There have been a few threads begun lately talking about purchasing a GM diesel. Most all of us have ours, and there are strong points about them that we all like and enjoy. Some of these strong points are what may make it more desirable over what the other two of the Big Three auto makers offer.

I'm not talking about being "brand loyal" here either. Something like, "I've always bought GM, and everyone else is just trash" is not what I'm looking for here. I'm talking about objective, quanitative, or qualiative points that make these vehicles your choice over the other offerings in the market place.

This might be a "brighter" thread to infuse hope into some who look through these boards for wisdom when going for a purchase of a vehicle.

If we based our thoughts of humanity on what we see in hospitals, we would have a very bleak outlook on life. There is life outside the walls of the hospital. So, let's give some folks some "hope" about their future.

I have a 95 Yukon 6.5 TD. I chose it because I owned an 83 Jimmy diesel before and liked the interior space. The big downside for me was the fuel system problems, but they have subsided and I've learned to accept them (and I know the fixes for the electronic fuel pump). Fuel injection parts are low cost compared to the Ford Powerstroke or the newest Dodge units. Ford injectors are very expensive, Dodge had some problems failing lift pumps leading to fuel injection pump failure. I'm also a diesel mechanic turned mechanical engineer and used to teach diesel mechanics. Knowing how to work on them helps.

The electronic injector pumps on the GM engines probably will always be a weak spot. GM hasn't completely fixed them, but they work better than when they were new. My last pump is at 95,000 miles, so it has done well. A replacement is $850 or so.

I get very good tire life due to a well designed steering linkage/suspension - my last set of Michelins went 110k, and this set looks like it will repeat. I replaced all worn suspension parts at 143k and am at 210k now. Went with Bilstein shocks too - the only way to go. The engine is easy to work on (compared to the competition). Parts are relatively low cost. Ford and Dodge do not have the suspension dialed in like GM does from what I can see. On the down side, it is a little short in the power department if you want to really pull, but mine is a 1500 series and I don't need the power. If I had my choice of one of the others, I'd get a Dodge - simply because I could work on one more confidently than a Ford. A Cummins is a good engine - I drove a Dodge as well and they have great power. If you really need the power - the 6.5 is not as well suited as the Dodge or Ford, or the new Duramax. From what I understand, the Dodges seem to have the most potential for really cranking out some power. Just need to find a drivetrain to handle it.

In terms of long life, I think the Dodge (Cummins) will outlast the GM. Not sure where the Ford fits in. I know of several GM engines (6.2 and 6.5s that reached 500,000 miles without a teardown, but trying to boost the power will shorten lives too.

I decided the other day, after finding out a new set of Dmax injectors cost $3,000, that I would be keeping my truck a long time.

6.5L strong points:
It's a relatively simple engine anyone with basic mechanical know how can work on.
The parts are pricey but not as bad as the other diesels out there.
There's enough 6.2L/6.5L blocks around. GEP might still have them in production as I write this even tho the H1 will have a Dbux in '06.

I sold my Dmax (Dbux is appropriate) as I did not want to risk replacing even one injector after the 100K mile warranty expired. Yes, the 01's and 02's had an injector warranty for 200K miles, but mine was an 03! At $550 for just one injector (ouch! :eek: ), I can now buy a whole set of injectors for my 6.5, an install kit, and have money left over!

Besides, I did not use my Dmax to a level where I could justify the $700 per month that it was costing me for it to sit in my driveway. :rolleyes:

My 98 K2500 ext cab with the 6.5 gets just as good of mileage as the Dmax plus costs much less to maintain. I will keep this truck for a long, long time... :D

Regards,

OK, although this thread is mostly about the 6.5TD, I would like to share about why I own a specific variant of it.

I have both a '95 Tahoe and a '99 Burb. My path down the 6.5 trail began last year, when my wife asked whether we could buy a new car. When I asked why, she gave me a laundry list of requirements:

* Need to transport 8-9 people for carpooling
* Something frugal
* Something with 4WD (since it gets icy/snowy here in the winter and we live on the side of a mountain)
* Something safe

After looking at my options, I realized that at 8-9 passengers, I was down to a full-sized van, or a Suburban/Excursion(!) but that only the SUVs had the 4WD that was needed. Looking at the pricing of these vehicles new, I had very serious sticker shock. 50-60K for a new rig. Wow! That's a lot of money. I started looking at used vehicles. I then started zeroing in on diesels for two reasons: economy and durability. I knew that in purchasing a used vehicle, I would be buying 'what's left' of it, likely without a warrantee. A diesel, well cared-for, would theoretically have more longevity and would be a better used vehicle. Given that the MPG on diesels is 30%+ better than a gasser, with superior performance and power, my search for a diesel seemed logical.

I found that although Excursions were current production vehicles, the Suburban didn't have a diesel from 2000+, and that last production year was a '99.

