Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback

Rob Petrie E395 · 12-19-2008, 02:22 PM

There seems to be alot of guys on here with dodges. Have any of you guys had high gear go out of your truck (manual trans here) We saw several including one we had that would be towing down the interstate and all the sudden it was like it jumped out of gear and goto the rev limiter. When you tried to put it back in gear it was gone although if you jumped down a gear you could still get home or to shop to get fixed. Most were covered under warranty still so we never fixed one at my place but I am wondering if the later models are fixed with a update from the factory or is this still happening? Sorry to sidetrack but I thought it might be seen by more guys here rather than start a new thread. We were seeing this regularlly in the 98,99 model years maybe others cant remember back that far.
Rob

Ron Brown · 12-19-2008, 02:29 PM

I had a 2006 Duramax Dually and it did great, no problems. I would say that you might avoid the new body style GMs because of some of the changes made in those two years have seen alot of issues. If you go GM i would say 2006 or older. However alot of Dodges seem to have manual trans. in them. The allison trans is a awsome trans and I would suggest you go with that trans no matter what you buy.

Stock 608 · 12-19-2008, 04:48 PM

I have a 2006 Duramax duallie with allision trans. I've had it since new and is a great truck. I tow a 43 ft gooseneck and it gets around 11mpg. Has great power towing hills.I went to indy in '08 with an open tralier and it got about 14 mpg, from seattle to indy. We added a 100 fuel tank, and we can make it from seattle to pomona on 1 tank. I would recomend a auxiliary fuel tank, especially if your are towing a bigger tralier. Its nice to be able to go a long ways and not stop.

John Lang · 12-19-2008, 05:10 PM

Rob Petrie, I Have a 96 Dodge Cummins Duallie with a 5 speed, and 312,000 mi and in the first 100K I lost 5th gear just the way you did! What happens is there is a waverly?, washer held with a locking nut! when that washer destroys its self, the gear will ride fore and aft and bang on the lock nut, and then there will be times when the gear will only be engaged with half it's gear depth and fail! I had this happen 5 times, and the fifth time they (Chrysler) replaced the entire trans, drive shaft, flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing, and all labor under warrenty at 98.000 mi. They Bitched, but my dealer got it taken care of! Its still in there and working great! The pump has been screwed with, on there nickel, and empty it gets 24 MPG w/3.55 Gear. Pulling a 28 Pace Big Foot loaded at 65MPH 13-14MPG. Cant get rid of it yet ,the rings are just seating. ........... Later, Merry Christmas To all, John & Ginny Lang

Rob Petrie E395 · 12-19-2008, 05:44 PM

John
Thanks for the reply. Have you heard how long this went on before they fixed the problem. I know the 99 and I think some into 00 did it but not sure if it went on after that but curious to know. The newer trucks have 6 speeds not sure how many model years had that 5 speed.

Gordie Kissner · 12-19-2008, 09:54 PM

I've towed a bunch of miles with both and would take the Cummins over the Duramax everytime especially for durability..As far as automatics go the allison is as good as it gets(though not indestructable),Dodge's automatic is definately better than it used to be with the exhaust brake etc..and the 6-spd manuals are both comparable. The other differences between the two would be a toss up IMO.

Shawn Blair · 12-20-2008, 03:52 AM

Dodge,Cummins,6-speed,Mileage,it's really an easy choice. Besides do you really want to buy an Izusu engine?

james schaechter · 12-20-2008, 08:11 AM

I have a 2002 GMC Duramax 6 speed manual 4 x4 crew cab 2500hd. I have 192k on it. The injectors were all replaced under warranty and the dual mass flywheel was replaced a couple of times under warranty. I love the truck. In the summer, I get up to 24 hwy empty with 3.73 gears and always over 20. In the winter about 2 less mpg avg. Towing I can count on 15 with a 24 ft tag going 75. No mods or programmers.

The only complaint is with the flywheel. GM screwed that deal up and added a healthy dose of CYA when I found out the new improved flywheel was the same junk and would not hold up. There is a fix and it works great. A single mass flywheel. I did that at 110k and have had no issues with that. If you look for a GM stick Duramax, if it still has a dual mass flywheel. Figure in 1200. for the southbend kit if youinstall it yourself and you will be good to go.

Other than that, I plan on going to 300k before I think of getting a newer one. By the way, I would stay away from any of the diesels with the DPF. I think that is 2008 and newer. MPG suffers and I just don't think that is the best way to control the emmissions.

