GMC was awesome enough to invite us into the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Telluride, Colorado – a place where there’s only one road in and out – to drive the 2017 GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD pickups. We expect to get a real-world feel of what the reworked 6.6L Duramax V8 diesel engine is capable of with its 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft of torque. It’s otherwise a rather familiar pickup truck, but that doesn’t mean some of you have questions we could ask engineers and other subject matter experts on-hand at your behalf.
At this point, we’d like to remind that, yes, there is such a thing as a dumb question. With that said, ask away!
Comments
Just a curious question that can be answered without driving it lol. Why wasn’t the HD’s given the refresh the 1500’s were given? I don’t know if it has been answered anywhere?
I may suspect maybe to differentiate the two? But not even the LED taillight for the HD Denali and HD high country? Especially with the msrp approaching 90k in Canada you would think theyd put every upgrade possible.
I waited for the ’17 and am very disappointed it was not upgraded.
Me also. I’ve heard a change in 2018, now today, it will be 2019!
The obvious answer is “because GM.” We expect new HD trucks in a few years. Late to the party, but they’re coming.
I own a 2017 GMAC Enclave. I was told by the salesman that GM that upgrades the dash board display for GPS maps. I am not interested in Northstar or turn by turn. I want to see a map like the Subaru has for their vehicles. Do you upgrade your navigation system to that of Subaru?
Is the massive bonnet distracting while driving?
A what???
Brits call the hood a bonnet.
NO, But it is while plowing snow.
No where can find if they finally gave this truck heated rear seats like ford and dodge. I would except the denali trim to have this feature.
There’s an article here with 10 features need to get to be competitive with Ford and Ram….worth digging through to find it.
They did add 3/10 of our desired features. It’s a start. http://gmauthority.com/blog/2014/02/ten-things-gms-trucks-could-use-right-now/
Why does a $70,000 luxury truck not come with real wood inserts or real metal door handles or automatic windshield wipers?
Great question. Their go-to answers on “why isn’t there xxxx?” tends to be “most of our customers haven’t been looking for xxxx.” Stuff like this tends to go without a direct answer. So we’re left to assume that the budget didn’t allow it.
Do they ever plan on making an affordable truck that you don’t have to be a millionaire to buy one? Also, whatever happened to cab lights on HD’s? Maybe I’m just old school and liked those as a difference between HD and 1500.
Seems like most of the regular LT/SLE models come with a bench seat whereas maybe they should mix in more bucket front and consoles into the mid level trim. Seems like the other manufacturers offer that combination more often in mid level trims.
When do they plan on using the 6.2 for the gas option? 6.0s are great but they haven’t changed much power wise since the early 2000’s. Ford uses their 6.2, and Dodge uses the 6.4.
Excellent question Myles. Can any engineer explain why the 6.2 LS3 from the Camaro wasn’t used in all the gas HD’s since 2010 or even earlier? The 8100 engine was great and the 6.0 isn’t filling the gap.
They do what is best for them, not us.
The 6.0 is one on the best engines GM has ever made. It pulls just as well as the 496 did and has had fewer problems. Heck, all the LS style engines are great.
I have been told that GM engineers like iron blocks for their superior durability and longevity in the HD trucks. That’s why they don’t use the 6.2.
And the 6.0 outperforms both of them. Check out http://www.tfltruck.com for test results.
The 6.2L is a light duty engine that would not be a 10 yr – 200,000 mile engine. The 6.0L has larger/heavier main 4-bolt bearings, heavier crank, stronger pistons, cast iron block, etc whereas the 6.2L is a car-adapted engine that won’t handle the torque put on it daily pulling 12,000 lbs.
Why did they choose to keep the def tank in a venable location under the chassis. Here in Texas I have seen a few cases cracked and damaged. It also reduced off road clearance.
Probably because they didn’t do any body redesign.
I bet you’ll see the DEF tank moved for 2020. Assuming the new 1500 debuts in 2019 we’ll probably see the new HD in 2020 or 2021.
It has a steel plate bottom. And since most trucks are sold with the running boards, the tank remains pretty inconspicuous. The running boards will bottom out before the tank does.
I have a 2017 with running boards. The tank will hit before the running boards. It is the worst designed part I have found on my truck.
How come it only offers Tempered glass for the driver and front passenger side? Shouldn’t it differentiate more then the Chevrolet counterpart?
We have our first few 2017 Duramaxs in stock as we speak here in the Canadian Prairies and they landed off the transport truck with the new hood intake packed with snow. Now I realize it is different when the truck is actually running as it has the moisture control system with drain, BUT there was enough air ingested with snow on these that the air intake at the fender (where the hood system joins in) had snow sitting in it. When this engine warms up and melts the snow, that moisture will enter the filter and then refreeze as frozen water in the air filter once the truck is turned off. That could cause an engine light (like it did back when on Dmaxes) because a frozen air filter won’t allow air through.
