Looking at one of these seriously. It is a 2017 and very clean but I don't have any experience around the engine used in these at all. 

Not interested in drama, but asking for any direct experience; good, or bad.

Thanks, 

Thanks kindly for your input. I spoke extensively with a GMC dealership mechanic in Morton, IL that kinda specializes in the "Duramax" series of engines and a gent working at River City Diesel outside of Peoria today. Both tell  me there were pretty reliable overall but most at about the 150K mark started to see emissions problems cropping up. These usually push about $2K to clear and make the vehicle usable again. Also not really a good candidate to "uprate" citing costs involved.

Basically both stated that unless a diesel is "needed", it was probably best to pass. The mileage difference is only about 5mpg difference, (diesel vs gasoline) and with the additional costs of routine maintenance, it just is not a feasible option that is cost effective in their opinions.

Thanks again and I'm going to let this one go although is sure seems right for me to replace my 315,000 mile Nissan Altima I drive routinely. With this car so high in accumulated mileage, and my Dodge one ton beyond repair with a rusted/busted frame, (again) at 300K in mileage, the little truck seems a good fit to replace both. I like that platform and will keep looking for a V6 gasoline powered variant.    

Codger, you’re welcome. For you & other forum members that may have interest, Not endorsing this youtube channel. I cut out the sound while I watch it. But, I do enjoy watching how different manufacturer's engine survive, don't survive, have lack of maintenance, etc. So if you have a spare 32 minutes, maybe check out this video of a teardown of a Duramax 2.8L diesel engine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4s7xBG8sAM" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4s7xBG8sAM

Gent brought the donor engine to the shop yesterday afternoon. Even let me have the new engine stand it was mounted onto:

I know it's a harbor freight engine stand but it does work, and rolls easily on the shop floor. According to the engine tag from the salvage yard and receipt for the purchase, the engine has 79,000 miles, ran well, and is complete except for ancillary components. All wiring was chopped at the connector(s) and not unplugged.

Gent tells me his wife was driving their Trailblazer and the engine oil pressure went to zero, the engine started knocking, and before getting pulled out of traffic and to the side of the road, locked up. Having the vehicle towed home and initial investigation was the oil pump drive went bad, (known problem I'm told) and this engine was sourced. The next weekend a powerful storm blew a tree over onto the parked Trailblazer pretty much finishing it off. The vendor would not take the engine back without a significant surcharge, which brings it here.

I've taken care of his wife's family's vehicles for several years. Kind of nice to be remembered sometimes. This engine will make one of my two granddaughter's very happy as my Trailblazer really is worth an engine replacement, and will be a great starter car this next year.

I'll drive it till locating a pickup, or getting my old B-61 Mack back operational for light to medium duty truck needs. First time in over 40 years I've not had something with at least a receiver hitch to tow with. Had to borrow son in law's pickup yesterday to deliver two zero turn mowers, and bring in another. Seems the owner got into something in the yard puncturing the fuel tank. I'll get this cleaned up and repaired later today and send it back. Haven't used the plastic welder setup in quite a spell so will be a nice exercise for it: