I own 3 GM vehicles from this generation: A 2005 Suburban 2500 (8.1), a 2002 Silverado 1500, and - the crown jewel - a 2004 Hummer H2 Luxury package. I bought the Suburban with 110k miles (it currently has 210k), the Silverado with 137k (it currently has 179k), and the Hummer with 53k (it currently has 79k). I daily drive all three, and have done many long-distance road trips and family outings in both the Suburban and the Hummer. I occasionally tow with all three (nothing very heavy), and have done a fair amount of light off-roading with the Suburban and the Hummer. These three vehicles have proven to be the toughest, and most reliable vehicles I have ever owned by FAR, in my total 35-ish years of vehicle ownership. In the case of the Suburban, also the most versatile and useful. GM really knocked it out of the park in the early 2000's.
My buddies dad has his 01 Sierra 2500 8.1 zf6 still, that truck is a fricken tank. It drinks gas but it’s sittin at 305k miles last time I checked. Just keeps on goin and goin. 3 clutches (replaced every 100k), 8 sets of tires and 3 sets of brakes later. Body’s startin to rust but it’s earned it after 21 years of faithful service. He custom ordered it and apparently it’s the last vehicle he plans on buying. Given he’s 65, I’d probably agree with him on that.
@@TheMrLebaron isn't the torque similar even though the 'zilla putting out more horses? The advantage it's has over the 496 is direct port injection and five more forward gears plus aluminum lightweight body.
I'm a chevy guy. Never wanted a Ford til I saw the 7.3l. They need to bring back big blocks. Love my 454 vortec and 8.1l. Hmmmm maybe I need a 460 and a 7.1l now lol
I towed with my 2004 F150 with a 5.4L and auto trans. I had an aftermarket oil and tranny cooler installed. My truck never got hot and fluids and filters changed at or before intervals in manual so I could keep it alive. I towed my uncle's boat around and a heavy utility trailer. Also pulled a couple fully loaded hay racks down to the farm.
I miss my 2005 Burb 2500, 6.0 with 4.10’s. It pulled great at sea level but pulling our travel trailer through CO it definitely had to work but wasn’t terrible. Thinking hard of finding an 8.1 version, I think this was the last great Burb generation.
All fuel basically comes from the same source where the truck transports load and from the same storage tanks. There really should be little difference in fuel quality unless there would be station storage issues and as high of volume that Loves should be that should not be an issue. There can be a difference in fuel branding as that is an additive injected when the transport loads but all gasoline is required to have some kind of additive based on EPA regulations so while that might make a little difference, it would likely not even be noticable. I have hauled fuel from terminals to retail locations for 18 years.
YEEEAAAGGGHHH BUDDY...!! Great Engine, madd torque, GREAT OVERLAND PLATFORM, great videos of the ol' 8.1 !!! thats and engine pretty mean... rollin' down the road at 'eight miles a gallon' they like to run hot, with GOOD FUEL...!!! NICE...!!!
I love my 2001 2500 8.1, 386K miles all original. Been a work truck its whole life. It still gets between 6k and 12k hooked up behind it regularly. I am only just now thinking about modifications, because why not. Lol
I have a 02 2500 avalanche with this 8.1 love the truck will never sell it. But with mods I've done my best mpg is 11 lol im on 35s 7 in bds lift 4.10 gears towing getting like 9mpg pulling 30ft toy hauler. Haul anything I've throw at it without any issues but loves gas station lol. I bought a mega cab cummins now for my tow rig and yea night and day difference more torque and double the mpg diesel forsure the way to go for towing. But nonetheless the 8.1 is a capable rig and bad ass package
I have the 5.3 and ive tow around 30 plus trucks and few cars. With trailer and tow dolly. Got it with high mileage too. I like to tow with it cause wheel base is short and its turns great. The 8.1 with 4l80 they are tanks.
Also, on the brake system that is a hydro boost system like most diesel setups use and not a vacuum boost system like most gas setups use. That said, I think that my '05 Tahoe that had the 5.3 in it has the hydro boost setup also so maybe that's a tow package upgrade.
I haul fuel for a living and can definitely say that Costco and Loves gets there fuel from the same sources. Wholesale contract blends from citgo, marathon etc. The only difference is, and this is probably what you're experiencing with their gas, is that loves doesn't run through the same amount of gas that Costco does. Meaning Costco is constantly being filled with fresh fuel in their tanks because they run through it like crazy where as places like Loves sits on their ethonal blended gasoline for longer periods of time and what will happen is the ethonal will start breaking down in the tank and thats where you start losing that power from the fuel. As for Love's diesel being bad, I can only say it would more than likely be to the blend of bio they mix their diesel fuel with, which in summer time can be up to 20% which i can definitely see as being a factor in why you went though high pressure injectors in a modern diesel. But most places get the same fuel and same quality of fuel. There's only so many terminals out here when you start to see the industry like I have.
I never have understood why everyone says the gm gauges are no good I have never had any trouble with mine and if I plug the computer into the truck the gauges and the read out on the scanner are spot on.
