"High" mileage reliability

[JoshH]

My sister and brother-in-law have been looking for a new to them truck for a while now. They want a crew cab long bed truck that is 06 or newer with 75k miles or less, but they don't really have a lot to spend. A friend of my dad who owns a body shop found a 2006 2500HD CC/LB 4x4 Duramax/Allison at a auto broker's lot with some very light damage to it for a really good price. The only problem is it has 178k miles on it. I told them that it is nothing to worry about, but my brother-in-law refuses to budge. I'm hoping some of you guys with higher mileage (150k or more) can answer this survey that I'm putting up to show them what they would potentially be looking at. Thanks.

Also, if you could maybe list the problems you've had, that would help as well.

 

[blk smoke lb7]

I only have an lb7 and other than injectors replaced under warr. only thing i had go wrong was head gaskets but i was putting 35psi to a 160,000 mile motor and i wasnt babying it at all.That truck they are looking at is a great truck wish i could find a super deal on the same truck.Do you mind me asking what they could buy it for? And does it have leather and all the good stuff?

 

[dmaxfireman]

if they honestly want it to last "forever"

tell them to save all their money and put it towards a extended warranty through gm that will get them through the lifespan they want the truck to last

that is what i would do if i had to do it all over again lol actually could have bought two trucks with what i bought it for and then dumped into it

 

[Sledhead]

that is what i would do if i had to do it all over again lol actually could have bought two trucks with what i bought it for and then dumped into it

Ya but you wouldn't have that cool avatar :coolspot:

I'm at 140,000 miles; injectors once (LB7), head gaskets once but probably not entirely without cause. Oh and a transmission right after the twins

On edit: A recent ECM, plus the usual pitman, idler, brakes, shocks

 

[Colt]

Transfer case hole needs that Merchant fix it kit, brace for that case too to support tail of tranny. Almost easy to buy an extra LBZ long block to have if the running one craps out and just rebuild tranny with G-6 pack / converter if one gives or both are weak after driven a while. New $70k truck just to expensive when parts for a nice LBZ can be had now since lots are laying around. Thats my choice of engine that's all because you can find real nice hi mile trucks for low price out of salt states even. Don't buy a rust project that is a reject first off. The race guys are finding trucks to chop up and go hi power on for decent money but they look hard and far for them I bet. Good luck there's one out there an old guy is tired of putting hi priced fuel in pulling that trailer and ready to get a different rig. WE see used tranny and engines in Colo for fair prices on part outs of the wrecked ones seems cheaper then new these days.

 

[JoshH]

I only have an lb7 and other than injectors replaced under warr. only thing i had go wrong was head gaskets but i was putting 35psi to a 160,000 mile motor and i wasnt babying it at all.That truck they are looking at is a great truck wish i could find a super deal on the same truck.Do you mind me asking what they could buy it for? And does it have leather and all the good stuff?

The truck is loaded, and my dad's buddy said once all the body work is done, they would be looking at around $15k.

 

[02greysixer]

My lb7 has over 260,000 miles on it. I took a gamble and bought it with 251,000 from a guy who owns a logging company. It was his work truck so it had a pretty rough life. Other than the normal suspension wear and tear (ball joints, shocks, tie rods) it was in good shape when I got it. The previous owner had the clutch replaced and 1/2 the injectors replaced. Also had the other 4 injectors and the injector pump tested by one of the best dealerships in north FL. And they tested like new. I love my truck and don't see any reason for it not to go another 200,000 miles :thumb:

 

[616samuel]

Note i've only done my tranny because i wanted to... not because i had to! did that at 140kish on the clock is 154,354 and still strong although a lot looser feeling than my lml! but it's got 2 seasons of sled pulling on the stock motor, turbo and injectors and max effort tuning yet no engine problems at all!!!:thumb: This is on my '05 LLY

 

[blk smoke lb7]

The truck is loaded, and my dad's buddy said once all the body work is done, they would be looking at around $15k.

Thats a steal IMO,If they dont want it let me know i have a guy looking and im sure he would buy it .

