Gm 3.0 duramax deisel review

[oldjeep]

On 3/9/2024 at 11:27 AM, Pnwrider said:

Everything now has electronic e brake. The one in my gmc worked fine and I never had an issue with (always released as soon as I touched the gas pedal). I can’t stand the one in my new Subaru though. It’s got a mind of its own and doesn’t release half the time it should. 
Regarding the short bed, get the 6.75’ bed instead of the 5.5’. Add a larger fuel tank too. That’s was my biggest complaint on my AT4. Tiny fuel tank. 

After going from the 5.5ft to 6.5ft bed on my Ram, I would never go back.  6.5 with gate down is perfect size for sheet goods and skis fit in the bed straight in rather than having to go diagonal.  The big 32 gal fuel tank is another plus since it extends range to 640ish miles freeway unloaded.  I will say that if I had the option I would have gone with the 3.21 gears that my previous truck had rather than the 3.92.  Living in a flat area and not towing anywhere with hills, the gears make 0 difference in feel with the boat and suck mpg on the freeway.

In terms of the 3.0 vs 5.3 vs 6.2 on a GM.  Tough choice between the 3.0 and 6.2 since the 6.2 needs premium.  I'd still bias towards the 6.2 being a flatlander and not wanting to deal with the DEF or diesel fuel.  Not that you are looking, but I am still a no way on the little turbo engines.  Truck sits outside year round and turbos are not long for the world if you are a start up and go driver.  Anyone in the neighborhood who had a turbo F150 either switched to a 5.0 or mostly bought a Ram 5.7 or bigger.

Edited March 11 by oldjeep

[ORsurfer]

The general approach for this forum seems to be: the biggest boat + biggest truck is the only option and if you choose anything else you're insane + potentially a danger to yourself and others. And this forum is rarely wrong lol. Given a world of unconstrained resources I'd be pulling a 25-26 boat with the biggest truck money can buy.

However, here's our real-world application: my wife drives the tow vehicle and we have  enough kids that we need the tow vehicle to also seat a crowd. We've been towing our 2021 A22 with a 3.0 Tahoe for a couple years, and we live in the Pacific Northwest where our regular summer trips inevitably require going over mountain passes. 

As noted here, unloaded this thing is a dream. It eats up highway and is super efficient on both diesel and DEF. Can easily get 28 MPG in the right conditions, but closer to 21-22 city+highway average over last 25k miles.

Towing + loaded it does slow down, but have never had issues keeping up. Realistically 13-14 MPG towing but as many noted here it does drink DEF. Like put a backup container in the trunk level consumption. Can easily maintain highway speeds over long grades with very reasonable transmission temps and no more drama than previous 5.3 versions of Tahoes we've owned. I really appreciate the drivetrain coming down the hills on the other side. Lots of ratios + exhaust brake and I've been amazed how well the full package keeps things keeping safe + under control on even steep/long grades in even hottest weather. So, it's not for everyone but sharing here in case our use case matches someone else's.

I am watching the news to see if the refresh coming out later this year with the updated version (LZ0 i think?) of the 3.0 with higher HP / Torque numbers also brings an increase in tow rating like they did in the 1/2 ton pickups.

Would be interested to hear from anyone towing with the LZ0 vs. the LM2 if it's helped with some additional get up and go.

[rennis]

3 hours ago, ahopkins22LSV said:

Do you know what rear axle ratio the Tahoe had? I assume it had the 10spd transmission as well?

I don't.  it was a 2022 RST for whatever that is worth 

[redrooster]

This engine is the lm2.  Maybe rennis was towing with the older version?   Maybe they tweaked the tranny too? 

 

False - this is the lz0

 

The new GM turbocharged 3.0L I6 LZ0 diesel Duramax engine replaces the turbocharged 3.0L I6 LM2 diesel Duramax engine offered for the 2022 model year. The new engine is rated at 305 horsepower and 495 pound-feet of torque, a 10-percent increase in power and a 7.6-percent increase in torque compared to the 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque produced by the turbocharged 3.0L I6 LM2 diesel Duramax engine offered previously.

