Turbo gas or Diesel?

LBZ engine is great....truck chassis is a pool noodle with Impala brakes bolted onto it. But I drive Super Duty, so I never ask if it will tow it fine, I know it will and I just go ahead and do it.

OP, just get a diesel and be done with it.

6.0L with a single 76/75 chinesium turbo can tow just fine at low boost (5psi) and premium gas with a knock retard table properly set up.

The small single turbo will spool plenty fast with a motor of that displacement. Think ecoboost-style response and a nice flat torque curve.

Building a turbo gasser for towing has never been a big problem. The issue has been dingbats trying to tow with a motor that was solely setup as a drag motor or guys who have a performance tune and a towing tune who decide "I can hit the high boost this one time and it'll be fine" while towing 10,000lbs, only to find out they're wrong. Keep the boost low and the spark late, you'll have no issues.

Now that I've got that out of the way.....go with the Duramax and an Allison and be done with it.

Bottom line, you CAN build a turbo gasser that can tow just fine, but if you don't have that kind of build experience and can't afford to experiment, stick with the diesel that was designed to take the beating.

C2tuck said:

Op, have you ever towed with a diesel?

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I have not. Only vehicles I have towed with are a '97 1500 with 5.7L and the current '03 2500HD 6.0.

BigPoppa said:

6.0L with a single 76/75 chinesium turbo can tow just fine at low boost (5psi) and premium gas with a knock retard table properly set up.

The small single turbo will spool plenty fast with a motor of that displacement. Think ecoboost-style response and a nice flat torque curve.

Building a turbo gasser for towing has never been a big problem. The issue has been dingbats trying to tow with a motor that was solely setup as a drag motor or guys who have a performance tune and a towing tune who decide "I can hit the high boost this one time and it'll be fine" while towing 10,000lbs, only to find out they're wrong. Keep the boost low and the spark late, you'll have no issues.

Now that I've got that out of the way.....go with the Duramax and an Allison and be done with it.

Bottom line, you CAN build a turbo gasser that can tow just fine, but if you don't have that kind of build experience and can't afford to experiment, stick with the diesel that was designed to take the beating.

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I believe it can be done wisely and cost effective as well. But you mention a good word..."experiment". I can probably afford to but not to the extent of blowing a motor lol. IMO I approach the truck as "keep it stock and it just works when it's asked to". Unless there is a justifiable upgrade to improve it's ability to do it's job....tow/haul/4x4 etc. Which would be wheels/tires/brakes/shocks. Outside of those simple things I REALLY ponder if its worth it lol.

Let me preface this by saying I read the OP and thats it. Take this however you want, I tune about 60 diesels a day and have owned/own just about anything truck wise. I currently own a 2020 Cummins , 3-2020 Duramax's, a 17 6.2L sierra with a twin kit on it, 2017 F150 ecoboost, my busines owns a 2020 powerstroke, and we have a 2021 on order through Nick.

If you plan on towing, nothing beats a diesel. Buy newer thats under 100k miles and has a warranty soon. oil and fuel filter changes are about $200 (retail). Not only do diesels pull 10x better, they also get better gas mileage then our gas trucks. Nothing sucks worse then pulling 7klbs with a gas truck only to get a running start on a steep grade where you end up losing speed. If you have anymore detailed questions, fire away.

OP. Towing heavy, or even moderately heavy with a diesel is a night and day difference. If you have a friend or family member with one, see if they’ll let you try it out. I promise you once you try a diesel
You’ll never go back to gas.

$200 for fuel filter?!? I buy mine off of Amazon, motorcraft kit for around $50. They are simple to change.

Good luck.

C2tuck said:

OP. Towing heavy, or even moderately heavy with a diesel is a night and day difference. If you have a friend or family member with one, see if they’ll let you try it out. I promise you once you try a diesel
You’ll never go back to gas.

$200 for fuel filter?!? I buy mine off of Amazon, motorcraft kit for around $50. They are simple to change.

Good luck.

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Can it be had for cheaper? sure. Thats why i listed at retail. With schaefers and a OEM filter my cost is about 120, by the time you throw in labor youre right around 200.

