Are all zf-6 duramax's more difficult to get going from a stop than fords and dodges? It seems like it is very easy to "kill" my truck, whereas every cummins or stroker I have driven you couldn't hardly "kill" if you tried to. It takes a lot of getting used to for people who have never driven mine and you have to learn to pedal the clutch just right to keep from stalling out. Just wondering if this is how it is for all of them and why?

I too find it easy to kill them but not sure why. Never has that issue when it was stock or with a Furd or Dodge :rolleyes:.

I know what ya mean man, my buddies cummins drives completely different than my truck. Hell ive been driving a 6 speed trans am around lately and went to drive my truck and couldn't shift the damn thing! The ZF-6 Duramax is way different with shifting and taking off than anything ive driven before. I do love it though.

A guy at work just got a 2002 Ford with the ZF6. He said he has a solid clutch not the dual mass one... perhaps that is the difference? I'm no expert at clutches by any means...
Other than that the trans is the same except for the gear ratios of reverse. GM had a lower reverse than Ford (reverse matches 1st gear).

My latest DMax has the SMF and SBC and has no problem launching from a stop.

Are you guys talking about starting with the Low 1st or with 2nd? Level ground or hills?

I've driven mine from mountains to New York City and had lots of fun working the ZF-6 and DMax.

I only had a problem when I was using granny gear 1st, no problems when I start out in 2nd. I've only used granny gear a couple times when pulling a heavy load.

I think ive only killed mine out 3 or 4 times. Mine has a SBC in it. I know everyone I let drive it usually has problems but I guess I just got used to mine quickly. We used granny gear when we were in Yellowstone sitting in traffic. It worked out pretty well going about 3 mile an hour.

no problems here and I start off in third most of the time, unless I am in a hurry

i dont think its the clutch or the trans its due to the fuelpedal u have to get used to it its fun lol

i dont think its the clutch or the trans its due to the fuelpedal u have to get used to it its fun lol

Good point, its the damned electronic throttle vs. the old cable throttle.

No, I don't stall it, especially next to a Ford or Dodge. It did take some getting used to, because the drive shaft seems to clunk around if it's not loaded, like when I'm coming to a stop and there are ruts in the road, I slip the clutch to keep force on the driveline to the last possible moment. If the road is smooth, it's no sweat. Also, my wife can drive it without much problem.

I think that J Gardner is right. I too have had problems taking off from a stop without stalling my vehicle (an '04 duramax) and I've been driving gas powered manual transmissions for 50 years. Frankly, I don't like the electronic 'drive by wire' accelerator, mine has both 'slack' in the application of it and a definite 'lag' after you get the slack taken out of it. Combine the foregoing with the fact that diesels are slower to 'spool up' than gas and it makes for some interesting starting and shifting. My son has an '04 6 liter gasser with a manual transmission and his electronic accelerator also has 'lag'. Both of us have had to change our driving habits a bit and now compensate for this 'lag'. I'm convinced that with a bit more R&D GM could have done much better for we 'hand shakers'.

I had hell getting used to mine at first. Definate pedal lag. I noticed that if I gave it time to react to my throttle pedal I'd sometimes get too many rpms. Now I normally take off in 2nd and don't have to give it any throttle when letting out the clutch, unless I'm on a slight incline. The ZF-6s are different driving then most vehicles with clutches, but you get used to it.

I drive around my father's little 5 speed jeep then jump back in my truck. The jeep clutch feels horribly soft and slippery compared to the truck.

I'd be careful about killing it too many times too. It leads to premature wear on the dual mass flywheel. It took me quite a while to get used to mine. I actually took it to the dealer to get something checked out under warranty and when I picked it up it sounded like a bag of aluminum cans rattling when the truck shut off. I refused to drive it home that way and they kept it to look at it the next day. Come to find out the dual mass was being held on by one rivet and was about to fly apart. I don't think the guys pulling around the truck and test driving knew how to drive it very well and finished off what life it had left. Fully covered under warranty though.

I've had a 12v Cummins, 7.3, and an 03 Duramax, all stick and the Duramax was as a bear right off the clutch pedal and no easier to stall than any of the others. Not sure why any Zf6 Duramax would be any easier to stall than mine was.

I am really glad to read all this, I just bought my Dmax with the manual trans and was really thinking i forgot how to drive lol. I traded a 02 powerstroke with a 6 sp manual in on it and i could drive it fine. The chevy is definatly different and taking some gettin used to.

I never had to use the accelerator to get mine to go. 2nd gear, let the clutch out and she was rolling. It did want to die easier than other manuals I have driven but once I got used to it, loved it!