LB7...Can it be reliable like a diesel should be?

kallen · Oct 16, 2009

I've done a bit of searching and I haven't found that there is a solution to the on going fuel system problems of the LB7 engine besides the dealer replacing them till out of warranty. I have friends with diesel pickups and I would like to get one in the near future. I like the chevy, I like the LB7 fuel economy, but I can't see the logic of buying a vehicle unless it is going to be trouble free. I would expect 200,000 miles out of a diesel motor with no major issues. Changing the fuel injectors like its a maintenance item like an air cleaner is ridiculous! My thoughts are that if a product is defective is to replace it with something bullet proof. Is there such a thing for the LB7 injector problems?

Example: I found a 2001 CC SB 4x4 with 45,000 miles for $15,000. No injector replacement ever, not under warranty anymore. It's going to cost some serious cash down the road to replace them. I wouldn't buy the vehicle unless I knew that the injector problem could be corrected.

nmband13 · Oct 16, 2009

If you don't want to mess with the injectors buy something other than a LB7, the others can have the same mpg as the LB7 but you have to take the emission stuff off of it. Its pretty much a choice of picking your poison, an 01 lb7 most likely doesnt have a Cat on it. Mine never did.

Apexxn · Oct 16, 2009

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a LB7. I've driven the hell out of mine on road and off and with over 100k on the clock I've only had one problem that cost me $400 to have fixed. Seems reasonable to me.

sikk50 · Oct 16, 2009

130K replaced injecors by dealer the day before I signed paper work at 102K and haven't had an issue

neilltz · Oct 16, 2009

What do you mean "reliable like a diesel should be?" The logic of buying a vehicle unless its going to be trouble free? Then buying any vehicle is illogical. These engines are VERY complex machines at the expense of putting out incredible amouts of power in a personal vehicle.

The injectors are an issue for many LB7's, and perhaps all at some point. Just as they are in the Dodge common rail 5.9s. They are not old school nozzles and they fire mutiple times per power stroke. Thus they have to contend with more wear of intricate components....all in the name of cleaner emissions.

kallen · Oct 16, 2009

neilltz said:
What do you mean "reliable like a diesel should be?" The logic of buying a vehicle unless its going to be trouble free? Then buying any vehicle is illogical. These engines are VERY complex machines at the expense of putting out incredible amouts of power in a personal vehicle.

The injectors are an issue for many LB7's, and perhaps all at some point. Just as they are in the Dodge common rail 5.9s. They are not old school nozzles and they fire mutiple times per power stroke. Thus they have to contend with more wear of intricate components....all in the name of cleaner emissions.

I agree with your comments. You are correct with the complexity and the huge amounts of power.

My beef is that I always thought that diesel engines were used in commercial applications because of the economy vs power, and the longvity. We pay more money for a diesel engine for these qualities, some people buy them for other reasons, like hotrodding. That's fine, the folks that like tinkering with their motors, buying upgrades, and the replacement of parts aren't affected as much as the people looking for a vehicle that is going to pull a 5th wheel trailer from the west coast to the east coast without worrying about braking down with an injector problem. Big rigs roll all over the country with the best proven power supply, a diesel motor.

Maybe the small trucks are getting too complex with the emissions vs power and the diesels are going to be falling in reliability leading into the future? That's why I started thinking about the early duramax without emissions. It just stinks if the injector problem can't be corrected.

bhiland23 · Oct 16, 2009

Not all LB7 have injector problems. I would get another LB7 if it was resonable.

kbbingham · Oct 16, 2009

I would jump all over that one. I have 206k on my truck with only one injector replacement. The LB7s get better mpg than the newer ones. Read in some of the newer year forums. They complain about mgp all the time. I've had an LLY as well and it doesn't even compair to my LB7. I had to dump another $7-8k into it to get it to run like my LB7. These trucks are very dependable for even more than 300k. I'm taking mine to South Dakoka this weekend with no questons in my mind that it will get me there and back.

pacougar · Oct 16, 2009

One of the guys I work with as a 05 Cummins, and he's replaced an injector, had his turbo rebuilt, he just fixed a rear main seal leak, and his transfer case is leaking. He's owned lots of Dodges and he says those are normal problems for the Cummins. My point is don't buy anything with the expectation of it being "trouble free". Have no doubt as the newer Dmax trucks age we're sure to here about there minor down falls.

kallen · Oct 17, 2009

pacougar said:
One of the guys I work with as a 05 Cummins, and he's replaced an injector, had his turbo rebuilt, he just fixed a rear main seal leak, and his transfer case is leaking. He's owned lots of Dodges and he says those are normal problems for the Cummins. My point is don't buy anything with the expectation of it being "trouble free". Have no doubt as the newer Dmax trucks age we're sure to here about there minor down falls.

The guy at your work doesn't have a stock truck or has had bad luck. My friends and family have had 2004-2006 dodges with no engine problems. They are daily drivers, no modifications, and they have proven to be reliable. If you don't expect reliability, I guess that is fine for some, but not me. I wouldn't discount the LB7 injector problems as a normal or minor problem. That's why I was inquiring if there was a fix or why there is the problem? It isn't really the injectors right? It something causing the injectors to fail? I can't believe that GM didn't correct the problem. I guess they couldn't or it wasn't cost beneficial to do a recall.

