Scared of the 4L60E.. is it normal

[CTX-SLPR]

Howdy,

Well I'll be buying a Suburban next spring/summer before I pack up and move for my next assignment. I just own too much stuff they won't ship, don't have anything to tow with, and with my wife's family visits (from India) they can't drive so there can be an extra 2-4 adults and another child in the mix to transport around. Realistically my wife drives twice a week and I can take the Suburban that frequently to work or she'll get used to it. Basically a vehicle that does everything we don't need very often.

Now that being said, I'm honestly scared of the blasted 4L60E's that come in the half tons. While the one in my 99 Silverado had almost 240K miles on it and I never touched it, I was just waiting for it to die and I'd sell/scrap the truck as it was not worth messing with it with the mileage and otherwise condition of the truck. Turns out I just sold the whole thing when we had kid #2 so it worked out alright. That still doesn't make me comfortable with one. That means I'm looking at 3/4 ton Suburbans which are relatively rare I'm finding.

I know I can't afford one with less than 100K miles realistically even if I get a 1500. At least I don't like leather in trucks... Am I being irrational about looking for a 4L80E equipped Suburban 2500?

Talk to me about it.

[68scott385]

I have a '97 C1500 truck, bought it in '01 w/44k miles. I noticed early on that the 1-2 shift valve would hang up after ~30 miles on the freeway. If I'd had it looked at when it started acting up I probably wouldn't have had to have the trans rebuilt six years and 110k miles later. Half the problem was not knowing who to take it to as the dealer was zero help, they had it a week and didn't even drive it. An independent guy that is big in the local racing community did the work at a very reasonable price and I've had no problems in six plus years and 50k+ miles. I don't load the snot out of it regularly but it's not a looky-loo truck either, it gets used for its full-size box.

IMO, if your main purpose for the vehicle you plan to purchase is to haul people, the 1/2 ton/1500 series should be fine and even be up to the task of occasional trailer/toy pulling as long as you don't try to pull 10klbs through mountains. I've pulled full-sized GM B-bodies with mine and it barely recognized the extra weight.

[Schtauffer]

The 4L60E in my 97 K1500 went at 110,000. Stuck a Jasper in. Now the truck has 186k and it started shifting funny a few weeks ago. Crossing my fingers.

My dad's 95 C2500 seems to be holding up well... new 4L80E at 200k, truck is tickling 300k now.

[NewEnglandRaceFan]

I got 400k out of one, but I didn't follow the factory service of 100k fluid changes, it got it every 30k if it needed it or not..
and I beat the living crap out of it.. and overloaded the bed more than a few times, 2 yards of crushed stone in a short bed no problem..
buy what you need and plan on having to rebuild the 4l60e when it goes, and because you have this mindset, it'll never give out..
I'd go with the 1/2 ton over the 3/4 ton, more of those 1/2tons were soccer mom movers over the 3/4 tons that got worked hard.. unless you need the 6.0ltr v8

[kyhunter89]

In 99 we bought a 99 z71 for the sole purpose of pulling a cattle trailer, 70k miles later, no problems.
My 2000 2wd got a fluid change at 180k and a vette servo and its going strong.
Still beat a 5r55e, aod or about any other od other than 80e or 4r70w, and they have thete problems aswell.

[squirrel]

Sometimes paranoia is deserved. If you're gonna do any towing, stay with the 80.

[TheSilverBuick]

Meh. If you are worried about it add a trans temp gauge and decide if you need another cooler. If you are easing into the powerband and not overheating it there shouldn't be any reason for one in good shape to go out on you.

I'm pretty sure there is a 4L65e in my truck, which is almost the same as the 60e (extra gear in the planetary? Which I don't think the planetaries are a normal failure point of the 60e's). Came with something like a 16,000 GVW tow package and the previous owner put a 5th wheel hitch on it.

[squirrel]

The older ones are a bit flakier....

[TheSilverBuick]

The older ones are a bit flakier....

True, but no year was specified that I saw. I'm going to go with the assumption he is going to get one from the OBDII era which were a tad better than before then, and if he goes after 2000-2001 they got less flakier I think.

[squirrel]

The trans in wife's 08 gets pretty warm when it's working hard (even the base trucks have the trans temp reading on the odometer display).....I'd still want the big trans if the plan is to do much towing.

[TheSilverBuick]

Yeah mine has one too. I was watching it climbing those Colorado grades towing the Skylark.


He can tell us the long term use, but I'd wager it's going to tow every once in a while. Like when moving.

[squirrel]

On the flip side.....the trucks with the little engine and 60 trans get better gas mileage, how many miles do you have to drive to pay for a new trans?

[NewEnglandRaceFan]

most of the newer trucks my 04 had it, they have a tow mode button right on the shifter stick..
I think the fear is from some misusing the truck, lack of upkeep, and just general thinking you can go 100k on the same fluid..
g.m. says 100k because they don't want your hands anywhere near the trans until it's out of warranty..
I still change it at 40k if truck is worked and 60 if only worked every now and then..
I'm sure you could go 100k without an oil change also but you wouldn't.. same applies to a trans..
hell most that he'll look at might have already have a rebuilt trans in it..
like anything buying used is a crapshoot.. even if he buys with a 4l80e..

[squirrel]

like anything buying used is a crapshoot.. even if he buys with a 4l80e..

that's for sure!

[TheSilverBuick]

On the flip side.....the trucks with the little engine and 60 trans get better gas mileage, how many miles do you have to drive to pay for a new trans?

My math is probably bad or missing something, but figure the smaller combination might get 2mpg better, which at low numbers might be 14% difference (12 vs 14?) and at $3.50/gallon, around 17,500 miles figuring that 2mpg is costing $.14 more per mile? A year and a half of normal regular use?