Blown Away: I towed 7,000 lbs to see REAL MPG with 3.0 Duramax ZR2
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- čas přidán 13. 03. 2024
- Can the 3.0 Durmax tow? What is the Miles Per Gallon towing with a 3.0 Duramax? We take the 2024 Chevy ZR2 for a 90-mile trip to see if it can keep up with a 6.2 Chevy Silverado.
Check out our ZR2 3.0 Duramax VS Z71 Trail Boss 6.2: Which is better?. ➡️ • ZR2 3.0 Duramax VS Z71...
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Question -Do you own 6.2 or 3.0 Duramax. Which one is better?
#zr2 #chevysilverado #truck
About this video:
test of a 3.0 Duramax engine, addressing its power compared to a V8 6.2 engine. The skepticism is mainly around the engine's ability to tow, with some viewers expressing a preference for a V8 engine for towing purposes. - Auta a dopravní prostředky
This is a totally a real world test... Kudos for your effort! I had a 2019 5.3 RST towed a 6k travel trailer all over NM,CO,WY,AZ .. it worked but damn the mileage sucked and if the wind blew.. I just wanted to pull over. Traded for a 2023 LTZ 3.0 ... different thing all together.. I get crazy mileage without the trailer 25 town, 28 highway and my 5.3 was around 9.5 pulling the trailer ( and I never checked it by hand and I'm saying that computer was a lying mofo), the 3.0 duramax 12.5 towing same trailer and actually better when hand calculated. Kudos to GM for erroring on the low side with the computer with this new truck. Oh.. I did put sumo springs on the new truck .. huge difference when towing as far a stability. Thanks for this great video.
Thank you, I’m glad you liked it! That’s awesome to hear a comparison with the 5.3 and that the LZ0 is working out for you much better.
My 2020 Trail Boss with the 6.2 gets 9-10mpg towing a 29 foot trailer with a 6300lb dry weight and loaded with all gear for trips with full propane tanks and an extra battery so it's probably closer to 7200lbs. When not towing I get 16-18mpg in the city and 18-20 on long freeway trips. Road Active suspension springs solved my problem with the 2.5 inches of squat and took away about 2 inches of it so the truck rides level when towing. Great video illustration of the MPG's from the baby Duramax.
Hola muy bueno el video,la Chevy duramax para mí es la mejor opción,los motores diesel son confiables y bajo mantenimiento saludos desde Córdoba Argentina 😊
Last July, I towed my camper, similar to your camper from Omaha Ne to Loris SC. Travele speed 60 to 65, got overall 14 mpg there and back. Mine is 2021 LM2 engine. Doing the trip again soon.
That’s still pretty good mileage!
Nice video! You were very thorough. Appreciate that.
You’re welcome and thank you!
I love the 3.0 but I needed to tow in the range of 18,000 . I’m retired and soon will buy another toy box . I bought first a 2024 Chev 2500 Diesel Duramax LT Z71 . I love it . Don’t know yet mileage towing but I do know I won’t struggle with weight towing . I still Iove the 3.0 as well. Great design and technology
With that weight you’d absolutely need to get a 2500. I think you chose a great truck though.
If you want to tow 18K I'd say you are looking at a 1 ton 3500, probably a dually.
14:10 exactly correct!! Thanks for touching on this!! People don’t understand that if you buy a truck built for offroad it isn’t going to tow like a truck with a “heavy duty towing” package, etc…thanks for that
You’re welcome! I want to make sure that those that may not know, understand the compromise. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, just something to be mindful of.
@@MOHAWKAUTO agreed, unfortunately I’ve seen it way too many times people going on their truck manufacturers website, finding a 2023 crew cab 4x4 short bed f-350 and assume OH, IT SAYS THIS TYPE CAN TOW 30k! When in all reality a Tremor package alone knocks this down severely. Payload, max tongue weight and even max trailer weigh are substantially different when these “packages” are added, meant for towing, offroad or otherwise. So many newbies don’t get this or think to look to begin with! Thanks again. I am subscribed to you now
@@ryanvegas777 you’re spot on and thank you so much for the sub!
Towing and offroad = 2500HD ZR2 Duramax
@@rsbreeze that’ll still have (should have) softer springs than the non ZR2 2500. The ZR2 2500 looks really nice too
I have a 2023 GMC 1500 slt with the 3.0. I’ve towed my vehicle and it did great. I was ranging from 14 mpg uphill and then 20 mpg regular roads.
It’s a great truck and combo. I’d just plan on doing a trans cooler.
I have a 22 Sierra SLT 1500 with the 3.0. I ordered it with the max tow package so it has minimal squat when hooked up to our trailer. Took it on a road trip last fall from north Idaho, through Montana, down through southern Idaho and back. Total trip was a little over 1,400 miles. Towed our Jayco 22RBS travel trailer. It's about 7,000 lbs. Total MPG for the whole trip was 16.8. The truck did awesome. I was very happy with it.
That’s impressive mileage!
I have the same truck. It’s a 2022 GMC SLT with 3.0 and max trailering package. I went with the 6.5 foot bed rather than the short bed. To date I’ve only towed a max of 3k pounds with it and not very far. Looking forward to testing out it’s true ability next year where I should be towing in excess of 10k pounds with it
Great mpgs! Does it have the 3.73 axles?
