[BigCE]

Hi everyone, I've been lurking on here for a little while now off and on. Been thinking about buying one of these trucks for about a year now ever since I fist herd of them. I am a big Diesel guy, owned lots of different Dodges mostly and a few TDI's, last one got sold back to VW. I also do Custom Tuning Locally, so I'm no stranger to Diesels. I always wondered why they didn't build a straight 4cyl diesel in the half tons or smaller trucks.

Admittedly I never use to be a fan of the compact trucks, they were always fun but I never wanted to own one. Now however IMO these new "compact" trucks are the size 1/2 ton trucks were 10 years ago. Everything has gotten so much bigger. When I first looked into these trucks last year a few missing options bummed me out, no sunroof, no heated steering wheel (I got used to that thanks to my dodge) and last was you couldn't get the 8 speed. I'm sure the 6 speed is fine/great I actually test drove one and liked it however I knew the 8 speed was brand new and its going to be the new standard eventually so I kinda wanted it.

Then the 2018 Denali came around, heated steering wheel check, 8-speed check, sunroof che- damn.. Oh well close enough.

Picking up this guy tomorrow.

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

That’s a damn nice truck

 

[AndyZ71]

I'm real curious how the 8 speed is with this engine. Are Denali trucks still full time AWD instead of 4x4?

 

[CleverUserName]

Are you absolutely sure the 2018 Denali Diesel comes with the 8 speed ?

Reason I ask, is because I know somebody who bought a 2018 Denali Diesel and it has the 6 speed. Also, if you check the GMC site under search inventory, all the 2018 GMC diesels, including the Denali, say it has the 6 speed. When I was searching for my 2017 Canyon, I found the GMC site's inventory was more accurate than what was listed on Cars.com and other dealer sites.

You can try searching for yourself. Hopefully you didn't get some bad info from the dealer.

http://www.gmc.com/locate-vehicle?q...on&x-bodystyle=canyon_denali&x-modelyear=2018

The 6 speed is fine for this truck, and you won't be missing anything. It doesn't even shift into 6th gear until 55 mph, I don't see an extra O/D gear being necessary. The 2.8 stock torque band is fat from 1800-3000 rpm so the extra gears aren't needed IMO unless your towing at max capacity.

Hi everyone, I've been lurking on here for a little while now off and on. Been thinking about buying one of these trucks for about a year now ever since I fist herd of them. I am a big Diesel guy, owned lots of different Dodges mostly and a few TDI's, last one got sold back to VW. I also do Custom Tuning Locally, so I'm no stranger to Diesels. I always wondered why they didn't build a straight 4cyl diesel in the half tons or smaller trucks.

Admittedly I never use to be a fan of the compact trucks, they were always fun but I never wanted to own one. Now however IMO these new "compact" trucks are the size 1/2 ton trucks were 10 years ago. Everything has gotten so much bigger. When I first looked into these trucks last year a few missing options bummed me out, no sunroof, no heated steering wheel (I got used to that thanks to my dodge) and last was you couldn't get the 8 speed. I'm sure the 6 speed is fine/great I actually test drove one and liked it however I knew the 8 speed was brand new and its going to be the new standard eventually so I kinda wanted it.

Then the 2018 Denali came around, heated steering wheel check, 8-speed check, sunroof che- damn.. Oh well close enough.

Picking up this guy tomorrow.
View attachment 6465

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

I only see 6er’s. Dealer told me a lot of BS, too. Check that window sticker

 

[AndyZ71]

That's a shame. I see a lot of people dismissing the 8 speed as not being an upgrade because of final drive. I can tell you after having a car with one of the best 8 speed transmissions, there is a lot more to it than that. It is all the mid range gears that really make it bring an engine to life. The 2.8 would benefit from a properly tuned 8 speed regardless if the final drive is equal to the current 6 speed or not . Being able to stay right in the heart of the torque band in these trucks would be a big improvement.

 

[CleverUserName]

That's a shame. I see a lot of people dismissing the 8 speed as not being an upgrade because of final drive. I can tell you after having a car with one of the best 8 speed transmissions, there is a lot more to it than that. It is all the mid range gears that really make it bring an engine to life. The 2.8 would benefit from a properly tuned 8 speed regardless if the final drive is equal to the current 6 speed or not . Being able to stay right in the heart of the torque band in these trucks would be a big improvement.

That's debatable, but we don't know unless GM decides to do it. Also keep in mind all of the full size HD diesel trucks use 6 speed transmissions. Allison has said publicly that they have no plans to use anything but 6 gears now and in the future.

Another thing to note is the new Chevy Cruze 1.6L diesel uses a Aisin 9 speed automatic. However when GM designed and tested the 1.6L Diesel equipped GMC Terrain and Equinox, they found that due to the extra weight of the vehicle that the 9 speed wasn't ideal and installed a 6 speed. So just because it has more gears doesn't mean it will have better performance. GM may have tested the 2.8 with the 8 speed and came to the same conclusion.

 

[Burgess159]

That's debatable, but we don't know unless GM decides to do it. Also keep in mind all of the full size HD diesel trucks use 6 speed transmissions. Allison has said publicly that they have no plans to use anything but 6 gears now and in the future.

I don't know how accurate it is, but I did have one fellow tell me, that heard from another guy....(he said she said, I know )...who does a lot of work on Allison transmissions at some big service shop that Allison was planning on going with a 10 speed auto for the newer Chevy trucks in the near future. Again, don't know believable it is.

