Duramax
Question:
How does it performs? Is it worth the price tag? Is it better than Ford superduty?? Please help need to trade my old truck pronto! Joe
Response:
I know a hog farmer who owns Dodge , Ford and a new Duramax. ( They are used for pulling livestock trailers )He says without hesitation that the Duramax outperforms the PowerStroke and the Cummins in every way. Whether it’s worth the price- only you can decide.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> How does it performs? Is it worth the price tag? Is it better than Ford > superduty?? > Please help need to trade my old truck pronto! > Joe
Response:
I thought the reason for using the Allison tranny was that it COULD handle the power of the engine. Wasn’t this tranny designed in co-ordination with the Duramax? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > The only thing I have heard, not experienced myself, is that the Allison > will not handle the power of the engine. That is why you mention it won’t > use all the available power. I can’t remember the website, but there is > someone who posts regularly who is an engineer at GM and Allison had to > figure out how to handle the engine. Apparently the transmissions have > fairly high failure rates at relatively low mileage on them. >Interesting you should mention the Power Stroke. This is the last year > for >the Power Stroke I’m told. Next year they are replacing it with a 6 litre >engine, that from the spec sheet strongly resembles the Duramax. As for > my >own experience, the engine is great. It’s quiet and makes all the power I >will probably ever need. I can’t say I’m all that excited about the > Allison >automatic transmission however. >If you pull reletavely light loads, it will be great for anyone. With > heavy >loads however, it is kind of a pain in the ass. The transmission won’t >allow you to use all the power the engine makes. If you step down on the >throttle at all to use the huge torque this engine makes, the damn >transmission will downshift instead. When it does, it seems to go down > too >deep making the rpm’s go excessively high. >I’ve also noticed that in the "tow haul" mode, the rpm range between > shifts >is considerably higher than in the normal mode. My dealer tells me, the >only real difference is in the fluid pressure inside the tranny, while > using >tow haul. It really doesn’t make any difference to the transmission. I >have noticed that when coming down a long steep grade, the transmission > does >as advertised. That is to say, it does back shift causing a slowing > effect >on the truck. The problem is, when it does this it may go back to a gear >that again is to high a desired rpm. The damn transmission which has a > mind >of it’s own, will not come out of tow haul mode under these conditions, >unless you physically shift out of drive and into neutral, then back to >drive without tow haul mode selected. A big pain in the ass, in my > opinion. >I have had a lot of experience with the Ford (International) 7.3 lt engine >because of vehicles at work that have this engine. Some have been a big >maintenance problem. I’m not sure it’s as great as Ford wants you to > think >it is, or that Ford owners will tell you it is. They do sound solid and >distinctive. They do have power, however without the Banks mod, their not >as big a power house as you have been led to believe. >My opinion: Engine is great! Transmission: If you tow heavy, go with > the >manual transmission that let’s you control what’s going on, not the >transmission making you do what it wants. >jb >>My only observation: >>The Duramax doesn’t really make any noise when idling or at speed (the >>engine that is). On the other hand, there is the Power Stroke . . . >>>I have a 2001 GMC with the Duramax and Allison automatic. I haven’t >seen >>>any post here about either and was wondering, what experiences people >have >>>had with this set-up. >>>Jim
Response:
if you uprate the HP/TRQ on the duramax with the newest upgrade boxes [EDGE power juice or BD EZ Amp -same box, different name] in the 90hp setting, the trans will slip. but the box is smart enough to cut the power when it detects slippage. now if you toss propane injection into the mix, gotta start saving up for the new ATS valve body.. — nick leinonen markham, ontario, canada http://community.webshots.com/user/nickleinonen . I have heard from several tranny techs that the Allison 1000 can handle anything you can give it! All the guys running them in the field that I talked to LOVE them and have had NO problems! But…. I only have 2K miles, so we’ll see! But for the overall truck… three words! "IT’S THE BOMB" -John
I think that was the intention, but they have been having problems. I think the torque demands are getting so high by consumers that the trannies just can’t handle it. I thought the reason for using the Allison tranny was that it COULD handle the power of the engine. Wasn’t this tranny designed in co-ordination with the Duramax?