I have a 2023 AT4 LZ0 and am extremely happy with towing performance. After decades of hauling heavy loads, I can say that the wind resistance is a much bigger factor than the weight. The camper you pulled is indeed a brick. I can also say from much experience that a strong crosswind actually hurts mileage more than a direct headwind. Lots of guys will argue this point, but it's a fact. Aerodynamics matter more than most people realize. I've pulled up to 10,000 with my LZ0 and love it. Empty mileage is awesome! For anything bigger than 10K, I use my F350 6.7L Powerstroke, but for the light loads, I love the 3.0 LZ0.
I agree that a side wind has more effect and the math proves it out by calculating the area of the trailer side vs the front.
Love my 21 Sierra SLT 3.0. I installed a set of timbrens to help with the squat. On an 18 hour trip into Canada pulling a 3,000lb boat with the bed packed with gear including 30 gallons of extra gas i averaged 21 mpg. Truck preformed great, i was impressed.
Have over 52,000 on my 21 and mileage has stayed pretty consistent at 13.8-14.7 towing and 25.8 city, 29-31 highway. Love mine!
I used to have the exact same camper...towed from south texas to pidgeon forge tenessee and back. Avaeraged 13.4 mpg. Thought that was great! I have a wdh and it tows safe and level.
My LZO Chevy tows like a dream at 65MPH...MAX!! Distributing hitch keeps it level which is a must...love my truck! Way better than my ECO diesel RAM!
Distribution hitches make an enormous difference.
I have a AT4 with the LZO and tow a 7,000lb travel trailer in California. I average between 12-13mpg while towing. Worst mileage I’ve had was 10.5 mpg towing steep grades. California has a wide mix of terrain from flat to very steep almost everywhere you go. Unladen I get 25-27mpg hwy and 21-23 combined. I’m not easy on the throttle either.
That’s a lot better economy than you’ll get from the gas engines
Spent 4 yrs stationed at Mt. Home AFB! Loved Boise and Idaho in general!
It’s a great area!
@@MOHAWKAUTOno no no. It’s a terrible area and doesn’t even exist on any map.
@@AnontheGOAT sure it is! It’s right below Minnesota and right above Missouri.
I have a 23’ GMC SLE 3.0 Maxtow package. 4x4 Crew cab with a 6’7” bed. So I have enhanced cooling. The 9.76” rear diff with 3.73 gears. At 18,000 mi my life time average is 24.2mpg. Thats with 2 winters of using remote starts. Unloaded averages 26-32 mpg. I pull a loaded down 22’ enclosed trailer. With a 5th gen Camaro. Around 9k lbs. Running at interstate speeds 70+. I have been averaging 12.4 mpg. Right at a 45% improvement over the 6.2. Also pulling up the larger hills in Kentucky. The LZ0 3.0 will not only maintain speed with power to spare. But can accelerate. The 6.2 on the same grade is pretty much on the floor struggling. And my 5.3 would lose MPH.
But the sound of the 6.2 is just music lol.
The 3.0 will walk away from a 6.2 if they are both loaded down heavy. Unloaded the 6.2 is way faster.
The 6.2 sounds so good! I’m happy with my 3.0, I just wish I could tune it to give it a little more pep.
@@MOHAWKAUTO just wait, it took them a minute to unlock the lm2, in no time the lz0 will be tuneable.
@@chrisguillen1495 I can’t wait!
My friend and I have exact same trucks other than I have the 3.0L and he has the 6.2L. Pulling almost identical campers (29'), i get just shy of 14 mpg and he gets just shy of 9 mpg. I really like my 3.0. It is very quiet under load and lots of power on acceleration. Also, I do not tow a lot and I drive about 12,000 miles per year. Last year my cost per mile was $0.167.
That’s awesome to hear! I really enjoy how quiet my engine is under load and the overall power and acceleration has been great for me. I’m looking forward to the summer months to see how much better the fuel economy gets.
Cool video. I have a 6.2L Trail boss and pull that same trailer. With my 2 inch level the squat is loyal lol pulls nicely tho
Thank you, and that’s great to hear how someone else does with the same trailer
Why in the hell would anyone purposely tow a travel trailer at 80+ mph? THIS is why I never loan out my trailer. smh
No one, and that’s the point 😉
are you not doing a video people can realate to? Weird attitude to have.@@MOHAWKAUTO
@@Joeyhurt1990 I think I’m making a video people can absolutely relate to. I wanted to tow the trailer as fast as I could safely, and I did. Did I expect to be able to actually tow it going 80? Not really, but I wanted to try if it was safe. I’ve driven 1 ton work trucks with much heavier trailers when I did drywall work a longtime ago and was able to go 80 without issue. Those were very different trailers that were properly balanced and level and the truck was level too. I never experienced trailer sway like I did during this video. So I think you might be speaking out of turn, which is a weird attitude to have.
Towing at 80, while doable is ridiculous. No reason to pull over 70. Things happen fast when towing and running 80 leaves you no room for error.
@@howebrad4601 I agree for the most part. Depending on what you’re hauling and what’s doing the hauling, terrain, weather, and where you’re driving, 80 is the speed limit and can be done safely as it’s flat, wide open multi lane interstate or highways. Plenty of space to have a big gap between you and the people in front of you. I just wouldn’t recommend it for most situations.
I got a 2023 Silverado 3.0 not for the MPG but just because I like how the diesel drives more than the gas.