I don't doubt the benefit of diesel. I guess I'm gun shy hearing how maintenance and working on them is a pain. A friend of mine I race with has owned a 2017 LP5 Sierra Denali 2500 and traded up to a 2020 diesel Denali "because the trade in was too good to pass up". I spoke to him and he said given my needs/frequency a gas would be better all things considered LOL. Another good friend of mine owned a local speed shop for mostly LS based vehicles (tuning/mechanical etc) and "would never own a diesel outside of warranty"...he leases a '17 Sierra Denali 2500.

Ideally the next truck is the "forever truck". Which mean I'll own it way past warranty. I'm not one to want/need the next best thing so getting into something new every 5 years is not something I see happening. Hell in 2-3 years, a 2020/21 model truck may be affordable. We COULD afford a brand new truck, but I don't think I could stomach the depreciation hit buying new. So a slightly used with warranty seems best.

Very polarizing opinions on this lol. I appreciate the tips!

smitty2919 said:

I don't doubt the benefit of diesel. I guess I'm gun shy hearing how maintenance and working on them is a pain. A friend of mine I race with has owned a 2017 LP5 Sierra Denali 2500 and traded up to a 2020 diesel Denali "because the trade in was too good to pass up". I spoke to him and he said given my needs/frequency a gas would be better all things considered LOL. Another good friend of mine owned a local speed shop for mostly LS based vehicles (tuning/mechanical etc) and "would never own a diesel outside of warranty"...he leases a '17 Sierra Denali 2500.

Ideally the next truck is the "forever truck". Which mean I'll own it way past warranty. I'm not one to want/need the next best thing so getting into something new every 5 years is not something I see happening. Hell in 2-3 years, a 2020/21 model truck may be affordable. We COULD afford a brand new truck, but I don't think I could stomach the depreciation hit buying new. So a slightly used with warranty seems best.

Very polarizing opinions on this lol. I appreciate the tips!

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All the positives about diesels are true, all the horror stories about them are diesels made in this emissions era. Buy a pre emissions/def/dpf truck and enjoy.

JJackson515 said:

Can it be had for cheaper? sure. Thats why i listed at retail. With schaefers and a OEM filter my cost is about 120, by the time you throw in labor youre right around 200.

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An AcDelco fuel filter off amazon is 50-60 bucks and it gets changed every other oil change.

I don’t know where yours is but my fuel filter is by the firewall and takes all of 10-15 minutes to change.

Tractorman said:

LBZ engine is great....truck chassis is a pool noodle with Impala brakes bolted onto it. But I drive Super Duty, so I never ask if it will tow it fine, I know it will and I just go ahead and do it.

OP, just get a diesel and be done with it.

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You must not own a 6.0 or 6.4 lol

john11gt said:

An AcDelco fuel filter off amazon is 50-60 bucks and it gets changed every other oil change.

I don’t know where yours is but my fuel filter is by the firewall and takes all of 10-15 minutes to change.

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I'm not familiar with shops that charge in 15min increments, especially for the first hour. Maybe its just different around here.

JJackson515 said:

I'm not familiar with shops that charge in 15min increments, especially for the first hour. Maybe its just different around here.

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Not sure what you’re driving or how hard it is to change the fuel filter but paying someone to change the filter on my lbz would be silly considering how easy it is to change.

^^ This. It’s the same on 6.7 powerstroke.

But then again, I always do my own maintenance and damn sure would if I owned a “fleet”.

smitty2919 said:

I don't doubt the benefit of diesel. I guess I'm gun shy hearing how maintenance and working on them is a pain. A friend of mine I race with has owned a 2017 LP5 Sierra Denali 2500 and traded up to a 2020 diesel Denali "because the trade in was too good to pass up". I spoke to him and he said given my needs/frequency a gas would be better all things considered LOL. Another good friend of mine owned a local speed shop for mostly LS based vehicles (tuning/mechanical etc) and "would never own a diesel outside of warranty"...he leases a '17 Sierra Denali 2500.

