3.0L Duramax, is it worth considering for a swap in offroad rig?

[Lil'John]

Title basically states it.

The 277hp/360ft-lbs sounds nice on paper as does the aluminum construction. The water intercooler could be a problem.

I'm not sure about the "square" packaging:

10 speed auto being the only option is a bit of a turn off. I'm not a fan of autos.

Being that it is so new, it doesn't look like it has HPTuner support yet. It also is going to be a small fortune to get one for now.

Any thoughts on this being a non-LS/LT swap candidate?

Some info pulled from:
https://www.drivingline.com/articles/is-the-30l-duramax-living-up-to-the-hype/

My interest is more of a swap into smaller offroad rigs than full sized trucks. Think S10 truck/blazer sized or FJ40s.

 

[wvracer821]

One of my good friends has a new ZR2 Colorado with the 3.0 in it. I don't really know much about it but. It seems to run strong and he really likes it but he has been having oil consumption problems with it that the local dealer refuses to dig into even after 3 failed oil consumption tests.

 

[Sterlingfire]

Let it go a couple of years before jumping into one. Figure out what the downfalls are.
It does sound good on paper, and probably will get the bugs worked out in the next generation.

 

[Lil'John]

One of my good friends has a new ZR2 Colorado with the 3.0 in it. I don't really know much about it but. It seems to run strong and he really likes it but he has been having oil consumption problems with it that the local dealer refuses to dig into even after 3 failed oil consumption tests.

Is this like the big block oil consumption? ie 1 quart between oil changes.

Let it go a couple of years before jumping into one. Figure out what the downfalls are.
It does sound good on paper, and probably will get the bugs worked out in the next generation.

Nothing in the immediate future planned but it popped up as intriguing.

 

[Projectjunkie]

It's certainly an interesting engine, I stopped a guy in a parking lot to ask him about his truck, 50k miles, high 20s highway, he's happy

At some point I'll went a mini diesel or evoboost half ton pickup for dd/ trips and keep a big diesel for a tow rig (currently an lly duramax and a 12v Cummins)

as for a swap? I think it be cool, unique, expensive, it would give you some experience and internet fame, possibly job opportunities, but not much of a return for your time and money.

I'm pretty tight with my time and money, and expect returns, pleasure and enjoyment is a return

IMO if you wanted a vintage daily driver, maybe had a clean k5 with 31s, or a 60s short bed, or malibu wagon and were gonna put a shit load of miles on it, it could be the perfect swap

ooh 67 el Camino 30mpg

but then, you could put a 5.3 6l80? And get 26mpg on cheaper fuel....


I know, accounting is a shitty thing to bring to bench racing

 

[redneckK20s]

One of my good friends has a new ZR2 Colorado with the 3.0 in it. I don't really know much about it but. It seems to run strong and he really likes it but he has been having oil consumption problems with it that the local dealer refuses to dig into even after 3 failed oil consumption tests.

I think that's a 2.8? 4 cylinder, OP is talking about the new I6 in the half ton trucks. I'm curious as to who builds it for them? If it's another Isuzu engine it might be worth looking in to a swap. Pretty sure it'll take the same bellhousing as the LT stuff so the possibility of a stick shift has to be there with enough adaptors.

I've spoken to 4 cylinder "duramax" owners and they've all told me 30+mpg unladen and 20mpg+ towing anywhere from 2-5k lbs, so I imagine that little engine would be tits for a compact truck/jeep build.

 

[Lil'John]

It's certainly an interesting engine, I stopped a guy in a parking lot to ask him about his truck, 50k miles, high 20s highway, he's happy
<snip>

but then, you could put a 5.3 6l80? And get 26mpg on cheaper fuel....

I know, accounting is a shitty thing to bring to bench racing

I've got two LS swaps already... nothing "fun" there Hell, the latest swap in progress got a 472 cady

I always look at the price when bench racing... but I don't always put a super high value on price when we are talking within $1k of each other. The LF4 looks like it could be fun too... but not ~$5k fun compared to a $1-2k LS.

I think that's a 2.8? 4 cylinder, OP is talking about the new I6 in the half ton trucks. I'm curious as to who builds it for them? If it's another Isuzu engine it might be worth looking in to a swap. Pretty sure it'll take the same bellhousing as the LT stuff so the possibility of a stick shift has to be there with enough adaptors.

