GM baby duramax 1/2 ton

[shtferbrains]

It's a Mercedes ML320cdi all wheel drive. This is an 2008, so only used. But it's pre-def so that's why I have been hanging onto it, but I'm thinking I should be able to get half a million Km out of it, still looks and runs really well and easy on fuel. I like that duramax though.

Do you have someone you trust to fix it or do you go to the Benz dealer?

[biglentil]

If you buy a baby Dmax be aware that at approximately 200k the tranny needs to be pulled to change the oil pump drive belt. Honestly with all the emissions crap on new diesels I wouldnt own one off warrantee. Can't delete newer ones either best to trade em in every couple years.

[LWeber]

It's a Mercedes ML320cdi all wheel drive. This is an 2008, so only used. But it's pre-def so that's why I have been hanging onto it, but I'm thinking I should be able to get half a million Km out of it, still looks and runs really well and easy on fuel. I like that duramax though.

Did you have any air shock problems, Stormin.
I had a 2008 GL550 - at the end, i was buying the air shocks in bulk from Ebay...
replaced 7 and an air compressor.
for a V8 that tank got exceptional gas mileage
900-1000 km a tank at 120

[Guest]

If you buy a baby Dmax be aware that at approximately 200k the tranny needs to be pulled to change the oil pump drive belt. Honestly with all the emissions crap on new diesels I wouldnt own one off warrantee. Can't delete newer ones either best to trade em in every couple years. Older ones however have I 3 keepers, underkote with an oil based product and they last 500k plus.

I bought 7 year full warranty for $3800
Learned last winter with our dodge eco diesel they hafta give you a rental vehicle if it’s longer than a couple days to repair
Had a free rental all winter for an exhaust sensor
Lots of recalls on the dodge
The belt was what scared me , but the 17-18 mpg with the gas engine scared me even more !
Anyways if not on warranty you don’t hafta change belt at the 240 k km as advised
Won’t cause engine damage if it snaps
They’re thinking it could last 350k km plus
Oh and the dyed diesel is a real no brainer for a farmer
I calculated my gas 5.3 in last truck cost nearly double to drive

[TOM4CWB]

Here is future GHG calculations on light vehicles;

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2022/08/20220806-anl.html

"The GHG emissions evaluation was carried out by expanding and modifying Argonne’s GREET model suite (2020 version) with inputs from industrial experts. This C2G GHG assessment includes both fuel and vehicle production life cycles. Cost assessments represent a final cost/price to the consumer, excluding taxes on the final product (e.g., fuel sales tax) and/or credits (e.g., vehicle subsidies).

Vehicle fuel economies and component sizes were estimated using Argonne National Laboratory’s vehicle simulation tool, Autonomie, using a consistent set of vehicle performance criteria across vehicle-fuel combinations.

The main case presented in the body of the report is the high powertrain technology progression pathway with the central cost cases for each fuel. The ranges presented in the cost analyses include the low technology progression vehicle coupled with the high fuel cost (when available, and the central case when not), and the low range is the high technology progress with the lowest fuel cost (when available).

By far the largest and the most consequential change in the input assumptions between the 2016 study and this current update is in battery costs for BEVs. The past 5-10 years have seen dramatic reductions in the cost of EV batteries while, similarly, battery cost projections have also changed significantly over the past 5 years. It is hard to overstate the importance of the improvements in battery costs on this analysis.

—“Cradle-to-grave lifecycle analysis of US light-duty vehicle-fuel pathways” (2022)"
...
"Lifetime cost versus GHG emissions by vehicle-fuel pathway for the Future Technology case for small SUVs (2020$). ANL

For the future technology case, HEV, PHEV, and BEV platforms offer the lowest modeled costs of avoided GHG emissions, with many options having a negative cost—i.e., the cost is less than that of the gasoline ICEV. The FCEVs offer lower cost GHG emissions opportunities than the ICEV technologies with the exception of the E85 vehicle operating on corn stover and the CNG vehicle operating on RNG.

The over-arching observation drawn from the report is that large GHG reductions for LDVs are achievable through low-carbon fuel pathways, with vehicle efficiency improvements also playing an important role. Low-carbon fuels can have significantly higher costs than conventional fuels; however, vehicle cost is the major (60–90%) and fuel cost the minor (10–40%) component of LCD.

Posted on 06 August 2022 in Batteries, Electric (Battery), Electrofuels, Engines, Fuel Cells, Fuels, Hydrogen, Lifecycle analysis, Market Background"

[Stormin]

Do you have someone you trust to fix it or do you go to the Benz dealer?

Fortunately or good planning I am a licenced mechanic which makes these cars affordable because parts are reasonable when purchased online at a site like rock auto. Also helps immensely with keeping expenses down on the farm. The Benz is a will build car an is repairable.

[Stormin]

Did you have any air shock problems, Stormin.
I had a 2008 GL550 - at the end, i was buying the air shocks in bulk from Ebay...
replaced 7 and an air compressor.
for a V8 that tank got exceptional gas mileage
900-1000 km a tank at 120

No air shock problems because ours has springs although I have replaced the rear springs and wheel bearings. The parts where reasonable and I changed them myself. The only thing I had done by a shop was a four wheel alignment. But they are great cars, and wife loves how comfortable it is.

[LWeber]

Fortunately or good planning I am a licenced mechanic which makes these cars affordable because parts are reasonable when purchased online at a site like rock auto. Also helps immensely with keeping expenses down on the farm. The Benz is a will build car an is repairable.

Rock Auto Rocks ... eBay is good too

Hunter and I are alive because of a MB ...





That happened on a Sunday - he played hockey on Tuesday.
T bone at 115 kph
11 airbags - he said he didn't move.
That car was insane fast. Hydraulic suspension that lowered itself the faster you went.
And it made frequent trips to Keeley and raised the suspension 4 inches when it reached the gravel..

[sumdumguy]

All I can say is, “Thank You Jesus”.

That’s proof positive that air bags work and so glad you had the right vehicle with the right safety equipment. 👍👍👍

[AC man]

I have had this truck a year and really like it , mileage is incredible, warms up quicker than a gas engine in winter . Awesome truck all around
Hiway about 32 mpg at 110
City about 26-27, usually easy 900 km on 90 litre tank
Hardly changes pulling boat , can’t hear engine or smell it
Really like the truck all around
If anyone is wondering about them ?
I was pretty appprehensive about trying one

Just wondering what are your thoughts on how well your truck would handle pulling a 8000lb.camper? I am impressed about the fuel economy of your truck. I am looking at replacing my GM with a 5.3.

[LWeber]

All I can say is, “Thank You Jesus”.

That’s proof positive that air bags work and so glad you had the right vehicle with the right safety equipment. 👍👍👍

Thanks SDG

It had pneumatic soft close doors - all 4 doors opened and closed after the accident like nothing happened.

your Jesus ref made me think of Cotton...

Just be safe everyone... I saw her stop on the road to Regina; resumed talking to Hunter and then she bolted right in front of us...

March 11, 2018.

[AC man]

Rock Auto Rocks ... eBay is good too

Hunter and I are alive because of a MB ...

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That happened on a Sunday - he played hockey on Tuesday.
T bone at 115 kph
11 airbags - he said he didn't move.
That car was insane fast. Hydraulic suspension that lowered itself the faster you went.
And it made frequent trips to Keeley and raised the suspension 4 inches when it reached the gravel..

Thank God you both survived! Shows air bags really do save lives.