Guys,

I have read as much as I can on the site with the limited time I have. The reason I am posting now is I called my dealer tonight and am having him look for a used/new 06. I had planned on spending weeks researching the site and finding the answers myself but this deal may come together faster than I had first planned.

So that is why the simple qestions. I would appreciate your patience as I am not up to speed on the newer Dmax.

I am trading in my 03 Dmax with 44K, bone stock but very powerful and gets a steady 20mpg with a mixture of 60 to 75 mph driving in Wi. over a 400 mile trip. The rig has most of its miles driving back and forth to Montana. With the cruise set at 78 mph on the big road, with all my gear and one or two passengers I am getting 15-17 mpg depending on the wind.

My questions:

1. Is there two engine designations in the time frame of approx. 06? (LLY being one and LBZ being the other?)

2. Is one better than the other?

3. Is the injector problem solved in the LLY and LBZ?

4. Those of you that have had an earlier Dmax, what is your opinion on fuel mileage compared to the later (06 LLY/LBZ) Dmax?

Any information or opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Jim

Guys,

I have read as much as I can on the site with the limited time I have. The reason I am posting now is I called my dealer tonight and am having him look for a used/new 06. I had planned on spending weeks researching the site and finding the answers myself but this deal may come together faster than I had first planned.

So that is why the simple qestions. I would appreciate your patience as I am not up to speed on the newer Dmax.

I am trading in my 03 Dmax with 44K, bone stock but very powerful and gets a steady 20mpg with a mixture of 60 to 75 mph driving in Wi. over a 400 mile trip. The rig has most of its miles driving back and forth to Montana. With the cruise set at 78 mph on the big road, with all my gear and one or two passengers I am getting 15-17 mpg depending on the wind.

My questions:

1. Is there two engine designations in the time frame of approx. 06? (LLY being one and LBZ being the other?)

2. Is one better than the other?

3. Is the injector problem solved in the LLY and LBZ?

4. Those of you that have had an earlier Dmax, what is your opinion on fuel mileage compared to the later (06 LLY/LBZ) Dmax?

Any information or opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Jim

1. Yes. 2=LLY (310HP 605tq) D=LBZ (360HP 650tq)

2. 50 more hp is obviously better, but I cannot tell the difference between the two with the seat of the pants test. They're both excellent, and the only differences are in the programming- no mechanical differences.

3. Haven't heard of anyone with injector issues and several people with '06s have over 100k already.

4. This is my first (and not my last) Dmax. Fuel mileage is consistently 16.5-18 mpg. All highway unloaded it gets 21.8.

Good luck with your search.

Saratoga,

Thanks for the excellent information.

It sounds like you are getting great fuel mileage.

My question on the injectors and dependability has to do with my wife. She is a para confined to a wheel chair and we use my Dmax for trips. If this thing lets us down on the highway, it could create a serious problem.

Thanks again, and anyone else who wants to contribute please feel free.

Jim

Jim - I put many of my D/A miles on in Mexico, Guatemala, & Belize, often more than several hundred miles from a dealer or a tow. Much of my mileage is spent on one lane back roads or trails I make through the jungle using stream beds with or without water. I cannot have breakdowns. I've had 3 D/A's down there totaling about 175,000 miles without any problems from the D/A to stop me. In my 02, I lost two injectors coming out of Mexico City on the way home loaded with carved stone, weighing about 14,000 lbs. I drove 3500 miles home at between 60 and 70 mph, while diesel was pumped into my crankcase and blown all over the rear of my truck. Changed oil evedry few hundred miles, but said the hell with it and drove it home the last 1200 miles or so using diesel for oil. It got me home with no problem, and after the injectors were replaced, showed no compression loss. It is still running strong 75,000 miles later. My 05 and 06 have been perfect with no problems. Anyone that knows me or has gone with me will tell you I push my trucks to the extreme (they are extremely well maintained and equipped) and I don't break down. Anything is possible, but in normal stock (powerwise) form, the D/A is as good as it gets.
I like the LBZ better than the LLY - more usuable power, mileage for me may be slightly better. I just drove 2,000 miles this week, mostly at 75 to 85 mph, and averaged 16.5 hand calculated, with the truck weighing in at over 10,000 lbs (1,000 of that was bucking a headwind).
Any vehicle can let you down anytime, but if your on a US highway with a cell, help is only a matter of minutes away. In the jungle, there is no such thing as "help".
Get a good LBZ and don't get power crazy. You'll be fine.

Go with the 2007 Classic LBZ as it will have the 100,000 mile warranty.