I've spoken to 4 cylinder "duramax" owners and they've all told me 30+mpg unladen and 20mpg+ towing anywhere from 2-5k lbs, so I imagine that little engine would be tits for a compact truck/jeep build.

Correct, I'm talking about the Silverado 1500 Duramax(3.0) I haven't looked at the 2.8(4 cylinder) I do know that people are falling over themselves to spend ~$10k for the 2.8L Cummins

 

[Projectjunkie]

I've got two LS swaps already... nothing "fun" there Hell, the latest swap in progress got a 472 cady

Yup, I always enjoy your builds

whatever you choose, I'll subscribe

 

[redneckK20s]

Correct, I'm talking about the Silverado 1500 Duramax(3.0) I haven't looked at the 2.8(4 cylinder) I do know that people are falling over themselves to spend ~$10k for the 2.8L Cummins

Are they? I remember watching Dirt Every Day when they swapped one into a TJ and I looked up the price afterwards and laughed my ass off. A 4BT has always interested me for a loght wheeler/daily build, but 10k for a brand new similar motor is insane in my mind. I'm a broke ass though so my opinion is probably irrelevant.

 

[Lil'John]

Are they? I remember watching Dirt Every Day when they swapped one into a TJ and I looked up the price afterwards and laughed my ass off. A 4BT has always interested me for a loght wheeler/daily build, but 10k for a brand new similar motor is insane in my mind. I'm a broke ass though so my opinion is probably irrelevant.

Land Cruiser guys certainly are. I lost track of the builds but always laugh at "killer MPG"... so paying $10k+install makes 25mpg better than 15mpg

I can't talk myself into a 4BT... most of the reading hinted at needing to have up to date dental insurance because you would be losing fillings from the rattling

 

[Hubbler]

Engine controls are locked down, similar to the L5P and new c8, so any aftermarket support would be from intercepting the factory sensor signals. They're an in house design and built in Flint.

 

[Lil'John]

Engine controls are locked down, similar to the L5P and new c8, so any aftermarket support would be from intercepting the factory sensor signals. They're an in house design and built in Flint.

I haven't looked at HPtuners and their support of L5P and whatever is in c8... but from what I have seen, they are usually pretty good at breaking computers in a reasonable amount of time.

 

[IGT]

I haven't looked at HPtuners and their support of L5P and whatever is in c8... but from what I have seen, they are usually pretty good at breaking computers in a reasonable amount of time.

I don’t believe the problem is the tuners being able to hack the code anymore. The EPA police have wrecked havoc on putting diesel engines out of emissions compliance.
See the Diesel Brothers problems in SLC.

Gayle Banks has done the most with the LP5 without pulling all the emissions equipment. Maybe he will start on the 3.0.

The other tuners for the LP5 are very quite on the Duramax forums.

 

[NEVERLIFT]

Is this like the big block oil consumption? ie 1 quart between oil changes.



Nothing in the immediate future planned but it popped up as intriguing.

Wvracer was talking about me. I have a 2019 ZR2 2.8 duramax with 30k miles. They say its a complete redesign in 2015. The motor was/is/kind of based off the VM Motori design... the same company that Chrysler used to put the diesel in the Jeep Liberty.

My truck will use somewhere between 0 and 3 quarts of oil in an oil change. GM says anything more than 1 quart in 1000 miles or less is a problem.

The problems with that

• It doesn't consume oil all the time or its very hard to track.
• I used a half a quart towing an empty trailer From WV to NJ. On the way back, I had a WJ on a trailer and it didn't consume a drop.
• I check it every fill up and sometimes its right where i left it and other times its a half quart or more low.

Next oil change i am going to Rotella and see if it changes anything.


other than the oil it might be to quite out the tail pipe. 100% of the time people cant tell its a diesel.

And GM's shitty transmission tuning makes it shift like shit.


the good of the motor

• I was getting 28MPG with factory tire size
• it had more than enough power to pull me around.
• if i want more power i can tune it (from 180hp/384tq to 226hp/445tq) and thats with emissions intact.
• its a very quite motor and very smooth.

I can really write a book about this but to be honest I would never buy a gas Colorado or canyon even with my oil drinking I4 turbo diesel

 

[Aggie06]

Following some of the newer Chevy pages on Facebook, it seems like people love them or have constant issues (go figure). Common complaints are emission issues, again not surprised, oil consumption, or transmission issues. In reality, minus the emission issues, the other two are common complaints with the 5.3 and 6.2 trucks also. I haven’t seen any complaining about head gaskets or anything.

