Gm 6.0 litre v v t v8 tow vehicle engine

[Alan Roehrich]

Ed Wright owns Fastchip, http://www.fastchip.com/, I do not have his tune yet, when I take my truck off the road this winter, I will send my ECM to him.

I understand about the tires and RPM. I just drove my truck to deliver an engine, and at 75-78 MPH, I'm turning 2500 RPM, if I could do that at 2000 RPM, I could pick up 2 MPG or so.

[bigsixman]

I have a 2004 GMC 2500hd 4x4 with the 8.1/ Allison combo with 3.73 gears and 265/16" tires. I get 7-10 mpg pulling the 24' enclosed and 10-12 with an open, both with a 3400# car. The figures vary due to wind and terrain. I can get up to 15mpg w/o a trailer, all these are between 60-65 mph. I had a Nelson Performance tune done to the ECM and that is it.

I considered a duramax, but I have only averaged 4,000 miles a year and the 8.1 was much cheaper and fit my needs better. The duramax
averaged about $5,000 more money than the 8.1 with the same equipment and miles. I have 48,000 miles on it now, and I have been offered more for it than I paid for it 3 years ago. The cost per mile to own it figures out to be very reasonable.

[Jim Cimarolli]

The last 8.1 I had here in the shop, I replaced the crank sensor, broke off the upper end of it trying to get it out of the block. It was a real chore, as well as replacing the oil pressure sending unit, both very difficult to change to put it lightly. I could not get a cam sensor for it, out of service part. How many years did they make that engine?

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Jim Cimarolli

The last 8.1 I had here in the shop, I replaced the crank sensor, broke off the upper end of it trying to get it out of the block. It was a real chore, as well as replacing the oil pressure sending unit, both very difficult to change to put it lightly. I could not get a cam sensor for it, out of service part. How many years did they make that engine?

About 5 years, I think. Around 2001 to around 2006 in light trucks, 2009 in mediums, and 2010 in RV's. I want to say production ceased around February 2010.

They sold the manufacturing rights to Powertrain Solutions, they continue to manufacture it.

GM invested a ton in the DuraMax program, and didn't spend much on the big block Vortec. There's a lot more to be had out of one than what they got. They could have gone to aluminum castings and lost 200#, not to mention increasing compression. There's a lot to be had with valvetrain in them, too. Of course, they'd have had to move production to a "blueprinted" assembly area. But they would at least have a viable gasoline fueled engine option for bigger light trucks, because the 6.0 just ain't gettin it.

[Mark Ruset]

Here is the exact information about towing with a 2014 GMC Sierra 2500 or 3500
Vehicle
Axle Ratio
Maximum Trailer Weight
GCWR (a)

2500 Series 2WD Crew Cab Standard Box HD

•6.0L V8
3.73
4 400 kg (9,700 lb)
7 257 kg (16,000 lb)

•6.0L V8 — Conventional Trailer
4.10
5 897 kg (13,000 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

•6.0L V8 — Fifth-Wheel Trailer
4.10
6 441 kg (14,200 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

2500 Series 2WD Regular Cab Long Box HD

•6.0L V8
3.73
4 627 kg (10,200 lb)
7 257 kg (16,000 lb)

•6.0L V8 — Payload Performance Pkg (UB7)
3.73
4 536 kg (10,000 lb)
7 257 kg (16,000 lb)

•6.0L V8 — Conventional Trailer
4.10
5 897 kg (13,000 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

•6.0L V8 — Fifth-Wheel Trailer
4.10
6 668 kg (14,700 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

2500 Series 2WD Crew Cab Long Box HD

•6.0L V8
3.73
4 354 kg (9,600 lb)
7 257 kg (16,000 lb)

•6.0L V8 — Conventional Trailer
4.10
5 897 kg (13,000 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

•6.0L V8 — Fifth-Wheel Trailer
4.10
6 396 kg (14,100 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

2500 Series 4WD Crew Cab Standard Box HD

•6.0L V8
3.73
4 264 kg (9,400 lb)
7 257 kg (16,000 lb)

•6.0L V8 — Conventional Trailer
4.10
5 897 kg (13,000 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

