How Long Will Auto Tranny Last?

MacAttack · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 12:45 pm

Since I asked about the Manual I thought it would be interesting to hear about the Auto as well.

I've read that auto's have more problems, are more expensive to repair, and aren't as durable.
Is this all true?

Can't believe everything you read on the internet they tell me.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 2:27 pm

As long as you keep up on the fluid/filter changes and don't exceed what the auto is rated for,a very long time.My fathers superduty has almost 400,000 miles on it with no problems with the auto,just changes the fluild/filter every 50,000 miles(non-syn) and he mostly is pulling a 28 ft horsetrailer with sometimes 15,000 lbs of bulls.My turbo 350 that was in my '75 old's cutlass lasted till 270,000 miles before letting go and I was not easy on it.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 2:35 pm

My dads GrandCaravan has over 190K miles on it - the tranny is original and it wasn't taken care of!

I expect at least that amount of mileage out of my transmission (in the Liberty)

MacAttack · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 2:37 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

As long as you keep up on the fluid/filter changes and don't exceed what the auto is rated for,a very long time.My fathers superduty has almost 400,000 miles on it with no problems with the auto,just changes the fluild/filter every 50,000 miles(non-syn) and he mostly is pulling a 28 ft horsetrailer with sometimes 15,000 lbs of bulls.My turbo 350 that was in my '75 old's cutlass lasted till 270,000 miles before letting go and I was not easy on it.

400,000 miles?
That's a lot of miles.
I didn't know they went that long.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 2:44 pm

MacAttack wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

As long as you keep up on the fluid/filter changes and don't exceed what the auto is rated for,a very long time.My fathers superduty has almost 400,000 miles on it with no problems with the auto,just changes the fluild/filter every 50,000 miles(non-syn) and he mostly is pulling a 28 ft horsetrailer with sometimes 15,000 lbs of bulls.My turbo 350 that was in my '75 old's cutlass lasted till 270,000 miles before letting go and I was not easy on it.

400,000 miles?
That's a lot of miles.
I didn't know they went that long.

If you at least halfway take care of it it will last a long time,400,000 miles is nothing nothing for a good ole farm truck.My ex's father hauls trailers with a '92 Dodge 1 ton,it has the cummins and 5 speed manual(I know you are asking about auto's).He has over 600,000 miles on it,been through about 4 clutches though.Starting out with 20,000+ lbs is pretty hard on the clutch though.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 3:00 pm

There are alot of variables when it comes to asking this question.

How many highway miles does it have on it? How many of those Highway miles were in mountains where it would downshift alot? How many city miles? Did it do any towing? Was 4k rpms hit everytime a light turned green? How often was the tranny fluid changed? Do you know how to drive?

We have a 94 grand with 160k on it(No tranny work). Its towed a boat all its life and was driven hard. Oil was changed every 30k..

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 3:02 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

There are alot of variables when it comes to asking this question.

How many highway miles does it have on it? How many of those Highway miles were in mountains where it would downshift alot? How many city miles? Did it do any towing? Was 4k rpms hit everytime a light turned green? How often was the tranny fluid changed? Do you know how to drive?

We have a 94 grand with 160k on it(No tranny work). Its towed a boat all its life and was driven hard. Oil was changed every 30k..

You are right Jeepjeepster,but a little TLC and a tranny cooler never hurts though.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 3:49 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

You are right Jeepjeepster,but a little TLC and a tranny cooler never hurts though.

I forgot about the tranny cooler. That 94 Jeep we have has one in the radiator and a Aux cooler in front of the condenser.

I would like to add a bigger cool to my libby someday. May put that on the list of things to do this summer. :twisted:

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 4:37 pm

I've been told the auto tranny on newer vehicles, like our KJs, should last at least a minimum of 100,000 miles if there's no hardcore abuse and it is maintained properly

gone_jeepin · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 4:56 pm

RespectMyLibertay wrote:

I've been told the auto tranny on newer vehicles, like our KJs, should last at least a minimum of 100,000 miles if there's no hardcore abuse and it is maintained properly

hahaha really?? cause my 03 jetta was already having problems with the auto tranny at 35,000miles before I traded it for the ole KJ, may have something to do with the power burnouts or the constant down shifting I made it do, or maybe making it redline and slam into the next gear..........hmmm :lol:

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 5:29 pm

gone_jeepin wrote:

RespectMyLibertay wrote:

I've been told the auto tranny on newer vehicles, like our KJs, should last at least a minimum of 100,000 miles if there's no hardcore abuse and it is maintained properly

hahaha really?? cause my 03 jetta was already having problems with the auto tranny at 35,000miles before I traded it for the ole KJ, may have something to do with the power burnouts or the constant down shifting I made it do, or maybe making it redline and slam into the next gear..........hmmm :lol:

Yeh I've seen my bro go through 3 clutches in 60,000 miles on his '88 Celica GT for those same reasons. Ever heard of sun-roof surfing? :twisted:

Spike6901 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:46 pm

In my experience, a well maintianed American automatic (except GM) will rarely last more than 150k. In fact, none of mine or my family's have ever made it past 125k.

Maybe I am jaded.

Yes, they were maintained. I guess if differs for everyone but I figure that if a Chrysler auto makes it to 150k miles then count your lucky stars and start putting money aside for a new one.

Now if it was a Toyota...oh...I am going to catch hell for that one. :wink:

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2007 5:13 pm

My 95 Cherokee now has 266,000 plus on it and except for fluid changes every 50,000 or so nothing has been done to it, of course the motors never had anything done to it as well. For the last 7 or 8 years I have pulled all the logs out of the woods for my parents to heat their house with during the winter so its been used hard but taken care of. The main thing is taking care of them no matter how much you wheel them etc.

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

I have the same 42RLE in my Grand Cherokee with 150k and still runs great. It's even had the all fluid leak out to the point where it wouldn't move. Filled it back up and when on my way. That was 30k ago and still not a problem.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sat Mar 10, 2007 2:25 am

My Tahoe had 247,000 on the original motor and transmission. I ran it hard, but I also ran AMSOIL synthetic in all the fluids. Shift Kits are also recommended as they basically allow the transmission to shift correctly which will prolong the life of your transmission. I personally prefer automatics over manuals. As a matter of fact, according to the owners manual, my 2006 Cummins has more torque with the automatic verses the manual transmission. Automatics cost more to buy, cost more to rebuild, and cost more to replace, but they are worth every penny. It helps now that automatics have the tow haul button to keep it from shifting into over drive, you also still have control over 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear. My Uncle had a Chrysler Cordoba that had 347,000 miles on the original transmission. Most of it was highway miles, either way, it still logged in the miles. A guy wrecked into him and totaled the car, or he would probably be running it down the road as we speak.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sat Mar 10, 2007 2:26 am

My Tahoe had 247,000 on the original motor and transmission. I ran it hard, but I also ran AMSOIL synthetic in all the fluids. Shift Kits are also recommended as they basically allow the transmission to shift correctly which will prolong the life of your transmission. I personally prefer automatics over manuals. As a matter of fact, according to the owners manual, my 2006 Cummins has more torque with the automatic verses the manual transmission. Automatics cost more to buy, cost more to rebuild, and cost more to replace, but they are worth every penny. It helps now that automatics have the tow haul button to keep it from shifting into over drive, you also still have control over 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear. My Uncle had a Chrysler Cordoba that had 347,000 miles on the original transmission. Most of it was highway miles, either way, it still logged in the miles. A guy wrecked into him and totaled the car, or he would probably be running it down the road as we speak.

How Long Will Auto Tranny Last?

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