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2011 duramax?

6K views 46 replies 16 participants last post by  lauriat 
#1 ·
Does anyone have one on here? Real life milelage? My dad is looking at picking one up. Any input may/would be helpful. Thanks.
 
#5 ·
My gramps is picking up a 2012 duramax this next week. I'll let ya know what he does.
Ok, I'm not sure if he will end up getting it or not. I think he wants to be able to get high teens.


we have a both 2011 and 2012 d maxes and they dont really get shit for milage. they are both duallys and only have like 20-40,000 miles on them. power houses for being stock though
He is looking at a crew cab 2500. I have done some reading and some people say they get 14 and the next one says they get 20-22. He drives fairly slow and is easy on acceleration. I will use it tow the enclosed and and take the capper off my truck and put it on his and use it when I take the dog somewhere also.
 
#3 ·
we have a both 2011 and 2012 d maxes and they dont really get shit for milage. they are both duallys and only have like 20-40,000 miles on them. power houses for being stock though
 
#4 ·
Closest I can give you is 2011 preproduction numbers I saw when testing two years ago, and they're to be taken with a grain of salt, lol.

Running unloaded from here to Death Valley in an unloaded CCLB 4x4, I averaged 18 mpg while running between 65 and 80-ish mph. During that time, I was writing and testing control code for the "hydrocarbon injector" in the aftertreatment system. It is basically a single fuel injector that sprays fuel upstream of the DOC to create heat in the exhaust to burn off particulates. Without that running all the time, I would've been closer to 20 mpg.

YMMV :d:
 
#6 ·
my neighbor has a 2011 3500HD with the duramax, crew cab short bed single wheel. his real world mileage is around 15-16 MPG combined city/hwy. he drives to warren and back twice a week for work but mostly just a grocery getter.
 
#7 ·
does he want a new one or a newer one? if he could do a 2010 do that. doesnt have all the newer emmisions stuff that kills the mileage just the dpf. buddy gets about 18 with his 2010. i've HEARD dont know for sure that the 2011 and 2012 do only get about 14 or 15.
 
#11 ·
I completely disagree with the last thread. 07.5-2010 Duramaxs will get less fuel mileage then the 2011+ Duramaxs. The SCR helps increase fuel mileage vs the prior generation LMM engines.....Scooter can vouch for this. I have a few friends with 2011 Duramaxs and when they try to get fuel mileage ie. driving 65 on the highway they can get 19-20.
Everything from 2007.5 gets a DPF - that isn't exactly what hurts the fuel economy, it's actually not restrictive - cleaning the DPF is what hurts the fuel economy. You use an injector in the exhaust to provide fuel to a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) - the DOC burns the fuel and provides the heat for the DPF to burn off the particulates stored in the filter. You'll do this (called a DPF regeneration) about once a tankful of fuel, and it uses about a gallon of fuel.

The SCR hasn't made a difference in fuel economy for the GM trucks - when you see an increase in fuel economy using an SCR, it is usually when it replaces a NOx trap. A NOx trap needs periods of running rich (which is something diesels don't do often) to clean out the oxides of nitrogen.
 
#8 ·
I completely disagree with the last thread. 07.5-2010 Duramaxs will get less fuel mileage then the 2011+ Duramaxs. The SCR helps increase fuel mileage vs the prior generation LMM engines.....Scooter can vouch for this. I have a few friends with 2011 Duramaxs and when they try to get fuel mileage ie. driving 65 on the highway they can get 19-20.
 
#10 ·
I'm sure we all care about the mileage our vehicles get even if its going from shitty to less shitty. Hell I was happy to squeak another .5-1 mpg out of my JK.

I have to say though if the difference between 19-20mpg and 15-16mpg is a main influencing factor in buy a certain vehicle maybe that vehicle isn't really what you need.

That being said I'd listen to whatever Scooter said unless it begins with, "Don't worry, this won't hurt a bit...". Then run you should run away...

:sonicjay:
 
#13 ·
I'm sure we all care about the mileage our vehicles get even if its going from shitty to less shitty. Hell I was happy to squeak another .5-1 mpg out of my JK.

I have to say though if the difference between 19-20mpg and 15-16mpg is a main influencing factor in buy a certain vehicle maybe that vehicle isn't really what you need.

:
How do you figure?

Maybe i am obsessive compulsive, but mileage is a big cost if you drive a fair amount of miles. I've argued that before.

I drive a lot, so it makes a bigger difference to me then a lot of people. But even at 10,000 miles a year a 5 mpg difference can really add up.
 
#14 ·
I think what he may be getting at is if mileage is that big of a concern when buying a truck made to use for intense towing and that costs that much then maybe you should be saving 20,000 and getting a 1/2 ton gasser and see your savings there. Especially since it sounds like nothing to terrible will be getting towed with it on a regular basis.
 
#33 ·
how do the new trucks with the 6 speed tow? I really dislike the 4L60E in mine..
My F150 6 speed is nice. The big things are the much better first gear (most of the 6 speeds are better than 4:1 first gear, almost like a creeper gear), and the RPM drops between shifts are less. In a 6L80, first gear is 30% lower, and you don't have the big 1-2 shift rpm drop, compared to a 4L60e.

For what its worth, my F150 (2009 supercrew 5.4 4x4 6 speed) does 10-12mpg towing our jeeps (TJ, or CJ8 with moderate lifts/tires), depending on if we are going 65 or 80. I would say 11-11.5 towing is typical.

Those I know with 5.3 Chevys usually do a touch better, but do run higher RPMs, 11-13mpg towing similar.

ok, back to whatever the topic was....
 
#32 ·
I just got back from dealer. To clear things up a little more I was going to be buying the truck for him and using it when I wanted to tow/haul the dogs around. I tow with my 2010hd gasser a couple times a months right now going to the UP and back (4 spot enclosed, 2200lbs empty). I also have a 24 liberator that I tow in the summer. I also tow a couple jeeps around in the summer everynow and then on a tri axle trailer. My dad has decided that he doesn't want a crew cab right now though. I may still trade my truck and get this one though. It is a short bed but still longer then the half tons. After I told my friend that my dad didn't want it he offered to throw in a free 6.5" bds lift. I know the cost of ownership is more but I rarely keep a truck long enough to worry about major repairs. So right now I can get the truck lifted and have to buy my own wheels and tires and have a smaller monthly payment then my current 2010 2500hd gasser.
 
#36 ·
After I told my friend that my dad didn't want it he offered to throw in a free 6.5" bds lift. I know the cost of ownership is more but I rarely keep a truck long enough to worry about major repairs. So right now I can get the truck lifted and have to buy my own wheels and tires and have a smaller monthly payment then my current 2010 2500hd gasser.
If mileage is one of your concerns my suggestion would be to not lift it and put bigger wheels and tires on it. Not only will that have an adverse affect on your fuel economy it will also cause other parts to wear faster and front end components on these big trucks are NOT cheap.

Just my .02 on that one...
 
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