The only thing I have heard, not experienced myself, is that the Allison will not handle the power of the engine. That is why you mention it won’t use all the available power. I can’t remember the website, but there is someone who posts regularly who is an engineer at GM and Allison had to figure out how to handle the engine. Apparently the transmissions have fairly high failure rates at relatively low mileage on them.
Interesting you should mention the Power Stroke. This is the last year for the Power Stroke I’m told. Next year they are replacing it with a 6 litre engine, that from the spec sheet strongly resembles the Duramax. As for my own experience, the engine is great. It’s quiet and makes all the power I will probably ever need. I can’t say I’m all that excited about the Allison automatic transmission however. If you pull reletavely light loads, it will be great for anyone. With heavy loads however, it is kind of a pain in the ass. The transmission won’t allow you to use all the power the engine makes. If you step down on the throttle at all to use the huge torque this engine makes, the damn transmission will downshift instead. When it does, it seems to go down too deep making the rpm’s go excessively high. I’ve also noticed that in the "tow haul" mode, the rpm range between shifts is considerably higher than in the normal mode. My dealer tells me, the only real difference is in the fluid pressure inside the tranny, while using tow haul. It really doesn’t make any difference to the transmission. I have noticed that when coming down a long steep grade, the transmission does as advertised. That is to say, it does back shift causing a slowing effect on the truck. The problem is, when it does this it may go back to a gear that again is to high a desired rpm. The damn transmission which has a mind of it’s own, will not come out of tow haul mode under these conditions, unless you physically shift out of drive and into neutral, then back to drive without tow haul mode selected. A big pain in the ass, in my opinion. I have had a lot of experience with the Ford (International) 7.3 lt engine because of vehicles at work that have this engine. Some have been a big maintenance problem. I’m not sure it’s as great as Ford wants you to think it is, or that Ford owners will tell you it is. They do sound solid and distinctive. They do have power, however without the Banks mod, their not as big a power house as you have been led to believe. My opinion: Engine is great! Transmission: If you tow heavy, go with the manual transmission that let’s you control what’s going on, not the transmission making you do what it wants. jb My only observation: The Duramax doesn’t really make any noise when idling or at speed (the engine that is). On the other hand, there is the Power Stroke . . .
I have a 2001 GMC with the Duramax and Allison automatic. I haven’t seen any post here about either and was wondering, what experiences people have had with this set-up. Jim
Response:
I have heard from several tranny techs that the Allison 1000 can handle anything you can give it! All the guys running them in the field that I talked to LOVE them and have had NO problems! But…. I only have 2K miles, so we’ll see! But for the overall truck… three words! "IT’S THE BOMB" -John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I think that was the intention, but they have been having problems. I think >the torque demands are getting so high by consumers that the trannies just >can’t handle it. >I thought the reason for using the Allison tranny was that it COULD >handle the power of the engine. Wasn’t this tranny designed in >co-ordination with the Duramax? >>The only thing I have heard, not experienced myself, is that the Allison >>will not handle the power of the engine. That is why you mention it >won’t >>use all the available power. I can’t remember the website, but there is >>someone who posts regularly who is an engineer at GM and Allison had to >>figure out how to handle the engine. Apparently the transmissions have >>fairly high failure rates at relatively low mileage on them. >>>Interesting you should mention the Power Stroke. This is the last year >>for >>>the Power Stroke I’m told. Next year they are replacing it with a 6 >litre >>>engine, that from the spec sheet strongly resembles the Duramax. As for >>my >>>own experience, the engine is great. It’s quiet and makes all the power >I >>>will probably ever need. I can’t say I’m all that excited about the >>Allison >>>automatic transmission however. >>>If you pull reletavely light loads, it will be great for anyone. With >>heavy >>>loads however, it is kind of a pain in the ass. The transmission won’t >>>allow you to use all the power the engine makes. If you step down on >the >>>throttle at all to use the huge torque this engine makes, the damn >>>transmission will downshift instead. When it does, it seems to go down >>too >>>deep making the rpm’s go excessively high. >>>I’ve also noticed that in the "tow haul" mode, the rpm range between >>shifts >>>is considerably higher than in the normal mode. My dealer tells me, the >>>only real difference is