Here I am again

[mmarty]

Well, the 8.1 deal fell through but I found a 04 d-max with 192000 on it. It is SUPER clean and has never had a hitch ball installed. What do you think about that? I can get it for 16000. Is that too many miles for that engine? What do I look for before I buy it? Thanks in advance. Also how do the d-max do with short trips like 5 miles or less. Not often but can it be used for a daily driver if needed?

[oldred93]

diesels really aren't my department but my buddy was looking at a DMax that is an 04 or 05, 76,000 miles, crew cab, aftermarket rims, 33 bfg's, brush guard, chip, etc, blah, blah, pretty much loaded for $26,000 at a local chevy dealership. To me 192,000 is a lot of miles, but someone with more knowledge will chime in. Also I know 4 people who use DMax's for daily drivers with no issues. Sorry i'm not much help......

[Chevy53]

160K+ miles isn't a lot for a diesel I know a couple people with 400K+ on theirs and I know one kid who's dad has a cummins with over a million it's all about matinence and how it was performed


-Ziggy-

[Mark13]

I know one kid who's dad has a cummins with over a million

I suppose that's the one getting almost unheard of fuel mileage?

[Chevy53]

No this is an 89 12 valve lol I'll see if I have pics of this one used to have them somewhere I'll take a look on my
Old computer when I get time to get it out of the storage we are renting while we move


-Ziggy-

[Chriscon7]

Let there be pictures!

[JimRoss]

Well, the 8.1 deal fell through but I found a 04 d-max with 192000 on it. It is SUPER clean and has never had a hitch ball installed. What do you think about that?

So your telling me someone spent $6K -$8K more to buy a D-max over a gasser, drove it an average of 25,000 miles a year, kept it spotless and NEVER towed anything with it ? I think someone is blowing smoke up your hinny. I'm not saying thats impossible, but improbable.

Also, are you ready to spend decent money on repairs? Sure, the motor might be made to last 400K or more, but some of the componets like injectors ( $200-$400 each ), fuel pump ( $1,000 ), fuel pressure regulator ( $400 ) are not. They are going to need replacing sometime. Even the fuel filter is $60.

[DarkCharisma]

That's too much. I have my '04 listed for $14,250 and it has 20k less miles. Something in the 190k mile range is usually right around 10-11k in my area, epescially if it's a LB7 over an LLY for an '04.

[mmarty]

I have voted against the duramax. I don't have the cash to fix it if it breaks, (sounds like a probability). Yeah it never had a ball put in. No marks on the frame where the hitch would be or hole in the bed. I am going to hold out for a 8.1. I lost out on one here cuz the dealer sold it out from under me. I'll find one.

[ToyHauler]

i can think of several people i know that have never even put anything heavy in the bed of there diesel. its the guys that HAVE to have a truck and it HAS to be biggest around and most have the programers and that. some people just have more money than brains

[Jmac72]

The Dmaxs are good for a lot of miles.The Lb7 do have injector issues,(but thats about it)but with that kind of miles they should have already been swapped out.
I have a buddy with a 02 dmax.It has 202k on it and he beats the crap out of it.It has been running at 400hp for 8yrs,and 530hp when it goes to the strip,or a sledpul.It has a beefed up tranny but that is it.We replaced the injectors at about 115k.Other than that the engine has not been touched.(other than go fast parts)Its a 4x4crew cab short bed.It gets right around 20mpg.

My 03 is set up about the same,but I only have 102k on mine.I replaced the injectors at 85k,and went with 20% over stock.Nothing else has ever been touched.(other than go fast parts)Mine also gets 20mpgs,and 16mpgs towing a 24ft box trailer.
The fuel filter is $30
That one was a bit high in price,for the miles.I would not be scared of a dmax with 200k on it.Just look for signs of injector trouble(white smoke at idle,hard starting when warm)Other than that just drive it and see what it feels like.If it runs and drives good,it probably is.
There is nothing wrong with a 8.1.(I had a 01)They have good power,and run great.But you are luckey if you can get 12mpgs out of them.The Dmax will get almost double the mpgs,plus it has more power,and will last longer.

[stockchev]

I know a lot of people around here that have diesels and they never pull anything, or do any work with it. My cousin has an 03 cummins, it used to be used for transporting buildings i think, but i have only seen it pull a trailer like 3 times, and anytime there is any work to be done, the stuff is always in his dads 1500, i have seen that truck almost touching the axle in the rear with shingles, and the dodge was sitting at the house... i am pretty sure the 1500 still has not came all the way back up since that load...

