02-03 GM Duramax high KM - will it need work?

[rob350]

02 GMC 2500HD crew cab for $11,800 (327KM). Says new injectors, transfer case, and new front end. My only Q is wtf was he doing to go through a transfer case?... It is a nice sharp looking truck.

And a 03 GMC 2500HD crew cab for $10,000 (436KM). Says new injectors at 400K. Bags in the back. Says its a student going to post - secondary, and no longer needs a vehicle. Im just worried about the 436K.

Any one know how the 6.6L's are with 327K, and 436K on them?

My dad wanted to buy a mid 90's kinda 3/4 ton for just pulling the holiday trailer around (his 09 1500 chevy wont pull the trailer he is looking at), and he came up with the idea of me and him going half and half on a newer 3/4 diesel. I can use it as my daily driver, and he can use it to pull the trailer when he needs to.
I would end up paying it off/buying it out from them down the road.

Im told these duramax's can have many many more miles on them than gas, im just unsure if i could be looking at constantly fixing this thing, and how expensive the fixes will be?

I can afford to go for either, but i can't afford to be putting thousands into it after buying it.

Looking around it sounds like injectors need to be changed every 100K or so, whats it worth parts + labor to change em? Can i change them? (we do all our vehicle work at home, but i have never touched a diesel) Any other common fail item at this mileage?

Google is telling me that (not talking about towing) i could expect 16-18 mpg city, and 20 hiway. This true? That would be awesome, it would blow my 350 TBI out of the water for mileage!


Thanks
Rob

[red suburban]

that era GM is known for whats called the 'pump rub' problem in the t-case. cheap little part that breaks allowing some of the t-case internals to rub on the rear t-case housing, putting a hole in it.

[dozerboy]

Thats a bit of miles but not bad there are Dmaxs with over 500K miles on them. That doesn't mean anything though. Ya that mileage isn't unreasonable if you drive it nice. An injector job goes for around $3K IIRC it can be a DIY but it is a lot of work. There is no set time or average time they go out. Some trucks eat injectors (70-100K) other never have a problem.

[lowriderbowtie]

Dmax should be able to handle a pile of milage. Ive got 371,000km on my 93 350 gas motor and it runs like a hot dam still

[steakman]

Rob...If you can afford it...look for an LLY (04-to early 06) or LBZ (o6 to 07.5classic). the LB7's did have injector issues. Pump rub is as noted by burb. Should be tons of LEase backs available at Shaw in Calgary or some other dealers...I hear the patch (oil/gas)is going down a black hole these days..so trucks coming back off lease should be plentifull and real cheap..!

LBZ's are pretty much problem free as far as the motor is concerned and in that year the Allison went to a 6 spd with the manual select option.

As for mileage: real expectations are more likely 14-15 in the city and 18-19.5 unmodded on the hwy at 65-70 mph.

cheers...from an ex Cowtowner whose tickled with his lbz.

stk

[chevy4x494]

Our Dmax got 21 on the highway once. that was doing 70 on the interstate. We got 13 on the highway pulling a gooseneck 20' stock trailer with two bulls in it.

[steakman]

I buy that mileage. I too see 20.5 or so once in a while..always puts a smile on my face. towing I'm pretty much where you are at and even though I pull only 4500 lbs..its that great big "sail" we pull through the air that just kills the mpg's.

Stk