Edited March 11 by redrooster

[redrooster]

Now we are getting somewh where.  

 

Critically, GM offers the 3.0L I6 LM2 turbodiesel Duramax under the hood of its full-size SUVs, including the 2023 Chevy Tahoe, 2023 Chevy Suburban, 2023 GMC Yukon, and 2023 Cadillac Escalade. According to GM Authority sources, these four models will not offer the new 3.0L I6 LZ0 turbodiesel Duramax engine. That said, the LZ0 is expected to be available with GM’s full-sizers for the 2024 model year.

[jjackkrash]

I've towed slightly over 7k with the newer 3.0L and I thought it did just fine.  Not a speed demon but it held freeway speeds without surging or gear hunting, it stayed cool, and did not seem overly taxed.  I did not take this weight over a pass however.  I would also not tow much more than that in a half ton regardless of engine so there's that.  I continue to believe for the bigger boats you want an HD truck.  

[ahopkins22LSV]

Well luckily for me we don’t have the mountain passes you guys have out west and I don’t see us going bigger than 22LSV. We are at our length limit in storage and in our driveway.

[redrooster]

I think gm should make a 6.0 dirty max and get rid of the v8.  

 

Also coil spring front and rear HD. 

Perfect truck. 

[HollywoodBall]

I've got a '21 GMC Elevation and have been pretty happy with it.  It towed my old 97 Air Nautique like it was nothing.  I notice the 22 MXZ behind it but it does well enough to not blow my wad on a new 3/4 ton, as nice as that would be.  I am adding 5K Airlift airbags next month before my return trip home with the boat from SC, so we'll see how that does.  

[ahopkins22LSV]

48 minutes ago, HollywoodBall said:

I've got a '21 GMC Elevation and have been pretty happy with it.  It towed my old 97 Air Nautique like it was nothing.  I notice the 22 MXZ behind it but it does well enough to not blow my wad on a new 3/4 ton, as nice as that would be.  I am adding 5K Airlift airbags next month before my return trip home with the boat from SC, so we'll see how that does.  

I ordered an elevation too. Do you have max tow or standard suspension?

[HollywoodBall]

18 minutes ago, ahopkins22LSV said:

I ordered an elevation too. Do you have max tow or standard suspension?

Standard.  Mine was bought with about 21K on it.  

[rennis]

3 hours ago, HollywoodBall said:

I've got a '21 GMC Elevation and have been pretty happy with it.  It towed my old 97 Air Nautique like it was nothing.  I notice the 22 MXZ behind it but it does well enough to not blow my wad on a new 3/4 ton, as nice as that would be.  I am adding 5K Airlift airbags next month before my return trip home with the boat from SC, so we'll see how that does.  

Those 5K airlift bags are probably overkill.  I was advised against 5Ks on my F150 and was glad I listened.  I installed the ride control 2ks and they did a great job of leveling the truck when I had a heavier trailer or cargo in the bed (or both.)  They only needed about 40psi to help with the boat and improved the ride a lot.  I kept about 20psi in them when empty for ride quality and because I had a canopy on the F150.  And are stupidly easy to install. 

This assumes they are available for your truck of course. 

Edited March 13 by rennis

[HollywoodBall]

15 hours ago, rennis said:

Those 5K airlift bags are probably overkill.  I was advised against 5Ks on my F150 and was glad I listened.  I installed the ride control 2ks and they did a great job of leveling the truck when I had a heavier trailer or cargo in the bed (or both.)  They only needed about 40psi to help with the boat and improved the ride a lot.  I kept about 20psi in them when empty for ride quality and because I had a canopy on the F150.  And are stupidly easy to install. 

This assumes they are available for your truck of course. 

Thanks.  I looked into it and it doesn't come up as an available kit for my make/model on the Air Lift site.