Ideally the next truck is the "forever truck". Which mean I'll own it way past warranty. I'm not one to want/need the next best thing so getting into something new every 5 years is not something I see happening. Hell in 2-3 years, a 2020/21 model truck may be affordable. We COULD afford a brand new truck, but I don't think I could stomach the depreciation hit buying new. So a slightly used with warranty seems best.

Very polarizing opinions on this lol. I appreciate the tips!

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I’ve personally had 4 different diesels. Two Dodges, one Chevy, and one Ford. I’ve had several diesel work trucks (all Fords) and I have never experienced any issues or had any horror stories. Usually the horror stories come from guys who dislike diesels, or the guys who think gas is the best thing ever.

The days of the 6.0 and 6.4 are long gone and the 6.6 Duramax, 6.7 Powerstroke, and Cummins are all reliable. Your friends, more than likely had experiences with the 6.0 or 6.4.

I, like you don’t usually buy brand new. I bought my 2015 in 2016 with 30k miles. Sticker was $55k when new, I paid $40k out the door. I deleted emissions at around 40k miles and have had zero issues since and I pull moderately heavy on a regular basis.

If you do your own maintenance, then they aren’t that bad honestly.

I know a LOT of guys that drive diesels everyday, many in my own family do and I have yet to hear a horror story one. If your only going to drive it a few thousand miles a year then it will last you quite literally last forever once deleted.

Is it still somewhat a true statement that letting a diesel sit for extended periods is a bad thing? Meaning if we don't drive the truck for maybe a month or two? Which COULD be possible.

Another dumb question...what year did the "emissions" begin? I'll take a look at trucks prior to that year. If it was back in early 2000's then that sucks since part of the reason for a "newer truck" is build quality/technology and warranty.

smitty2919 said:

Is it still somewhat a true statement that letting a diesel sit for extended periods is a bad thing? Meaning if we don't drive the truck for maybe a month or two? Which COULD be possible.

Another dumb question...what year did the "emissions" begin? I'll take a look at trucks prior to that year. If it was back in early 2000's then that sucks since part of the reason for a "newer truck" is build quality/technology and warranty.

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GM started with the emissions stuff midway through 07. Arguably the best duramax that gm put out is the LBZ that was in 06-07 Sierra classic and Silverado’s. From 07.5-10 is the LML, which is essentially the same as the LBZ but with emissions equipment added.


I can’t speak for letting the truck sit for long periods but I was just out of town for about a month and had no issues when I came back.

smitty2919 said:

Is it still somewhat a true statement that letting a diesel sit for extended periods is a bad thing? Meaning if we don't drive the truck for maybe a month or two? Which COULD be possible.

Another dumb question...what year did the "emissions" begin? I'll take a look at trucks prior to that year. If it was back in early 2000's then that sucks since part of the reason for a "newer truck" is build quality/technology and warranty.

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No. Some 5.9 Cummins would have issues if not ran. Just go start it and let it run while you mow the yard.

I would buy a newer one and once the warranty is out, pay the $2k and have a shop tune it. That way you get all the newness and no emissions.

C2tuck said:

No. Some 5.9 Cummins would have issues if not ran. Just go start it and let it run while you mow the yard.

I would buy a newer one and once the warranty is out, pay the $2k and have a shop tune it. That way you get all the newness and no emissions.

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I’ve read people were spending like 5-7k deleting the DEF on their trucks. Forget that.

smitty2919 said:

Is it still somewhat a true statement that letting a diesel sit for extended periods is a bad thing? Meaning if we don't drive the truck for maybe a month or two? Which COULD be possible.

Another dumb question...what year did the "emissions" begin? I'll take a look at trucks prior to that year. If it was back in early 2000's then that sucks since part of the reason for a "newer truck" is build quality/technology and warranty.

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My 6.7 sits for months at a time, no issues

john11gt said:

I’ve read people were spending like 5-7k deleting the DEF on their trucks. Forget that.

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I spent $2k with a full exhaust. Would have been cheaper if I just did the delete pipe.

Probably on 2020 and newer. Have to get a new ECM. Either that or some shop ripping people off.