I love the way it drives and how it seems smoother and more effortless especially when going up hills.
I'm actually impressed! Seems solid. That squat 😂
this trim isn't geared for towing. it compromises towards off-roading, not towing.
That squat was crazy, but it handled well all same.
You’re correct and I thought I made sure to mention that in the video. Despite being built for off-roading, it’s still a truck and can tow as well as you’d like a half ton truck to be able to do. Although, I’d recommend air bags or something similar to help with stability and confidence.
The ZR2 has springs like a marshmallow lol. Intended to soak up big hits smoothly. You like to see squad look at Ford equipped off-road trucks.
@@slickcasner4205 you’re absolutely right and I knew it would squat because of what it’s designed for. It honestly could be a lot worse.
I have a ‘21 LM2 RST and I tow a 38’/10k lb Travel Trailer. I get 13.5-14.5 MPGs Towing and I tow often because my wife and I are Full Time RVers.
Nice video, i went from a 1 ton dually to the 1500 and towing is different. Towed 1700 miles round trip last week lots of hills and rain ended the trip with 13.1 mpg average. Very impressed with this little 3.0 duramax.
How much did your trailer weigh?
@@adamcrouch 7800 lbs.
How many gallons of def did you use?
@@tannerfox2992 my def consumption doubled while towing. Used close to 5 gal.
I have the 2023 Silverado 1500 RST 4X4 Diesel... Towed about 5000 lbs. from NC to South Florida my Sea Hunt CC boat and I was getting 10 - 11 mpg and it drank DEF fluid worse than an alcoholic... Normally DEF fluid lasts and still does a few FULL fill ups so no biggie... Go for a 12 hour tow and plan to bring a few 2.5 gallon DEF boxes in your truck bed... Sucks DEF fluid BIG TIME while towing that type of distance... At least mine did... Please NOTE: This truck set up NOT IN TOW drives like a Caddie on the HWY and pulls like a Champ... The torque makes other vehicles wonder what's under that hood when you leave them in the dust... Keeper for me... Thank you for this video... !!!
Get the valve cover replaced I heard that's why it's doing that
@@frolfking35 Huh... It only probably had a few thousand miles at that time... However, you could be right... Things do break... !!!
Nice info, I have a 2013 f350 super duty 6.8 power stroke. I towed a 11000lb heartland fuel 250 from Buffalo NY to Nashville Tennessee. I got 9.8 miles per gallon.
I have a buddy who has one of these ZR2 3.0 diesel trucks and over a 2,000 mile highway drive at 85/90 mph he said that he was getting 28/29 mpg. I can’t argue but was blown away. My 2024 F350 SRW 6.7 HO Platnium Tremor gets 16.5-17.0 mpg driving pretty much how ever I want. I am looking forward to driving it real nice to see if I can get 20 mpg but I can’t seem to manage that 😂, it’s got 500HP and 1,200 ft pounds of torque! When I tow a 18k pound 42’ long, Brinkley Z3610 at 70-75 mph I am getting 8.9 mpg. So there’s that bit of information.
Thank you for sharing that! I’m always interested in seeing how the 3/4 and 1 ton options do during normal driving and towing
I have a 2022 RST 3L and I pull a 224BH Jayco (2021) 7500lbs total. When pulling the trailer on the highway around 65 mph I average 12-15mpg, in perfect conditions i went to about 16-18 mpg. Comparing to a V8 gas truck to this new little diesel I will take the diesel mileage all day long.
That’s great mileage by comparison and I’m excited to see what mileage I get with my new trailer
I drive a 2021 Sierra AT4 with the 3.0 Duramax. We pull our Dune scooters with it. On longer drives I get about 26.5 mpg but the same trip towing, it drops to 18 mpg while towing about 4500 lbs. Plenty of power and torque too. We like he Duramax so much that we bought a 2023 Yukon with the new Duramax. It gets like 28.5 mpg on the freeway at 80+ as my wife has a very heavy foot.
I think it’s a great motor and that the Yukon with it is going to quickly be considered one of the best SUVs you can get.
I find that I typically get better mileage in Fuelly than what my ‘24 AT4 shows. I haven’t towed yet though, and only have about 1,800 miles on the engine.
I think that the difference in your trailering app vs the dash is the fact that you reset the dash trip when you filled up, and the trailering app was calculating from when you hooked it up.
If you’re going to tow regularly, the PPE intercooler and transmission base cooler would be really good upgrades to make.
I agree and I think no mater what I’ll do the PPE transmission cooler bypass valve
I am very impressed with the 3.0 and how good the milage is with a full sized truck compared to gas.
I have the Colorado 2.8 diesel and I tow a 24 foot duel axle travel trailer toy hauler at between 5000 to 6000 lbs depending if I take my Victory Vision with me and if I fill the water tank ect. I get 14-16 mpg. The tongue wt is 700 lbs and I use weight distribution hitch and I do get blown around a lot. But I am extremely impressed with the mileage while towing a square box at speed. My Colorado gets 30-32 mpg unloaded.
Those are great numbers!
Good job on the video. I laughed at one of the people in the comments that couldn't believe that someone would tow at 80 mph. He obviously hasn't driven through Boise before. Lol
Towing at 80 is a normal thing here. I’m not sure that everyone is making sure their trailer tires are good for it, but they do it all the time.