•6.0L V8 — Fifth-Wheel Trailer
4.10
6 305 kg (13,900 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

2500 Series 4WD Regular Cab Long Box HD

•6.0L V8
3.73
4 491 kg (9,900 lb)
7 257 kg (16,000 lb)

•6.0L V8 — Conventional Trailer
4.10
5 897 kg (13,000 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

•6.0L V8 — Fifth-Wheel Trailer
4.10
6 532 kg (14,400 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

2500 Series 4WD Crew Cab Long Box HD

•6.0L V8
3.73
4 218 kg (9,300 lb)
7 257 kg (16,000 lb)

•6.0L V8 — Conventional Trailer
4.10
5 897 kg (13,000 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

•6.0L V8 — Fifth-Wheel Trailer
4.10
6 260 kg (13,800 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

3500 Series 2WD Regular Cab Long Box

•6.0L V8 (Single Rear Wheels) Conventional Trailer
4.10
5 897 kg (13,000 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

•6.0L V8 (Single Rear Wheels) Fifth-Wheel Trailer
4.10
6 577 kg (14,500 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

•6.0L V8 (Dual Rear Wheels)
3.73
4 354 kg (9,600 lb)
7 257 kg (16,000 lb)

•6.0L V8 (Dual Rear Wheels) Conventional Trailer
4.10
6 396 kg (14,100 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

•6.0L V8 (Dual Rear Wheels) Fifth-Wheel Trailer
4.10
6 441 kg (14,200 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

3500 Series 2WD Crew Cab Standard Box

•6.0L V8
3.73
4 309kg (9,500 lb)
7 257 kg (16,000 lb)

•6.0L V8 — Conventional Trailer
4.10
5 897 kg (13,000 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

•6.0L V8 Fifth-Wheel Trailer
4.10
6 350 kg (14,000 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

3500 Series 2WD Crew Cab Long Box

•6.0L V8 (Single Rear Wheels)
3.73
4 264 kg (9,400 lb)
7 257 kg (16,000 lb)

•6.0L V8 (Single Rear Wheels) Conventional Trailer
4.10
5 897 kg (13,000 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

•6.0L V8 (Single Rear Wheels) Fifth-Wheel Trailer
4.10
6 305 kg (13,900 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

•6.0L V8 (Dual Rear Wheels)
3.73
4 082 kg (9,000 lb)
7 257 kg (16,000 lb)

•6.0L V8 (Dual Rear Wheels)
4.10
6 123 kg (13,500 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

3500 Series 4WD Regular Cab Long Box

•6.0L V8 (Single Rear Wheels)
3.73
4 400 kg (9,700 lb)
7 257 kg (16,000 lb)

•6.0L V8 (Single Rear Wheels) Conventional Trailer
4.10
5 897 kg (13,000 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

•6.0L V8 (Single Rear Wheels) Fifth-Wheel Trailer
4.10
6 441 kg (14,200 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

•6.0L V8 (Dual Rear Wheels)
3.73
4 218 kg (9,300 lb)
7 257 kg (16,000 lb)

•6.0L V8 (Dual Rear Wheels)
4.10
6 260 kg (13,800 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

3500 Series 4WD Crew Cab Standard Box

•6.0L V8
3.73
4 173 kg (9,200 lb)
7 257 kg (16,000 lb)

•6.0L V8 — Conventional Trailer
4.10
5 897 kg (13,000 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

•6.0L V8 — Fifth-Wheel Trailer
4.10
6 214 kg (13,700 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

3500 Series 4WD Crew Cab Long Box

•6.0L V8 (Single Rear Wheels)
3.73
4 128 kg (9,100 lb)
7 257 kg (16,000 lb)

•6.0L V8 (Single Rear Wheels) Conventional Trailer
4.10
5 897 kg (13,000 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

•6.0L V8 (Single Rear Wheels) Fifth-Wheel Trailer
4.10
6 169 kg (13,600 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

•6.0L V8 (Dual Rear Wheels)
3.73
3 946 kg (8,700 lb)
7 257 kg (16,000 lb)

•6.0L V8 (Dual Rear Wheels)
4.10
5 987 kg (13,200 lb)
9 299 kg (20,500 lb)

(a) The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment, and conversions. The GCWR for the vehicle should not be exceeded.

