Little vs big V8 2025 Tahoe

[Foxy]

Unless you're planning on towing over 8,000 pounds it's a waste to go diesel. If you're doing a lot of heavy long haul towing then diesel is the way to go. But if you're occasionally towing then 5.3l or 6.2l will be more than enough.

 

[Antonm]

You got that right; I can't believe what a big deal people make out of what they think is such huge maintenance with a diesel. I can promise you it doesn't take me 10% more time or effort of any gas vehicle I have ever owned. The benefits far far outweigh the very little bit more of work you have to do.... I don't know who brainwashed all these people. I don't even look under the hood of mine for months at a time. Never uses a drop of oil, Can change the oil in 30 min or less with a drain valve, and maybe take 20 min to change the fuel filter every 30K. Diesel IS more expensive than RUL now, sadly.. But you go 40% further on it and it sure isn't cheaper than premium. I can go 3 weeks on a tank, and I run around a lot. But to each, their own.....

I'm a diesel guy, I also own three Cummins powered trucks and one diesel tractor, love me some diesel power. That said, I wouldn't touch the baby Duramax in these 1/2 ton trucks.

The emissions equipment on them WILL cause early engine failure, not to mention the stupid rubber belt that drives the oil pump at the back of the engine. Great idea, lets make a rubber belt that as it wears , its sheds rubber pieces to clog up the oil pump pickup, not like that has ever caused problems before and resulted in class action law suits.

The baby Duramax is a great idea (again love diesels, especially inline 6 cylinder configuration diesels), but the cost cutting execution GM used to implement it and emissions equipment make it a NO-GO.
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[xycrazy]

Diesel always sounded like a great idea to me until I learned that the first Duramax version needs a significant amount of labor to replace the belt at 100K miles.
Second thing that is hindering me now is that they say (e.g. TFL Truck on youtube, this forum) it consumes DEF like crazy when towing. It would annoy me to fill up DEF every other gas station visit. No, but no thanks!

Personally, I own the 6.2 but love the 5.3. I think the 5.3 is the sweet spot overall if you occasionally tow. If you're towing every day than it might be different. But gas mileage on the 5.3 on Highway and in city is way better. Like 1.5 - 2mpg than with the 6.2. Personally, I would not have any concerns with the 5.3.

That said, it's wrong that the 6.2. requires premium fuel as some here stated. It is only recommended! I drive mine primarily with Midgrade and it does great with both: Regular and midgrade. So no issues and cost savings in particular to the octane grade