Which is the better truck. Looking to compare mileage and pulling power.
99 vortec vs. 6.5 diesel
chevy dave
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Which is the better truck. Looking to compare mileage and pulling power.
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454
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I owned a 99 454 long bed CC 4x4 and they run strong, but use the gasoline fast. I got 11mpg's all of the time. I also drove a 3500 dually 6.5 at work for a couple of years and that thing was weak and got poor fuel mpgs too! It had a utility bed on it so it was always carrying more weight but it really didn't do any better than my 454 2500 long bed 4x4! I'd go with the 454 if it were me, since I've had Diesel engine woes in the past and it cost me dearly! Diesels are expensive to maintain and also to repair!!
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My dad has the 454 vortech in his burb and it pulls just as easy as his 6.0L rclb. But its a trade off. The 454s do burn oil due to the rod angles according to many people.
The farm has an 8.1l or a bored over 454. The 454 is a 7.4l. The 8.1 can do everything my lml can but pull as much by a few thousand pounds.
The trade off is the MPG is junk in both the 8.1l and 7.4l the 6.5 is no winner there either. If you don't need a long hauler but more for short pulls and work I'd look in to the 6.0l
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The farm has an 8.1l or a bored over 454. The 454 is a 7.4l. The 8.1 can do everything my lml can but pull as much by a few thousand pounds.
The trade off is the MPG is junk in both the 8.1l and 7.4l the 6.5 is no winner there either. If you don't need a long hauler but more for short pulls and work I'd look in to the 6.0l
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thats funny. Is your LML in limp mode and running on only 4 cylinders or something?
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I know an lbz isn't an LML, but honestly apples to apples the same load on the same trailer, i would say my 8.1 was pretty close on par with my 06 when i was running just the optimized stock LBZ tune....... Not trying to start a pissing match, just saying stock for stock the 8.1 is a pretty stout load puller having owned an 8.1 and lb7 and a LLY/LBZ hermaphrodite.
As far as 6.5 vs 7.4 vortec, my buddy had a 97ish dually with a 7.4 vortec and a stick, and it would absolutely embarrass my 6.5 with the stick. Although unloaded i was clicking off almost 20 mpg back and forth to work, and his was single digits up hill, down hill, loaded or unloaded.
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Well I'm stock. Sure it can't pull the same load weight but at least when I hit the gas in the 8.1 it goes the lml just sits there and then takes off a few min later
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I have had both except my 454 was TBI not a vortec. The 454 was faster and pulled a bit better. But got 10 mpg My 6.5 gets 20 on the highway it tows OK. Last time i pulled anything with it was a 300 mile tow with around 5K pounds of car on a trailer. Got 16mpg
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Thats just as laughable.
LBZ's are over 1 second quicker in the 1/4 mile.
Sure yeah ok whatever the 8.1 "FEELS" quicker to your butt-dyno because its "right there" and theres no turbo lag. Its called power delivery feel difference between a turbocharged diesel and an N/A big block gasser.
But put the same load on each, actually run them side by side to 80mph and I think you'll be a little surprised when the 8.1 ends up crossing the finish line several truck lengths back.
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I only towed with my 06 twice before i put the dsp5 switch in, im not going to argue with you, just stating my experience with the same load on the same hills with different trucks. Not trying to race anyone up hill, just recalling how the truck hauled under typical towing circumstances. Maybe the differing gear ratios was a factor.
Im tempted to call the kid i sold my 8.1 truck to and find out when he's moving his skid steer next and see if he wants to run some time trials.
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I thought this thread was a question about the 6.5 Diesel or the 454 Vortec?
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I dont think so.
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I don't think you will notice a huge difference either way, but you need to compare apples to apples.
There are s few guys with 454's around my area, and they love to brag up and down, about what their one ton 454 dually's will pull. I know the one truck has a 5 speed stick with 4.10 rear end, so of course he can out pull a 6.5 with a 4L80e with 3.73's from a stand still, he has lower gearing on his side, and the rev's the crap out of it. So in this case it's not much of a fair fight, but really doesn't mean anything.
So 6.5 will give you about 50% better mileage, and the difference in pulling power will be minimal.
There are s few guys with 454's around my area, and they love to brag up and down, about what their one ton 454 dually's will pull. I know the one truck has a 5 speed stick with 4.10 rear end, so of course he can out pull a 6.5 with a 4L80e with 3.73's from a stand still, he has lower gearing on his side, and the rev's the crap out of it. So in this case it's not much of a fair fight, but really doesn't mean anything.
So 6.5 will give you about 50% better mileage, and the difference in pulling power will be minimal.
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There ya go, i fixed it for ya
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Thanks...
I was trying to say mileage alone will be much better, even if pulling power is a wash, the 6.5 is still the way to go. But yes, it should pull better as well.
I was trying to say mileage alone will be much better, even if pulling power is a wash, the 6.5 is still the way to go. But yes, it should pull better as well.
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The 454 vortec will definitely out pull the 6.5. I loved my 6.5 truck, and it was a great daily driver, but they are second rate haulers when compared to almost everything else of there era IMHO. That doesn't necessarily mean that someone wouldn't still be happy using one for the hauling needs.
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I dont agree with that at all. When the 6.5 came out it was the best performing diesel made in a domestic pick up truck. It was pretty much equal to the GM TBI 454 in power. Way more powerful than the Ford 7.3 diesel. The 140 HP Dodge CTD was equal in torque It could pull a house but did it very slowly.
It wasn't till 94-96 when Ford came out with the Powerstroke, Dodge came out with the 5.9 Ram with more power, and GM came out with the Vortec engines. That the 6.5 started to be left behind in power.
When the 6.5 came out it made the other guys stand up and take notice.
The 6.5 was the engine that started the Diesel power wars in pickups.
It aint no Duramax. But with some basic power adders and upgrades it can still hold it own and get good MPG. Not bad for an engine that was designed over 30 years ago and still in production.
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How much towing are you going to do with it? Is it going to be a daily driver? These are going to be the most important questions to answer when comparing the two trucks. I have both a 96 K2500 with 6.5 and a 05 K3500 dually big block 8100. Under 8000 lbs, go with the 6.5 diesel with opened up exhaust. Round trip from Philadelphia to Alexandria VA, empty car trailer down and back with a 96 Park Ave on it back, averaged 16 mpg. This truck will pull rolling hills fine without downshifting out of overdrive. The diesels peak torque is around 1800 rpm's which is where my truck runs at 65 mph. My 96 6.5 has 3.73 gears in the rear axle.
I use the 05 8100 to tow over 10,000 lbs. This truck pulls great, but will down shift more on the highway due to its peak torque at 3200 rpm's. So many times you find that you will be pulling hills at 3000 rpm's. Your not hurting the truck, but you are drinking fuel.
I can't afford to drive the big block every day. By itself, not towing, I get about 9 mpg. I drive the 96 6.5 every day and average 16 mpg's. I know your question was about the 454, but I don't believe the results will be much different.
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/donner/k2500
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/donner/silverado-3500
I use the 05 8100 to tow over 10,000 lbs. This truck pulls great, but will down shift more on the highway due to its peak torque at 3200 rpm's. So many times you find that you will be pulling hills at 3000 rpm's. Your not hurting the truck, but you are drinking fuel.
I can't afford to drive the big block every day. By itself, not towing, I get about 9 mpg. I drive the 96 6.5 every day and average 16 mpg's. I know your question was about the 454, but I don't believe the results will be much different.
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/donner/k2500
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/donner/silverado-3500
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