JustinD · Oct 16, 2009

I love my LB7, I don't believe any of the later Generation Duramaxes can get the mileage the LB7's do, I had my injectors replaced at 80k I have 130k on it now. I love my truck and wouldn't buy anything else. LLY's LBZ's and LMM's are great but I gotta say, they all have their own set of issues and you are going to spend alot more on the later model trucks only to get worse fuel mileage.

dharris9339 · Oct 17, 2009

Like any vehicle, some have good luck and others bad. I've had bad luck with my '01 Duramax. My '96 Ford/460 gasser rewarded me with 280,000 miles, needing only 1 water pump, tune ups, brake booster and a AC compressor. My 2000 Dodge V-10 rewarded me with 350,000 miles, needing 1 water pump, 2 thermostats, a starter, radiator and tune ups. Most V-10's failed before 150k. Injectors on my Duramax were replaced at 62k and now 3 are bad at 140k. Water pump at 72k. Blown head gasket, cracked head and broken motor mount at 140k. It's at the dealer now getting a reman engine. Good luck, bad luck or bad engine? Talked to a friend today with an '02 Powerstroke 7.3. He replaced the original injectors last month at 275k and only 3 were marginal.

keith_2500hd · Oct 17, 2009

if you can get truck for good price, there are several that have transplanted LLY+ heads onto LB7 block-truck. rickdlance for starters, 2001/2 don't have CANbus, so might be less complicated.

kfx700rider · Oct 18, 2009

my lb7 has cost me a ton of money in the last year. i had injectors done over a year ago (thank god for warranty, i was just under the deadline), then my headgaskets went in january (that cost 6700) then i just had to do my CP3 (which was 2700) and i have 332000 km (207 000miles)on the odo.

I would probably buy another one but im gonna keep this one till the engine falls out

which im hoping is at around 500 000 km lol

dmax_ty · Oct 18, 2009

The common-rail Cummins eat injectors just as bad as the Lb7's do. All of these diesel motors (duramax, cummins) will have their problems, but you have to take the good with the bad. The Lb7's are awesome motors and if your looking to get into an Lb7 then I would look for an 03 or later because they are still under the injector warranty.

1LTREATR · Oct 18, 2009

Id get a LLY or LBZ if I had to do it again

neilltz · Oct 18, 2009

My LB7 has 143000 miles on the original injectors and they are testing out fine and running good still. I have a non EGR-non Cat engine and thats the only way I wanted a Duramax. After this thing is ran into the ground...they EPA will have banned all diesels by then.

You cannot compare "industrial" diesels and big rigs to pickup engines. I know everyone likes to...but they are not the same. The fuel is the same. Thats about it. Each application is unique and big diesels are built much differently. They are usually well overbuilt. Pickup engines are more or less barely adequate in the design phase...and in my opinion are intended to wear out sooner than big diesels. They like to sell new trucks. Its evident by adding about 150HP to any of them. Transmissions smoke and all heck usually breaks loose somewhere without modifications. They were built to handle the power they make factory.

Lets face it...some people are getting HP and sometimes torque FAR beyond what a lot of semi engines produce. In a pickup engine.

And you cannot compare a diesel of yesteryear to today. You are right...the emission and economy requirements have really thrown a wrench into longevity and durability. Its a trade off and there is no other way it can be described.

With that being said you might have to replace the LB7 injectors once. But expect relatively trouble free motoring otherwise.

Rodeo_Joe · Oct 18, 2009

i've got 380,000 on my LB7 an only one injector gone.. other then that, just oil changes, fuel filters an one alternator

joheath · Oct 18, 2009

I have a 2003 and have not had any issues with the fuel system. Just turned 90,000. It is still stock except for the 265/75/16 tires. No juice, no 5" exhaust and no cold air intake and pulls a 7000 lb trailer like it wasn't there.

burntb4 · Oct 21, 2009

Well my odometer just turned over the 400,000KM mark on the 02 Duramax. Injectors were replaced somewhere around 132,000,water pump at 302,000KM and the alternator at 360,000Km.Over and above that it's just been normal wear and tear stuff. Truck is running good and would for sure have another one of these puppies.

KEVINL · Oct 21, 2009

I have seen Gen III small blocks and Ford V10's with 300,000 plus miles

The only reason to buy a diesel is for power and fuel mileage while towing.

A diesel will probably outlive a gasser but it will need more maitenance along the way and is more expensive to fix because it much more complicated. All injectors go bad the LB7's are just hard to change and very expensive is why you hear about them so much. The Old IDI injectors were lucky to last 100k but they are only $40 dollars each and since the pump controlls when fuel is injected they will run ok with bad injectors.

I do think the LB7 injectors are more prone to failure but as trucks get older and more miles they will all eventually need injectors.

LB7...Can it be reliable like a diesel should be?

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