(b) This model is neither designed nor intended to tow fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailers.

[j gardiner]

I have a 2002 with the 6.0 and the 4.10 gear. I have been very happy with the performance over the years. It will out pull the older diesels and hang in there with the newer ones. It gets 9.5 towing and 13 empty not as good as a diesel but gas is 40 cents cheaper.

[Ed Wright]

I had an 8.1 in my first motor home. It was a 2004, it had the 4L80E transmission. After tuning it I got 8 mpg towing my 24' ATC with my Firebird inside. It would certainly outrun the diesel pusher I have now. I made a mistake trading it in for this one. I had one bad trip in it, with a very high cross wind. Could not stay in my lane. I finally stopped by a friend's shop that was on the way, and killed time until dark for the wind to die down. I wish I had kept it, and planed around high winds. This diesel is much heavier, hardly feel the wind. Head winds killed the other one also. It did down shift on long, steep hills, this diesel does not, but can't always maintain speed either. If I was looking to buy a dually, I would look for a nice low mileage 8.1. Pete Peery has one that does a great job.
One thing: Personally I would prefer the 4L80E over the Allison. I have never had one fail, and the Allison has it's own computer, with a LOT of torque management ( torque limiting) in it's programming to protect the transmission. Much more performance to be gained through tuning one with the 4L80E. Many love the Allison.

[Chris1529]

My cousins have a 2000 Chevy 2500 (light duty) 4x4 ext cab short bed. The truck has the 6.0 with a 5 speed manual and 4.10 gears. They pull a large tandem goose meck trailer with it with farm equipment with no problems here in the WV Mountains. That truck has always run great and would get near 18 mpg when it was newer. It has about 250K on it now.

[Signman]

Here is my nickels worth:

2001 2500 LD Reg Cab Long bed 2WD 6.0 4 SP Auto 4L80E? 3.73 Locking Rear
Ordered it new and traded in at 105K miles. Very good truck had psitom slap but never used oil, always Mobil 1. 12-13 mpg around town, 8-10 towing enclosed trailer with 3500 lb car and stuff. Towed well but the rear suspension was not up to it and added leaf to rear and it was great. had HD suspension option which included larger brakes and shocks, exhaust etc. that were to be standard on the HD which was just becoming available. Never had to replace brakes on that truck, were about half worn when traded in.

2008 2500 HD 4WD Reg Cab Long Bed 6.0 6 Speed Hydromatic 4.10 Locking Rear
122k miles 12-13 around town 7-9 towing hills to flat. This truck has a few bells and whistles than the 2001 but has been good. No major issues only some small stuff. To be honest the brakes were better on the 2001 as well as a few other things. This winter am going to replace rear brake pads and rotors as the squeak a little. This truck tows the same trailer very well, has brake controller built in and is as good as the Prodigy in the 2001. Yes it does downshift going up steep grades and hills but I'm not riding behind the big rigs. Flat towing 60 -80 mph is no problem this truck seems to love to run at 200 rpm. When not towing on the highway just set the cruise control at 2K rpm it will just move 100 rpm either way.

No it's not good on gas and it is a high rpm engine. No it will not out pull or tow the diesel. If you're not towing and hauling every day it's fine, no extra cost for the diesel and Allison trans, no DEF, no extra cost of diesel fuel, no 12 quart oil changes and the same intervals. As a daily driver the gasoline engine is a better choice.

[cad]

I disagree on the cost of running a diesel everyday. Oil change is only 10 qts. About $55 with a filter. DEF is $20 for 5 gallons, I filled mine not long ago, not sure how many miles it lasts, but not a big deal..

Repairs will eventually cost more, but I have a 5yr/100k powertrain warranty.

I get better mileage, it rides better, my 2012 Duramax is quieter than the 2014 6.0L. The new engines DO NOT even smell like a diesel truck anymore. The Allison trans shifts super smooth. The 6.0L does not have the Allison; it has a 6L90E and hunts gears all over town.

My 2014 6.0L couldnt even maintain speed while set on cruise on small inclines.

My 2cents,
Clark