I also discovered that the 6.5 diesel was extremely common as a diesel powerplant in pickups, vans, motor homes, buses, and military vehicles. I read up on the Hummers and HMMWV, and I reasoned that with over 185,000 HMMWVs produced, and with their astounding performance in the desert, that the 6.5 was likely a very durable powerplant.

I also discovered that late model '99 Suburbans used the 'AM General'-improved block, so I narrowed my search to a '99 Sub. I found the Excursions too rich for me, and seemed less refined. Certainly the non 4WS models have an gi-normous turning radius compared to the more-nimble Suburban. What sealed the deal is the sheer ease and relative thriftiness of parts for the 6.5. While the Suburban is extremely common, and the 6.5TD is extremely common, the combination is rare. This meant that, although rare, I could still easily find parts and people to work on this rig.

I purchased the '99 Sub in the summer of '04, and we drove it across the country on a family road-trip as its maiden voyage. It performed beautifully in everything from the deserts of Wyoming, Idaho Montana, seeing temps of 114 degrees F, and climbing the Bear Tooth Pass at an elevation of 11,000, all while packed chock-a-block full of family and travel gear.

I think that the superior attributes going for the 6.5TD are:

* Very common = easy to find parts and mechanics
* reliable when run conservatively = lots of people have 400K+ miles on their engines
* easy to modify if you want to tinker = there are a lot of tuner parts for this engine
* still in production by AM general = still new parts being made
* used by the military = the current military hummer uses versions of the 6.5 block = durable, reliable under extreme conditions.

The '95 Tahoe was a natural extension the happy experience with the '99 burb. I like the burb (a lot), so when I needed to purchase a truck, I figured that I would be dollars ahead if I got something that had the same drivetrain so that I could purchase common parts, and not have to learn another drivetrain, and find new suppliers for parts and services.

Sincerely,

Rob :)

strong points:


+ sufficient offroading capability
+ towing and loading capability
+ power
+ reliability
+ durability
+ serviceability
+ comfort
+ fuel economy
+ interior space
+ decent brakes
+ sounds beautifully
+ versatileness
+ handling
+ no problems with rust on the Tahoe
+ always fun and a pleasure to drive
+ MOTT fun doing some work on it


Since I've got my driving license, I've owned 11 cars now and been occassionally driving some others. Among about 20 different cars, I've found only three engines that I would call outstanding: The 2.8l I6 Diesel in the Nissan Laurel, the LT1 (or was it an LS1?) in a 1996 TransAm and the 6.5TD. There've been two other engines I'd mention as quite good ones: the 3l I6 in a 1987 Nissan 300ZX (single Turbo) and the Northstar in a 1996 Eldorado.

* Filling Up With The Big Rig Nozzle in less than 2 minutes - Free

* Close to 500 Miles per tank - Free

* Rolling Down The Passenger Window In a tunnel to hear that whistle - Free

* Givin' a friendly wave when you see that "holey" bumper comin' at you - Free (and down right neighborly)

* Watching the new kid at the service station come runnning out of the shack waving his arms to warn me that: "Its Diesel!" - Priceless ):h

Hey, part of the attraction for me is that its a different animal.

Its Diesel![/B]" - Priceless ):h
My favorite response? A dumb blank stare from me while I continue to pump and then "what's your point?" :lol:

6.5L strong points? The communities that develop in order to support them.:D
I do like the 6.5 for highway cruising duties. It seems to be a good match for my suburban. HD towing, pulling or racing I would have to go with something else with more potential. But for light duty stuff, I don't think you can really fault the engine. Do a couple of well thought out upgrades (i.e., have a plan, don't just bolt stuff on) and it really shines in this role.

I didn't know the late 99's had an enhanced block. No wonder mine still runs! (Build date 8-99.) You read so much bad stuff, but my personal experience has been great. I still need an intercooler to seal the full deal. At 185,000 miles, I still burn next to no oil and have no blowby from the Oil fill tube. PO replaced turbo and Injector pump at 100,000. I have replaced one PMD. I have original injectors,shocks and front end parts. I know I need shocks, but I am waiting until next year when the truck is paid off to rebuild the front end. My burb works hard to pull 9,000 pounds, but it always gets me there. I only tow 5-6 times per year. I don't want to spend $700 a month to do what I am doing now, just a little faster.

One strong point no one mentioned is that it's not in a Ford!:lol:

When the crankshaft breaks in half, you can usually still drive it for 10-15 miles. It hammers like hell, but it got us far enough up the road for AAA to tow it home almost 200 miles for free!

Doesn't the 6.5 have an 11year/120,000 mile warranty?

The IP has that warranty, not the entire engine. The engines have/had a 5yr 100,000 miles warranty from the factory.

I think the best thing going for the 6.5 is the geart bunch of guys on this forum .