what is you favorite GM auto trans

[tinman]

I lost my transmission today so I thought a poll would be prudent at this time  :ehh:

[bluenote]

I know there have been some "glitchy" problems with the allison that several of you have heard of.  There were some programming issues, and generally, I think they have been addressed.  I think the dmax/allison combo is incredible.  Very fast, very powerful, and made for the towing abilities I bought it for.  Although F**d and D**ge are trying to come up with a more viable option for automatics with their diesels, they'll need to make huge leaps to surpass the allison.

[carguru]

As with anything new, it takes a little time to work all of the kinks out, but the Allison is one of the first true, serious heavy duty transmission for a heavy duty truck.  Everyone else has always mated a beefed up light truck transmission to a heavy duty engine for their heavy duty trucks.  I just wished that the 1500's had the 4L80E instead of the 4L60E.

[Jpshostr]

Have been well pleased with the two 4L80Es we've had.  No problems with either one.  Allison holds lots of promise, but until they get the programming issues sorted out it'll have to wait for my vote.

[Kansas Kid]

This one was a pretty easy vote for me.  4L80E got my vote all the way, didn't even give a thought towards voting for the Allison.  Its going to be several years before they get the issues with that trans fully worked out.  So until they can get it to hold OD with heavy loads in tow (and I don't mean some dinky 7,000lb trailer that doesn't make much wind resisitance), actually put 5 forward gear selectors to choose from, and make it a little more reasonable on price, the 4L80E gets my vote.

 

btw, has anyone ever priced one of those Allisons out for a non-warrenty replacement?  I know I wouldn't want to pay for that, talk about some $$$.

[Colorado Kid]

What about...

 

Dynaflow?

 

Hydramatic?

 

Super Turbine?

 

TurboGlide?

[Import Hater]

Out of those, you can't beat the Allison.  I drove one a Duramax/Allison a few months ago and even brand new right off the lot, it shifts smoother than my 4L60E.

 

But another REALLY nice tranny that GM makes is the 5-speed auto that they've been selling to BMW.

 

Rob

[CMNTMXR81]

Kansas, I don't understand your logic here.

 

You voted for a 4L80E that's pretty much maxed out above 7,000lbs of trailer weight over a transmission that is well capable in EXCESS of those amounts because A) it hasn't proven itself B) It slips out of OD when pulling heavy weight and C) Because you can't manually select 5 gears in an automatic transmission?

 

I just don't see the logic pattern.  4L80E's are nice trans, but unless you beef up the valve body's internals, there is no way it's going to handle 16,000lbs out back like an Allison can regardless of whether it's slipping out of OD and can't manually select 5 ratios.  As to it needing to prove itself, Allison has been around a LONG time, I don't know what all they need to prove.

 

We have yet to see an Allison that is used by landscaping and construction companies come back to be fixed or replaced.

[Kansas Kid]

CMNTMXR81, I don't really know why I am bothering to reply to this as my opinion is obviously wrong, and yours is right.

 

First of all, you mention the 4L80e only being rated to tow around 7000lbs before it is maxed out and can't understand why I would pick it over a much higher rated automatic.  The main reason being, is if I am regularly going to be towing over 7000lbs, I do not want an automatic transmission.  I don't care who makes, manuals are better suited for towing heavy loads (once again my opinion)

 

As for the shifting in and out of OD when towing loads, yes I feel that is a valid concern.  Is there any reason for the transmission to shift into D at every little rolling hill when towing a load the motor can obviously handle in OD.  You can't tell me that shifting between 4th and 5th all day long is good for the transmission, or is it fun to drive something that can't make up its own mind what it should be doing.  And you can't do anything to fix it either, because the next step down on the shifter is 3rd.  Don't think it is a problem, go ask the guys on the diesel page if they like towing with the cruise control on with there Allison tranny.....

 

I could honestly care less how long Allison has been around, this is only the second year this transmission has been in GM pickups.  It has plenty of quirks that need to be worked out like not shifting at all, going into limp mode, the shift happiness when towing.

 

Like I said in my original reply, give the engineers two or three more years to work on this package and it will be great.  Until then, I still think the 4L80e is the best performing GM automatic right now.

[CMNTMXR81]

Whoa, where did I say I was right and you were wrong?  Please answer me that.  I was simply asking for your logic.

 

For reference I've had about 15,000lbs on mine three times now and have never witnessed the "gear hunting" you seem to have experienced.  I agree about the manual thing, but this isn't a question as to which was better.  It was strictly a comparison between the 4L80E and the Allison.

 

Also, so far with nearly a year and a half to two years that the Allison has been out, I can recall only ONE coming back to the dealership for service.  I understand that they TRULY haven't proven themselves timewise in this particular application but after nearly two years you'd think a pattern would've developed if there were common service problems.  5 years down the road they aren't all the sudden gonna grenade on you and come back!

 

Don't know what you're getting so pissy about, just asking to explain why you'd take a 4L80E over an Allison for heavy tow situations.

[TheScaryGuy]

Bah, auto's aren't any fun at all.  They all stink!

[gandolphxx]

The 4L80E is one #### of a transmission - takes a lot of abuse and keeps on truckin - now to kick it up with a Yank and Transgo and see how it holds up

[hilly]

I still like the old three speed automatics,never had a problem.My 98 ck1500 has the four speed auto which shifts up after moving only about 20 feet,i guess thats o k if you have a load on but when the truck is empty it`s not necessary.It would be fun to take out a three in the tree again!

[MarkD]

Although I do not now have one (GMC 1500=4L60E), I like the 80E best. From what I hear, the power loss to an Allison is tremendous.  That would be my only complaint.

[Shaners]

I've been very impressed with the shift quality and overall abilities of the 4L80E in my HD.  This tranny with 4.10 gears and the 6.0L is a great combo.  It seems like I'm always in the right gear, and with the tow/haul button pressed it does a fine job under load.