nictane kit is the only thing I added so far. Ave, mpg is 16.5 overall. Have seen 20 and as low as 14. Most towed so far is a measly 4,000lbs, a joke with this rig, but with my old gasser it was not fun. Changed oil/filter at 500 miles then 4,000 miles, then at 8,000 changed oil, both diffs and the ally spin on, rotated tires once and pumped some grease in the 11 zerks once. New juice should be here soon. Need to change transfer case to syn. and ally fluid to syn. next oil change around 12k will be syn--then it will be full syn for the rest of its life (hopfully a long one!)