Good deal. That was one of the things I messed my pants over when I first lifted the hood on my CTD. I was used to the crampy, knuckle-busting, can't-identify-anything engine compartment of the Duramax; when the hood came up and I saw the heavy duty simplicity of the CTD, I knew it was a superior product. Everything was big, easily identifiable, spacious, and obviously industrial-strength.

 

Great Video. "Why can't I do what he is doing?" DUH! You have a CHEVY! And get out of the fast lane...you stupid MORON! And let's push our truck to the "over-temp" limit and then just keep it mashed for miles and miles and see if we can't REALLY BLOW SOMETHING UP! I applaud his effort to log his data and make a substantial case to Chevy, but my Gosh. And another thing, I'll be willing to bet that that Big Tex trailer and U-Haul truck weigh more than the other travel trailer and Jeep put together...not that it matters...but I'm sure it does. The Jeep and U-Haul are a wash and that flatbed should weigh more that that camper full of plastic and bed matresses.

Dude, sell that POS Chevy and spend $10,000 on an old DODGE!

 

those dont have anything to do with it, people have run blocker plates, cold airintakes, and stack sealing mods...sort of helped on mild overheaters, didnt help the bad overheaters.

ben

 

Like I said, I agree the D-Max should not have been overheating, if stock, and if it did not have any mechanical issues. I'm sure the old Dodge would have pulled that same load right on up the hill without overheating. What I am saying is the whole thing looks staged to me. If I were GM warranty and saw this tape I would ask for weight tickets on the U-Haul truck and trailer. I bet it exceeded the factory tow rating on that truck by a couple of thousand pounds. Just because the Dodge/Cummins combo will go way beyond the factory tow rating day after day without a problem, don't get mad and whine if your truck, whatever brand it is, won't do more than the factory designed it to do. Why do you think most Hotshoter's run Dodge trucks, and we all know they never exceed the factory tow rating.

Correct me if I am wrong, but even the new big bad LBZ, D-Maxes are having overheating issues when pushed past the factory tow ratings. A tow rating which by the way is the lowest of the big 3 automakers.

 

All of those are elements that add t the risk of overheating.

The biggest one was obviously the undersized radiator and poor stack/grill design. That's why RadMod v2 works.

 

ive asked this question on another thread and didnt get a anwser, and i didnt check this thread if anybody asked, but how many gallons of coolant does the DMAX hold?

 

I thought duratothemax or somebody posted 6 gallons?

 

Finally made it to the end. Read all the replies. Wanted to add a few comments.

1) Neglecting the weight of the towed loads, the Cummins is towing the camper and the Jeep 4 WHEELS DOWN. That's 4 axles he's towing. In my towing experience, as the number of axles towed (or even tires to the ground) increases, the rolling resistance increases linearly. And the rolling resistance is substantial. It looks like the GN trailer has dual wheel assemblies so the rolling resistance may be a wash between the two.

2) I give this guy some respect for doing something about his problem.

3) I also give this guy the benefit of the doubt about riding the left lane. I think he pulled out there in an attempt to run up beside the Dodge so the camera could confirm what kind of truck it was. And he remained in the left lane so we could better judge the distance to the Dodge, and in hopes that he may gain on him later and pass the Dodge. Also, if the speed limit is 80 mph, the traffic must have been very light because I don't remember him getting passed much.

4) The camper had to be at least 8,500 lbs, probably more. The Jeep, what, uh maybe 3,500 lbs. That's 12k towing ... that's a good load in my opinion. The Chevy towing maybe a 5,000 lb trailer with a 6,500 lbs Uhaul? Just guessing. That's like 11,500. To me, those 2 weights are close enough to be called equal.

5) I think the guy kept rugging the DMax to prove his point (that he was overheating and having a hard time staying up with "an ole Dodge"), and because he evidently knew the ECU would protect the engine.

Even for that test, I don't think I would have had the cojones to keep my foot in it. I would've been considering the melting point of aluminum as compared to steel.

But kudos to him and I'm glad he won his case. I'm glad he didn't run up against me during his test, because I run 65 mph when towing, because I'm cheap and try to get 13 mpg or better. Of course I would've have gained or passed him back on some of them grades, cause I run 65 up the hills too.

- JyRO

 

no. the LBZ does not overheat and neither does the LB7.


tow rating is not a simple measure of "power". tow rating is a combination of weight distribution, axle ratings, spring rates, tires, wheels, hitch size (the factory dmax bumper hitch sucks), etc.

 

No the LB7 just has 8 bad injectors that cost $200.00+ each that GM says they will replace under warranty. That is until you actually take them a truck that has bad injectors. Our 2003, C2500 D-Max shop truck has been in the shop for the last month with the dealer trying to change everything but the injectors trying to clear up fuel smoke at idle.

As for the tow rating, I deal with things everyday that tow over a million pounds, and I know what all goes into calculating tow ratings. I just find it amusing that the most powerful STOCK new pickup you can buy right now has the lowest towing capacity. So what is the factory hitch, GM's version of a fusable link?

 

yes, the factory hitch sucks

reese titan v makes a good replacement

 

Maybe it is a problem from the factory, I don't know. But I am not going to stand behind that moron either. He is trying to sale cooling devices for the Duramax, maybe he placed a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator. ?

There is a lot we can't know from the video, but one thing we all should get from it, he is a moron, plain an simple!
Maybe the U-Haul is loaded, (The GCVW could be 25,000-30,000 lbs, we have no way of knowing.) maybe his tires are half flat, maybe he has weight in the bed of the pickup. After all, his sole purposes is to make the truck look as bad as possible. I do not trust him due to his motives.

 

Meanwhile, back at the Dodge. They're just riding along, enjoying a beautiful day. On vacation and being soothed by that wonderful Cummins roar. Tunes are on. Chatting. Completely oblivious to the screaming, overheated, highway hazzard thrashing away trying to "catch" them. Errrr, the "Superior Product" trying to catch them.

Wetspirit

 

Wetspirit: You got it man..their truck hauls their 12k lbs just fine at 80mph up a 6% grade,so why care that a dead duramax is behind them lol.Seriously funny to see how people can argue about why and what went wrong with the duramax, point IS...it didn't make it that day.

 

Duratothemax was very close with this statement.

"The cooling system IS adequate when everything is in-line and perfect as far as the emmissions components go."

Look at how little I have to change in his sentence to fix the truck!

The cooling system IS adequate when everything is in-line and perfect as far as the CYLINDERS go.