I got 2023 escalade with LM2 with grand design 30 ft trailer. With fully loaded and 4 adult and 2 kids. Towed camper to Joplin mo from Indiana and back. Average speed 70 to 85. Both vehicles fueled up and passenger on board grossed at 14480 on CAT scale.😂 cruise at 75 and up to 85 when passing average 12.38 to MO and 12.22 on the way back. Calculation was done on the apps. It's pretty impressive.
That’s very impressive and I’ve been curious how the 3.0 performs in the SUVs. Thank you for sharing!
100% you are over payload. Plus pulling that much weight at 85mph is very dangerous.
@@fit4ya1975 not sure he asked for your input.
@@ericschroeder784 Not sure either. But I know for sure I didn't ask for yours.
😂
I found in that state the only time the wind doesn't blow you away is when it's super hot.
I have the LM2, towing my 7k lb camper I average 12mpg. The winds play a HUGE factor in fuel economy; so much that sometimes I pull up behind tractor trailers to catch the draft, which always saves me about 3-6mpg. No joke
Great info in this video! I like the fact that you actually calculate your mpg, rather than just commenting only on the dashboard computer. (In my experience, it is rare that the onboard computer is accurate, no matter the brand.).
I was considering getting a new Silverado or GMC with the 3.0 Duramax for daily driving and the occasional towing of a travel trailer. I was thinking of getting the Max Tow Package for the reasons you mentioned, but wonder if the included 3.73 rear end would harm the fuel mileage very much for my daily driving. Especially since I wounld be 90% daily driving and only 10% towing. If anybody knows how the 3.73 affects mpg as compared to the standard rear end, I would love to hear about it.
Depends on your daily driving. The 10 speed allows it to still be in the lower rpm range for in town driving. You might actually see improved in town driving as it will accelerate better. At highway/interstate speeds you’ll be at a higher comparative rpm vs non max tow package.
@@MOHAWKAUTO OK, thanks. Being at a higher rpm vs non Max Tow Pkg is exactly what has me a bit concerned that it would cause poor fuel mileage.
@@danieldornes8416 from what I’ve seen owners report, it’s a few MPGs difference ultimately. I honestly would have gotten the max tow if I went with a different trim. I drive 90-95% in town driving so it would have been more or a benefit than not in my case.
Pulled a similar trailer with my '18 w/5.3L and averaged 10.5 mpg over 1500 miles (including climb the grapevine in CA.)
Very nice video. My experience with LZ0 AT4 towing 7400 lb extra height enclosed is 11-12 mpg over the mountains of eastern Tenn. Avg. 26 City every day. Love it.
That’s great city economy and not bad towing over those mountains!
Great job at real world testing I. get 26-28 mpg on the highway when not towing and when towing a 8800 Ib boat it stays at 13.2 at 65. does use more def when towing . Never felt like it struggled or wasnt enough power . pulls so much better then my last truck with the 6.2
2023 z71 trail boss 3.0. Driving around Easter washington and north idaho 27 plus empty and 17mpg towing random weights
You can get towing package on any trim i believe and it gives you added springs in the rear among a few other things. Doesn’t come stock
I had an lm2 2 years ago. Crew cab slt 4x4 with 6.5 ft bed.Towed a dump trailer on occasion and it did not like it. Between the load and trailer it only weighed 7500 or so with my capacity at 9300. It struggled on a flat road to get to 45mph. The site was only 2.5 miles from my house and the small hills made it struggle even more. The pedal was in fact to the metal and was only able to go 25 mph. It was in tow haul mode. After that 25k the high pressure fuel pump blew. Not sure if it was connected to towing the dump trailer but was very strange. Now I’m back in an lz0 gmc elevation with max tow package.
That’s crazy about how the LM2 was for you. How does the LZ0 compare to you?
Coming from a 3/4 ton truck , i am getting use to the squat on the 1/2 ton ZR2 , i tow a 7x16 double axle enclosed trailer with the 6.2 , definitely likes the fuel when towing but not as much as the 2022 hemi dodge i drove for a couple months .
That’s good to know! I debated getting the Ram 1500 with the Hemi and e-torque.
Easy to fix with air bags
@@100pyatt
Save the $$$ and hassle and use a weight distribution device.
I have a 2022 z71 rst crew cab towing the engine has plenty of power however I am debating about beefing up the rear leaf springs truck squats more than I'd like when towing 4 place enclosed snowmobile trailer but on the other hand pretty smooth ride on bumpy dirt roads 30mpg not towing 12.5 to 13.5 mpg towing depending on terrain
My 2023 Z71 RST gets awesome gas mileage. Towing my cattle trailer with 3000 lbs of cattle, I have averaged 13 to 15 miles per gallon. Wind definitely plays a factor.
That’s great mileage for sure! Does your RST have the 3.0 also?
I have a 23 z71 with the baby-max and i use DEF almost every 1000 miles, but it’s hooked to my work box trailer 95% of its life. AVG mileage is 15 MPG with a heavy load.
I have a 2022 Chevy 1500 RST Z71 with LM2 similar weight trailer. Trip to see the eclipse about 350 miles across north west Ohio some hills but mostly flat for 15.1 MPG. Going Michigan to South Carolina this summer so will have a wider range of driving conditions, see what that gives us.
