Diesel Option Coming to GMC/Chevy Vans 2017 Model Year

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Thanks to Rabbit for posting his findings. I did a quick search on Autotrader for both GMC and Chevy versions with this engine and it looks like new extended vans are as low as $29k (2017 models, approx $10k off MSRP).

I'm not sure if I'd go diesel just for the added MPG, though. There needs to be an additional reason, like towing performance, for example.

I tow my travel trailer with a RAM 1500 ecodiesel and although I haven't had any major problems in the 2.5 years I've owned it, I do worry about the complexity and newness of the engine even though it was intro in 2014. I think if something goes wrong, you're stuck with a dealer. Probably the same situation with this GM engine...
 
TM, I'm sure you've kept up with the problems that the Ecodiesel has had....I have a friend that had one for awhile and he traded it off due to some of the issues.
 
cortttt said:
I wonder if the doghouse is different in the diesel? Did you check out a gasser?

How much was it discounted?

I don't recall the exact amount of discounting anymore, sorry. But it was substantial, being a leftover 2017 model. And while I didn't check out a gasser, nothing about the doghouse looked unusual. I think I'd have noticed if it were really "different". Sadly, it's my knees that're non-standard.

I may yet go back and snap that thing up...

Glad the information has proven useful!
 
tx2sturgis said:
TM, I'm sure you've kept up with the problems that the Ecodiesel has had....I have a friend that had one for awhile and he traded it off due to some of the issues.

I don't want to go off topic, but was really pointing out potential similarities between a van with a new small diesel and a half ton truck with a newer small diesel as the pros and cons are probably alike.  For what it is worth, I would strongly consider the diesel version of this van if I were in the market and thought I might also tow a travel trailer.

As far as problems with the Ecodiesel, I'm not aware of any major issues specific to it.  I had 2 sensors go out at different times and neither affected my ability to drive the truck.  Both were emissions related (justifies many concerns about these new diesels are more complex; one more thing to break).
 
Travelmonkey said:
As far as problems with the Ecodiesel, I'm not aware of any major issues specific to it. 

It sounds like you are having good luck, and with many thousands of miles on the engine, you are probably in the clear...nothing to worry about. 

But the Italian made Dodge Ecodiesel has had some history of cam gear slippage, and it seems to occur on a small percentage of them, when the engine is in its first 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so...if you get past that with no problems, yours is probably fine. There is a 'fix' for it of course, but it involves some money and time. 

I'm not 'anti diesel', I drove truck for 37 years. But smaller, newer, diesel engines seem to have a history of problems...and of course no engine, gas or diesel, is perfect. 

On this new GM 2.8L diesel, I think I would wait until the ones on the road are proven out for a few years.
 
John61CT said:
Towing capacity would be a huge difference

I agree there...of course the bigger of the V8 engines are capable of towing more weight, usually, and will not 'struggle' so much on the hills with a trailer.

I have enjoyed my Ford van for 4 years, it has the smaller 4.6L V8, and it gets great highway mileage for a full size van, but towing a bigger trailer is not its 'cup of tea'....

It will pull a smaller trailer without much problem, but the bigger trailers work the motor a lot when traveling thru the mountains.
 
Rabbit said:
I don't recall the exact amount of discounting anymore, sorry. But it was substantial, being a leftover 2017 model. And while I didn't check out a gasser, nothing about the doghouse looked unusual. I think I'd have noticed if it were really "different". Sadly, it's my knees that're non-standard.  

I may yet go back and snap that thing up...

Glad the information has proven useful!

Yes, I took a look at  it and if you want to swing your legs to go to the back you're going to have that doghouse to deal with. Too bad!

Have you checked out the Nissan NV? A gas guzzler but the doghouse may be gone.

I'm impressed by the acceleration and MGP of that diesel. I wonder if it'll be around in four years...
 
cortttt said:
Have you checked out the Nissan NV? A gas guzzler but the doghouse may be gone.

I'm impressed by the acceleration and MGP of that diesel. I wonder if it'll be around in four years...

My guess is that the 2.8 diesel will be around for a long time to come, but the van itself won't. The engine has a long, successful track record all over the world-- it's only "new" here in North America-- while the van is not only of a very old design, but one that probably looks pretty obsolete to most potential customers compared to hi-cube rivals like the Promaster and Sprinter. I mentioned earlier about how the 4 cyl Sprinter seems to do better on fuel consumption despite a larger frontal area. This is a significant indicator of obsolescence that's more than just skin-deep.

