2017 Duramax Owners Report

[Bgibbs]

This is not a "my truck is better than your truck" post. I simply want to report our experience with our new truck purchased in Feb 2017. We previously towed with a 2006 Duramax with almost 200K. Other than $6600 for new injectors on our way to CO in summer of 2016, it was a very trouble free experience.
Less than a week after buying the new truck, the "check engine" light came on. I called On-Star and asked them to run diagnostics. "It is a code about fuel injector, but don't be concerned". I had been down that road last summer! In less than 5 minutes, I was in the dealer's service drive. They immediately took it back to service. A few minutes later, the tech brought it back and said they didn't know the cause. They had seen a few trucks with the issue but the engineers were clueless. He assured me that it was "probably" a one- time event. So far he was right. 11,000 miles and it has not come back on.
We spent a month in southern UT in the spring and we love the truck. Over 4,000 miles and 12.1mpg. The new Duramax doesn't even know the AS is back there. 13% grades up or down are not an issue.
We just returned from a week in Branson. 950 miles and 13.2mpg.
We have made several non-towing trips to the TX coast in the truck and consistently get 18-21mpg depending on wind direction.
I most always tow at 65 unless passing a slower vehicle and usually 5 over the posted speed when not towing.
There are currently two recalls on the truck and I am taking it in next Weds to get those addressed. One relates to the diesel particulate filter and the other concerns front seat belt retractors.
Like I said, I don't know who has the best truck but so far we're happy with ours.

[Countryboy59]

The truck knows the AS is back there. You might not, but it does.

$6600 for fuel injectors? Holy moley. Glad my son is a diesel mechanic.

[mojo]

I too recently bought a new 2017 Duramax 4x4. Chevy offered 0% financing where as Ford does not on their Super Dutys. I'd rather use their money than mine. I have been happy so far with performance and mileage. But most of all, the lack of drama going up and down the 8%-12% grades.

Never thought I would be singing the praises of a 3/4/1 ton diesel but they are amazing haulers. I had a 2007 V10 diesel Touareg which also pulled wonderfully, but was getting old and limited on payload and packing space. Also a 2011 F150 Ecoboost which was great until I upgraded from a 25' Safari to a 27" Serenity. The Ford engine and tranny would get close to overheating on long uphill grades and having to feather the brakes on steep downgrades was getting old. These new diesels are quiet and comfortable!

[moosetags]

The 2017 Duramax was the first to have the new L5P engine design replacing the LML Duramax of the previous six years. We recently purchased a new 2018 Silverado Duramax. We have only accumulated 4,000 miles so far. Most of this has been towing the Airstream. We are getting a little over 12 mpg, towing at 65 to 70 mph. We have not experienced any problems yet.

Our former tow vehicle was a 2011 Silverado Duramax. It was the first year of the LML engine. We experienced a lot of DEF related problems. Most of these were computer related.

We really like the new function hood scoop on the new Duramax.

Brian

[Bgibbs]

I wish I had been home when the injectors in the '06 failed. I could have saved a lot of money replacing them myself. But, when you are on a trip and it happens in Moriarity, NM you don't have much choice. I called the dealer I bought the truck from in '06 to confirm the price and was told that's what they would charge.
The dealer in Moriarity was super nice. We were able to plug into 50a circuit in their service drive and hook up to water. One of the service writers invited us to dinner at his house one night (we declined) and they gave us a loaner car. The tech came in Sunday morning to get us back on the road.
Overall, as good an experience as spending $6600 could be. The rest of the trip was uneventful.
Oh, it was 111 in Tucumcari when we first had the problem. Glad we have 2 a/c's!

[wulfraat]

We are loving ours - 2017 gmc 2500 Denali with duramax power plant purchased in July. About 4500 miles mostly towing our 2017 30’ international in the Colorado rockies.

Couple of recalls that required computer programming but operationally trouble free.

[Tater]

We currently have a 2015 LML and now have a 2018 L5P ordered that will be in production next week. We love the LML but wanted to get a crew cab instead of extended cab. Also, we have no need for 4WD so we ordered ours 2WD as the previous 2 Silverados. Dieselplace.com has lots of information on the issues the OP mentioned. Apparently the software fix is now available for the issues. Our 15 has been trouble free and we have over 71,000 miles on it mostly towing our 30' Classic.

[ashrink12]

I have a 2016 Silverado Duramax and I have had no problems with it whatsoever. I have about 13,000 miles and most of that is towing. I do have one question for Duramax owners. After each oil change my engine oil is almost immediately dark to the point of being almost black. This happens in a very short amount of time. I understand that there is a reservoir of oil that does not get changed when you change your oil and that this small reservoir can quickly darken the new oil. If anyone has any thoughts or knowledge about this matter I would appreciate it. I am just concerned that my oil is dark, almost immediately after having it changed.