I think this is a good match up of trailer and truck. Last year had a 2021 Chevy 1500 LT with 5.3l gas and same trailer for about 9 MPG on Michigan to St Louis trip.
I have 3.0 2021 GMC AT4. I tow my 7400lb boat from TX to CA. 12 to 14 mpg was my average. Truck towed great I didn't even feel if the was a boat in back of my truck. I did used alot of DEF. It was in tow mode and I was told not to use the tow Mode. Tow mode uses more DEF. Don't know if thats true but I'll tow without the tow mode next time and see if there a difference.
I think if you’re going to tow everyday a heavy duty is the way to go. I have a 22 f250 and was going back and forth about getting the 3.0 duramax but was nervous I was going to get significant mpg drop when I was towing. For reference I avg about 18 mpg with empty and about 15-16 well towing in the city with traffic on the highway and streets.
I’d be inclined to agree unless it was a small/light trailer. I’d personally get a heavy duty if I towed everyday
Had a 15 high country 6.2 that got 10 mpg towing my 5800 lb camper. My lm2 3.0 gets 16.5 and didn't drop lifters and beat the lobes off the cam so I'm saying the 3.0 is superior towing .
I think we’ll see the 3.0 become a legendary motor
I got a 23 at4 with the LZ0. Towing my 7x23 inline enclosed trailer and I get anywhere from 11.5-15 mpg depending on time of year. Winter diesel is worse mpg vs summer diesel. Empty I get about 22-28 mpg on highway going 75-80 mph and I’ve gotten as good 34 mpg going 60-65 mph. Never gotten below 11.5 mpg towing.
That’s impressive!
Had a 2012 LTZ with the 5.3 and towed our 32' TT that will go about 7,000-7,200 lb. Over all on a number of long trips averaged right at 9.0 mpg. Now have a 2023 LTZ Z71 with the 3.0. Only taken one trip so far with the same TT. Averaged 13-14mpg on a trip of about 1,500 miles.
On the highway get between 25-28. Could probably bump that up some if I could get the CC to set around 65, but for some reason it usually is locked in around 78-79 because I have passed HP at that speed and they never even look twice and 65 on Texas interstates can get you run over.
Same issue here with fuel economy vs the interstate speeds. Really impressed with towing mpgs though!
Pretty much what I expected. Have a 2016 Colorado 2.8 and tow a 29' toy hauler at 6000 lbs. and get 12-14 mpg at 65. Get 30-32 mpg with no trailer at 65.
That’s impressive!
I get about 32 with my 3.0 running 70 with the cruise set.
2022 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT with 3.0 diesel. I tow 7000# 1200 to 1800 mile trips and average 11 mpg at 72 mph.
So as a guy with a lower hp titan cummins, i agree with what you are saying. You bought a truck that suits you and your needs, not someone elses. I tow oftem with my truck, and also live in boise. My trailer is closer to 10lbs but my numbers are not far off of yours. 9-12 towing depending on speed and weather. No load 18-21.2 also depends on speed. Best i have gotten was no load, 55mph run at 23.4, from blacks creek exit to cloverdale and no traffic. People discount the small diesels, but only because they think they will tow a house all the time, 90 percent dont and use their diesel truck as a commuter.
I agree that so many people buy more truck than they need, which is fine. I just didn’t want to spend more to buy a truck and then spend more for fuel because of worse mpg. It’s far more cost effective to buy a distribution hitch and airbags (or something similar) to tow safer than it is to get a HD truck. The small diesel half tons are great options.
Excellent points! I know I love my 2022 3.0 Duramax and I don't see myself ever going back to a gas powered truck.
@@edwardpate6128 after owning this, I’m not sure I would either
I went from a 2019 6.2 to a 23 3.0 LZ0 and tow the same camper regularly (about 7,000lbs loaded). Highly recommend a weight distribution hitch and Road Active Suspension if you want to go 70-75mph. I average about 11.3mpg with a mix of driving from 60-75mph.
How does the 3.0 compare to the 6.2 for you?
@@MOHAWKAUTO no comparison absolutely love the 3.0 and would never go back. Fuel economy and towing being the main reasons. I’ve had the same tires and 3” lift on both rigs with BFG KO2 285/65/r20 and averaged:
6.2 normal driving about 15-16mpg
6.2 towing same camper about 7-8mpg
3.0 normal driving 21-22mpg
3.0 towing 10.5-11.5mpg
@@chrisregister510 that’s awesome! I know some people are saying that they feel like the 3.0 is gutless compared to the 6.2. Do you feel like that’s the case?
Whenever I bought a truck to pull my travel trailer.I never looked at the m p g's didn't really matter When it's Empty, I fill it up. I couldn't imagine being on vacation worrying about Miles per gallon. It's like going to a restaurant and getting a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.Come on guys
You’re silly and your analogy is like comparing apples to Ferraris. They both can be red and that’s where it ends. Being mindful of fuel economy is part of good planning when traveling. Understanding how far you can go between fill ups and planning needed stops. We have wilderness out here (like many places) that can have a hundred miles or more between fuel points. I could imagine being on vacation and not worrying about where you’re going to get fuel next if something happens. Also, I feel like the horse is dead, buried, and decayed but I’ll beat it a little more. If you had the option to get great fuel economy, and not have towing performance suffer, I don’t see why you wouldn’t at least consider it.
