Thinking of a new truck. Automatic trans questions

[Gonzo 1066]

I am thinking of buying a new Dodge Cummins. This would be my 6th Cummins P/U. They have all been manual transmissions. Is now the time to switch to a Automatic? The manuals have been good to me, but I hear of problems with the G-56 and the DUAL MASS clutch. Any comments appreciatedl

 

[ekroman]

I have a 2008 with the 6. 7 and automatic. This is my 3rd CTD, and the other two are automatics.



The first one, a 1990 with the 3 speed 727 Torqueflite always shifted well. I always felt it would benefit from a lockup converter. It never failed or gave me trouble (except when a trans cooler hose slid off in traffic!).



Then came the 1995, with the 4 speed auto from hell. On the highway, it did just fine. It would shift up and lock into overdrive and you could cruise all day. However, in slower traffic it was never in the right gear, and it always felt like the engine was churning but the transmission was just generating heat instead of delivering power to the rear wheels.



I was convinced I would go with a manual for the newest one. However, after driving a 6 speed auto, I felt it was sufficiently improved to address my concerns. My wife wanted an auto so she could drive it, and she's driven it exactly one time.



16,000 miles and the transmission shifts right, I've not had a problem with being in the wrong gear. It seems to find the right gear at the right time, and if I need to downshift, it's got a toggle switch on the shift lever. You can hold it in a gear to help it warm up quicker in cold weather, or if you're towing something and going 35 mph you can pick your gear and stay in it.



If I were you, consider the auto. It seems much improved. I don't know how they do long term under heavy towing; someone else here should have that info handy.

 

[Simplysmn]

Well less then 3 yr's and right now I am just shy of 70. 000 miles and I love it I have hit the scales at 25,500 and have never had any problem's and if you feel like rowing through the gear's you can do so without a clutch

 

[pwr2tow]

I owned a 99 auto, 2005 manual, 2006 auto.

I now own a 09 auto. The 09 68RFE truck will out run, out pull, out do any of the other trucks I owned. Sure wish Dodge would have done this back in 1999 as it would have saved me from buying the other three.

 

[EricBu12]

Have exactly 6000 miles on my 09 with the Auto and I love it. I drive trucks for a livivng and my last 01 was a 6 speed manual. I have read of problems with the new 6 speed manuals so I decided on trying the new Auto.

Like above, you can shift this like a Manual with the buttons on the stick. there is no 2 or 1 on the selector for the stick, just a "D". then there is a "tow/Haul" mode button on the end and that just changes the shift patterns and such. Never thought I'd get an auto but this transmission is very good. Plus you get the engine with the bigger torque with the Auto. .

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Thanks

Thanks for the reply. Having only owned manuals and living where I pull 20 to 30 mountian passes a year autos were always ruled out. I assume the Ebrake intergrates with the auto well enough to be functional??

 

[Simplysmn]

[ Plus you get the engine with the bigger torque with the Auto. . [/QUOTE]



Say what the stick truck's have the same motor there is no difference in HP or TQ in the truck's



Yes Gonzo it work's great with the trans.

 

[mpaulson]

This transmission works in an unbelievable manner with the e-brake, you just feather the brake pedal enougth to make the brake light come on and it will down shift progressively all the way to 2nd gear, or you can manually drop the gears yourself without touching the brake pedal using the toggle on the shift lever. The harder you press the brake, the more aggressively it will downshift on it's own. When cruising with the cruise control and the tow/haul mode on, it will downshift on it's own when the truck starts to run away on a downhill stretch and keep your speed at the set level, even on a 7% grade at about 23,000 lbs.

 

[EricBu12]

Yes Manual has same motor, but the torque for the auto is 650. . the torque for the manual is like 600-625 I think.

The E-brake is wonderful. I use it on freeway off-ramps and don't have to touch the brakes til near the light. The only thing I have done to my truck is I put a mag-hytec deep pan on the trans. so it holds 3 quarts more fluid.

The only thing you will not like is the mileage. The new emissions drops it some. I started out around 13-15 average. It does get 18-19 on the freeway. maybe it will get better. I only have 6000 miles and will tow this summer to may madness. I hope the mileage gets better as the truck breaks in.

The Auto is wonderful. I have had no issues with it or the electronics of the truck. It has an auto warm up when you idle when it is cold that it will rev up to 1000 rpm. all this computerized stuff is amazing. . and scary I think. .

Let us know what you get and post pics!!

