[siduramaxde]

As the title reads- Do you think GM would be doing a good thing if they offered a cat engine in the new truck? Do you think it would boost sales for GM over the Duramax? Which would you rather have (Cat or Duramax)? What other engine choices would you prefer (even if they are in a different brand already)?

 

[1FastMax]

When GM introduced the Duramax, i think there was a lot of hesitency and scepticism, but i have come to love my duramax, and i think i speak for most of us when i say, I LOVE MY D-MAX!!! And I wouldnt trade it for nothin'.:ro) :ro)

 

[siduramaxde]

When GM introduced the Duramax, i think there was a lot of hesitency and scepticism, but i have come to love my duramax, and i think i speak for most of us when i say, I LOVE MY D-MAX!!! And I wouldnt trade it for nothin'.:ro) :ro)

I love my Dmax too but in all honesty I was hesitant when I bought my truck due to lack of an engine with recognition. If GM had put the Cat in the the HD's instead of the duramax I wonder what the reaction from the public would have been. IMHO I think they would have sold more trucks.

I'm not saying that Cat engines are better than our Dmax engines but they do have a reputation that the Dmax is still trying to earn (it is getting there).

 

[gardnerteam]

Have had a CAT. Much rather have a Duramax. Today, CAT is living on its past reputation and its product is not the quality it once was. A lot of construction people have left CAT for other brands. I've had 3 Durmax's and they have all been far better than expected and almost perfect.

 

[vettelovralexand]

Have had a CAT. Much rather have a Duramax. Today, CAT is living on its past reputation and its product is not the quality it once was. A lot of construction people have left CAT for other brands. I've had 3 Durmax's and they have all been far better than expected and almost perfect.

:iamwithst I would bet that they would sell much better with a Caterpillar engine to start with, but I'm not so sure that Cat could deliver a quality product in this category that would be any better than what we have already got. Maybe such a high profile failure would finally shut people up about how great Caterpillar is and stop some of the rumors about this topic.

 

[gm-man]

The truth is they sell every engine they make and can't produce anymore than they already do. The one and only plant in moraine, ohio makes all of them and everyone sells. Even if there was more demand they couldn't make enough for it. At this point demand is not an issue.

 

[GMCTRUCK]

If CAT had an engine that was better than or equal to the Duramax then yes, I'd rather have the CAT, otherwise no. If GM had a solid front axle with a CAT/Allison badge on the door they'd definitley put Ford and Dodge out of business. If the GM had a solid front axle with the Duramax and Allison they'd have to double production and they still might put Ford and Dodge out of the truck business.

 

[kklonghorns]

The General rejected a very stroung CAT when they started using the DURAMAX. I choose DURAMAX any day. Only other consideration is DEERE.

 

[thejdman04]

Have had a CAT. Much rather have a Duramax. Today, CAT is living on its past reputation and its product is not the quality it once was. A lot of construction people have left CAT for other brands. I've had 3 Durmax's and they have all been far better than expected and almost perfect.

Very very true many people are leaving cat in the construction industry, komatsu is makeing huge strides here in the us. IMO Cat never ever really hit the mark in medium duty engines and doubt they would in light duties either. The 3116's 3126's werent anything to write home about. Perkins used to make a decent small motor but not anymore. IMo international makes a pretty decent medium and light duty diesel (7.3's and 466's) though they missed huge on the 6.0's. I woulnt turn a cat down (if it were proven like the duramax) but wouldnt trade necessarily for one becasue of the cat. I agree Id trade it in if they had a deere in there.

 

[SCQTT]

I would rather have a Cat or a Cummins I6 than my Duramax. I am certain I want to keep my Allison.

My perfect vehicle would be a Hummer H1 with a Cummins I6 and an Allison.

I think it would be best if it were 100% flat black so I could touch it up with a rattle can.

 

[jollyrogr]

I would take a Deere over a Cat any day of the week. But, I wouldn't necessarily get rid of the dmax if tomorrow GM started using Deere engines in the new Silverados. I think the duramax has already gained a reputation as being a powerful, reliable, economical engine. GM started with nothing and had to wait years for the reputation to build. Why would they throw that away?

 

[tennykimble]

cat option? $$$!!

i work for a caterpillar dealer, and i agree with gardnerteam. cat had a good reliable engine line ( before eletronics ) but the biggest down fall i could see is price! if the d-max was a 4-5k option, the cat would be a 6-8k option! easily! cat does make some good engines but i dont know what engine they would put in a pickup truck? alot of engines in mid size cat machines are mitsubishi and perkins (cat owns perkins). a 3126 is a decent size for a small to medium duty 2 ton truck, but way to heavy for a 1 ton. side note ***caterpillar designed the power stroke fuel system. some years ago ford paid cat to design a fuel system for them, they did, and ford put it on their trucks and called it a powerstroke, some years later when the patent wore out - cat brought that exact same fuel system ( cat calls it a heui system) on their engines. its the same system it uses high pressure engine oil to make the higher injection pressures - truily a unique system.**** the next possible engine is a re-vamped version of the old (disposable - parent bore block) 3208 turbo. but i shure ass he11 hope they keep the allison behind it beause i love that tranny! --- auctually i love the d-max ally combo . but i might consider buying a cat - if gm had a straight front axle - and if they kept the ally - and if they keep the 100k 5 year warranty.