Thx
Greg

[nevans]

I have a 2014 Duramax and the oil also turns black immediately after an oil change. My brother has a 47’ Sea Ray with twin Caterpillar diesels. He was told by a marine mechanic that black oil is an attribute of all diesels. My Mercedes GL was the same

Neil

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by nevans

I have a 2014 Duramax and the oil also turns black immediately after an oil change. My brother has a 47’ Sea Ray with twin Caterpillar diesels. He was told by a marine mechanic that black oil is an attribute of all diesels. My Mercedes GL was the same

Neil

Indeed it is.

[pt.reyesfan]

Originally Posted by ashrink12

I have a 2016 Silverado Duramax and I have had no problems with it whatsoever. I have about 13,000 miles and most of that is towing. I do have one question for Duramax owners. After each oil change my engine oil is almost immediately dark to the point of being almost black. This happens in a very short amount of time. I understand that there is a reservoir of oil that does not get changed when you change your oil and that this small reservoir can quickly darken the new oil. If anyone has any thoughts or knowledge about this matter I would appreciate it. I am just concerned that my oil is dark, almost immediately after having it changed.

Thx
Greg

We also have a 2016 Silverado Duramax and have had zero issues at 14,000 miles. Great truck for towing. Love the exhaust brake.

[80Ram]

Just turned over 28,000 miles in our 2016 GMC Duramax and happy to report no problems. About half of those 28,000 were towing miles.

[guskmg]

Bgibbs. Very intersting since I am at 120 K miles on my '07 LMM Durmax. On your injector problem did you hear any advice on using GM's injector cleaner? My service guy's swear by it and I have notice a smother engine after using it. I was wonrering if the injectors would really last longer using it at the recommended interval. I belive that is every 50,000. What is your opinion?
guskmg

[Bgibbs]

I don't know if any additive would help. Diesel injectors work at extremely high pressures and high mechanical stresses. And, any mechanical part eventually wears out. This would be a good question for a Duramax forum.

[cwf]

Chevys...
2013 4x4. Glow plug eater. 14-16 mpg towing 34’ AS. Over 20-22 running light. Occasionally went on DEF binge. Traded upto.....

2017, 4x4... same truck basically. When new, 24-27 light... highway.... after 1500 miles, hooked up, 11-12 mpg ... ok, it is new,..... 8500 miles.. still Around 12. Unloaded, around
22. Lots Of REGENS (truck smells like burning)... drinking DEF��. Report all this dealer... “no Computer issues”... applied recall.. lots of REGENS ... mpg drops to about 9 running light till regen completes... then14-16. AS towing 8-9 if really flat. Long downhill mpg gets to about 12. The recall helped the erratic throttle around 30-40 mph but now unstable at 10 MPh, especially on slight downhill.

Today it is back at dealer... recall seat belt and “check” for engine . I have zero success hope.... second trip for seatbelt because GM failed to send proper/complete part set.

Otherwise the truck is very nice. Meanwhile looking into TEXAS LL.

[nevans]

By the way, I had the #8 glow plug replaced at 65,000 km (40,000 miles). It was covered under the power train warranty. Other than that, no issues.

Neil

[rocco52]

I have a 2017 Chevy Duramax and have had no problems. It just turned over 10K miles. Towing is 12-13mpg. Back and forth to work is 16-17. I am very happy with the truck. Interesting that it has double the torque of the 2002 Chevy Duramax that I had years ago and gets better fuel economy! One thing I have noticed now that temperatures are a lot colder is that I can hear the Turbo whine a bit until the engine warms up. My friend has a new Ford and his does the same thing. I guess it is normal.

[Hans627]

Originally Posted by cwf

Chevys...
2013 4x4. Glow plug eater. 14-16 mpg towing 34’ AS. Over 20-22 running light. Occasionally went on DEF binge. Traded upto.....

2017, 4x4... same truck basically. When new, 24-27 light... highway.... after 1500 miles, hooked up, 11-12 mpg ... ok, it is new,..... 8500 miles.. still Around 12. Unloaded, around
22. Lots Of REGENS (truck smells like burning)... drinking DEF��. Report all this dealer... “no Computer issues”... applied recall.. lots of REGENS ... mpg drops to about 9 running light till regen completes... then14-16. AS towing 8-9 if really flat. Long downhill mpg gets to about 12. The recall helped the erratic throttle around 30-40 mph but now unstable at 10 MPh, especially on slight downhill.

Today it is back at dealer... recall seat belt and “check” for engine . I have zero success hope.... second trip for seatbelt because GM failed to send proper/complete part set.

Otherwise the truck is very nice. Meanwhile looking into TEXAS LL.

Please excuse my ignorance but was is TEXAS LL?

[Tater]

Lemon law.

[Hans627]

Originally Posted by Tater

Lemon law.

Of course! Thanks!