Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) 150k+ on my 47RE, what am I doing right?

[Gifford]

My 47RE just wont die. It has 150+k miles, lotsa heavy towing for the first two years, alot of brake stands, TST #6 etc. What am I doing right? (other than keeping the fluid full, it leaks pretty bad, and I do have the Mag Hytek pan on it, mebbe thats it?)

I need total failure to justify new torque converter and transmission from DTS... . tips?

 

[Bob Wagner]

try sled pulling



and it's DTT

 

[danandamy]

What you are probably doing right is keeping the rpm's up. Alot of folks think they are "taking it easy" on their trannies by putting around like gramma but that's just the opposite of what you need to do. The higher the rpm's the more pressure you're applying to everything. My wife's Ram has 135k+ on a bone stock 47rh and it's had a TST #6 full forward in it for sometime. Before it was hers, I towed with it quite a bit. Whenever I towed, I forced it to stay in gear up to about 2500rpms then I'd shift. The most I've ever found in the pan on fluid change was one small shaving. Considering my wife took off in it one day and realized she was doing 30mph in second gear and went to put it in "drive" and threw it in reverse I think that's pretty good.



Oh, one final note, I wouldn't wait until it completely grenades. If you do, you will have all that trash in the system to contend with. You know the time is coming, start saving those pennies... .



dan

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Bob Wagner

try sled pulling



and it's DTT

Bob,I dont know if that is what he meant? He wrote "DTS" that could have meant "ATS" or "DTT" Maybe he want a hybrid

 

[Mingoglia]

Although I don't have an automatic in my Ram I can relate a little with the "getting on it". I don't go anywhere where my foots not to the floor and every vehicle I've ever own (owned 9) have all been among the most reliable vehicles anyone has heard of. I'm very very very hard on everything I own that has a motor that I can strap my butt to. I am extremely picky when it comes to maintenance though. All fluids are replaced about twice as often as recommended and topped off perfectly. I'll add oil a teaspoon at a time (it seems) to get it just right. I play hard, but my 'toys' are never neglected (well maybe not washed as much in the Phoenix summer). I've never had any problems and I've come to the conclusion that using the equipment to it's full potential must keep everything "loose"... or something... . you may of read in another thread that I get the same fuel economy wheter I'm empty or pulling my 10,500lb trailer... this should give you a hint of my driving style.

 

[Dennis Garrett]

I babied mine for 160k, then took it up to Dave Goerends in Iowa for an overhaul & tripple disc TC. The original TC was slipping pretty bad, but was still working OK. While they had the transmission apart, they found all the forward drive clutches were worn out, the inner gear on the oil pump had worn into the housing, a large snap ring was broken, and it had a pitted OD sungear. They replaced all that, but the bands, planetaries & the rest of the clutches were almost like new still, A new seal & gasket kit, & the new TC has got me back in business. The original transmission & TC were taken pretty good care of, and always had cool, fresh fluid, but it did show normal wear & tear at 160k. I hope it does as well after being shopped.

 

[illflem]

182k on mine with just TPS cleaning and 24k service. Keep it out of OD under 50 mph. When mine breaks I'm going to get an AT&T transmission, heard they'll go long distance

 

[dezeldog]

195 and counting don't pull much over 9000. just put in 275s and it's still holding together.





Jim

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by dezeldog

195 and counting don't pull much over 9000. just put in 275s and it's still holding together.





Jim

Jim what has your maintance routine been to get this type of performance?

 

[dezeldog]

Re: Pit Bull

I change fluid and filter at normal intervals, adjust the bands as needed. I also keep it out of OD under 50 and manually shift when towing keeping the Rs up. Knock on wood it has worked so far.



Jim

 

[dezeldog]

Forgot to mention stock pan and Mopar ATF+4. Works for me!!



Jim

 

[RVPILOT]

Originally posted by Gifford

My 47RE just wont die. It has 150+k miles, lotsa heavy towing for the first two years, alot of brake stands, TST #6 etc. What am I doing right? (other than keeping the fluid full, it leaks pretty bad, and I do have the Mag Hytek pan on it, mebbe thats it?)

I need total failure to justify new torque converter and transmission from DTS... . tips?

I put 256k on a stock tran pulling trailers for a living, I changed the transmission oil every 60k miles. it finally started to slip after i had the plate moved boosting the hp a little. but when the truck had less than 20k miles i already had 2 trannys. I now have 480k miles on my 96 3500 replacing the transmission with a DTT at about 280k. after about 390k I installed a pryo and tran temp gauge. guess I was doing things right Norm

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: Re: Pit Bull

Originally posted by dezeldog



I also keep it out of OD under 50

Jim

How do you do that? Mine will go into OD at around 45 and then does not come out sometimes when I am going as slow as 30-40. I just drive it I'd say not hard and not easy. It's a daily driver that I don't tow and haul very little. Since I bought the 100K mile extended warranty I know the transmission will last that long

 

[illflem]

Pit Bull, don't the '00s have an OD off switch?

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by illflem

Pit Bull, don't the '00s have an OD off switch?

Yes they do What you drive around like it is a 3 speed until you get over 50 and then you turn the OD on? Mine has 54K miles on it just driving it, do you think it would make much difference now if I started manually turning the OD on and off?

 

[Snow man]

I used to drive aroundwith the od of,f i finally bought a DDT smart controller,now it wont shift to OD until it hits my preset speed,i shoul;dve bought one a long time ago. Its one if its many features. There is also someone on here who made up an inverter switch out of a couple of relays,and the unused clutch wire on the auto,s. I think it was Bigwhitebeast?.

 

[dezeldog]

Snowman, When this trans finally takes a dump i'll be getting all the goodies you mentioned. I believe LSFarm has the smart controller and he likes it. Until then I'll continue to do what I've been doing. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Pit Bull, IllFlem got it with the OD on off button. Around town I keep out of OD, besides I like the sound of the Cummins with no muffler at higher RPM







Jim

 

[Pit Bull]

Thanks guys, in town I will start turning the OD off, so I stay out of OD in traffic. Maybe that will give me a little more time on the OE transmission.

 

[redramnc]

OD off until over 50 mph

My 47RE was fine until the torque converter grenaded at 103K miles. Got a stock rebuild before I knew what the aftermarket had to offer. My stock (for now) motor doesn't seem to punish the trans under hard pulls but then I drive it for max rpm before allowing it to shift when towing/hauling.