The 6 speed is fine for this truck, and you won't be missing anything. It doesn't even shift into 6th gear until 55 mph, I don't see an extra O/D gear being necessary. The 2.8 stock torque band is fat from 1800-3000 rpm so the extra gears aren't needed IMO unless your towing at max capacity.

The torque band is very large. If you are not towing anything, it will hold 6th gear for a long time before it shifts. And a lot of times, it won't shift, it just powers through it. Even on hills.

But yes, I will say that I had heard that only the gas engine trucks were getting an 8 speed and that the diesels were sticking with a 6 speed. Be interesting to see if they did put in an 8 speed though.

 

[BigCE]

Are you absolutely sure the 2018 Denali Diesel comes with the 8 speed ?

I really hope so, On there website they had 2 black Denalis one was a 6spd and one was the 8spd and the 8spd was cheaper. Shaw GMC in Calgary if anyone is curious. Sales Guy didn't have a clue, my truck was in the back lot still so we test drove a SLT and it was a 6sp I made a comment and he started going on about how they were all 8speeds in the diesels, i knew he was wrong but didn't argue with him. We drove over and looked at my truck and I looked at the sticker quick and it definitely said 8 speed on the sticker.

So either the sticker is wrong and same with the website, or its a 8. Anybody know where you can check the VIN number.

Are Denali trucks still full time AWD instead of 4x4?

I hope not, cant honestly say for sure but I don't think the are. All the pictures I have seen show the same dial for the t-case.

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

I wouldn’t question the gmc window sticker. Please post a pic of that rpo option code on the window sticker

 

[CleverUserName]

I really hope so, On there website they had 2 black Denalis one was a 6spd and one was the 8spd and the 8spd was cheaper. Shaw GMC in Calgary if anyone is curious. Sales Guy didn't have a clue, my truck was in the back lot still so we test drove a SLT and it was a 6sp I made a comment and he started going on about how they were all 8speeds in the diesels, i knew he was wrong but didn't argue with him. We drove over and looked at my truck and I looked at the sticker quick and it definitely said 8 speed on the sticker.

So either the sticker is wrong and same with the website, or its a 8. Anybody know where you can check the VIN number.


I hope not, cant honestly say for sure but I don't think the are. All the pictures I have seen show the same dial for the t-case.

I think this is your truck ? The options say it had an 8 speed but under the overview tab, the written description says equipped with a 6 speed.

https://www.shawgmc.com/new/GMC/2018-GMC-Canyon-503769b80a0e0a6b49d0e798372ac6fd.htm

The model code is T2P43

2018 GMC Canyon Denali 2.8 spec sheet showing the 6 speed is the only available transmission.

http://media.gmc.com/content/dam/Me...8/canyon/2018-FF-GMC-Canyon-Denali-diesel.pdf

 

[Mirage]

mileage estimate is wrong for diesel but the VIN certainly is diesel

 

[BigCE]

I noticed of the two black Denalis on there site the Vins have one number different, other than the obvious sequence number at the end.

Was supposed to get the truck today but apparently they need 3 full working days to do a PDI. Lined up to get it tomorrow night now ill keep everyone updated.

 

[CleverUserName]

I was able to search the GMC Canada page and found the listings for Shaw GMC. The GMC page is by VIN so it’s an accurate inventory. Here they are:
http://m.gmccanada.ca/locate-vehicl...canyon/canyon_denali&lat=&lon=&zipcode=T2G4G2

Both black denalis are there ones a gas and another is a diesel 6 speed.

Sorry to say you either got bait and switched into a gasser or your getting the 6 speed.

Hopefully you didn’t sign papers already. If not maybe use this as bargaining leverage for a better deal.

 

[Burgess159]

Yea, the fuel economy is wrong for a diesel (14 L/ 100 km = 16 mpg and 10 L/ 100 km = 23 mpg). The diesel highway economy should be more like 30 mpg (8 or 9 L/ 100 km).

Also, I do find it interesting that they use how many liters you use per 100 km for the economy estimate, vs here we use how many miles can I go per 1 gallon.

 

[BigCE]

Also, I do find it interesting that they use how many liters you use per 100 km for the economy estimate, vs here we use how many miles can I go per 1 gallon.

Yea were dumb like that, I typically use MPGs anyway makes more sense to me and is much more popular.

I'm really starting to doubt the 8 Speed haha, will know at the end of the day I guess. I'm not overly concerned either way, nothing wrong with the 6 speed. Still odd there are 2 Black Denalis on there website both Diesels but they have a slightly different VIN, even if it turns out to be a 6Speed I'm going to ask whats different because my truck was a few hundred bucks cheaper on the msrp.

 

[MadMac]

Yea, check that window sticker! I thought my 2.8L DM had the 8 speed also until I looked at the top of the window sticker and said Duramax 2.8L diesel and below that it said w/6 speed trans. Got too excited right off the bat!! MADMAC P.S. SHARP look'in truck!

 

[BigCE]

Survey says 6 speed

 

[RollyPollieBenito]

Survey says 6 speed

You will love that Denali. I have mine for 10 months already and totally love it. The heated steering wheel, heat/cool seats. Congrats on your new truck.

 

[Hookster]

Congrats and welcome to the club