Anyone have any first hand experience or knowledge? I have never owned a diesel. I purchase a Colorado Z71 in 19,but it is not 4 wheel drive. I mainly highway drive,but have found a time or two I could have used 4 wheel at the lease. Thanks

a Z71 is not a 4 wheel drive ?

I have a ZR2 Bison with the gas engine. I thought long and hard about the diesel, but decided to go with the gas for the sake of simplicity, not dealing with DEF, etc. I use mine off road quite a bit and have never been in a situation where I wished I had the diesel. At least for the ZR2, the suspension is much more of a limiting factor for towing than the drive train. May not be the case with the Z71.

Not these days lol. Has the better suspicion but not 4x4

My son drives a 2018 ZR2 with the Duramax diesel. He puts 80 miles per day on it commuting to work. It has been trouble free so far, except for an oil leak at about 20k miles. The dealer fixed it under warranty. I've driven it several times and have been impressed with the little truck. I prefer my 6.2l GMC 4x4 Z71, but it will go places my truck won't go. It gets about 23mpg on the highway in the hills.

to me 23mpg with a small truck like that and a diesel is not all that impressive. I average 20mpg with my 1500 silverado 4x4 and a 5.3l.
I would have thought those smaller trucks would be closer to upper 20s with the diesel in them.

And an oil leak at 20k miles?

Z71 actually started off as a 2x4 truck package for “ranchers”, was a skid plate and better shocks.

Im shocked at the 23 MPG number. I have a half ton and get considerably better than that. I have read several people with them getting in the high 20's up to mid 30's regularly and 40+ doing 60 mph on the hwy hypermiling etc.

There is a company called GDE, Green Diesel Engineering, if you get one look them up and get their tune. I have one on my RAM and its good for 3 to 5 mpg over the stock tune, and it produces significantly less soot.

I drive the GMC Sierra with the 3.0 diesel. I average 26–28 mpg.

Does it void warranty?

Yes Im sure it voids the warranty. I tuned mine long before warranty expired. I had no issues even taking it in for service at the dealer.

That is a decision you will have to make on your own. For what its worth GDE isnt into making your diesel a fire/smoke breathing dragon, they tune for increased economy and a cleaner combustion. From what I have learned about my ram at least, RAM uses various injections per combustion event to make the engine quieter, but it produces a significant amount more soot etc. They are a wealth of knowledge and friendly. If you get one, or even before you get one if you call and have some questions from my experience they will be happy to help.

Thanks

Wow! I would expect better fuel mileage as well. My ‘20 Silverado Crew 4x4 gets better than that with the 3.0 Duramax. Drove it up to Arkansas over Easter weekend and averaged a shade over 27 mpg.

Yes sir
my nephew just got a new Silverado 1500 4x4 with the duramax and is averaging about 25 with it. Would be better but the peckerwood idles it at lunch time to sit in his cab in A/C. lmao

Are you guys disparaging this truck catching this part? 23 mpg, 4wd, hills at speed? He's doing pretty well. I have a friend with a 4wd Canyon diesel and he's getting 28+ regularly in the Lubbock area.

My worst tank not towing or a load in the bed in my 1/2 ton is better than 23, so I would be disappointed in that. That said driving style is huge when it comes to fuel mileage, although from almost every report ive seen the colorado/canyon gets better mpg's than my truck.

Stands to reason his trips are not 'up hill' both ways right?
I mean you if you are going up you certainly go down the other side and it should even out if that is the case.

All I'm saying is I'd expect more than 23 out of a small truck with a diesel in it when you can get damn near that with a full sized 1/2 ton 4x4 with a gas engine.

My Colorado v6 gas is getting 22. Pulling my 12 ft trailer with my mule to Eastland I get about 10.

whats the negative? does it de-tune HP and Torque?


edit:

looked it up....its like those old Superchip programmer tunes we used to use on our Powerstrokes and Cummins diesels. Mild hp & torque gains compiled with snappier throttle response and a 2-3mpg increase in fuel economy.

Know 2 guys with these. One is used as a commuter (2wd) and says 30 ish mpg.
2nd one ( 4wd) is used on farm and a fertilizer business.28 mpg empty. He sometimes pulls 10,000 lb fertilizer spreaders 45 mph with his. I wonder how long it would take to stop as there ain't no brakes on those spreaders.

I think a big part of my son's fuel economy is the fact it is a ZR2. Chevy trimmed the front bumper so it has a steep approach angle and it exposes the full frontal profile of the tire and no front air dam. The Z71 diesel gets 2 to 3 mpg better than the ZR2. I agree with others about their full size trucks doing almost as good as his smaller truck. My 6.2l 4x4 Sierra makes the same trip with 20.5 mpg. Of course we both drive about 5 over the limit. I prefer gas, but he likes the smaller diedamage. To each their own.

That explains a lot Phlash. I know these newer trucks are very, very aerodynamic and any changing them makes a big, big difference whether that is one size larger tires, changing out a front bumper for a replacement bumper, or even leveling out the front end an inch or two

WOW
With a Colorado?

I wouldn't compare them to a superchip programmer at all.

My son's truck is stock. The ZR2 comes from the factory raised, muted front bumper, no air damage or rake in the stance and taller, more aggressive tires, compared to the Colorado Z71 with the same drivetrain.