02 Duramax ???????

[ChrisPerry]

I'm going to look at a 02 GMC 2500 with a Duramax and an auto trans tommorrow.
What issues should I look for? He says no leaks or smoke.
Truck is stock except for a front mounted hitch.

He says it had injectors upgraded in 08 - 09. No records, how can I tell?

 

[miniwally]

You can't tell about injectors visually.

If you have a buddy or someone that can check the balance rates that is a good indicator of the injectors health. +/- 4 is normal. Anything getting close to those extremes is on it's way out, anything over those is done.

 

[CGT80]

I have researched the early Duramax engines and the injector issue. I have read a lot of comments stating that they never made an improved injector, so it is just a matter of time until they fail again. A set of injectors is supposed to be a few thousand dollars. I saw a great dually duramax that was fully loaded, but I didn't want to take a chance on the injectors. Some people reported only getting a few months out of some of the injectors and they also reported other engine problems after having leaking injectors.

I don't have any first hand experience with owning a diesel truck, but I have been looking for one, so I have tried to learn a bit about them. Maybe miniwally can confirm or deny what I have read from other owners.

 

[B.N.Z.MTNS]

I ran our 01' duramax to 211,000 miles before upgrading to the newer generation Duramax. You can plan on injectors every 75,000 to 100,000 miles... just a fact of life. I did the water pump, fuel pressure regulator, and steering components (twice). The only issue with the injectors is access, on the newer Duramax they made changing the injectors easier by putting them outside the valve covers.

All said I love the smooth Duramax power and GM ride. I have driven Cummins and Powerchoke in past jobs. Cummins was good but seemed more primative in design. Powerchoke....hmm, If someone gave me a free one, I'd sell it and use the money on something else...just my experience.

How many miles on the dmax that you are looking at? If you are in with any of the GM dealers around there they may be able to run the VIN and let you know any of the recorded service history as well as warranty work etc. I had ours do that on a used truck once and they found about 15 repairs that the seller never informed me about.

Good luck.

 

[miniwally]

The above is all basically true from what I know.

The LB7 IMO is just a bad design and there is nothing to do about it. I have reports from injector suppliers that if you tow with a tuner you might do injectors every 30,000 in an LB7, if you tow without a tuner you might do them every 50,000, if you don't tow but just use it as a DD type you may go 100,000. BUT you will replace the injectors in an LB7.

I have an 05' LLY and so far my injector balance rates are staying ok. I haven't checked them in a while but at 137,000 I haven't had to do anything but the standard front end work. I run a tuner, tow heavy at times, hot rod around, etc. and it has taken it, I did pop the head gaskets but that wasn't a GM/dmax issue that was me getting greedy with boost.

Personally I wouldn't buy a LB7 now. 04.5 and up only.

 

[ChrisPerry]

Well I checked it out last night. It isn't as perfect as he claimed.

02 GMC 2500HD extended cab 2wd w/ 185,000

It had a 5th wheel that was removed and a front mounted hitch. Rhino lined bed. Has a some scratches down the drivers side rear of cab/front of bed. Tires at 80% or better.

Interior is ok-good, normal wear, missing the sunglasses holder in the overhead, has a 1/2" hole in the control panel where he says it had a shift control mounted for the 5th wheel. All other interior functions as it should.

The truck drives very well. Shifts good, engine very smooth, absolutely no smoke or non-normal sounds or smells. No visual leaks or seepage anywhere. Engine was recently cleaned as was the undercarriage, but it appears to have been driven enough to get some road grime and dirt back on.

Engine was completely cold when I arrived, he wasn't expecting me until today. He was cool about me showing up early, I told him that I just wanted to make sure it wasn't ran a few minutes before I arrived to hide any cold start issues.

I've got an appointment to take it to a mechanic in an hour to get the injector duty cycle checked. We will put it on the rack and give the front end and steering a good once over.

If everything checks out, I'll make an offer. He's asking a bit too much, but I think he'll take less.





Sorry about the novel.......just trying to get my game face on

 

[ChrisPerry]

The above is all basically true from what I know.

The LB7 IMO is just a bad design and there is nothing to do about it. I have reports from injector suppliers that if you tow with a tuner you might do injectors every 30,000 in an LB7, if you tow without a tuner you might do them every 50,000, if you don't tow but just use it as a DD type you may go 100,000. BUT you will replace the injectors in an LB7.

I have an 05' LLY and so far my injector balance rates are staying ok. I haven't checked them in a while but at 137,000 I haven't had to do anything but the standard front end work. I run a tuner, tow heavy at times, hot rod around, etc. and it has taken it, I did pop the head gaskets but that wasn't a GM/dmax issue that was me getting greedy with boost.

Personally I wouldn't buy a LB7 now. 04.5 and up only.

I wish I could afford a LLY but I can't for now. I'm using this as a stepping stone to get me there in a few years.

It'll get exhaust and a small tuner. Not looking for a hot rod, just a fun truck with good Fuel economy. I tow 7-8000lbs a 4-5x's a year, including my pilgrimage to Moab, but mainly it's gonna be DD duty.

 

[MTChevy]

I love my lbz. Picked it up for 5800 with a blown tranny and 240k. Built up a stage 3 suncoast, juiced it with some efi live, hammer down been an awesome truck!