I have the Chevy version of the same rig. 01 8.1L Suburban. The 2500 version of adjustable suspension is not self leveling, just electronic dampening control. It explains how it works in the sales literature on GM Heritage Center along with a lot of other info. About poor performance from fuel. From the factory you have a high octane spark table and a low octane spark table. Some tuners jack up both tables and it forces the engine into retard when the knock sensor picks up a little knock instead of just dropping down to the lesser table first. I left my spark tables mostly stock just deleted a little nock retard from the IAT tables. If GM had wanted these to operate with the max timing all the time there would be no reason for the dual tables. If you have a friend with a HP tuners connector. You can pull the current tune and take a peek. The compare feature is handy and its costs nothing to snoop around. The only time HP tuners charges is when an owner wants to reflash the pcm.
Everyone ends up deleting the air ride. Yea aftermarket is the way to go. Bilstien 5100s ftw. She needs a trip to raylar engineering to open it up a bit.
This was probably the best engine gm put in their trucks. Good decision with this oversized tranny cooler. If you don't have electric fans, is a must to increase the tranny oil radiator surface. Why did not came this way from the factory...... I don't know.
@@repairvehicle Yes unless the torque converter is in lock up mode. Then very little transmission fluid heat is being made regardless of load or engine rpm.
For the most part, a ford 6.2 or a GM 8.1 are much better trucks than any diesel even if you tow daily. Unless you’re getting into goosenecks or frequently exceeding 10,000lbs in-tow it’s all you could ever need and way easier on the budget. Servicing these big gassers makes working on cars look easy.
Auto ride is just adjustable shock valve,sensor by your ear is for cabin temp makes noise wen going bad. I have same suburban does yours engine brake mine does not If so did the tune help that
Correct. There is no air compressor from the factory on the 2500 autoride system. It’s strictly electronic shock damping control. It also has a sensor at each wheel to sense suspension movement and make abatement to the shocks. The 1500’s has the air compressor and attempted to regain level when loaded up.
I had a 99 burb 2500 with a 454 vortec. 4.10 gears. Went good empty, but put 10k behind it and fell flat on its face. Ford 5.4l 2v with 3.73 gears towed the same.
@@michaelbarnhill2685 About the same. The 454 liked to run at higher RPM, where the Ford was happy at less than 3000. I admit I am a Ford guy, but I do like GM's push rod engines for simplicity.
@michaelbarnhill2685 I agree. Never heard anybody ever say a 5.4 would tow better than a 454. I have a 99 454 truck and it tows better than my 97 powerstroke lol.
I just found one I will be picking up. It has been babied. I am planning on lifting it and doing a manual trans swap on it. Roof racks, front and rear off-road bumpers, winch, fender flares. AKA full overlander rig.
The Autoride on those is magnetic, not air. Super spendy to replace. I disabled my sensors and put in conventional shocks. I do miss the Autoride though. I may spend the grand to go back when these fail.
Just towed the new camper from Long Beach Wa back to North Idaho and had an engine code come on just past George , Wa. Low line pressure on that shitty ole 68rfe. Looks like I need an upgrade to the valve body and I was wondering if there were any suggestions on which one is best for that boat anchor of a transmission.
@@repairvehicle haven’t changed it. Just hit 70000. Mostly city/hwy no towing to speak of. I figure I’m going to get a new valve body and to be honest I’m about ready to just put a g56 in it and call it good. Wish they would have had one when I bought this truck. But it is what it is.
@@warden6.7 , that’s problem, lack of maintenance. ATF fluid in these trucks goes before truck can even reach 50k miles and 4 years. I have 68rfe and done atf analysis and results really bad. Fluid should be changed like it was before 30k miles max.
There's actually quadrasteer 8.1 Suburbans/Yukons, but they're even more of a unicorn than quadrasteer already is. I think I've only seen a couple of them come up for sale, but they are around.
I just towed with 6.7 cummins for the first time and comparing to my previous gas trucks, Day and night difference. Never again I would buy gas truck for towing.
enjoy an empty wallet when it comes to maintenence and repairs.....have fun when one little emissions sensor goes out and it shuts you down to 30 mph on the side of the road.
@@PeeterPuncher , lack of maintenance and lack of understanding makes any diesel unreliable. I don’t let fear control my life. Knowledge is power and fear is disease that causes all kinds of health problems.
@@cjpow4867 , there are people that maintained their trucks to the higher standards possible and have zero problems with their trucks, 500k miles plus. There are also other people that follow factory recommendations and have nothing but the problems. Following factory recommendations helps dealer stay in business and owners crying how unreliable these trucks are.
If your diesel starts having engine problems your gna have to take out a second mortgage to fix it. A gas engine can be replaced 2 times over along with all other shit under the hood for the cost of an injector job. Maintenance is thru the roof with diesels, they benefit business owners really. But for weekend warriors like us who tow big toy haulers couple times a season a 6.0 or 8.1 pulls great