Have any of you had issues with engine light coming on with the new 3.0? Code says it is the fuel management system that has to be repaired. I have a 2023 ZR1 LT Duramax Silverado and it has done it 5 times now, 3 last year and 2 this year. In the shop now, GM trying to figure it out again. Last year they down loaded a new program per GM and that fixed it for a while. Just curious if anyone else has that issue?
I haven’t and I have over 12k miles on it now
Okay thanks, I am at 17,450 miles now, must just be the lucky one. Great video! Sent it to my buddy who is thinking about getting one. Besides my issue, love my truck, I got the standard bed, since I haul dirt bikes in the back. Hauls my 4 seater Can am pretty easy. Had the 8 cylinder Duramax 2006 crew cab Silverado before this one. Loved that truck, but fuel economy sucked. Thanks for the reply!
Hard to argue with a guy who uses testing methodology similar to TFL and got his Jayco from Josh the RV Nerd"s employer (Bish's RV). 😆 But seriously, nice test. Well done
To improve the sag, driving performance, and safety I would add four Bilstein 5100 struts and a RAS -Road Active Suspension kit for the rear. Regarding the MPG, this diesel motor will really improve fuel goats for driving distances while carrying dirt bikes, passengers, and gear.
I have a 2020 AT4 with the LM2, nearly 97K miles by now. I have noticed, it get's phenomenal mileage at most speeds but any amount of wind hitting the front half of the truck absolutely kills the economy...
I have a 24 Sierra with the LZ0 with a 6” lift on 35x12.5r22 mud terrains and on my recent trip towing a 7200-7500lbs trailer 180 miles trip I got 13.9 mpg. Compare that to my 20 Denali with similar lift and tires with the 6.2 I got 6.6-6.8 mpg on the same trip.
Just for comparison, I have a 2019 5.3 with the tow package. I pulled my jeep on a trailer (about 6000 LBS) too Utah and back, round trip was about 2200 miles. I averaged about ten miles per gallon, and It did tow with easy. I would rather have the 6.0 or the 3.0 diesel, but this is what I could afford at the time.
That’s good information! Thank you!
Rather than MPG.. maybe do a Cost Per Mile... Considering Gas (87/85 Oct) Cost vs Diesel/DEF Cost. what's the difference in cost per mile, because MPG doesn't consider DEF usage and difference in fuel prices.
You’re right, but I wasn’t comparing this to gasoline. DEF usage varies greatly based on a ton of factors so that’s hard to calculate anyhow. I also consider DEF to be inexpensive enough ($15 for a 2.5 gallon box) that I don’t factor it in. I have almost 7k miles on my truck and I’ve only bought 2 boxes. $30/7000 is 0.004 cents per mile. If I towed a lot more, that would change and it would be something more to consider. I usually look at the percentage cost difference between fuel vs percentage difference between mpg. The cost per mile method is a great way to look at it also.
I have a duramax Zr2.
I average 25 mpg. I previously had a ram hemi it averaged 15.
Even after the increased fuel cost I’m still saving like 1,200 a year running my average 12,000 miles.
Just food for thought…the closest comparison on gassers from GM is the 6.2 (also mentioned in this video), but lots don’t realize the 6.2 recommends 91 or higher octane…the price per gallon ( here in vegas, today ) diesel is around $4.10/gal and the cost of premium is around $4.35/gal…now add in the worse gas mileage and there is no doubt how a video like what’s suggested would turn out…
@@johnmorris77 thank you for sharing!
Diesel is cheap if you run offroad fuel.
i have 23 denali 3.0 and the difference is on MPG... you reset your trip at the pump and the trailer MPG does not reset like that so leaving where you got the trailer hooked up and created that profile is part of the trailer MPG so that is why they have different numbers
Great Presentation! I have noticed that in several CZcams videos, many have commented on the DEF and also, the unexpected high usage of diesel oil, and it appears that the diesel oil is headed towards the turbo. In the video, it mentions that PPE has developed a Prototype Catch Can for this oil problem and is being tested on vehicles. Please provide a comment in future 3.0 LZ0 Duramax ZR2 video, whether your Dealership and your mechanic can provide any feedback on if the current 3.0 LZ0 Duramax oil leakage problem is a problem and will be address by GM / Chevrolet. Best, Steve from Western Mass.
I have heard of some vehicles experiencing these issues. While I’m interested in the catch can PPE is developing, it’s purely to reduce oil and other crankcase vapors that don’t belong in the intake, out of it. This is something common on many engines. I haven’t had issues with what I consider to be unexpected DEF consumption, although I know that it uses a lot while towing and that’s what other CZcamsrs have been doing more of compared to me.
Squat in my opinion doesn’t mean very much. What’s going on is the leverage and force being applied behind the rear axle which is taking weight off the front axles making your set-up dangerous. Unfortunately airbag manufacturers market airbags like they actually do some something. A load distribution hitch will actually transfer the weight as it should be for much safer towing.
I agree with your thoughts and airbags wouldn’t be my first choice.
Love my gladiator Rubicon getting 30+ MPG with my eco-diesel.
I looked at the Gladiator, but there isn’t enough room for the family plus dogs and the towing capacity wasn’t as much as I’d like.
Towing 6,800 TT gets about 14-16 in normal conditions. I go 65-70 mph though. The best one ever was with a 30 mph tail wind I cleared 20 mpg! But that's an outlier and shouldn't really count.