in the fluid pressure inside the tranny, while >>using >>>tow haul. It really doesn’t make any difference to the transmission. I >>>have noticed that when coming down a long steep grade, the transmission >>does >>>as advertised. That is to say, it does back shift causing a slowing >>effect >>>on the truck. The problem is, when it does this it may go back to a >gear >>>that again is to high a desired rpm. The damn transmission which has a >>mind >>>of it’s own, will not come out of tow haul mode under these conditions, >>>unless you physically shift out of drive and into neutral, then back to >>>drive without tow haul mode selected. A big pain in the ass, in my >>opinion. >>>I have had a lot of experience with the Ford (International) 7.3 lt >engine >>>because of vehicles at work that have this engine. Some have been a big >>>maintenance problem. I’m not sure it’s as great as Ford wants you to >>think >>>it is, or that Ford owners will tell you it is. They do sound solid and >>>distinctive. They do have power, however without the Banks mod, their >not >>>as big a power house as you have been led to believe. >>>My opinion: Engine is great! Transmission: If you tow heavy, go with >>the >>>manual transmission that let’s you control what’s going on, not the >>>transmission making you do what it wants. >>>jb >>>>My only observation: >>>>The Duramax doesn’t really make any noise when idling or at speed (the >>>>engine that is). On the other hand, there is the Power Stroke . . . >>>>>I have a 2001 GMC with the Duramax and Allison automatic. I haven’t >>>seen >>>>>any post here about either and was wondering, what experiences people >>>have >>>>>had with this set-up. >>>>>Jim
Response:
I think that was the intention, but they have been having problems. I think the torque demands are getting so high by consumers that the trannies just can’t handle it. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I thought the reason for using the Allison tranny was that it COULD > handle the power of the engine. Wasn’t this tranny designed in > co-ordination with the Duramax? > The only thing I have heard, not experienced myself, is that the Allison > will not handle the power of the engine. That is why you mention it won’t > use all the available power. I can’t remember the website, but there is > someone who posts regularly who is an engineer at GM and Allison had to > figure out how to handle the engine. Apparently the transmissions have > fairly high failure rates at relatively low mileage on them. >>Interesting you should mention the Power Stroke. This is the last year > for >>the Power Stroke I’m told. Next year they are replacing it with a 6 litre >>engine, that from the spec sheet strongly resembles the Duramax. As for > my >>own experience, the engine is great. It’s quiet and makes all the power I >>will probably ever need. I can’t say I’m all that excited about the > Allison >>automatic transmission however. >>If you pull reletavely light loads, it will be great for anyone. With > heavy >>loads however, it is kind of a pain in the ass. The transmission won’t >>allow you to use all the power the engine makes. If you step down on the >>throttle at all to use the huge torque this engine makes, the damn >>transmission will downshift instead. When it does, it seems to go down > too >>deep making the rpm’s go excessively high. >>I’ve also noticed that in the "tow haul" mode, the rpm range between > shifts >>is considerably higher than in the normal mode. My dealer tells me, the >>only real difference is in the fluid pressure inside the tranny, while > using >>tow haul. It really doesn’t make any difference to the transmission. I >>have noticed that when coming down a long steep grade, the transmission > does >>as advertised. That is to say, it does back shift causing a slowing > effect >>on the truck. The problem is, when it does this it may go back to a gear >>that again is to high a desired rpm. The damn transmission which has a > mind >>of it’s own, will not come out of tow haul mode under these conditions, >>unless you physically shift out of drive and into neutral, then back to >>drive without tow haul mode selected. A big pain in the ass, in my > opinion. >>I have had a lot of experience with the Ford (International) 7.3 lt engine >>because of vehicles at work that have this engine. Some have been a big >>maintenance problem. I’m not sure it’s as great as Ford wants you to > think >>it is, or that Ford owners will tell you it is. They do sound solid and >>distinctive. They do have power, however without the Banks mod, their not >>as big a power house as you have been led to believe. >>My opinion: Engine is great! Transmission: If you tow heavy, go with > the >>manual transmission that let’s you control what’s going on, not the >>transmission making you do what it wants. >>jb
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>>My only observation: >>>The Duramax doesn’t really make any noise when idling or at speed (the >>>engine that is). On the other hand, there is the Power Stroke . . . >>>>I have a 2001 GMC with the Duramax and Allison automatic. I haven’t >>seen >>>>any post here about either and was wondering, what experiences people >>have >>>>had with this set-up. >>>>Jim