 

[HBarlow]

The modern six speed automatics are vastly improved over the old 47RE/48RE automatics. The automatic transmission, exhaust brake function, and engine controls are skillfully and fully integrated. Try one, you'll like it.

Six speed G-56 manual transmission equipped trucks, unfortunately, are equipped with the lousy dual mass flywheel/clutch system for the purpose of reducing noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). The design does accomplish this, these trucks won't rattle the transmission if you lug it down to parking lot speed in third gear then accelerate like my old '01 HO/Six speed NV-5600 truck did.

Many owners of G-56 trucks who tow heavy, tow a lot of miles, are have simply accumulated 60,000 miles or more are reporting clutch failures or even multiple failures. Many convert their trucks to conventional solid flywheels and clutches from South Bend Clutch or other vendors. The solid flywheel works fine according to reports but generates a bit of unwanted noise which some find objectionable.

Manual transmission equipped trucks and cab and chassis trucks like mine are limited to 610 ft. lbs. of torque, not the full 650 the engine is programmed to produce when the new MOPAR six speed automatic is selected.

 

[Wygate]

I love the auto, you put it in tow haul and manually down shift and I have had the tires chirp just like a manual down shift, not saying it is great to do but it happened.



Also the manual has 610 auto has 650, has to do with the clutch not being able to hold the full 650.



Have about 10k on my truck, love the auto, just wish they came with a trans gauge.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

The modern six speed automatics are vastly improved over the old 47RE/48RE automatics. The automatic transmission, exhaust brake function, and engine controls are skillfully and fully integrated. Try one, you'll like it.



Six speed G-56 manual transmission equipped trucks, unfortunately, are equipped with the lousy dual mass flywheel/clutch system for the purpose of reducing noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). The design does accomplish this, these trucks won't rattle the transmission if you lug it down to parking lot speed in third gear then accelerate like my old '01 HO/Six speed NV-5600 truck did.



Many owners of G-56 trucks who tow heavy, tow a lot of miles, are have simply accumulated 60,000 miles or more are reporting clutch failures or even multiple failures. Many convert their trucks to conventional solid flywheels and clutches from South Bend Clutch or other vendors. The solid flywheel works fine according to reports but generates a bit of unwanted noise which some find objectionable.



Manual transmission equipped trucks and cab and chassis trucks like mine are limited to 610 ft. lbs. of torque, not the full 650 the engine is programmed to produce when the new MOPAR six speed automatic is selected.

My neighbor bought a 08 5500 with the G-56. . He has about 30,000 miles on it and I just ordered a South Bend clutch-flywheel kit for him. The truck is BONE STOCK but pulls a large GN equipment trailer. The dual mass really SUCKS, it did for Furd and is does for Dodge. IMHO

 

[Grizzly]

Gonzo, Consider a 3500 C&C with a 6. 7 Cummins and a 6 speed Aisin auto. If I were in the new truck market, that's what I'd get.

 

[TulsaOkie]

302,000 miles on my 07, no problems and I pull 12k 95% of the time. I change fluid and filters every 75k, and no signs of wear or metals. I use Amsoil in the transmission and diff's, it's been well worth the money !!!!

 

[bheiting]

I haven't read a single complaint on this forum for either the Aisin or the Dodge auto
trans. I would put my money on the Aisin if the chassis/cab fits your needs.

 

[Grizzly]

I haven't read a single complaint on this forum for either the Aisin or the Dodge auto

trans. I would put my money on the Aisin if the chassis/cab fits your needs.

I wish they'd put the Aisin on the 2500 and 3500 pick up.

 

[DPrew]

I like the six speed in my 02' & 06' but the 09' seemed to be more difficult to keep spooled up. If you tried to keep on the throttle and shift quickly the truck would jerk noticeably. It was as though the emissions were cutting back the fuel too much. Now I'm a 68RFE fan. It faster off the line than my 02' with about 600 crank HP. I'm still experimenting with the manual shift function on hills trying to get it down to a science.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Thanks. I took a 3500 dually auto for a drive today WOOFDA!!! I really like the way the auto integrates with the exhaust brake. Does it work just as well with a big load?

 

[EricBu12]

I only towed a short bit of my 15K 5th wheel. It seems to do pretty good. . It is a little less effective than like a pac or Jacobs but with the lower gearing of the Auto, it does pretty good.

 

[HBarlow]

Eric,

Your truck probably has 3. 73 gears. With the higher gears your exhaust brake will not be real effective in the upper gears. Fifth and six gears are overdrive and 3. 73 gears makes them pretty tall.

My truck with 4. 10 gears provides excellent exhaust braking.