GM is going to debut a light duty diesel truck in 09

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060824/NEWS99/60824015

The only problem is, that at current fuel prices the diesel would have to priced around 1.5K more than the 5.3L truck to have a somewhat equal cost/benefit ratio after a 4 year ownership period (just some numbers I tossed in my calculator). A 3/4 ton diesel truck is about 6K more than a gas powered one... so.... would this even be worth it?

What do y'all think?

Are they putting the 5.3L into pickups with the fuel management system that shuts down 4 cylinders during low demand for power?

A friend just bought a new 2007 Suburban with the 5.3L and it is rated at 29 mpg on the highway. I bought my diesel for the power and justified the cost with the better mileage, but I think this is changing.

HOLY CRAP! Your friends Suburban gets the same gas milage as my Grand Prix!

Are they putting the 5.3L into pickups with the fuel management system that shuts down 4 cylinders during low demand for power?

A friend just bought a new 2007 Suburban with the 5.3L and it is rated at 29 mpg on the highway. I bought my diesel for the power and justified the cost with the better mileage, but I think this is changing.

I was looking at fully loaded 'burb at the dealership the other night. It had the cylinder deactivation on it and the sticker said 21 highway :crazy:

Mike

I was looking at fully loaded 'burb at the dealership the other night. It had the cylinder deactivation on it and the sticker said 21 highway :crazy:

Mike

my grandad always told me there are two things a man will lie about in his life those are his gas milage and the size of his.... umm... hands.

Smart move on their part. It's risky, but I know at least 5 people within 4 miles of my house right now making their own biodiesel and they're paying around 90 cents a gallon. I think Biodiesel is going to exponentially gain in popularity after all the publicity it's gotten the past 3-5 years.

I was looking at fully loaded 'burb at the dealership the other night. It had the cylinder deactivation on it and the sticker said 21 highway :crazy:

Mike

Ever investigate how that is calculated? The EPA rules for calculating this are waaaay outdated and the automakers exploit this.

I think the tax man is eventually going to get all these home bio factories. Because that is where most of the cost of fuel is in road tax. I will disagree with the 6k price difference on a diesel pickup. If you price out a 2500 with 6.6 dmax and a 8.1 gas the difference is only about $2500 or less.

Displacment on Demand motors are great for those that do a lot of highway driving. For those who spend most of their time in stop and go, it isn't much of a savings.

Displacment on Demand motors are great for those that do a lot of highway driving. For those who spend most of their time in stop and go, it isn't much of a savings.

That's exaclty what I was thinking.

2006 ex cab 4x4 5.3L 15 city 18 hwy

2007 ex cab 4x4 5.3L 16 city 21 hwy

That wouldn't help me much, I currently probably drive 80% city BUT a diesel that gets 20mpg city would rock!

Smart move on their part. It's risky, but I know at least 5 people within 4 miles of my house right now making their own biodiesel and they're paying around 90 cents a gallon. I think Biodiesel is going to exponentially gain in popularity after all the publicity it's gotten the past 3-5 years.

What's risky shifty? Making biodiesel at home? Is it unsafe to make it? or illegal?

That's exaclty what I was thinking.

2006 ex cab 4x4 5.3L 15 city 18 hwy

2007 ex cab 4x4 5.3L 16 city 21 hwy

That wouldn't help me much, I currently probably drive 80% city BUT a diesel that gets 20mpg city would rock!

I get an average of 17mpg in and around town loaded with about 500/600lbs daily with my '01 122K mile Duramax/Alli combo.
Get the same kind of numbers on the interstate towing a loaded trailer and
somewhere in the 19/22mpg running empty down the interstate.

I'll be staying with a diesel for all/any of my work/tow/haul vehicles not only for the torque and mileage capabilities but for the longevity/dependability of the motor.

I was looking at fully loaded 'burb at the dealership the other night. It had the cylinder deactivation on it and the sticker said 21 highway


Three things.....

1) I am in Canada and the rating would be with imperial gallons not US gallons, so if my math is correct that would convert to 24 mpg in the US

2) His Suburban is 2WD and the 4WD I saw on the lot was listed as 27 mpg or 22 mpg in US gallons. So we are probably close

3) I believe the vehicles in Canada are tested in Canada by the government so it may be a different test


I test drove an 06 Impala SS this summer with the 5.3 and the car going down the highway with the cruise set at 60 mph was consistantly switching between 4 cyl and 8 cyl mode.