Tips for keeping your 6.6 DuraMax In Tip Top Shape

The GMC Sierra HD with the 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel is one of the most respected and appreciated motors on the market. Truck buyers all over the country will happily tell you how much they love their Duramax diesel truck and how it’s helped them. Whether you are towing for fun or as a profession, having a diesel engine like the 6.6-liter Duramax can help you succeed. 

Proper Maintenance Is Key

The Duramax needs to be properly maintained, just like any motor, and there are some specific recommendations to keep the GMC turbo-diesel reliable and last a long time. There are loads of stories about Duramax Sierra trucks lasting hundreds of thousands of miles without any significant issues. It’s easy to say this is because GMC is professional grade and stop right there, but it goes beyond the catchy slogan. The engineers at GMC take great pride in designing and building the 6.6-liter turbo-diesel to be something that can be relied on. 

An Overlooked Item To Replace

Your vehicle’s fuel filter is an often overlooked item on every car, diesel or gas. The recommendation here is to change it every 15,000 miles to ensure that your fuel pump isn’t working harder than necessary to filter out crud from going into your engine and permanently damaging it. Every 7,500 miles, an oil and oil filter change should be done with a high-quality 15w-40 or 5w-40 diesel oil, depending on the climate that you live in. You shouldn’t wait any longer than 10,000 miles between oil change intervals. When changing your oil, you should also check on your engine air filter, which should be changed, if not every oil change, about every six oil changes. If you live in an area with lots of sand and dirt, it should be changed sooner. 

2020 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Denali

The Cooling System

The GMC Duramax cooling system also needs to be checked from time to time as it’s an often forgotten maintenance item on most cars and trucks. Coolant keeps your engine from overheating by keeping it cooler. While you should check your coolant expansion tank every time you change your oil just to be sure there is enough in the system and not looking dirty, it should eventually be changed about every 3-5 years. The trick is never to let your coolant run low, or you can seriously damage your Duramax and have a massive bill from a service shop to fix it. If you notice during oil changes that your coolant is at the minimum mark every time, that could mean you have a leak somewhere, or your water pump needs to be replaced. While this isn’t a common problem on a brand-new truck, it is something to keep an eye on. 

Pay Attention To Your Serpentine Belt

Every five years, owners should change their serpentine belt, or sooner if you hear squeaking coming from the engine as you start your truck or start to drive away. That can signify premature wear and potential imminent failure. 

Engineered To Be Reliable

The 6.6-liter Duramax is easily one of the best turbo-diesel truck engines. The Duramax is engineered to last a very long time and withstand loads of stress throughout ownership. The physical demands owners put their Duramax through proves it’s a great motor to tow and haul. 

At Ewing Buick GMC, we take pride in offering the best vehicles to our customers. With hundreds of new and used vehicles to choose from, our amazing sales team and finance department will find you the right vehicle at the right price. Once you’ve purchased your vehicle, our stellar service department will ensure that your car stays in the best shape. We look forward to taking care of you in the future.