Gas or Diesel H1

[Clean85SR5]

Would like to own an H1 sometime in the future. Given the unlikelyhood of wanting to pay the cash for even a used Alpha with the Duramax, and given the fact that old 2000 and beyond Optimizer 6.5 diesel is not as well built as the 6.6, I have considered a 350 gasoline powered version. I will however leave the critical analysis to those that know the vehicle much better than I..............

[AtlantaK-5er]

6.5 Turbo Diesel, just make sure it has the updated block 2001-2004 or the block was replaced if 97.5-2000. There was a recall due to failure of the #8 cylinder in the older ones. It has plenty of power and instant torque. Gas engines are to weak at low RPMS for these beasts. The 6.5 NA motors from 93-97 are fine as well, just a bit slow for my taste. Some say they are the most reliable and I believe that is what the new Humvee's get. The 6.2 in 92-93 is a dog.

[BigKofJustice]

Nothing wrong with the 6.5 Turbo Diesel, it's a widely used and well documented engine that's cheap to get parts for.

The h1 gas models are weak on torque, and you'll have single digit mileage for the most part. On the plus side the gasser h1's are super cheap, I've seen a few nice clean 95 wagons go for 20-22,000$ lately. With the savings that could buy a lot of gas, but its a slug compared to the turbo diesel.

The latest 6.5's [optimizer/GEP] are solid engines, I'm running a 98 with the newer block [replaced under GM Major Guard by a previous owner].

I'd look for a 97.5+ truck that's been well taken care of. Theres a number that already have new engines. If not, you can get a new engine installed from 7-10k from a decent diesel shop. not every 96-00 turbo diesel is a time bomb.

[Vanishing Point]

Some of the most reliable early Hummers are the gas models.

[roundhouse]

The gasser will get , what, 4-5 mpg?

You could always get a gasser and swap to a 6.5 TD.
Its a bolt in swap right?

[Vanishing Point]

Originally Posted by roundhouse

The gasser will get , what, 4-5 mpg?

You could always get a gasser and swap to a 6.5 TD.
Its a bolt in swap right?

8 to 12. If you drive it gently on the streets you'll get double digits.

[geberhard]

does not really matter. Either way you will need a bottle of at the pump

[roundhouse]

Originally Posted by Vanishing Point

8 to 12. If you drive it gently on the streets you'll get double digits.

My Yukon got 10.5 every tank in city driving.

My burb got 9.

our 15 passenger E-250's get 8 in city driving.

I'd have a hard time believing a H1 gets more than 5-6.

And right now in my city almost all the gas stations are sold out, drained dry, in the pre hurricane panic.

Yesterday gas was $3.50
At 4 PM it was $3.99, 5PM some were $5.20
Police at almost every station to prevent fights.

Now almost all are sucked dry, with people trying to get it before it goes to who knows what price tomorrow, or the day after, or next week.

And Im over 800 miles away from the hurricane strike zone.

I did my best to help out the situation, filled up every vehicle I could get to crank.
14 gals in the Toyota, 17 in the Volkswagen, 20 in the bronco, 20 in the van, 10 in the other van, four 5gal cans.

.

[ron b]

Originally Posted by roundhouse

I'd have a hard time believing a H1 gets more than 5-6.

I know a few folks with gassers and they are in the 8 to 10 mpg range. A diesel hummer will easily get 13 to 15 mpg at 65. Not too bad for an 7 to 8000 lb truck.

[mak209]

I get 13 mpg on the highway with a 6.5 trust me the price of fuel is low compared to the price of parts to keep a h1 on the road if you are worried about fuel prices that will become the least of your worries real quick

[BigKofJustice]

Originally Posted by roundhouse

The gasser will get , what, 4-5 mpg?

You could always get a gasser and swap to a 6.5 TD.
Its a bolt in swap right?

No. Air intake and filter system is different. The turbo trucks have a higher factory lift. Different wiring harness. I'm not sure about the gas trucks but the turbo diesels use electronic throttles so you'll have to add that system. [the 6.5 NA uses a linkage.

[BigKofJustice]

Originally Posted by roundhouse

My Yukon got 10.5 every tank in city driving.

My burb got 9.

our 15 passenger E-250's get 8 in city driving.

I'd have a hard time believing a H1 gets more than 5-6.


.