Response:
The only thing I have heard, not experienced myself, is that the Allison will not handle the power of the engine. That is why you mention it won’t use all the available power. I can’t remember the website, but there is someone who posts regularly who is an engineer at GM and Allison had to figure out how to handle the engine. Apparently the transmissions have fairly high failure rates at relatively low mileage on them.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Interesting you should mention the Power Stroke. This is the last year for > the Power Stroke I’m told. Next year they are replacing it with a 6 litre > engine, that from the spec sheet strongly resembles the Duramax. As for my > own experience, the engine is great. It’s quiet and makes all the power I > will probably ever need. I can’t say I’m all that excited about the Allison > automatic transmission however. > If you pull reletavely light loads, it will be great for anyone. With heavy > loads however, it is kind of a pain in the ass. The transmission won’t > allow you to use all the power the engine makes. If you step down on the > throttle at all to use the huge torque this engine makes, the damn > transmission will downshift instead. When it does, it seems to go down too > deep making the rpm’s go excessively high. > I’ve also noticed that in the "tow haul" mode, the rpm range between shifts > is considerably higher than in the normal mode. My dealer tells me, the > only real difference is in the fluid pressure inside the tranny, while using > tow haul. It really doesn’t make any difference to the transmission. I > have noticed that when coming down a long steep grade, the transmission does > as advertised. That is to say, it does back shift causing a slowing effect > on the truck. The problem is, when it does this it may go back to a gear > that again is to high a desired rpm. The damn transmission which has a mind > of it’s own, will not come out of tow haul mode under these conditions, > unless you physically shift out of drive and into neutral, then back to > drive without tow haul mode selected. A big pain in the ass, in my opinion. > I have had a lot of experience with the Ford (International) 7.3 lt engine > because of vehicles at work that have this engine. Some have been a big > maintenance problem. I’m not sure it’s as great as Ford wants you to think > it is, or that Ford owners will tell you it is. They do sound solid and > distinctive. They do have power, however without the Banks mod, their not > as big a power house as you have been led to believe. > My opinion: Engine is great! Transmission: If you tow heavy, go with the > manual transmission that let’s you control what’s going on, not the > transmission making you do what it wants. > jb
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My only observation: > The Duramax doesn’t really make any noise when idling or at speed (the > engine that is). On the other hand, there is the Power Stroke . . . > > I have a 2001 GMC with the Duramax and Allison automatic. I haven’t > seen > > any post here about either and was wondering, what experiences people > have > > had with this set-up. > > Jim
Response:
I have heard nothing bad about the Allison transmission but . . . the local Detroit Diesel/Allison dealer has literally hundreds of them on shelves and replace many. I was told by one of the parts people that the local school buses need the auto trans so they don’t roll back on hills when starting and that the drivers of said busses go through them at a rapid rate.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Interesting you should mention the Power Stroke. This is the last year for > the Power Stroke I’m told. Next year they are replacing it with a 6 litre > engine, that from the spec sheet strongly resembles the Duramax. As for my > own experience, the engine is great. It’s quiet and makes all the power I > will probably ever need. I can’t say I’m all that excited about the Allison > automatic transmission however. > If you pull reletavely light loads, it will be great for anyone. With heavy > loads however, it is kind of a pain in the ass. The transmission won’t > allow you to use all the power the engine makes. If you step down on the > throttle at all to use the huge torque this engine makes, the damn > transmission will downshift instead. When it does, it seems to go down too > deep making the rpm’s go excessively high. > I’ve also noticed that in the "tow haul" mode, the rpm range between shifts > is considerably higher than in the normal mode. My dealer tells me, the > only real difference is in the fluid pressure inside the tranny, while using > tow haul. It really doesn’t make any difference to the transmission. I > have noticed that when coming down a long steep grade, the transmission does > as advertised. That is to say, it does back shift causing a slowing effect > on the truck. The problem is, when it does this it may go back to a gear > that again is to high a desired rpm. The damn transmission