Life expectancy of stock auto transmission?

[ZEEEW]

Hello all



Might be a new CTD in the family, little bro may have found a 98 12v for a good price, 112k miles with an auto. The engine will probly still go for another 100k easy, but what about the transmission? What milage do they usually last? Assuming stock motor, but unknown.

Also, if I put my old stock 215 plate in his, will it give him more power?



Thanks for any help.



Eric

 

[illflem]

It all depends on how the previous owner drove it. If he was into stomping on throttle at low rpms with the TC locked in OD it's lucky that it's made it long as it did. I have 172k on my stock AT with just regular 24k mile service and sensible driving.

 

[rrausch]

Illflem, do you tow at all?

 

[illflem]

Robert,just occasional lighter towing and a cabover camper. Use my 3500 5 speed for the heavy stuff.



Even though you hear about a lot of problems our ATs are actually a pretty heavy duty, reliable unit, many of us just ask too much from them.

 

[John_P]

Eric:



I have a 96' which also has an automatic transmission.

I put 98,000 on that original transmission before I had to

go through it. It didn't fail but started to "shudder"

after shifting into OD when towing. I tow an 18'

racing trailer and a small farm tractor on a regular

basis. The only "mods" I did to the transmission was

to install a "Trans-Go" Shift Kit right after I bought

the truck new. FYI, my engine "mods" @ that time

were: #6 TST plate, minor pump mods.



As "illflem" told you it does depend alot on how

the previous owner drove the truck. I also feel

that the frequency with which the transmission

fluid is changed has a strong influence on how

long these autos will last.



I would recommend changing your fluid and

filters and look inside the pan/transmission to

see how everything looks and "smells" in there!



Hope this has helped you some.



Good luck!



----------

John_P

 

[BRose]

I have 150K on my automatic and I have had no problems. I bought this truck with 123K on it and the previous owner had the tramsmission serviced every year. I am having the transmission serviced and adjusted once per year.

 

[shendren]

eric, your comment about easily getting another 100k out of the engine is interesting. you should easily be able to get 500k out of the cummins 12V. hell, you can get 200k out of a gasser. trading out of a 12v before 500k is a waste of money IMHO. good luck.

 

[tschwab]

If he wants to beef up his transmission and get much better performance, give Bill a call at DTT, if he ends up needing a rebuild, have him get it from Bill, excellent products service and satisfaction. Sorry I don't have the web address handy.



Bill Kondolay at Diesel Transmission Technology. You can find it in the TDR reference.

 

[Bob Wagner]

Terry, here's the DTT link

www.dieseltrans.com



Driving is Believing

 

[CPH]

Trans life

I've got 167,000 on my auto. I do occasional towing of my 27' fiver and load the bed once in a while. I have the trans serviced on a regular basis. No problems yet(knock on simulated wood dash)



cph

 

[KRoaden]

I bought mine @125K and with in the first 2 month it needed a rebuild due to the TC going to #$!!. There was a good indication before I took it to the Trans. Man. The weekend I bought the truck I changed all the fluids and in the pan I found alot of metal/debris on the magnet. The problem was when I went to WOT and let off the next upsihift cycle was really bad long shift points and etc. . I did know that the truck had been used it had a gooseneck ball in the bed (dead give away). Good luck



P. S. After the rebuild I still love the truck I'm just a little poorer!!!!!!!!!

 

[Big John]

ZEEW, my son is now driving my old '94 2500 with 230 hp plate and an auto trans. The truck works on a regular basis pulling a 24' gooseneck flatbed and an 8,000 pound tractor. Pulled my 5th wheel for several years before it was turned over to him.



He is careful to always warm up the trans. in neutral as he warms up the truck. He drives sensibly and pulls with OD off if under 55 mph. These simple rules along with 25,000 mile service intervals have given us 159,000 miles of trouble-free driving. Truck and trans are still going strong.



Big John