My H1 gets better mileage then my old Jeep and Expedition but not by much.

I get 12 city driving and about 15.5 on long highway drives [never above 55 on climbs and max 65]. I'm assuming your burb and E250 are gas v8's, if they were diesels you should be getting in the teens.

Diesel H1 in sound mechanical shape and OEM spec tires and wheels should get around 12 city / 16 highway. That's why I personally observed with my truck keeping track of things with a scan guage and calculating receipts.

The Duramax H1's should pull in 15-20 mpg if the driver doesn't have a heavy foot.

The H1 isn't really that different in mass then a full size diesel pickup. So I don't see what the big deal is. Gas will always do worse then diesel in these trucks.

On the other hand if you have a big wagon with a lift, larger tires, and carrying around a few thousand lbs of stuff, then yeah, you'll be averaging 10mpg. .40 cents a mile in fuel at current prices [in Los Angeles]

[stjames151]

I dont even know if a gas to diesel swap is smog legal in CA, but X eleventy billion on the parts being more expensive than fuel. These trucks are like crackheads when it comes to parts. The current HMMWV's are coming with a 6.5TD and 4L80E. The military wanted better power since so many of the trucks are being laden with supplemental armor and components.

[MTGunNut]

Originally Posted by geberhard

does not really matter. Either way you will need a bottle of at the pump

At least the 1.50 refund helps...









Have you considered buying the cheapest and trying to put a cummins into the hummer?

[stjames151]

Originally Posted by MTGunNut

At least the 1.50 refund helps...

Have you considered buying the cheapest and trying to put a cummins into the hummer?

x2 on a better choice...but equally not cheap (from experience).

[AtlantaK-5er]

I get 13/16 in my 2000 H1 TD far better than my old H2, tahoe, K5, etc. which all got about 10. Thats 50% better. I drive them all the same, on the fast and lead footed side. I'd like to know what you drive mr. vasoline that gets better mileage than my H1? Diesel just has more energy per gallon. And my H1 opentop weighs about 7400lbs my H2 was 6800lbs and mu buddy's 97 Landcruiser weighs 6400lbs to give an idea of weight comparisons. Everyone things they weigh 10000 lbs and get 8 mpg..just BS.

[geberhard]

Originally Posted by AtlantaK-5er

I get 13/16 in my 2000 H1 TD far better than my old H2, tahoe, K5, etc. which all got about 10. Thats 50% better. I drive them all the same, on the fast and lead footed side. I'd like to know what you drive mr. vasoline that gets better mileage than my H1? Diesel just has more energy per gallon. And my H1 opentop weighs about 7400lbs my H2 was 6800lbs and mu buddy's 97 Landcruiser weighs 6400lbs to give an idea of weight comparisons. Everyone things they weigh 10000 lbs and get 8 mpg..just BS.

Shhh do not get butt hurt teh Vaseline comment is a joke Going back to the comment at hand, the pain filling up an H1 will be the same no matter if it is a dielel or a gasser H1. I think if you are getting 13/16 (with the wind blowing in teh right direction), that is great for you. I drive a dually F350 that I can get about 15/18 if the wind blos in the right direction as well, and teh stars are aligned.

The H1 is a heavy SOB and that is what it was built to last. I think if you normally drive a hummer the last worry in your head is not about mileage (well at least if you are not using the rig as a long time commuter).

[roundhouse]

Originally Posted by AtlantaK-5er

I get 13/16 in my 2000 H1 TD far better than my old H2, tahoe, K5, etc. which all got about 10. Thats 50% better. I drive them all the same, on the fast and lead footed side. I'd like to know what you drive mr. vasoline that gets better mileage than my H1? Diesel just has more energy per gallon. And my H1 opentop weighs about 7400lbs my H2 was 6800lbs and mu buddy's 97 Landcruiser weighs 6400lbs to give an idea of weight comparisons. Everyone things they weigh 10000 lbs and get 8 mpg..just BS.

And thats IF you can find gas.

As you locals know, in Atlanta about 2/3 of the stations are dry. The ones that have gas, have cars lined up into the street.

Its 1979 all over again.
High inflation, gas shortages, Russians & Iranians making noise, looming recession, etc.

As for swapping, Id think the Isuzu diesel would be worth looking at.

They seem to haul the box trucks around pretty good.