I have had an 03 and now a 06 lbz my city milage was slightly better on my 03 but my highway milage is as good if not a tad better on my 06. I have gotten as high as 19.2 on my 06 75-80 mph.

Jim - I put many of my D/A miles on in Mexico, Guatemala, & Belize, often more than several hundred miles from a dealer or a tow. Much of my mileage is spent on one lane back roads or trails I make through the jungle using stream beds with or without water. I cannot have breakdowns. I've had 3 D/A's down there totaling about 175,000 miles without any problems from the D/A to stop me. In my 02, I lost two injectors coming out of Mexico City on the way home loaded with carved stone, weighing about 14,000 lbs. I drove 3500 miles home at between 60 and 70 mph, while diesel was pumped into my crankcase and blown all over the rear of my truck. Changed oil evedry few hundred miles, but said the hell with it and drove it home the last 1200 miles or so using diesel for oil. It got me home with no problem, and after the injectors were replaced, showed no compression loss. It is still running strong 75,000 miles later. My 05 and 06 have been perfect with no problems. Anyone that knows me or has gone with me will tell you I push my trucks to the extreme (they are extremely well maintained and equipped) and I don't break down. Anything is possible, but in normal stock (powerwise) form, the D/A is as good as it gets.
I like the LBZ better than the LLY - more usuable power, mileage for me may be slightly better. I just drove 2,000 miles this week, mostly at 75 to 85 mph, and averaged 16.5 hand calculated, with the truck weighing in at over 10,000 lbs (1,000 of that was bucking a headwind).
Any vehicle can let you down anytime, but if your on a US highway with a cell, help is only a matter of minutes away. In the jungle, there is no such thing as "help".
Get a good LBZ and don't get power crazy. You'll be fine.


Gardnerteam,

WOW, I think you have taken the term "ROAD TRIP" to the limit. You did very well to get that thing home IMO. I am impressed and thank you for taking the time to relate that story. You are making me feel much better about my choice. Thanks.

Jim

Go with the 2007 Classic LBZ as it will have the 100,000 mile warranty.

MGlickLBZ,

Well, this is going to show my ignorance, because I thought all of them had a 100K warranty. Guess I will have to do some more research.

If I can swing it I certainly will. Thanks.

Jim

I have had an 03 and now a 06 lbz my city milage was slightly better on my 03 but my highway milage is as good if not a tad better on my 06. I have gotten as high as 19.2 on my 06 75-80 mph.

LWATSON,

That is good news as the closest city is about 200 miles away.

My '03 is usually sitting in the garage until a trip comes up. Most of its miles are back and forth to Mt. at 75 to 85 mph. That truck just loves to get out on the big road. With the cruize set at 83 and some good tunes, the miles go by pretty fast. The mileage suffers a little at that speed but it is so much fun to drive that I never have to ask any of the guys to take over the duty. I come out of the KFC with a box of chicken strips and someone else is in the drivers seat ready to go.

Thanks.

Jim

All the Dmax engines do have 100k warranty, (or 200k for injectors). But the 07's have bumper to bumper 100k, not 36k.

All the Dmax engines do have 100k warranty, (or 200k for injectors). But the 07's have bumper to bumper 100k, not 36k.

Txguppy,

COOL..........that explains everything. Thanks.

Jim

All the Dmax engines do have 100k warranty, (or 200k for injectors). But the 07's have bumper to bumper 100k, not 36k.

I have looked at the 2007 100,000 mile warranty, it does not appear to be bumper to bumper but drive train only. The only impact to Duramax is elimination of $100 deductable.
http://www.gmgoodwrench.com/Services/Warranty.jsp

Go to the next page of this link and one of the options is impact to Duramax warranty.

I have looked at the 2007 100,000 mile warranty, it does not appear to be bumper to bumper but drive train only. The only impact to Duramax is elimination of $100 deductable.


The 2007 is 5 yr/100,000 on the drive train--- Engine, Transmission and Rear-end No deductible. The bumper to bumper is 36 month/36,000 miles. If you get a 2006, then you get 36/36,000 bumper to bumper and 5 yr/100,000 on the Engine ONLY, with a $100 deductible.

All the Dmax engines do have 100k warranty, (or 200k for injectors). But the 07's have bumper to bumper 100k, not 36k.
:sorrysign But you are wrong. Read my above post and that is what the warranty is. I just bought the 2007 2 weeks ago and ask the specific question about the warranty on the 2006 and 2007 and the extra warranty on the 2007 is what sold me over the 2006. It is still 36/36,000 on the bumper to bumper for 2007, but the extra warranty covers the Engine, Transmission and Rear-end with no deductible.