Any word from GM on this? Or will it be an oops like it was on a previous Dmax with no real fix?
Thank you for this question. I have had clients ask me this and would love a solid answer.
Per GM:
“The intake “grille” was designed to prevent freeze over from snow hitting the front of the truck when underway. If a heavy snow covers the hood intake, the engine can be started and driven using air from the fender, secondary intake path. To get full power, the hood needs to have collected snow cleared, which should always be done for safety reasons anyhow. Cold, powdery snow will pass through the duct and collect on the filter, the same as happens with any air path – the snow always finds a way. When the engine is hot, this melts snow in the air box and the duct and it drains away as water.
Our mud testing is pretty severe and we have not been able to get any into the duct – it gets stopped at the intake grille.
Dust generally gets pulled through to the filter, like any induction system. After dust testing at both Proving Grounds, none collected in the duct. Dusty conditions don’t happen with high humidity or rain, so wet and dusty don’t happen at the same time. If somehow it did, the duct can be inspected and cleaned using the access door at the water drain.”
Pardon my discretion, but the first question that comes to my mind is. Why the word play with “DIRTY” in an article about a diesel vehicle with all that has happened relating to dieselgate.
= Not cool
Are they ever going to revive the 4.5L Duramax for the 1/2T trucks?
No.
How about .. can we finally move the DEF tank. It’s terrible. Change the sunroof spoiler to just a smooth plastic one instead of that annoying whistling bug catching mesh. Also would be nice to get the Denali LCD gagne cluster in the X package. And why no updated headlights on the HD’s some LEDS.
I also wanted to add .. How come no Autotrac 4×4 on the HD X Package ??
Does this vehicle have “stop start” ? I will NOT buy a vehicle with this feature…….
As long as it can be disabled I don’t see what the problem is. My wife’s Benz has it and yes, it is annoying but it can be disabled with the push of a button.
Nope.
What is holding GM HD’s back from higher tow ratings. Ford and RAM are both at 30k or higher. GM is at 23k. Their answer is that it caters to most customers. Yes it does, but still it looks bad. Why are they actually held back? Is it the independent front suspension? Or something else?
I would suspect the frame, rear axle and rear suspension will need beefed up. The IFS is not an issue.
For years, the “under powered” (I say that tongue in cheek) Duramax did better on every magazine’s real world towing tests than the power stroke. The vehicle as a whole was better engineered and executed. That didn’t stop Ford from outselling GM. 90% of folks just look at the numbers. A sad but very true fact.
The IFS has been a problem. There are numerous documented issues with front IFS breaking on the Duramax Forum. As far as the frame, it is about as rigid as they come and the rear end is strong and robust, the addition of the locker makes it world class. Love the use of the leaf spring instead of 4 link too. Unless its bagged, 4 link is worthless for towing.
The engine might be new but the rest of the truck is unchanged. The brakes, suspension… several factors contribute to tow ratings beyond just adding power, and they also need to be improved before tow ratings are boosted. paracutin also made the point that GM trucks also seem to come out on top in real world comparison tests, which suggests that numbers aren’t everything.
The IFS is an interesting point. There still remains some benefits from having it, though. Ride quality, for one.
will you guys ever answer any of these questions……..
Yes.
Sorry about placing this question in the wrong place, but this is the only obvious reply box I could find.
My question is about the Chevy VOLT. Would somebody please explain the different charge/use modes of the power train? Specifically Normal, Sport, Hold, Mountain.
Normal: default pedal mapping, default propulsion. Meaning that if there’s a charge, the vehicle will use that energy first before resorting to gasoline power.
Sport: Same as normal, but with a moderately more aggressive throttle response. Uses more energy as a result.
Hold: Gasoline generator is activated to conserve the battery charge for later use.
Mountain: Gasoline generator feeds power back into the battery. Sucks fuel faster than any other mode because the generator is both propelling the vehicle and charging the battery. However, Mountain mode comes in handy when you want to charge your vehicle in the middle of nowhere.
Katakis’ reply about the Volt is superb! Thanks! Can somebody find a way to migrate question and answer to the Chevy Volt site, so that (reasonably uninformed–like me) potential purchasers can benefit from it?
I’m on my second Volt, what else would you like to know about them?
Why won’t my assist lady work whilie Im driving. I push the talk button, and ask her a question, and she says she can’t do anything while we are in the car or while we are driving. What on earth is the point of having handsfree if you can’t use it while driving.
Wondering on HD 10 speed and 6.2 applications… will it happen
I need to know if my new 2017 3500 HD’s integrated brake controller will control the hydraulic brakes on my horse trailer.