It’s pretty common to see people claiming high 20+ mpg on the highway, and close to 20 in town.

I’m not sure how you would package all of the electronics it would take to shove one of these in another vehicle.

Edit: I currently have a 5.3 truck with the 8 spd transmission. I haven’t had any issues with either.

 

[Lil'John]

I don’t believe the problem is the tuners being able to hack the code anymore. The EPA police have wrecked havoc on putting diesel engines out of emissions compliance.
See the Diesel Brothers problems in SLC.

If I recall right, the DB problem was they were selling coal rolling tuners and telling people to remove smog equipment. From what little I know, even if a state doesn't have smog checks, it was/is still federally illegal to remove smog equipment

HP Tuner doesn't encourage any of that crap.

<to rest of replies>

Interesting about the oil burning.

What is the emission issue? As you note... maybe not an issue.

Depending upon the rig, packaging isn't a problem. I know that my potential carcasses will fit big blocks ;)

 

[NEVERLIFT]

The problem with swapping any modern diesel in a off road rig is all the emissions on the exhuast. the dpf and scr are huge and get very hot. Also you need to mount another tank for the def.

 

[bdkw1]

Oil burning must be a Chevy thing, My chicks 2.9 gasser Colorado will randomly burn like 2 quarts. Freaked me out the first time it did it, there is no rhyme or reason to it either.

 

[Aggie06]

Interesting about the oil burning.

What is the emission issue? As you note... maybe not an issue.

Depending upon the rig, packaging isn't a problem. I know that my potential carcasses will fit big blocks ;)

Seems like I’ve seen issues with heat nuking sensors. Also, your normal complaints about DEF and DPF systems. Like I said, it’s the general modern diesel complaints, it they aren’t killing head gaskets like 6.0 fords.

I didn’t so much mean the size of the engine in packaging, more getting the electronics and all accompanying sensors transferred over and playing nice.

 

[IGT]

If I recall right, the DB problem was they were selling coal rolling tuners and telling people to remove smog equipment. From what little I know, even if a state doesn't have smog checks, it was/is still federally illegal to remove smog equipment

HP Tuner doesn't encourage any of that crap.

I got a close family member that just bought the 3.0 in a 1/2T Chevy.
They asked me what I would get in a 1/2T and I suggested 6.2 gas. In 5 years we probably will know if the 3.0 will hold up.
The latest LP5 Duramax has been a solid engine, maybe some of that engineering bled into the 3.0.

Would you tune it for more HP?

 

[Lil'John]

Seems like I’ve seen issues with heat nuking sensors. Also, your normal complaints about DEF and DPF systems. Like I said, it’s the general modern diesel complaints, it they aren’t killing head gaskets like 6.0 fords.

I didn’t so much mean the size of the engine in packaging, more getting the electronics and all accompanying sensors transferred over and playing nice.

I see DEF/DPF deletes for most popular trucks so that may not be an issue.

Are there any more electronics than a normal LS swap? Drive by wire pedal, ECM, and TCM.

I got a close family member that just bought the 3.0 in a 1/2T Chevy.
They asked me what I would get in a 1/2T and I suggested 6.2 gas. In 5 years we probably will know if the 3.0 will hold up.
The latest LP5 Duramax has been a solid engine, maybe some of that engineering bled into the 3.0.

Would you tune it for more HP?

I would consider tuning for more HP. But more along the lines of removing "smog" detune.

 

[Aggie06]

I see DEF/DPF deletes for most popular trucks so that may not be an issue.

Are there any more electronics than a normal LS swap? Drive by wire pedal, ECM, and TCM.


.

Honestly, I’m not sure. I do know that Chevrolet has made it very difficult to do any kind of programming changes, even on the gas trucks. Price I’ve seen quoted for a unlocked ECM on the newer Silverado is around $1500, then whatever the cost of programming changes are on top of that.

Getting the ECM, BCM, etc. to play nicely on the 3.0 swap might be a real challenge.

 

[Aggie06]

If I’m understating it correctly, swapping gears on a 2019+ Silverado hasn’t really been cracked yet. The swapping gears part is straight forward, getting the programming to for the gear swap is the catch. Which sucks because you’re stuck with a 3.23 or a 3.42 depending on your engine/transmission package.

 

[Hubbler]

The LM2 also comes with active thermal management, same as the L3B (4 cyl turbo gas).