transmission life expectency

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I have a 1996 turbo diesel with an auto transmission, 3. 54 rear end, and do 100 miles of towing a year(about 4000 lbs). I bought my truck mostly for long life. Can the transmission go 200,000 miles before problems start? I change the fluid every 24,000 miles or about once a year.

 

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I am probably one of the few guys that feel the Dodge transmission can get the job done.
Some simple rules to live by:
1) Keep your rpm's high,

2)Do not engage overdrive below 50mph with 3. 54 gear ratio

3)DO NOT INSTALL ANY LOCKUP DEVICES that keep the converter engaged under hard excelleration.

4)The hardest rule of all for some/all of the guys in this TDR membership, keep the engine stock.

5)Guys that tell you to buy an exhaust brake so you never have to change brakes pads,
consider this first, something has to stop the truck. If your brake pads are not stopping your truck the energy to stop the truck has to come from somewhere. I maintain that it is more ecnomical to change pads than a torque converter and/or transmission.

Next time you are doing a transmission service you can increase the stock transmission pressure by up to 9psi, without removing the vb,(extra insurance).

Bill
Diesel Transmission Technology

 

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Mine's gone 124k with only 24k filter changes,no synthetic for me,and no problems.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks Stinger,Warn fender flairs and running boards(work truck)
95 3500,5 speed 3:54,Driftwood,Banks&Psycotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(works harder truck)

 

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Bill K.

I've heard about being able to increase the stock pressure a little bit several times in the past but no-one has ever said excactly how it is done. Is it just a matter of turning an adjusting screw. Please explain,I would like to do this next time my pan is down. Thanks alot.

 

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JJP, I have a '94 2500 diesel that has 150,000 miles on a stock auto trans. The last 40,000 miles I have had a TST 230 hp kit in it. The last 15,000 miles I have had a teen-age son driving it!! No transmission problems at all with just regular maintenance.

I admit that both me and my son drive sensibly. We also have both worked the truck. I pulled a 32' 5th wheel with it and he pulls a 24' gooseneck and mowing tractor. The truck has never missed a beat. I believe the trans can go 200,000 miles. There are some of them that I think would not no matter how you treat them. If you have one that has 100,000 miles on it you probably have one that will go 200,000.

Follow the advice given above. It is all good. Those transmission locking switches used by anyone that does not understand the way this trans works are very dangerous. They greatly increase the likelyhood of slipping in lockup and doing serious damage. The advice given above should be used on any auto transmission being use to haul even a 7000 pound truck around with an engine capable of the torque that these are.

My 2 cents worth... ... ... ... John

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'94 2500 Diesel Reg. Cab
Auto 3. 54 4X4 TST 230hp
"If you can't Dodge it, Ram it!
'96 2500 diesel clubcab 4x4 5speed

[This message has been edited by Big John (edited 01-03-2001). ]

 

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Ditto. I'd like to know how I'd go about turning up the line pressure my AT. Also, realizing that there's no such thing as a free lunch, what would be the downside(s) of turning up the pressure? Decreased pump life maybe?

Thanks!



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In the heart of the Droughtland
NRA and ATA Life Member
'97 SLT w/NAPA fan belt
What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about?

 

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Bill K. ,

I think I remember reading a post of yours some time ago that mentioned that one of the reasons for the difference in life of stock transmissions was "cross leakage" in some of the pumps. I think that was the term. Anyway, could you comment on this? How do we detect this situation? What can we do about it?

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,3. 54,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,BD valve body,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

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Just turned 231K on a stock auto transmission with 3. 54 gears, no problems yet. I believe in regular maintenance and servicing.

1995 2500 CC, auto, 3. 54, Amsoiled, 231K and going strong!!!!! LOVE MY TRUCK

 

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Last week I had Bill K go thru my auto trans to freshen it up and work his magic. He said my transmission was the most mint transmission for 97. 000 miles he had ever seen. I am a conservitave driver but do have the tst 230-605 plate and I aconsidered this rebuild as preventative maintenance and insurance. Listen to Bill K. he knows what he"s talking about.

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95 slt auto,bd exhaustbrake, TST 230/605 plate K&N airfilter, primelok fuelfilter relocator. Who say"s six in row don"t go?

 

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I have 293,000 trouble free miles on my auto with 3. 54 gears. Just regular maintenance.

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1997 3500 club cab, 10' flatbed, 3:54, auto, 4 Firestone air bags, 293,000+ miles

 

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<font color=blue>Bill has asked me to post this for him. </font color=blue>

On 1998 and earlier Dodge rams you can easily go an extra 3 1/2 turns counter clockwise. On 1999 and later Dodge Rams you must use a pressure gauge to adjust pressures and try not to exceed 68psi.

On the 1999 and later Dodge Rams right from the factory some of them came out with 60psi. So the 3 1/2 turns described above does not apply.

To check the transmission line pressure you have to go to the passenger side of the transmission about 1 1/2" above the transmission pan rail there are 3 pressure ports. You want the middle port, this port reads mainline pressure in the drive position only. The maximum pressure you can take a stock vb to is approx 62psi. If you try to go higher than that you may have wide open throttle shift point problems. Each turn counter clockwise on the pressure regulator on a stock vb only is approx 2 - 2 1/2 psi.
See the attached diagram,
For a tool you will need a 3/16th allen wrench that has been modified, the small end of the allen wrench must be cut off so it sticks out only 3/8 " or so past the bend so it can fit between the case and vb.

I apologize for the delay in posting this info. i was having a tough time loading up the picture.

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Bill
Diesel Transmission Technology



[This message has been edited by K_Arts (edited 01-05-2001). ]

 

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JoeG,

I am not ignoring your question, i am just gathering the data i have and trying to make it into a digestable format.

I have learned some interesting info. that should make for good reading.

Give me a week or so.

Bill
Diesel Transmission Technology.

 

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Thanks Bill,

I've been wondering about that for some time now. My transmission is working just fine, except that I need a better torque converter. Saving my nickels 'till I can afford one of yours.

 

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Bill Kondolay and K_Arts..... thank you for an excellent post.