My wife and I own a '03 2500HD D/A with 24,000 km. We bought the truck new, as a replacement for our '94 K1500. The difference in towing ability between the two trucks is amazing.
However, I have been hearing that dmax have injector problems. How common is this and what are the syptoms? Are after market replacements available that are not problematic?
My other question is regarding improving the truck's power. The newer version engines develop motre hp and torque. I understand that adding a re-programmer can help, but I also have read that owners have had nasty experiences in doing so.
Your thought as most appreciated.
Regards,
Mr. B

As far as programmers go, many, including myself, love the Predator Diablosport. It has been the least problomatic one out there. Few have had problems and moany havew had success. It is a sinch to use. Do a search as you shall see.

My wife and I own a '03 2500HD D/A with 24,000 km. We bought the truck new, as a replacement for our '94 K1500. The difference in towing ability between the two trucks is amazing.
However, I have been hearing that dmax have injector problems. How common is this and what are the syptoms? Are after market replacements available that are not problematic?
My other question is regarding improving the truck's power. The newer version engines develop motre hp and torque. I understand that adding a re-programmer can help, but I also have read that owners have had nasty experiences in doing so.
Your thought as most appreciated.
Regards,
Mr. B


Mr B

The injector issue is hit or miss unfortunately. It has to boil down to quality issues with the manufacture as the root cause. Only Good news or consolation is GM has extended the warranty on the injectors voluntarily.There is information in the TSB forum.


Whether you chose a Download style Program or a Plug and Play power enhancement device the extra torque you get will definitely be welcome.If your towing using a mild tune will keep you in the higher gear and make for better fuel economy on the long haul.There have been some quirks earlier on in the LB7 arena but most if not all have been ironed out.
Best of all you found this web site to help you if you desire to take the plunge.

The Allison has handled the approx 3% over of factory delivered HP at the rear wheels and Torque with out issues when used respectfully.Assuming your just looking for a little extra while towing as you weren't spacific to what you had in mind.A simple 30 HP tune will help in this area.Anything more would require gauges for EGT monitoring,in most peoples opinion as mine.

There is a enormous amount of reading here on this subject but feel free to ask away.

Good luck and welcome to the DieselPlace.

Thanks for the insight.
We tow a 12000 lb gvwr 5er and live on the west coast. I'd like to add to the duramax's towing capabilities, but at a reasonable (being retired) cost. We'll cross our fingers re: the injector issue and hope that our truck doesn't act up.
I was hoping that adding a K & N filtercharger and low restriction muffler would help, but appears as if a power enhancement device is the way to go.

As far as the K&N setup, read the following extremely long thread and decide from there. (Hint: A lot of us put our stock paper filters back in.)

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10372&highlight=air+filter+study

As far as exhaust goes: yes, definately. The bigger and less restrictive, the better.

Best of luck and welcome to the best Duramax Diesel site on the 'net!



Gary

Thanks for the insight.
We tow a 12000 lb gvwr 5er and live on the west coast. I'd like to add to the duramax's towing capabilities, but at a reasonable (being retired) cost. We'll cross our fingers re: the injector issue and hope that our truck doesn't act up.
I was hoping that adding a K & N filtercharger and low restriction muffler would help, but appears as if a power enhancement device is the way to go.
Mackin covered it very well, as for syptoms, just last week i had all eight injectors replaced for the first time, i had just shy of a 100k and i could start to hear a louder than normal knock, and a blueish smoke, with a rought idle, which was not normal, i had them do a balence test, and found one injector at a -9 and another at +6, but talked them into changing all eight, my dealer carries 40 injectors on hand, and took one full day for the install

a buddy had his go as well and he said the truck misfired and smooked so bad, he thought he would not make it home, mine was not that bad, and i could of easy made it back from a holiday for the repair

i feel if your just looking for the extra pulling power, with out spending to much coin, i would just go with a power box on a lower tune, most boxes offer this at a low cost, and you should not need to upgrade the intake and exhaust, but if you are looking to have a bit more power and some guages to monitor it, the edge juice attitude is a great combo, with built in tranny protection, and definatly something you can impress your camping buddies with(800$), if your looking for even less a cost, the power pup(400$) from bully dog, is a great power box, and gives a few extras on the side, a few buddies run it as well, so i guess it comes down to what you prefer, because many will do what you are looking to find

i will send you a pm as well:ro)

Leave it stock. Most problems I read here have been on vehicles modified with one type of after-market device or another.

Mackin covered it very well; one thing you may want to look at is the Edge Juice; plug and play. Another good thing about the Edge is that there are alot of guys on this forum who have them and are either moving to a LLY or want even more power and are selling the Edge boxes. I got mine used from another member here who was "upgrading" and saved a bunch of money. :cool: Check the for sale section.

Leave it stock. Most problems I read here have been on vehicles modified with one type of after-market device or another.
i think you should back that statment with facts: you with gm or something, i just know of two many stock trucks that have injector problems as well, other than that what goes wrong, do intrigue our minds:cool:

From my research, injector failure rate has nothing to do with different programming.

From my research, injector failure rate has nothing to do with different programming.
:exactly:
Thank you

Thanks to those who have replied tomy questions.
So, here's where I'm at with the "more grunt from our truck" issue.
Leave the stock air filter element in place. Seems to me that there isn't a great deal to be gained from substituting an after market piece.
Change the exhaust pipe, muffler and tail pipe with a larger dia. ( 4"?).
Look into a "power assist" programmer of some sort.

Have I got the order of things right, or would you tackle it differently? Any suggestions as to what brands you would install, if this were your truck?
Keep in mind that this is truck is tow vehicle and not a drag racer. ( I have a Nova for that sort of thing).
Many thanks,
Mr. B

If your going to install a program that dosnt act like gauges(like the edge juice/attitude) then I would also install a EGT gauge. IMO boost gauges are nice but not really needed. EGT is something you need to be able to observe if your going to be adding a program. Other than that your on the right track. Exhaust depends.....if you can and want to ditch the cat or not(or if you have)? How cheap you want to do it and most imortantly what you want it to sound like and the loudness of it.

There are lots of solutions out there, but since you have an LB7 engine, it's hard to beat either a plain old Juice with your own self-installed gauges, or a Juice/Attitude combo. Used in the lowest level (40 hp) and driven reasonably your tranny should be fine and you will be amazed at the improvement. Also, you will get more benefit (lower EGTs, not necessarily hp) from either a 4" flow through muffler or complete exhaust system, than from a new air intake. SPICER's very welcome, and long, thread on air filters focused primarily on filtration efficiency and less on airflow, but the numbers strongly suggest that the best way to keep grit out of the engine is to use the stock filter element. If you want to go for more flow, an intake with a plastic or composite intake tube would be preferable to aluminum for keeping the intake charge cooler and the afe ProGuard 7 seems to be a superior filter, though I have heard a number of reports of good oil analysis numbers with an Airaid intake and filter, too. Good Luck.

TC

Leave it stock. Most problems I read here have been on vehicles modified with one type of after-market device or another.
My injector failed at 5000 miles before any mods.