[oldjeep]

For folks adding bags to their half ton - had you also lifted the front end, and that is why you needed the bags so the truck didn't look like it was dragging tail when loaded?  Never had a half ton (even the ford) that needed supplemental suspension when loaded within weight specs.

Edited March 14 by oldjeep

[rennis]

4 hours ago, oldjeep said:

For folks adding bags to their half ton - had you also lifted the front end, and that is why you needed the bags so the truck didn't look like it was dragging tail when loaded?  Never had a half ton (even the ford) that needed supplemental suspension when loaded within weight specs.

Mine was leveled, 1.75" front leveling kit. 

[Cole2001]

Depends how heavy of a boat. When you get into the larger boats tongue weight increases a lot. Tow a M240, G25, 25ZX, Ri, sized boats and regardless of leveling kit you need bags to not squat a half ton.  

[RyanB]

5 hours ago, oldjeep said:

For folks adding bags to their half ton - had you also lifted the front end, and that is why you needed the bags so the truck didn't look like it was dragging tail when loaded?  Never had a half ton (even the ford) that needed supplemental suspension when loaded within weight specs.

I’m considering adding bags to my Expedition.  It sags enough with my LSV that the lights are too high and I constantly have oncoming traffic flash their lights at me.

 

[ahopkins22LSV]

Sorry I have hijacked this thread to a degree, but order is in!

Elevation crew cab standard 6.6' bed
3.0 Duramax - 10spd w/ electronic precision shift & front bucket seats
Onyx black
Max tow package w/ 3.73 rear end
Elevation preferred packet to get Bose, rear sliding window, adaptive cruise, rear wheelhouse liners, trailing app
Tow mirrors, spray in bed liner, all terrain tires, and trailer tire sensor kit are the only other options I added.

I didn't get all of the fancy sensors and cameras but the base level trailering package and app will still allow integration of the trailer tires to see live pressure and weight. Plus diagnostics on lights, brakes etc. My wife and I plan to keep this truck for 10+ years and honestly we didn't want to risk having to replace cameras years down the road. The tech is awesome, no doubt, but mirrors haven't failed me yet and the tow mirrors will make that even better.

[oldjeep]

1 hour ago, RyanB said:

I’m considering adding bags to my Expedition.  It sags enough with my LSV that the lights are too high and I constantly have oncoming traffic flash their lights at me.

 

SUV are a different story.  The typically come pretty level.  

[oldjeep]

1 hour ago, Cole2001 said:

Depends how heavy of a boat. When you get into the larger boats tongue weight increases a lot. Tow a M240, G25, 25ZX, Ri, sized boats and regardless of leveling kit you need bags to not squat a half ton.  

I'd disagree unless you are exceeding max tongue weight on a class 4.  If you are towing a 25ft boat with a half ton and no load distribution - you are overloaded.

Edited March 14 by oldjeep

[redrooster]

Keep us posted on performance.  I want that exact setup!!!

 

its weird they dont come with rear wheel liners. 

[ahopkins22LSV]

13 minutes ago, redrooster said:

Keep us posted on performance.  I want that exact setup!!!

 

its weird they dont come with rear wheel liners. 

They used to stock on the elevation... Just another way to push you into a package with other stuff I guess. I really don't like being shoehorned into packages. This time it pretty much worked out to get get everything I wanted on the truck.

[jjackkrash]

The tow mirrors and the adaptive cruise are both great options.  

[UWSkier]

1 hour ago, jjackkrash said:

The tow mirrors and the adaptive cruise are both great options.  

The adaptive cruise is nice until someone passes you but you are not the one holding up traffic.  It's AGGRESSIVE with the brakes.  I usually leave it off.

[ahopkins22LSV]

3 minutes ago, UWSkier said:

The adaptive cruise is nice until someone passes you but you are not the one holding up traffic.  It's AGGRESSIVE with the brakes.  I usually leave it off.

Don't get passed