Diesel Question

[bryan8252]

I have never driven a diesel so I don't have 1st hand knowledge of this. But while going through many threads here, I have come across some who complain that the diesel seems to lag when attempting to pass on the interstate. Or is sluggish when getting on the gas. That seems to be contradictory to what I heard, that the diesel makes it's torque and power early. I would think when you step on the gas and it downshifts, you would get more power which would make passing another vehicle seem effortless.

What am I missing?

 

[martinajm]

When you mash the gas and the transmission downshifts, RPM's go up and you get into the better power band of the gas engines. Horsepower is what you need for quick acceleration. Both the 5.3 and the 6.2 have higher available HP than the 3.0. Does the 3.0 drive like a sports car - NO. However, I don't have any complaints over the 75k miles that I have on mine.

 

[bryan8252]

Thank you for the explanation.

 

[89Suburban]

@StephenPT

 

[Padraig]

No complaints on my 2023 Duramax acceleration. Oh and I have a heavy foot.

Padraig

 

[JayceeP]

This is my only complaint. My 2024 Yukon XL diesel is sluggish when you mash the pedal at highway speeds. It’s almost better if you keep the RPM’s mid-range.

Around town, accelerating to highway speed… lots of pep. But if you’re cruising at 60mph or a bit less on a single lane highway and you want to pass a transport truck or a couple of cars going slow so that you can do 65mph. Floor the gas pedal to pass them and you will see that it’s sluggish. myself, I would sure to have lots of space to oncoming traffic and don’t take chances until you understand how much pull you really have on the highway.

Having said that, I have no regrets. The torque is incredible and you can cruise up and down big hills on the highway at 75mph and the transmission won’t even downshift.

Again, the only point where you’ll notice the lack of horsepower is mashing the pedal at highway speed. It’s night and day different over the F150 2.7 eco boost I just traded in, and even more pronounced with the 3.5 ecoboost in my new F-150.

You sure will enjoy getting 20-27mpg day in and day out in your diesel though .

 

[bryan8252]

This is my only complaint. My 2024 Yukon XL diesel is sluggish when you mash the pedal at highway speeds. It’s almost better if you keep the RPM’s mid-range.

Around town, accelerating to highway speed… lots of pep. But if you’re cruising at 60mph or a bit less on a single lane highway and you want to pass a transport truck or a couple of cars going slow so that you can do 65mph. Floor the gas pedal to pass them and you will see that it’s sluggish. myself, I would sure to have lots of space to oncoming traffic and don’t take chances until you understand how much pull you really have on the highway.

Having said that, I have no regrets. The torque is incredible and you can cruise up and down big hills on the highway at 75mph and the transmission won’t even downshift.

Again, the only point where you’ll notice the lack of horsepower is mashing the pedal at highway speed. It’s night and day different over the F150 2.7 eco boost I just traded in, and even more pronounced with the 3.5 ecoboost in my new F-150.

You sure will enjoy getting 20-27mpg day in and day out in your diesel though .

While I would love to get that type of mileage, what you just described is my concern. That would take some getting used to, especially since I have driven a V8 for the past 14 years.

Thank you for this.

 

[Stbentoak]

Passing people at 80MPH is about only .01% of my time with it. All other days it is far superior in normal day driving and a tank of fuel lasts at least twice as long. The only engine of choice for this big vehicle.

 

[RST Dana]

Once upon a while I sat behind a 400HP Cummins with a GVW of 80k quite frequently. Talk about lag when you press the long skinny pedal! But, when I was back in command of either my Corvette or Blazer, both over 400 horses, I felt like Grumpy Jenkins!

 

[JayceeP]

While I would love to get that type of mileage, what you just described is my concern. That would take some getting used to, especially since I have driven a V8 for the past 14 years.

Thank you for this.

I’d encourage you to test drive. It’s not that bad but anyone saying acceleration is not a bit sluggish at highway speeds (when you mash the pedal) has a different view than me. It’s a great engine and has a ton of torque. The diesel pulls this thing like a champ. I have zero regrets especially after this highway run to pick up my dog this morning. I’ll convert for you Americans. It was just over 17 miles. 15 of which was highway and of that highway a lot of it was 75mph. Some light hills up and down. Door to door I got 27mpg. And in my experience, the on board computer is accurate within 0.1-0.2mpg every tank so these are real true numbers. I have hand calculated every tank over 5,000miles fyi.

I’d be lucky to get 18mpg on that same trip with the 5.3 V8.