The 2006 fall model with a 6.6 liter V8 diesel engine will have 360 HP and 650 ft. lbs torque when mated with an Allison six speed automatic. The engine will have improved glow plugs that reduce cold start time, a lower compression ratio, and stronger cast iron cylinder block, piston pins and connection rods. Sounds good, but is it an indication of future problems. Also, the qualifier to achieve the rated HP and torque is a tip-off that it sounds better than it actually is made out to be. More later.

 

it is the LBZ it is only available with the allison auto

 

In my last post, in closing, I expressed my doubt that the new Duramax would be all that it is being made up to be by General Motors marketing, because a qualifier was needed to make the Duramax a practical diesel engine. The GMC INSIDER - THE GMC TRUCK OWNER NETWORK MAGAZINE states on page five the following: "...Of course the Duramax 6600 would't be complete without its partner in power, the Allison transmission, which has also been updated to a class-leader. The new Allison 1000 6-speed automatic transmission comes with high-tech features like tap-up/tap-down gear selection mode, which offers increased driver control by making selecting gears even easier, and two overdrive gears for improved highway fuel economy. This combination proves that GMC Trucks have more than guts, but the ability to perform and excel in any situation...."

Well, the Cummins B5.9 has the guts and ability to perform and excel with a manual transmission also, and not just with an automatic transmission. Cummins will even lift a load on semi-solid ground without touching the fuel feed before quickly engaging the clutch completely. On the other hand, I have seen empty Ford 6.0 litre Power Stroke engines stall when the clutch is let out quickly without first increasing the engine rpm on a hard road. Automatic transmission slippage allows the engine rpm to increase first before taking up the load resistance. Cummins does not need carefully worded propaganda to make it look good, because a Cummins diesel engine starts developing some of its torque at lower rpms than either Duramax or Power Stroke. Cummins B5.9 is a true truck diesel engine designed for work.

 

The only real problem with your post is that even though I agree with teh Cummins having better low end than the other 2 is that on the manual trucks like mine it has a low end govenor. You cant give ALL the credit to the low end tourque. The computer will not alow engine to drop below 800 RPM. It will automaticly feed it fuel to keep it running. Thus no need to give it throtle at take off. Dont under estimate the Duramax either. Espesaly when matted to an Allison as 99.9% of them are. I garontee that if Dodge had the Allison every single person on this board that is so quike to stick there nosses up at it would be the first to be braging abought it .

 

No matter how much engineering GMC (a Chevy with lock washers) does, the engine is still an unknown. It MIGHT be the best engine in the world after 3 "do over's in 5 years, but why chance it? When you buy a GM diesel you are a guniea pig. If you want to be a "beta tester" then fine let them buy your truck. If you want something that is a known, get a CTD.

I have 180K on the original tranny, and when I up grade it I will get a "built" one. I would rather spend $3.5K on a new tranny than $15K on a new diesel engine. IMHO.

I'm not trying to be brand loyal, or pick on GM. The facts are GM just does not have the track record for diesels that the CDT has.

 

I think the allison tranny is probably the single greatest factory tranny ever. I would kill for one in my truck. They shift great, hold up to lots of abuse, and that extra gear is really nice.

 

Get a manual trans. You can make it shift just as nice as you want.

 

I like the allison's also.

Double Overdrive? nice.

Tight Torque Converter? Nice

Downshifting to hold speed on downhills w/cruise? Nice.


Dodge Tranny? Not a diesel tranny.

Plus,, the '06 Dodge/Cummins has 610 Lbs torque at 1,600RPM, while the D-Max has 650 Lbs torque at 1,400. Wow. Too bad the tranny can't harness it, because if you go WOT, it will downshift......


Merrick

 

I'm not brand loyal anymore I go with what will due the job without costing me $$$$. I work my trucks like mules because thats what i need them for and the best mule for my buck has been the ctd with a manual. I'm sure the allison is a good tranny but the motor is more important to me cuz i cant trade a truck every 6 months or so. I just dont know where i'm going to go when dodge drops the ctd for the mercedes. I used to bleed the bowtie color before i got hold of the ctd

 

The diesel mechanics I know didn't think much of the Duramax a few years ago but most all now feel the Max is a better overall truck than the Ram.
Cummins may be a better engine, but not by much.
It's the rest of the truck that makes the difference, the Dodge part seems to have a lot more little problems.

 

Anybody know what RPM the Duramax turns at 65 or 70mph?

 

For the 5 speed Allison or the new double overdrive, 6 speed Allision?

I think the numbers being thrown around for the new one were 1600 RPM!

Mine revs at, err, I don't really know...

Who needs overdrive anyway? Overdrive is for sissies.

 

Just my humble opinion. The CTD has been around long enough to be proven. The 48RE trans seem to be much better than previous. And being old school like I am, I don't want a 3/4 ton truck with independant front suspension! If I wanted my truck to ride like a car, I would have a car.





OK, flame suit on

 

Just a quick question...who is doing a majority of the design on the Duramax engines anyway? I know a guy who owns a small towing company and he swears by his Isuzu flatbeds-that's all he owns, no Hinos, no UDs, etc... If GM has such good engineers working for them in Japan why don't they tap into that knowledge for their pickup engines? Or do they? I dunno, I'm no expert but I learn an awful lot from this site, and so far I'm still leaning towards a CTD when I graduate, but I always have been a die hard Chevy guy.

 

1600 would be nice at 70mph.