Welcome to Episode 4 of the 3.0 Duramax Podcast — built for new 3.0 Duramax (LZ0/LM2) owners and anyone using their truck for heavy-duty work like towing, long idling, or snowplowing.

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• The break-in period (what GM says at 500 miles vs real-world break-in expectations)

• When to tow, RPM limits, and what to avoid early on

• First oil change + rear differential break-in thoughts

• Regen explained (DPF self-cleaning): what you’ll notice, what’s normal, and what to do if a message appears

• DEF tips (how to avoid costly mistakes + storage/freshness basics)

• Reliability upgrades for extreme use: monitoring temps, charge air cooling, transmission cooling/capacity, and maintenance priorities

Drop your experience in the comments — especially if you’re a veteran owner — so we can keep building the strongest 3.0 Duramax community.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the LZ0 3.0 Duramax thrust bearing failures that have been making waves across the diesel community — specifically affecting some 2025 and 2026 model year trucks and SUVs.

I break down what’s actually happening, what GM has (and hasn’t) said, and share my real-world observations as a GM technician who has seen these failures firsthand. We talk about what a thrust bearing does, why these engines fail when they do, and whether this is something owners can realistically catch early.

This episode also answers common owner questions, including:

• Is there any warning before failure?

• Can oil analysis catch it?

• Does making it past 10,000 miles mean you’re safe?

• Should you avoid buying a 2025–2026 LZ0?

• Would I still buy one myself?

This is a community-focused discussion, based on real data, real failures, and real ownership concerns — not internet speculation. If you own a 3.0 Duramax or are thinking about buying one, this episode will give you clarity, context, and confidence.

Have questions for the next episode? Leave a comment — they shape future shows.

In this episode, I answer three listener questions that are better suited for the podcast format, including when it actually makes sense to use a block heater, what the “best” year of the 3.0 Duramax really means, and how certain topics are handled differently on the podcast versus YouTube. We also start a broader discussion around emissions deletes—why the topic comes up so often, how it’s commonly misunderstood, and why context matters—without getting into instructions or recommendations.

I also briefly reference my latest video explaining blowby and the closed PCV system on the 3.0 Duramax, and why visual checks like popping the oil cap can be misleading on modern diesel engines.

In the next weekly episode, I’ll take a direct look at the LZ0 3.0 Duramax and address a question many owners are asking right now: is it actually a bad engine, or is important context getting lost online?

In this episode, I answer real viewer questions pulled directly from YouTube — the same questions I hear every day as a GM technician.

We cover 5W-30 oil use in the 3.0 Duramax, early oil changes and engine break-in, blowby expectations, LM2 teardown findings, LZ0 improvements, long-term wear concerns, engine swaps, and what the future looks like for the 3.0 Duramax platform.

No speculation. No warranty talk. Just practical, real-world answers based on what I’m seeing in the shop.

Duramax® is a registered trademark of General Motors. This podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by General Motors.