Diesel vs Gas: Which 6.6 Should You Choose?

The age-old question, gas versus diesel. Which is best, which tows more, and which do you want to spend your money on? The 2025 Chevrolet Silverado HD line of trucks offers two great engines, the 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel and the 6.6-liter L8T gas motor. Both can tow a ton and offer unique reasons to buy one over the other. 

The Stats of The Duramax  

The 6.6-liter Duramax is a turbocharged diesel that produces 470 horsepower and 975 lb-ft of road-twisting torque that is transmitted to the road via a 10-speed Allison automatic gearbox. In either 2500 or 3500 form, the Silverado HD Duramax can tow up to 20,000 lbs conventionally behind the bumper or 22,430 lbs in the 2500 and 36,000 lbs in the 3500 when using a fifth wheel. The Duramax builds its peak power at 2,800 rpm and gets peak torque from only 1,600 rpm. That means that around town, it will have a clear advantage in terms of how it pulls from a dead stop and when needing to build extra speed on the highway.  

The Stats of The L8T Gas Engine 

The 6.6-liter gas engine is naturally aspirated and makes 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque, which is also mated to a 10-speed Allison automatic. When properly equipped as a 2500, the truck can tow up to 16,000 lbs or 20,000 lbs when using a 3500. When using a fifth wheel, the Silverado HD 2500 can tow 18,700 lbs, while the 3500 will tow 19,080 lbs. While the L8T is no slouch, it has peak power from 5,200 rpm and peak torque from 4,000 rpm. This still has great power across the rev range, but not as much as the Duramax. 

Which One Is Best? 

You may immediately think that the Duramax is the one to choose because of its extra pulling power, massive amount of torque, and more low-end grunt. However, the Duramax starts at $58,110, which is $10,615 more than the base model 2500HD WT with the gas engine. If you do a lot of towing, then by all means, get the Duramax. However, if you tow a normal amount and use your Silverado mainly as a work or family vehicle, the 6.6-liter gas motor will suit you just fine. You can still tow pretty much anything you can think of, and you’ll save money. Plus, the gas engine only needs 87 octane fuel.  

Sharp Automotive Has the Truck You Want 

When you are ready to buy your next truck, there is no better place to go than Sharp Automotive. The knowledgeable sales staff can help to show you the similarities and differences between a Silverado HD 2500 or 3500 with both the Duramax and L8T gas motors without bias. When you’re ready, you can test drive both to see which one fits your driving style the best.  

Why Choose Sharp Automotive  

At Sharp Automotive, we offer our customers some of the best prices and services around. With dozens of new and used vehicles to choose from, our excellent sales team and finance department will work hard to ensure you drive away happily. Our fantastic service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own. We look forward to serving you soon!