Overall great engine, you made a great choice or that weight range of TT. Anything over 10k wet, I'd go HD.
I’d agree with going HD. There are some half tons that can tow 13k, but I’d be more likely to upgrade to HD if I was towing 10k often.
Last spring I purchased a 2024 silverado rst with the 3.0 and got 30mpg for an average in 500miles, hooked it up to my 7300lbs camper with weight distribution hitch and was getting warning lights and messages on the main display saying I was over loaded. Because i tow my travel trailer frequently I ended up returning the vehicle back to the dealer
I’ve never once gotten a message saying I was overloaded. I’d be surprised if I did too as it says 8700 on the sticker. For our next tow test, I’ll load it up more and see what happens.
Nice bro! I know those roads. Hey need to do one on Middlefork and see the mileage.
What do route do you think I should do?
@@MOHAWKAUTO To Atlanta via Arrowrock. I have a 3/4 ton Duramax and tow up there all the time. Have been very curious how one of the 3.0’s would do! Love the idea of doing with a 3.0 but not sure how it would handle the grades. Great video by the way. I get the wind there, in-laws live out in Hagerman.
I have a 2022, High Country, 4x4, LM2 3.0 Duramax towing a Grand Design 2500RL (about 6,750lbs). I get about 12.5 at 65mph through the midlands to the coastal areas of North Carolina. Not towing I get from 24 to 27 mpg at 75 to 80mph.
That’s still good mpg, especially for a half ton
Pulling the same jeep and trailer (8550 lbs), My 2020 3.0 gets 18% better fuel mileage than the 2012 6.6 Duramax and 2017 Nissan Titan Xd 5.0 Cummis I had. And when I am not towing the 3.0 gets 47% better fuel mileage than the other tow trucks did. I do run a weight distribution hitch to make the 3.0 truck ride level when towing the jeep and trailer.
That’s an awesome boost in fuel economy. I plan to use a distribution hitch for towing heavier loads.
How did the Titan XD handle the load while pulling? Not power wise, but stability?
@@exordis It handled every bit as good as the 2500 6.6 Duramax trucks.
@@lt99ls1 Good to hear. I love the idea of the 3.0, but also love the idea of the heavy half ton. Especially if the ride isn't too compromised (with the gas 5.6).
Just towed 9000# 300 mile round trip. With new 24 trail boss 3.0, Just did the limit Did not push it. Got 16 MPG, bucking a strong wind for 1/2 that trip. Did the same run 2 days later not towing , also bucking head wind for 1/2 that trip ,got 26 MPG. Got 1000 miles on and topped off def , took 2 gallons Def tank holds 5.4 gal. Should go 2000 miles and not run out. It has to use Def and if it sucks more than you might like it's only about a penny per mile. I'm ok with that
My 2020 6.2 1500 Sierra is terrible pulling 9000lb 28ft travel trailer!! Avg about 5-6 mpgs going about 65-70 mph over 180 miles on flat freeway!
That’s crazy!
Thank you for this content. Beautiful truck...i have a 3000# Jayco 21 ft single axle baja edition, got it at Bishs too. I would think towing my smaller trailer would increase fuel economy. Im looking for 15+ mpg. Any thoughts?
I would assume you would get better mileage as it’s lighter. You’d still have the wind resistance to fight when towing a brick, but with a lighter load I don’t see why it wouldn’t be better. I just got a new trailer, very similar to the one in this video, and I’ll be taking it on a trip this weekend so we’ll see what mileage I get over longer distances, that should be less windy, and I’ll have a proper weight distribution setup.
Boise to Stanley and back would be a good test.
The fuel economy is changing so much from the unloaded to loaded condition because of the size of the motor (3Liter). I have a 7.4L with a 38ft pullout trailer and gets 20mpg loaded or unloaded.
Bigger is Better, depending on use.
You’re right. The 2500 and 3500 trucks don’t see the same shift in mileage because of the drivetrain. Which would be a better fit if towing bigger loads often. I have been getting 28 mpg in town going to and from work. I just towed a small camp trailer about 350 miles over mountain passes and the truck is reporting 18.8 mpg. For me, that’s a trade off I’m comfortable with as I don’t tow all the time.
You should’ve done a third test, towing the trailer in standard mode instead of the tow/haul mode
Given how low it sat in the rpm range and how it wasn’t shifting a lot or hunting for the right gear, I’m not sure it would have made too much of a difference. I am thinking of doing another tow test and if I do, I may consider this as you’re not the only person that’s suggested it.
I towed a fifth wheel camper out west and through the mountains and averaged 13-14 mpg with the 3.0. This really isn’t a good comparison because no one should pull campers at 80 MPH. You’ll get a few MPGs if you stick it around 67 or so. Also installed airbags because the stock suspension is way too soft for any significant towing applications.
I never towed at 80. I had the cruise control set to 62 because of the higher wind conditions
Nice video! Question? What fuel app do you use?
Thank you! I use Fuelly.
@@MOHAWKAUTO Thank you!
Just imagine how much better mpg would be with a leveled ride and weight
Exactly
Considering the fuel savings on a day to day basis; if you don't to frequently, the 1500 with a 3.0L and that load is going to cost less and still be fine as a daily driver empty.