[mmarty]

I just don't like the idea of spending 4000 for injectors. That would be my luck to have them go bad in a few months and from what Ive read even if they have been replaced the replacements aren't any better. I don't mind the low mileage gassers because it won't be a daily driver and it might sit for weeks at a time. All I need it for is pulling my rv a few times a year.

[oldred93]

why not get a 6.0?

[DarkCharisma]

6.0L would work, depending on the size of the RV. I wouldn't want to pull, say, a 12k RV with a 6.0L. It'd do it, but in the slowest, most torturous way.

[mmarty]

I thought of that but my rv weighs 11233 loaded. I don't think a 6.0 would cut it, and even if it would I would pull the guts out of it. I figure since the 8.1 gets the same mileage as the 6.0 might as well go bigger. I work with two guys one with a 01 8.1 and one with a 04 6.0 and they get the same mileage. It's too bad too there is a GORGEOUS 04 1500hd here for sale with a 6 liter.

[Jmac72]

I just don't like the idea of spending 4000 for injectors. That would be my luck to have them go bad in a few months and from what Ive read even if they have been replaced the replacements aren't any better. I don't mind the low mileage gassers because it won't be a daily driver and it might sit for weeks at a time. All I need it for is pulling my rv a few times a year.

If you do it your self its about $2k.Its not hard just time consuming.You might look at the 2004.5 LLY dmaxs.They don't have the injector issue.Should be close in price too.

Just a idea here(I know its a chevy forum)Have you looked at the early to mid 90's dodges with the 12v cummins.The 12v cummins is the sbc of diesel trucks.They are priced right and simple to work on.I have a buddy that has a 91(i think)the old,old body style.It just rolled 300k miles.He bought it with about 250k on it.Its a 5spd,single wheel, x-cab,long bed 2wd.The truck tows a 24ft box trailer with a race car,atv,and tools.About 10k lbs.He gets 17mpgs on the highway.Empty it gets about 21mpgs,I think he gave $4k for it several yrs ago.Just a idea.

[mmarty]

I would love to get a older cummins but I have two kids and I need a full crew cab. I had a 04 quad cab and it wasn't even big enough for them.

[Jmac72]

Picky,picky(just kidding)
When you see the right truck you will know.I never can find what I want when I'm looking for it.I seem to stumble across most of my toys.

[bowtieguy101]

Nearing 200K the injectors have either been replaced or need to be replaced. Pretty common on the d max.

[Chevy53]

Don't first gen duramaxes have the injector issues (2001's?) where they fail prematurely? Not sure but that's what I've been told kinda off on a tangent don't mind me lol


-Ziggy-

[DarkCharisma]

Don't first gen duramaxes have the injector issues (2001's?) where they fail prematurely? Not sure but that's what I've been told kinda off on a tangent don't mind me lol


-Ziggy-


Yes, the LB7 from 01 to 04 did. The LLY came about halfway through '04 to fix that, signified by 8th digit reading "2" on the VIN, and the LLY came about '06 which was mechanically different in many ways from the LLY and LB7.

[Chevy53]

Yes, the LB7 from 01 to 04 did. The LLY came about halfway through '04 to fix that, signified by 8th digit reading "2" on the VIN, and the LLY came about '06 which was mechanically different in many ways from the LLY and LB7.

Thanks for the info good to know


-Ziggy-

[DarkCharisma]

Sorry, make that LBZ the 3rd gen. I dunno why I did LLY twice (although technically the LBZ came out with the LLY moniker too in early '06, but was identical to the LBZ and different from the original LLY, you can make a '06 LLY into a LBZ with a tune.).

[Chevy53]

Sorry, make that LBZ the 3rd gen. I dunno why I did LLY twice (although technically the LBZ came out with the LLY moniker too in early '06, but was identical to the LBZ and different from the original LLY, you can make a '06 LLY into a LBZ with a tune.).

Lol don't worry about it I know what you ment


-Ziggy-

[mmarty]

I think I'll just hold out for the 8.1. pretty trouble free and will still pull a house.

[bowtieguy101]

I think I'll just hold out for the 8.1. pretty trouble free and will still pull a house.

Good idea and you dont have to overpay for an 8.1

[TiredFarmer]

FYI for mmarty, my 6.0 routinely pulls more than your ffth wheel! Yes, an 8.1 will o it easier, but a 6.0 in a 2500HD will also do it!