Anyone have experience with Duramax vans?

The power is knocked down because of the tranny.
My plumbing contractor has one. He loves it.

one of my friends has one and loves it never had any problems with it and he said yah it doesnt have as much power but it works well. imo just put a stage 3 tranny and proogrammer

So does anyone know how they knock down the power in the vans? Programming? Turbo/Injectors? I'm surprised that the 4L85 tranny wouldn't take more than 420 Ft/Lbs...

A friend of mine has an 06 and loves it, just wished it had the allison. Last time I talked to him he had over 200,000 and only had a turbo sensor or something like that go bad. besides that he loves it. 2500 extended chevy cargo van

The van has a lower torque curve calibration. It has the same injectors and turbo as the pickup. Packaging is the problem. An Allison will not fit in the van. Some other engine changes were required to fit it into the van. The engine should last a very long time if it is kept as stock.

I love mine

Yep I got a 06 and I love it, its got 128k on it now and only had a #8 injector replaced on it at around 23K I run 85% highway with it loaded near its gross weight most of the time and she gets 22-24 mpg at 60 mph. I found running above 60 you are just wasting fuel with this set up. I know if you run 70 your milage will be knocked down to 17-18 mpg and in my line of work fuel is my biggest expense I have.

set up is a, stock 3500 ext express with lly,4l85e, 3.73 limited slip

phill0072 said:

Yep I got a 06 and I love it, its got 128k on it now and only had a #8 injector replaced on it at around 23K I run 85% highway with it loaded near its gross weight most of the time and she gets 22-24 mpg at 60 mph. I found running above 60 you are just wasting fuel with this set up. I know if you run 70 your milage will be knocked down to 17-18 mpg and in my line of work fuel is my biggest expense I have.

set up is a, stock 3500 ext express with lly,4l85e, 3.73 limited slip

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Wow...dropping highway speed from 70 to 60 gives you 5-7 MPG better? I'd be after a set of 3.42 gears YESTERDAY.

Thanks for the replies, guys.

I beleive the low power rating is due to no intercooler, there for there is no need for the big trans, if you cant make the engine live nder the higher power!

OK, stupid question, but...the Duramax in the vans has no intercooler????

I'm getting the feeling from some of these replies that the diesels in the Savana/Express vans don't live like they do in the trucks...is that right?

I wouldnt say that, they just lower the fueling to control exhaust temps. at lower hp output the engine should live much longer than one making 360 hp!

cac??

intercooler?? do you mean charge air cooler ?? if you mean cac, then yes there is one between the a/c condensor and radiator. like I posted earlier I have 128k on mine and another contractor I work with has 200k + on his, and he has had no engine,trans or rear problems out of his. I have only had 1 injector replaced, not bad for 128k. KNOCK ON WOOD!!!!! and the fuel mileage I listed for 24 is under perfect conditions, maybe once a month in the spring or fall. 22.5 is what I get 99% of the time. I fill it up to the cap everytime.:gearjamin

phill0072 said:

intercooler?? do you mean charge air cooler ?? if you mean cac, then yes there is one between the a/c condensor and radiator.

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Ah my mistake, i was just going on what i had been told as i have yet to actually see a dmax powered van, there can be much room in there at all if they put all of that in there!

The van has an intercooler (charge air cooler). As I stated in an earlier post, the lower torque curve will prolong the life of this engine. Should be able to get more than a full useful life.

ok i dont need 500hp but a good tip for better fuel for both my vans is my question? 06-07 both have been awesome. bout 17-18mph

I believe the vans have a lift pump, where the trucks don't. Anyone confirm that-??

jc1843 said:

I believe the vans have a lift pump, where the trucks don't. Anyone confirm that-??

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Correct the vans do have a lift pump. Hopefully TheStepChild chimes in soon... hes owned a bunch of these.


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