I have a 23 with the LZO engine, max tow package and regular tires. I tow a Lance 1475S -small camper. Over 10,000 miles we are averaging 17.2 mpg. I try to not go faster than 65. I have the transparent trailer feature and is fantastic. John
Funny I get 6 mpg to 8 mpg with my 6.2 going through the mountains of Wyoming. Same amount of squat though. But I’m towing grand design transcend 265bh which i think is t”little longer than the one you were towing. Just one caveat, mine is the supercharged 6.2 hellcat TRX.
That’s a whole other animal! I reviewed a 2024 Final Edition TRX just a few weeks ago and that truck is awesome!
I see roughly samething 12, sometimes 11mpg with a snowmobile trailer at 2800-3k lb its the boxy size that kills the mpg. My buddy has a 6.2 GMC and his truck gets 9-10mpg while towing same trailer. Specially at speeds 70 and higher.
I put air lift on mine it made a big deferent on tow . The ride and swaying of the trailer
I have a 21 LM2 with 110 000 km on it. The thing pulls better than any other half ton I have ever owned. My fuel mileage with the 25 ft sled trailer fully loaded was always around 14-15 L/100 with winter diesel. I have never max towed in the summer. The only concerning thing when towing heavy loads with these trucks is the DEF consumption. I can expect to have to put a jug (10 litres) in every 1600 km. I can have a quarter tank and put a full jug in and the 1600 km to empty DEF warning comes up almost immediately when it sits at 3/4 of a tank of DEF.
It does use a lot of DEF when towing and that is a drawback. However it makes up for that in every other way in my opinion. So I just monitor it more closely and roll with it.
Cool video and comparison.
It will be really neat to see future comparisons on PHEV like the Mitsubishi Outlander and Hyundai Sante Fe. They are SUV's 7 seaters. The neat thing about them is that they can operate in series where the gas engine acts as a generator to drive the electric motors. There is three different selectable modes on the Outlander. They are ranging between 51-100km on the battery then you can use engine to be generator or be an engine and mechanically drive. Cool things in PHEV coming. Check out Edison Motors for heavy duty use and models
the unloaded fuel econ didn't strike me a great (though in line with the EPA numbers) how fast were you going? I must have missed it, but how fast were you pulling?
Unloaded was 80 and loaded was 62 if I recall correctly. I’ve been getting better fuel economy lately though (non winter fuel).
So my high country with a 6.2 got 9 mpg with a bigger trailer 6800 dry 34 feet long 850 toung on a 70 mile drive. Went from 3200feet to 3800 feet with 3 big hills.
I’m sure the high country version with the 3.0 diesel would get better economy than what I was getting.
Lol, I get 10.7 mph just driving to work on normal roads in my 6.6 duramax. The fuel economy onnthe 3.0 is great! 😅
That’s crazy! I do hope someone develops a way to tune and mod the truck to get more power out of the 3.0. I’m sure there’s a lot of untapped potential.
my 22 trailboss with the lm2 towing my viper (roughly 5k lbs total ) on an open trailer gets almost 20mpg if I keep it 60-65mph and than at 75 I get around 15.5-16 mpg
That’s really impressive!
The discrepancy is because you saved that trailer innbefore you went to the gas station therefore it took in to account any latency before you fueled up mine has the auto shut off but wont do it when pulling a t4ailer so any sitting time is still using fuel with mlno milage
My 2003 2wd duramax 2500 lb7 gets 16.1 mpg towing 9100lbs -911lbs on tongue
I have a 2020 lm2 z71 with 35's, 0⁰ offset , 2" bora spacers, and 4" of lift. I had between 11-14mpg going from NC to TX towing a 2008 H3 (has 35's and winch bumper) on a uhaul trailer. What made the trip nice were my rough country air bags and DISCONNECTED bag cradles.
I’d like to get bigger tires at some point, but I’d really like to have 0 offset or -12 to get a better stance and have the tires even with the fenders or poking out just a little bit. I’m worried about lifting it as I don’t want to get rid of the Multimatics, but Peak has lift options that seem to give me what I’m wanting.
@@MOHAWKAUTO zr2Chris seems happy with his peak lift. He's also running 37's. I think your wheels have pockets for studs, to accommodate a 1.25" spacer. If I would replace my wheels I'd have a negative (-) offset. 0⁰ doesn't leave much to work with for installing monster tank valves.
suggest flipping that hitch around if possible to get the trailer level
That’s a good idea. I’d like to do more testing on leveling it. I know that the water tanks are located at the back end of the trailer which would act as a counter weight to the front. So it’s possible it could have been a bit more level just by filling them and not having them empty. I have a little pop up at the moment that I’m not worried about towing at all since it’s so light. However, we’d like to get a different trailer at some point.
You should be adjusting your ball to bring that nose of the trailer up regardless of whether you're using a distribution system.
Boise also, Towing with 7.3 Godzilla, 7.5mpg towing 8000lbs. When the wind is blowing in Boise its because it Sucks in Mt Home.
🤣
I tow a similar trailer, 34 foot freedom express. I put sumosprings and supersprings on my truck to eliminate the squat. I usually get 16-18 towing, depending on terrain. Through Shenandoah park, definitely got less. Up to Maine, got way better. Definitely drinks def towing though. Not towing, dude 27-28 mpg all day.
What are you driving?
Silvey 1500 with the 3.0. LT.