 

[titus1998]

I agree with most of the comments on here. I'm noticing that many people are taking interest in the Duramax. I get asked all the time how I feel about my Duramax from Ford and Dodge owners. I know two people in the last 3 months that replaced their cummins with the duramax. They said that they liked their cummins just fine, but the duramax has been out long enough and no wide spread problems so they weren't worried about reliability. They liked the duramax package the best when it came time to replace what they had, and they love their new duramax.

Then again, I know people that wouldn't be caught dead in a GM diesel. They only respect Ford and Dodge diesel. I think this opinion is extremely oldschool and falling by the wayside in a hurry, judging by people just in my area. This is a brand loyal market, and people are very emotionally attached to their vehicles.

That being said, I think GM would make a mistake to put a CAT engine in place of the Duramax. They have a good thing going with the Duramax and the respect level has increased tremendously for GM diesels over the last 5 years. They run the risk of loosing this momentum with another change. The Duramax is working and they need to make it a household name (like powerstroke and cummins), if they haven't already.

 

[thejdman04]

i work for a caterpillar dealer, and i agree with gardnerteam. cat had a good reliable engine line ( before eletronics ) but the biggest down fall i could see is price! if the d-max was a 4-5k option, the cat would be a 6-8k option! easily! cat does make some good engines but i dont know what engine they would put in a pickup truck? alot of engines in mid size cat machines are mitsubishi and perkins (cat owns perkins). a 3126 is a decent size for a small to medium duty 2 ton truck, but way to heavy for a 1 ton. side note ***caterpillar designed the power stroke fuel system. some years ago ford paid cat to design a fuel system for them, they did, and ford put it on their trucks and called it a powerstroke, some years later when the patent wore out - cat brought that exact same fuel system ( cat calls it a heui system) on their engines. its the same system it uses high pressure engine oil to make the higher injection pressures - truily a unique system.**** the next possible engine is a re-vamped version of the old (disposable - parent bore block) 3208 turbo. but i shure ass he11 hope they keep the allison behind it beause i love that tranny! --- auctually i love the d-max ally combo . but i might consider buying a cat - if gm had a straight front axle - and if they kept the ally - and if they keep the 100k 5 year warranty.

I sure hope they dont revive the fuel pincher (3208). Yes cat did design the heui system, but that isnt anything id brag too much about. As far as fuel systems, the heui isnt htat spectacular. ONe little nick in an o ring (using the egine oil for higher injection pressures) can leave you stranded. Power strokes werent bad motors (the 7.3's) but Injection system wise, Id take the injection system off my 6.5 over a ford heui. I think the 6.5's injection system was fairly easy to diagnose, bleed, repair (cheaper too).

 

[mxrider801]

A lot of people seem to go crazy over the idea of a CAT powered truck but honestly, from all that i've heard, I wouldn't trade in my Duramax.

 

[TrailerproPop]

Many truck people I talk with, when asked about Cat engines, ask what number engine. While some are great engines, others are not so hot.



We bought a Cat skid steer 3 years ago, the salesman was bragging up the Cat engine. When I opened up the door to look at the engine I said, " Hey Clint, this engine says Perkins on it." He said, " Cat owns Perkins, we call it a "Perk-a-piller." "

 

[jevanb]

why buy a cat when the Dmax is the best thing out their to pull what the manufacture says we can pull (23.5k GCWR) with a 3/4 -1ton. If you need more motor you have to upgrade platforms. Would you really feel safe with the kids in the back seat and a overweight trailer behind you, Not me. IMO I think the motor is just about right, sure i would like more power but at what cost. Becides i think gm finally got rid of the bugs and if they installed something new here comes the problems that always plaques a new engine

 

[Coghlin]

Look at GMs bigger trucks 4500 - 7500. They offer a CAT and the inline Duramax. The dealer has trouble getting rid of the CAT. It goes through twice as much fuel and is really hard to start in the winter time. They built a brand new building for their medium duty truck line and forgot to install electrical outlets outside. They can't sell a CAT in the winter because it won't start for the test drive and if it does start it fills the parking lot full of smoke. The Duramax just fires up and purrs away. A buddy of mine has both in the same truck, one Duramax and one CAT. They are going to sell the Cat because everyone at the shop prefers the Duramax plus it uses less fuel.

 

[bartman]

I get a kick out this topic every time it comes up. GM would have to completely re-design the front end to accomodate an inline 6 the size of a Cat engine, and it they would have to think about a solid front axle to accomodate the extra weight of the Cat. The Cat engine is "old technology" The former comment on cold startability is really true. The overall package is what you have to look at, and I think GM hit the mark with the Duramax. I've 3 and loved every one of them...especially my LBZ.

 

[7Sievz]

The General rejected a very stroung CAT when they started using the DURAMAX. I choose DURAMAX any day. Only other consideration is DEERE.

As I read through the post, I hoped no one would bring up that curse word (deere)...!!! I will just tell ya'll that I am SEVERELY biased in this discussion as my family has a CaseIH AG and JCB construction dealership, but I see this every day....So many people put too much faith in a badge and not in the product. Paint something Deere green or CAT yellow and you'd think its made of gold!

Off my high horse, I think the Duramax is a great engine, and wouldn't have anything else. It led the revolution of quiet, efficient, and explosive dielsel power....everyone else had to follow and they are still trying to catch up. I personally think the Duramax saved the GM Heavy Duty lineup.

I hope GM continues to build on the good thing they already have going.

Sievz