I haven't looked at the NV for several reasons that (like my knees) probably apply only to me and not anyone else, though I thank you for the suggestion. I plan to keep my mobile home at least temporarily, and there are precisely two parking spots available there, both under carports. One of these spots is short with a relatively high roof, and the other long with a low one. It so happens that only two currently-available van-models will fit in either one or the other-- the 118" low-roof Promaster or the GM twins. Since I have a trailer on order I really don't need a van for the living space. They're on my list strictly due to being cheap but capable, long-lasting tow vehicles. (Though, if I get one, I still want access to the back from the cab. I mean, it seems pretty silly not to be able to do that in an emergency, or even just for convenience.) I'm sort of tempted to buy something with more towing capacity, however, in case the 12' cargo trailer proves not to be as long-term habitable as I'm hoping it will be. So I'm also considering one of several 2500-series pickups. Or I may buy nothing at all at the rate I'm going. I already own a Dodge Caravan (3500# capacity) that ought to pull my soon-to-be-built aluminum 6x12 just fine, so long as I don't overload it with junk. The Caravan won't go all the places I'd like to be able to go and has other inherent design shortcomings for this job, and I worry for the legendarily-delicate transmission despite the fact that I long ago added a transmission oil cooler. But it's in good shape and paid for. And...

Best of all, I don't need a ladder to get into driver's seat. The more new vans and trucks I test-drive, the more the always-excessive ride height irritates me. I've owned five pickups, including one 3500-series 4x4, and never needed a running board or anything else to climb into any of them. Yet with the single exception of the pricey Colorado/Canyon, today I can't find a single one where I don't.

What on earth are the engineers thinking?
 
Like most modern gadgets, designed by youngsters for youngsters
 
Many here prefer older simpler tech that can end up going many hundreds of thousands of miles over 3-4 decades at very low maintenance running costs with a knowledgeable DIY owner, avoiding dealers and specialist garages like the plague.

I suppose at some point we'll just die off, and the disposable planned obsolescence zeitgeist will rule the world.
 
I talked to a guy who has a heating ac business Saturday who bought a Dodge Promaster diesel.  It's in the shop for the 3rd time in 6 months and "they" can't seem to fix it.  I told him he would be well advised to get an extended warranty.  He didn't sound like extended was going to be considered.
 
closeanuf said:
I talked to a guy who has a heating ac business Saturday who bought a Dodge Promaster diesel.  It's in the shop for the 3rd time in 6 months and "they" can't seem to fix it.  I told him he would be well advised to get an extended warranty.  He didn't sound like extended was going to be considered.

The Promaster diesels are indeed just awful, reliability-wise. So bad they stopped selling them for a while, and the last I heard you still can't buy one, even though they're cataloged again. Right now is not a good time to buy most new diesels; the only small one I'd so much as consider is the 2.8. I'm even finding a spate of reported problems with the near-legendary Ram Cummins; most of the difficulties seem to be related to newly-mandated emissions add-ons. This is a story we old folks have heard before. It's important to note, however, that the expedited freight industry is happily running the wheels off the gasoline-powered Promaster models-- some already have hundreds of thousands of profitable, low-maintenance miles on them. I've learned over the years that van-driving expediters (who also live in their vehicles in many cases) tend to know more about their rides than most, so their forums are an excellent resource. It's significant that they've pretty much universally adopted the new Euro-style vans (Sprinter, Transit, Promaster, etc) and the once-common traditional types like the ones under discussion here are rapidly disappearing. I'm sure GM has noticed this as well, especially their sales department. So if you want an old-style, better grab it soon.

Most of these Euro-van-buying expediter guys are codgers, too. Like me, for that matter. Sometimes old and proven is better, yes. Sometimes, however, innovations are well worth embracing. The trick is to pick and choose intelligently. If I could have any van on the market today, it'd be either a high-top gasoline Promaster or a crew-cab high-top four-cylinder Sprinter. Sadly, however, I have nowhere to park either.
 
I think that 2.8 is too small for that van, but we will see. They will be putting a new Flint built 3.0 Inline 6 in the 1500 pickups... Too long for the van. After having a "real" diesel, My Caterpillar 3126, I will never go back to a gasser in a large vehicle...
 

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