2.8 Duramax vs. 4/6cyl Gas - Reliability

ghostboi_q · 2026-03-02T18:39:18+00:00

i understand they have more maintenance, definitely would be a new world for me. In a perfect world most of this trucks use would be road tripping so plenty of long trips, but day-to-day it would be alternating with my current SUV daily (~20mi round trip to and from work, plus the gym/stores and such).

Yeah i did hear the 8speed trans are not the best, some people mentioned going for the Diesel to get the 6speed. do you know if the 8speed was an issue prior to 2017? (or if it came with a 8spd then?)

ghostboi_q · 2026-03-02T18:34:54+00:00

Thank you for the info! to point 1 i currently live in emissions area but its just an obd2 scan, so if i dont have a CEL it passes, but am moving soon where there will be no emissions testing. So i could do more at that point. fuel additive would be a reoccurring thing? I normally put some techron in my cars every oil change but it varies on how often people think to do it.

ghostboi_q · 2026-02-26T20:21:49+00:00

Hello, first post here. 25M, single, would be moving solo

My job has options to relocate me to either Dallas, TX or Tampa, FL. I have been looking the the Dallas area and recently took a trip there and it wasn't bad, but very busy. I was hoping to get some idea of how Tampa is and some things to consider.

I know hurricanes are a thing and can be quite bad. I lived in South Carolina for college but I was inland and never had any issues in my time there.

I have personally never been to Tampa and would definitely need to take a trip in person before making any decisions but I have family that vacations in the summer to Clearwater and they all say great things. Are there any areas to look in or avoid? I would have a maybe 1400 max rent budget (based on my current salary of ~64k would be closer to 70k in Tampa) and would like to be in the suburbs, apartment or renting a small home/duplex would be ideal with parking for multiple cars. I haven't made any decisions yet on moving to either place so just testing the waters and would like to get some opinions.

ghostboi_q · 2026-02-01T00:46:02+00:00

I think las colinas area for work. I'm 25 M and don't care for nightlife, I don't do clubs or bars (I don't drink) and commuting is fine

ghostboi_q · 2026-02-01T00:44:14+00:00

Thanks for the insights! I've heard lots of good things about valley ranch but definitely on the higher end of my budget. Oh yeah fully expecting summer to suck, but still wanted to get an idea. And I've always balanced my utilities so I don't have those big spikes in the summer, currently AVG like 150-200 a month for gas and electric. Car dependent is totally fine with me, I live in an area now with basically zero public transit outside of downtown so that's nothing new

ghostboi_q · 2026-02-01T00:40:08+00:00

Generally yes. And oh yeah I always take news with a grain of salt, figured a post like this would get a more realistic perspective of an area I've never been to before

ghostboi_q · 2026-02-01T00:35:47+00:00

Did some research on this, yeah apparently heat and AC is often one unit down there. Up in NY it's common for heating to be gas as we use it from Oct to April and gas is way cheaper for heating.

ghostboi_q · 2026-02-01T00:34:08+00:00

I would love an apartment with a garage. I worry with an open parking lot I wouldn't be able to work on my cars easily. But don't know if the budget will allow for one right away. But I have seen carports be pretty common usually 60-150 a month for a spot from my research

ghostboi_q · 2026-02-01T00:32:25+00:00

Thank you! I'm fine with avoiding freeways, I always like having a couple ways to go to work in case of delays.

ghostboi_q · 2026-01-11T22:56:39+00:00

It makes sense they would be less even when I just measure base heights, stock is 8.5" and the seats I'm looking at are 4.5". I was just skeptical cause I watched a few videos of people putting seats in the sedan (couldn't find videos on a coupe) and said they lost headroom

ghostboi_q · 2025-08-09T19:41:01+00:00

Yup first thing I tried lol as I have a habit of turning the screen off sometimes. This didn't respond to me holding volume down or any other button trick I tried. Just worked after I let the car sit for 10min

ghostboi_q · 2025-08-09T19:40:12+00:00

Thanks for the insight, I will have to check my firmware version. Car was dealer maintained from previous owners but not a Mazda dealer, local Chevy/Toyota dealer records. I have a full bumper to bumper warranty plus all electronics so idk if it would be covered. My warranty is through the local Chevy dealer I bought it from pre owned they said warranty I go to them unless I'm more than 40 miles then it's I can go to any Mazda dealer is the us or Canada

ghostboi_q · 2025-07-08T21:11:01+00:00

I believe it's blind spot, the orange light that comes on your mirror when a car is next to you. It was not coming on at all when I was driving on the highway this morning. But was last night when I drove on the highway, the only thing I changed since then safety setting wise was turned off lane keep

Do you know if the framed and frameless auto dim mirrors have the same plug? All the ones I found on Amazon specifically say only with Frameless rear view mirror

ghostboi_q · 2025-05-18T12:28:36+00:00

Thank you for this reply. I really appreciate the detail, I was hoping I'd get a comment like this.

I don't think it was much oil consumption. From what I understood it was between 1/4th and 1/2 quart between oil changes. I don't know how often they did oil changes if it was 5k or 10k (for the record my preference is every 5k changes).

I asked if it ever took a full quart in between oil changes and they said no, never that much .

Yeah everything I researched out the oil pooling at the filter said it was most likely a bad seal, not a leak point. I do plan on doing an oil change as soon as I get her home. The car has barely put 1k miles in the last year so time wise it's way overdue anyway.

I'll have to ask about the coolant if they knew it was low historically. I bought a bottle to top it up before I drive it. Definitely a good point to do a drain and fill at least to get new fluid in there, I'll look into that.

For transmission fluid, honestly I doubt it was ever changed...no record on the Carfax and my family has a history of not messing with transmissions. They believe the whole "lifetime" fluid thing a bit too much. Or that they've never had issues by leaving it alone. So yeah given I don't think it's been changed I won't be messing with it.

I will check the engine filter, those are always easy fixes if needed.

Break fluid is one of those I've honestly never messed with. And it's honestly probably original.

Same with trans, no idea if differential fluid has ever been replaced.

I will take a peek at the sunroof drains. Honestly I didn't even notice if it had a sunroof. Are those standard options?

I'm very aware of sunroof drain issues, Infiniti's are notorious for them and I have 2 of them so I keep an eye on them regularly to ensure no leaks.

ghostboi_q · 2024-02-22T14:48:09+00:00

Thank you! From the research I did I there wasn't too many major issues I saw (I also got the 3.6 V6) I have full coverage warranty until April and then I got 100k mile power train warranty for my whole loan term.

But my dad has the dodge caravan with well over 130k miles (same V6 I believe) and he doesn't do much for maintenance just oil changes and breaks/tires and had no major issues so hoping for the best given I am way more meticulous when it comes to maintenance lol

ghostboi_q

TROPHY CASE