12-19-2008, 02:22 PM	#1
Rob Petrie E395 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Woodlawn IL Posts: 1,092 Likes: 162 Liked 216 Times in 77 Posts	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback There seems to be alot of guys on here with dodges. Have any of you guys had high gear go out of your truck (manual trans here) We saw several including one we had that would be towing down the interstate and all the sudden it was like it jumped out of gear and goto the rev limiter. When you tried to put it back in gear it was gone although if you jumped down a gear you could still get home or to shop to get fixed. Most were covered under warranty still so we never fixed one at my place but I am wondering if the later models are fixed with a update from the factory or is this still happening? Sorry to sidetrack but I thought it might be seen by more guys here rather than start a new thread. We were seeing this regularlly in the 98,99 model years maybe others cant remember back that far. Rob

12-19-2008, 02:29 PM	#2
Ron Brown Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mt. Washington, Ky Posts: 86 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback I had a 2006 Duramax Dually and it did great, no problems. I would say that you might avoid the new body style GMs because of some of the changes made in those two years have seen alot of issues. If you go GM i would say 2006 or older. However alot of Dodges seem to have manual trans. in them. The allison trans is a awsome trans and I would suggest you go with that trans no matter what you buy. __________________ Ron Brown be back soon

12-19-2008, 04:48 PM	#3
Stock 608 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: D6 Posts: 33 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback I have a 2006 Duramax duallie with allision trans. I've had it since new and is a great truck. I tow a 43 ft gooseneck and it gets around 11mpg. Has great power towing hills.I went to indy in '08 with an open tralier and it got about 14 mpg, from seattle to indy. We added a 100 fuel tank, and we can make it from seattle to pomona on 1 tank. I would recomend a auxiliary fuel tank, especially if your are towing a bigger tralier. Its nice to be able to go a long ways and not stop.

12-19-2008, 05:10 PM	#4
John Lang Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Sheboygan Wi Posts: 391 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback Rob Petrie, I Have a 96 Dodge Cummins Duallie with a 5 speed, and 312,000 mi and in the first 100K I lost 5th gear just the way you did! What happens is there is a waverly?, washer held with a locking nut! when that washer destroys its self, the gear will ride fore and aft and bang on the lock nut, and then there will be times when the gear will only be engaged with half it's gear depth and fail! I had this happen 5 times, and the fifth time they (Chrysler) replaced the entire trans, drive shaft, flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing, and all labor under warrenty at 98.000 mi. They Bitched, but my dealer got it taken care of! Its still in there and working great! The pump has been screwed with, on there nickel, and empty it gets 24 MPG w/3.55 Gear. Pulling a 28 Pace Big Foot loaded at 65MPH 13-14MPG. Cant get rid of it yet ,the rings are just seating. ........... Later, Merry Christmas To all, John & Ginny Lang __________________ John Lang 365 STK, SS

12-19-2008, 05:44 PM	#5
Rob Petrie E395 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Woodlawn IL Posts: 1,092 Likes: 162 Liked 216 Times in 77 Posts	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback John Thanks for the reply. Have you heard how long this went on before they fixed the problem. I know the 99 and I think some into 00 did it but not sure if it went on after that but curious to know. The newer trucks have 6 speeds not sure how many model years had that 5 speed.

12-19-2008, 09:54 PM	#6
Gordie Kissner Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Emmett, Idaho Posts: 221 Likes: 1,359 Liked 18 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback I've towed a bunch of miles with both and would take the Cummins over the Duramax everytime especially for durability..As far as automatics go the allison is as good as it gets(though not indestructable),Dodge's automatic is definately better than it used to be with the exhaust brake etc..and the 6-spd manuals are both comparable. The other differences between the two would be a toss up IMO.

12-20-2008, 03:52 AM	#7
Shawn Blair Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Everson, WA. Posts: 122 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback Dodge,Cummins,6-speed,Mileage,it's really an easy choice. Besides do you really want to buy an Izusu engine? __________________ Shawn Blair 6383 SS 634 STK

12-20-2008, 08:11 AM	#8
james schaechter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 1,994 Likes: 1,299 Liked 1,440 Times in 301 Posts	Re: Duramax vs. Cummins- Need some feedback I have a 2002 GMC Duramax 6 speed manual 4 x4 crew cab 2500hd. I have 192k on it. The injectors were all replaced under warranty and the dual mass flywheel was replaced a couple of times under warranty. I love the truck. In the summer, I get up to 24 hwy empty with 3.73 gears and always over 20. In the winter about 2 less mpg avg. Towing I can count on 15 with a 24 ft tag going 75. No mods or programmers. The only complaint is with the flywheel. GM screwed that deal up and added a healthy dose of CYA when I found out the new improved flywheel was the same junk and would not hold up. There is a fix and it works great. A single mass flywheel. I did that at 110k and have had no issues with that. If you look for a GM stick Duramax, if it still has a dual mass flywheel. Figure in 1200. for the southbend kit if youinstall it yourself and you will be good to go. Other than that, I plan on going to 300k before I think of getting a newer one. By the way, I would stay away from any of the diesels with the DPF. I think that is 2008 and newer. MPG suffers and I just don't think that is the best way to control the emmissions. __________________ James Schaechter 3163 STK