 

[jaketbs]

Just minor interior lighting and front end parts. IMO most of the major parts is from when we all put our extras on. Like I smoked my tranny and blew a head gasket but that was before i knew anything and had different chips stacked and all the dumb sh#t I did with it.

 

[blk smoke lb7]

Where you at lotsomiles?

 

[rgullett83]

I would say suspension and steering parts will be the big things. Then the water pump, and maybe an injection pump, and an injector here or there, and possibly some trans issues depending on its previous life. oh yeah u joints and possibly t- case pump rub.

 

[DAVe3283]

I have 270k miles on my LB7. This is what has been done since I bought it 3 years ago:

• Various electrical stuff (lamps, headlights, switches wearing out after 270k miles, etc.). All very minor, cheap, and expected.
• A ton of fuel filters until I ditched the factory crap setup for a lift pump & filtration. Factory filter housing is a nightmare on high mile engines. Worth every penny I paid, wish I had done it sooner.
• Transmission limps because of too large of tunes. Easily prevented with sane tuning or obviously stock tuning. Even so, I am on a completely stock drivetrain (limps and all) at 270k.
• Injectors at 204k, but this won't happen to the 2006 they are looking at.
• Some steering parts died at 240k. Turns out they had never been greased. Who's fault was that? Oh right...
• New brake pads at 250k. Not bad, IMO; most cars don't get half of that out of a set of pads.
• Hydroboost (brake booster) started leaking pretty bad at 260k. Replaced in driveway, not a big deal.
• Transfer case pump rub at 260k. This can and should be prevented. It is cheaper that way.
• Electrical sensor on transmission failed at 265k. Drove it home, then $34 and 1 hour later all is well.

For 3 years of abuse, that is a pretty small repair list. Overall, I've spent 10x more on fuel and tires than I have on maintenance & repairs, and I got the truck with 200k on it.
(I have spent $10,843 in fuel over the last 61k miles, averaging 16.4 MPG. About $3k in tires. Repairs and maintenance total far less than $2k.)

 

[S Phinney]

I have a 02 GMC with 324k on it. This truck has been a very good truck. Original tranny, motor, transfer case and rear end. It has had injectors two times, one injection pump and normal front end steering parts. I wouldn't be scared to take it on a trip anywhere. It has EFI tuning by myself and that's all the upgrades. Pulls 18k lbs occasionally in my dump trailer and any other items I need at work. A truck that has highway miles on it is much better than one with say 75k that's all city driving.

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

When my old drivetrain started giving me fits, I decided to do an engine swap, so pretty much every part of my drivetrain was redone in the last 2 years as I did EVERYTHING in it with the swap.

 

[Burn Down]

Does it have the service records? Josh you know enough about these things to know if it's a good truck or not. Just tell your brother in law that he can get a good look at a t-bone by sticking his head up a cow's ass but I would rather just take the butchers word....

 

[JoshH]

Does it have the service records? Josh you know enough about these things to know if it's a good truck or not. Just tell your brother in law that he can get a good look at a t-bone by sticking his head up a cow's ass but I would rather just take the butchers word....

No idea about service records, but maybe I should see if Henry can run a VIN check on it.

 

[TeaBagger2006]

well i have an 06 cc/lb "loaded"........i have 156k on mine and beleive it or not they have been 95% trouble free and i doo a lot of city driving. i wouldnt hesitate to buy that truck.
some lights qui working on the dash. i just did my wheel bearings today (first time). injector rates are >+-1(checked today).

 

[sweetdiesel]

I'm over 200 miles on my Lilly


Still original water pump, I had the ignition switch go

It's been a good truck other then self inflicted damage

 

[MACKIN]

Mileage is just a number all depends on how those number were put on it and maintenance records. Like it says above if all the 'normal' things water pump,alt,suspension,steering,hoses,belt,wheel bearings,brakes, etc etc haven't been done they will need to be done. I'd also get the extended warranty

Even if all that cost $5000+ it's worth it when you price out a new truck. Crap I spec'd out a 2500 HD gasser loaded and it's $50 k. Ya I know you'll get discounts but dammmmmm. A diesel adds way more. :spit: