How many miles on auto transmission???

[blacksheepdiesel]

Yesterday a friend called to tell me about a truck for sale. The woman selling it has 2 trucks, hers and her deceased husband's, that were used for delivering campers. She told my friend that the truck has just over 500,000 miles and the 48re has been serviced and bands adjusted regularly but never any major work done to it. I have heard of over 300,000 miles before a rebuild was needed, but 500,000 seemed almost too good to believe.



Last night the tech who is rebuilding the 48re in my '05 called to tell me what he found after tear down. With 450,000 miles on the original trans the hard parts are in perfect condition but the clutches are toast and the torque converter had gotten very hot. I bought the truck in January of '10 as a repo and had no idea of the repair history on the truck. So now I can believe that at 500,000 miles a transmission can still have life.



So, what's your story? How many miles on your stock 48re and what do you use it for?



Godspeed,

Trent

 

[Grey Wolf]

I don't have an automatic but I have to say that's impressive!

 

[jgillott]

The '04. 5 is at ~200K with no issues other than a blown trans cooler line.

 

[GaryOwen]

I knew of two RV transporters that had over 500k (520k and 540k) on their 48re's without any problems. Both had money set aside for a rebuild though. Seems like most had to rebuild at about 300k to 400k though. Still very impressive.

 

[FourBarR]

How about 525,000kms (320,000k)on a 47re. Supposed to be a weak transmission. Still working perfect.

 

[Edgemann55]

My buudys 06 just trned 300K and he pulls 15000lb generator and trailers on a regular basis. Done nothing to his transmission except filter and fluid replacements at 30K intervals.

 

[DonFitzwater]

44,000 and it's toast. Can't say I didn't see it coming but I thought it would get me to 60k. At least now I can deal with the nice folks at Goerend for some good transmission parts.

 

[gathomas]

120,000 and counting... installed Amsoil Syn ATF at 100K, + Filter everthing looked good in the pan. I drive fairly conservative, once in a while I blow out the cobwebs via Smarty Jr.
Transmission miles ??... check out. . Amsoil Synthetic Oil, Million Mile Chevy

 

[Skydiver]

183k on my 47RE. An auto will outlast a manual transmission if it is serviced properly and on time. They lube and cool better than a manual.
Tips for a long auto life.
-Fresh fluid is a must. I change my (pan only) fluid every 10k miles.
-When lock up is about to occure ease up on the throttle a little. Forceing lock up with the pedal pegged causes great heat stress. As in using cruise controll when towing heavy.
-Keep those rpms UP. DO NOT lug an auto transmission. Remember the 727 torque flight of the 60s and 70s. They held up to the 426 Hemi and 440 magnum because of the higher rpms. More rpms = more fluid pressure and better cooling. More fluid pressure = tighter clutches.
I think one of the reasons there are so many problems with autos is failure to change fluid and lugging.

 

[mrtrombley]

You guys have had better luck than me. My auto transmission went out at about 67k, which was lucky because I was able to get it rebuilt by a Dodge dealer in Elkhart, IN. The same week as I was signing on with Horizon to haul RV's.

I had previously hauled my own RV w/MC trailer behind it all up and down the east coast and midwest. This combination was on the heavy side, but I always figured a Dodge Heavy Duty could handle it, approx 21K lbs for both trailers. For some of that time I also had a Bully Dog set up which I used in TOW mode while pulling. I have always wondered if the combination of extra weight and extra hp were what did the transmission in. Very disappointed if that was the case as I expected a heavy duty 1 ton would more than handle it.

After delivering RV's for a while and only pulling my own rig about 5K over the last couple years, my transmission went again at 116k. It was really gone this time. I took it to a local transmission specialist for complete, $3,000 rebuild. He showed me the bands, they were paper thin completely smooth. I don't know much about that, but he said they were about as bad as he had seen. So he did his magic along with a new heavy duty torque converter and it is running real fine now. Have about 8k on the new rebuild and every thing seem good, shifts great. Have only pulled my RV once with it since rebuild, but it felt real good.

Have got my fingers crossed now and hoping for some longevity this time. Had to get it done quickly as I was working away from home at the time, otherwise I would have asked you guys about the beefed up transmission's talked about on here. I've got a feeling they would have gone more $$'s then I paid though, can anyone give me an idea of the specialty heavy duty transmission costs.

Thanks,

 

[DonFitzwater]

You can spend 2500 to 5000 for a transmission... ..... it's up to you and your wallet! I'll be spending in the neighborhood of 3500. 00 for mine and hopefully it will last me a while... ... If I can be nice to it. :-laf

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

Some great mileage numbers here! Love to hear this kind of report. I'm going to shoot for well over 500,000 miles with this new rebuilt transmission.

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[MChrist]

DFitzwater, I'm similar to you. My T/C went out around 35,000 miles, and had Goerend do my trans, and it's an entirely different animal!! BTW, when they tore the trans apart, it was like new, just the T/C was burned up.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I'll be doing my transmission with the help of a friend but using mostly Goerend parts. I have a feeling I will find carnage upon tear down. :-laf I haven't been exactly nice to it, hauling water tanks and towing lots of boats plus plowing snow. I should have put a good torque converter and valve body in from the beginning but of course I didn't. I still like my truck though. I did take a look at the torque converter and she has been really hot, kinda bluish purple in color!

 

[timroberts]

I have 127,550 miles on mine. Change fluid every 40,000 miles with mopar +4works great.