Longest lasting OEM Automatic transmissions?

[CarbonSteel]

It depends.....There are literally hundreds of build specifications for TH400's, It ran from 1964 to 1993. The best was likely the '69/'70 Cadillac versions.

I remember reading in a CarCraft, Popular Hot Rodding, or similar back in the 80's that the TH400 could easily go 250K when first introduced but as "improvements" were made by GM through the years, that number dwindled to a little over 100K. I put 200K on a TH400 pulled from a late 60's Pontiac with nothing more than normal maintenance and the 455 in front of it was not mild or driven mildly either.

Too soon to tell on the ZF unit in my Jeep, but the 6R80 in my 2010 FX4 had 160K on it and towed 8-9K for 70K of those 160K and it shifted like new when it was traded.

 

[Oro_O]

The ZF 8-speeds in Rams do quite well.

I've always had a rule about not buying automatic transmission from the same people who built the Hindenburg...

If after so many decades of tremendous mediocrity, if ZF has gotten their act together recently, that would open up some used car possibilities for me.

Aisin FTW, baby! So glad you can get them in European cars nowadays.

 

[Skippy722]

Those are recent are they?

I managed 220k out of a Acura v6/5speed auto and it was fine when sold. Only 4 fluid changes.

The ZF 8HP has been around since 2008, first used on the BMW 7 series, Chrysler started using them in 2012.

 

[nthach]

If after so many decades of tremendous mediocrity, if ZF has gotten their act together recently, that would open up some used car possibilities for me.

The 4HP/5HP are meh efforts from ZF. But after driving The Critic’s new truck with the 8HP and being a passenger in many BMWs with an identical gearbox I’m impressed. The 9HP used by Honda and FCA still has a few issues to work out. The 6HP seems less problematic than their earlier efforts.

ZF is huge in heavy-duty and marine transmissions - Ford uses their manual gearboxes, boats use their disc-drive gearboxes and buses can be had with with a ZF Ecomat/Ecolife/ASTronic trans.

 

[sloinker]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the powerglide yet.

 

[OilMagnate]

I got 190 000 out of two different 4T65E HDs.

Color me impressed. L67 or L32? No way it was an LS4. What kind of maintenance schedule?

 

[ls1mike]

Color me impressed. L67 or L32? No way it was an LS4. What kind of maintenance schedule?

Not an LS4, I don't think that is possible, one L67 and one 1998 N/A Bonneville. It happens. I did pan drops and filter changes every 30 to 40,000 miles. I know other people who have done it as well . The made so many and they were not great, but you really only hear about the bad ones. I know a few people on here who have posted with over 150,000 on their 4T65E.

 

[UncleDave]

Turbo 400

Ive seen them hold 1000 HP big blocks.

 

[doublebase]

I had an Aisin in my 2013 Equinox. It was the only thing that gave me an issue. Pump seal failed. 4l80E was a good unit. Current 6L90E is pretty good.

Most likely because although it was an Aisin, it wasn’t an “Aisin”...it was a GM spec‘d Aisin. GM and other manufacturers work with transmission companies to build their transmissions, some car companies are notorious for changing the specs to save money. That very transmission may be in three other car manufacturers vehicles, built differently, built better, built cheaper, etc.

 

[doublebase]

Toyota 8 speed Aisin. Love those things.

 

[ls1mike]

Most likely because although it was an Aisin, it wasn’t an “Aisin”...it was a GM spec‘d Aisin. GM and other manufacturers work with transmission companies to build their transmissions, some car companies are notorious for changing the specs to save money. That very transmission may be in three other car manufacturers vehicles, built differently, built better, built cheaper, etc.

It was a manufacturing mistake. Certain ones were recalled due to the seal being installed backward at the factory so under pressure it would leak. It did not affect all of them. I got on of the ones with the seal installed backward.

 

[clinebarger]

Turbo 400

Ive seen them hold 1000 HP big blocks.

I've built some 2 speed TH400's that take 1800+ HP, Though only a few parts in them are OE.

 

[UncleDave]

I've built some 2 speed TH400's that take 1800+ HP, Though only a few parts in them are OE.

No doubt.

My buddy Alexi's compound super turbocharged rig puts out about 1500 though a modded 400.

Right about 20 min he gets into it.

 

[Saabist]

The 4HP/5HP are meh efforts from ZF.

The 4HP in my Saab 9000 is OK, but nothing special. The original did last a couple of decades and over 300,000 miles though so it's hard to really complain too much about it.

 

[OilMagnate]

Not an LS4, I don't think that is possible, one L67 and one 1998 N/A Bonneville. It happens. I did pan drops and filter changes every 30 to 40,000 miles. I know other people who have done it as well . The made so many and they were not great, but you really only hear about the bad ones. I know a few people on here who have posted with over 150,000 on their 4T65E.

Yep. I buy that story then. I assume the Bonnevillle was either a non-HD or an HD was swapped into it? I always wondered what the highest mileage all-original (with the exception of replacement fluid & filters) HD was hooked to an LS4. I have no doubt there are some 130's out there. I'd guess there are a few 150's out there. 170's? I'm not a betting man...

 

[ls1mike]

Yep. I buy that story then. I assume the Bonnevillle was either a non-HD or an HD was swapped into it? I always wondered what the highest mileage all-original (with the exception of replacement fluid & filters) HD was hooked to an LS4. I have no doubt there are some 130's out there. I'd guess there are a few 150's out there. 170's? I'm not a betting man...

Bonneville was a commuter...lots of highway miles. Just a normal N/A 3800 and non-HD 4T65E.

 

[john_pifer]

No transmission expert, but I have to chime in and praise the Aisin A750E in my 2WD V6 Tacoma. 234,000 miles and running like new. I did a full fluid swap twice - @100K and 200K.

The fact that this unit was and is also used in several V8-powered applications (Tundra, Sequoia, 4Runner, GX, to name a few) gives me a lot of confidence that it’ll last a very long time in my lightweight, V6 application.

 

[DGXR]

The ZF S6-40 6-speed manual in my Corvette is nearly legendary for its toughness. It's a German design. The Aisin automatic in my Tacoma is also well known for reliability. The same trans is used in more powerful models such as Landcruiser, Supra, etc.

 

[SOHCman]

220K on a Honda 5 speed auto. Anyone have a high mileage Mazda trans?

 

[kstanf150]

I've built some 2 speed TH400's that take 1800+ HP, Though only a few parts in them are OE.

As a diehard Ford guy !! I admit
No manufacture has made a better high performance tranny than GM
The Powerglide the TH350 and TH400
are King in the racing world !!!