Looking at trucks and specifically 2500HD GM gas burners with the 6.0 motor. Everything I'm hearing is the motors are extremely reliable but fuel economy is less than desirable. I believe all the new trucks come with the 4.10 rear end so that doesn't help matters. Does anyone else have anything to say about the trucks our motors?

I just bought a used one for a road tire truck. I believe its a 2004 with 200,000 mile paid 2700 for it. 3 months going strong.


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6.0 is about bullet proof. It's the old 366 they put in the ole c65 dump trucks. I had an '03i bought new, sold it in '08 with 280k to a mexicanlandscaper. He's still driving it today. Only thing that ever happened to it was I broke a motor mount trying to pull a stuck bobcat out .

What year range are you looking at Frank? There's not a bolt I haven't turned on that truck platform. Some are better than others.

To be clear, that is an "LS" based engine. GEN III or GEN IV depending on year. As long as it's pre-'14 when they started direct injection. That's a whole different block, heads etc...

Ive had a couple. Oil sending unit screens are the only problem that I recall. Solid engines


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I haven't done as much on the 14+'s but from all accounts they're solid engines just like the rest. There have been some minor issues and I would recommend doing a top end induction cleaning service every 30K or so. Installing a catch can (correctly) into the PCV system day one is recommended and will keep oil out of the intake tract. The direct injected engines suffer from intake valve coking in some cases since they don't have fuel in the intake runner to keep the back of the valve clean. It's being injected directly into the combustion chamber. Are the 2500's getting the 8spd trans? If you're getting the 6L90E auto, it's a solid unit. Shouldn't have any issues.

They're great trucks, the DI GEN V engines are strong. They have a little more mechanical noise than the older engines simply due to the HP fuel system. Good luck with it. They're great trucks.

My dad has a 99 2500 with 258,000 hard miles on the original 6.0 and transmission and still going strong. Pulled a gooseneck with a 95 Hp tractor last week.

However, don't get me started on my 07 5.3 with 132k. It's receiving a new engine in the very near future and I hope it'll be a 6.0 if I can get it to bolt up.


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My 07 5.3 has 135K on it now and has been running like a top. It does have a lifter tap on a cold start if it sits for more than a couple days but it gets quiet fast and has done it since I bought it with 40K. It also gets 15/40 Rotella just like almost everything else I own. I refuse to put 30w water in that engine.

Some of the GEN IV's do have oil consumption problems that stem from the AFM system but that's typically an easy fix.

As far as replacing your 5.3L with a 6L, it's an easy swap as long as you get the same generation engine, it's a direct 1:1 swap but you will need retuning. It's a little more wiring but you can put an older (99+) engine in your 07 truck. It's been done. As well as the other way around. I'd be concerned with the 4L70E taking a dump before that engine does though. I have a backup sitting wrapped up on a crate for mine for whenever it decides to go south. With those things, it's when, not if.

I cringe every time I see the word lifter. Mine doesn't even have AFM. Roller seized and is now banging on my camshaft. When it first started I went to autozone to get some rislone and the guy behind the counter goes "let me guess, 5.3 Silverado between 06 and 11."


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I'll dig up some info on them and post it here. Basically cleans the PCV system that's known for recirculating oil vapor back into the intake. Very easily solved problem though. I have one on my 07.

That's exactly it. I have installed one on every GM engine I've owned and I believe it's probably saved me some grief somewhere down the road.

This is the one I recommend:
http://www.mightymousesolutions.com/#!m ... cans/w4v36

Thanks guys!

I had a 2013 2500HD work truck with the 6.0. It was a strong truck. Had a service body and was always loaded with lots of tools and pipe.

Gas mileage was typically 8-10MPG, and I don't haul ass either. That was real disappointing, and is the only reason I wouldn't buy one personally.

I had it for about 2.5 years, and put about 80,000 miles on it with no problems.

Good luck with the new truck, Frank! I've been happy with my 04 5.3 GMC Sierra 4x4 WT; probably go with the same in a couple of years- but I will also look at Ford...

A good engine tune will net more mileage and power from these engines. The 6.0L is severely detuned... Especially in the GMT800 platform.

ALL of them are severely detuned from the factory from 99+. We've seen as much as 30hp on 5.3's and one of the LQ9's (6.0) we tuned gained almost 50hp, all with tuning alone. They gained mileage and all around drivability. There's a lot that can be done with them for sure.

You're absolutely right. Tons of potential. That PE table can be awesome when it's manipulated though. I always swapped to an operating system that had a PE and BE (boost enrichment) for forced induction stuff. The E38 PCMs they swapped to had more "driver friendly" type tables but the 0411's are better I think for making real power.

Got the new truck today. Tried to post pictures but I'm not able to for the first time ever.

You'd be surprised how many there are living long lives at 500 whp with turbos and prochargers. I had one years ago that I sprayed the hell out of. Never had a moments problem with it. It was a 10 bolt rear eating machine but the engine never missed a lick.

Everything out there in the truck market is de tuned. The diesels that are out make ridiculous amounts of torque and hp, but they're dulled down to satisfy the pansy green Prius owners.

What would be the actual mileage you could expect out of a 2016 2500hd with the 6.0? I need a new truck and I'm hearing a lot of reasons why I shouldn't buy one with a dura max, because of the def fluid and the particulate filter. Sorry about the half a hijack, I just don't know anyone with a new gm pickup.

500 miles on my brand new one and with mostly interstate driving I'm at 14 mpg.

It should improve some. I'd expect 16-17 on a flat highway unloaded as long as you keep the speed reasonable. That depends on final gearing too. All of them I've driven have had 3.73's and 4.10's and done 12 or so in town and mid-high teens on the hwy. GOOD tuning does improve this.

That depends on the tuner, and the truck. Anywhere from 1-4mpg is typical. It will vary from truck to truck with the same person tuning though. Just the nature of the beast. Even if there's no mileage gained, there will be more power and better drivability in most cases, so I figure that's a win either way around.

My best advice is if you have someone local that's reputable and will stand behind their work, get a live, in-person street tune done. My second choice would be a dyno tune (preferably on a load-bearing dyno). A mail order is probably a little cheaper but they're usually a generic, canned file the tuner uses and tweaks for small things. They can do a lot thru mail order tuning these days but there's no replacement for being hooked up to the vehicle while it's going down the road.

Main thing is, don't let just any jackass with a laptop plug up to your truck.

The one 6.0 I've drove and been around a lot.... He put a powerdyne super charger on it.... Talk about woke it up!


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Here she is.

Looks like mine.. Kinda