which has a mind > of it’s own, will not come out of tow haul mode under these conditions, > unless you physically shift out of drive and into neutral, then back to > drive without tow haul mode selected. A big pain in the ass, in my opinion. > I have had a lot of experience with the Ford (International) 7.3 lt engine > because of vehicles at work that have this engine. Some have been a big > maintenance problem. I’m not sure it’s as great as Ford wants you to think > it is, or that Ford owners will tell you it is. They do sound solid and > distinctive. They do have power, however without the Banks mod, their not > as big a power house as you have been led to believe. > My opinion: Engine is great! Transmission: If you tow heavy, go with the > manual transmission that let’s you control what’s going on, not the > transmission making you do what it wants. > jb
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My only observation: > The Duramax doesn’t really make any noise when idling or at speed (the > engine that is). On the other hand, there is the Power Stroke . . . > > I have a 2001 GMC with the Duramax and Allison automatic. I haven’t > seen > > any post here about either and was wondering, what experiences people > have > > had with this set-up. > > Jim
Response:
Yeah, the Duramax sounds like a big-block when it’s running, VERY nice… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > My only observation: > The Duramax doesn’t really make any noise when idling or at speed (the > engine that is). On the other hand, there is the Power Stroke . . . >I have a 2001 GMC with the Duramax and Allison automatic. I haven’t seen >any post here about either and was wondering, what experiences people have >had with this set-up. >Jim
Response:
Interesting you should mention the Power Stroke. This is the last year for the Power Stroke I’m told. Next year they are replacing it with a 6 litre engine, that from the spec sheet strongly resembles the Duramax. As for my own experience, the engine is great. It’s quiet and makes all the power I will probably ever need. I can’t say I’m all that excited about the Allison automatic transmission however. If you pull reletavely light loads, it will be great for anyone. With heavy loads however, it is kind of a pain in the ass. The transmission won’t allow you to use all the power the engine makes. If you step down on the throttle at all to use the huge torque this engine makes, the damn transmission will downshift instead. When it does, it seems to go down too deep making the rpm’s go excessively high. I’ve also noticed that in the "tow haul" mode, the rpm range between shifts is considerably higher than in the normal mode. My dealer tells me, the only real difference is in the fluid pressure inside the tranny, while using tow haul. It really doesn’t make any difference to the transmission. I have noticed that when coming down a long steep grade, the transmission does as advertised. That is to say, it does back shift causing a slowing effect on the truck. The problem is, when it does this it may go back to a gear that again is to high a desired rpm. The damn transmission which has a mind of it’s own, will not come out of tow haul mode under these conditions, unless you physically shift out of drive and into neutral, then back to drive without tow haul mode selected. A big pain in the ass, in my opinion. I have had a lot of experience with the Ford (International) 7.3 lt engine because of vehicles at work that have this engine. Some have been a big maintenance problem. I’m not sure it’s as great as Ford wants you to think it is, or that Ford owners will tell you it is. They do sound solid and distinctive. They do have power, however without the Banks mod, their not as big a power house as you have been led to believe. My opinion: Engine is great! Transmission: If you tow heavy, go with the manual transmission that let’s you control what’s going on, not the transmission making you do what it wants. jb – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My only observation: > The Duramax doesn’t really make any noise when idling or at speed (the > engine that is). On the other hand, there is the Power Stroke . . . > I have a 2001 GMC with the Duramax and Allison automatic. I haven’t seen > any post here about either and was wondering, what experiences people have > had with this set-up. > Jim
Response:
I have a 2001 GMC with the Duramax and Allison automatic. I haven’t seen any post here about either and was wondering, what experiences people have had with this set-up. Jim
Response:
I would also be interest as I just ordered an 03′ on Monday but I’m getting the six speed regular cab long bed 4×4 tow package, snow plow prep with of course the duramax
Response:
My only observation: The Duramax doesn’t really make any noise when idling or at speed (the engine that is). On the other hand, there is the Power Stroke . . .
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a 2001 GMC with the Duramax and Allison automatic. I haven’t seen > any post here about either and was wondering, what experiences people have > had with this set-up. > Jim
