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Thread: Life of the 4L60-E.. 170k max?

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    Default Life of the 4L60-E.. 170k max?

    I've read up on a few articles written by some journos that claim the 4L60-E Auto only lives to about 150k to 170k. They claim that despite servicing extending life, don't really expect anymore k's out of it.

    Now, there are thousands of commodores out there with this gearbox, yet on this forum its hardly mentioned of any major gearbox problems. I have known most people to get well over 200ks without any issues assuming some proper servicing. So is this just a load of bs or? Im hitting 140ks soon and while its a pretty average gearbox, all seems well.

    Just want to hear thoughts.

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    Calaber's Avatar
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    It has to be the luck of the draw. I purchased a VR Berlina with 179k on the clock in 1999 and sold it in 2005 with 335k.

    The auto had been serviced by me around each 25-30k during that time. When purchased, the car had a slight whine in the forward gears and a delay picking first after reversing out of the garage. Normally, these would be indicators of a tranny nearing the end of its life, yet it served me perfectly for 150k plus and the whine never increased during that time, nor did the first selection situation change.

    I'd heard that by 200k, they were trash but my old VR obviously hadn't been told.

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    225,000km and still going strong, no noises and still shifts quickly.
    Enjoy life or it will enjoy you!

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    mums VS wagon has 335k on it. The gearbox works like new. Seriously, i can't flaw it.
    There is no replacement for displacement!


    Soops VYII SS: http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/...-vy-ii-ss.html

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    Well, I wonder how long anyone has gone without an oil change and their gearbox is still ok?

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    The box generally is an OK unit, but I have had many issue with failing solenoids, and if stock to much play with converting in gears and clunking when putting ya foot down... I would suggest that if using the box and you are wanting anything more than it's crappy shift in gears, get yourself a corvette servo and a stage 2 shift kit for it... it'll shift gears hard and much more effiently than stock!

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    Its like anything mechanical, poor servicing and treat it hard, short service life. Maintain it and treat it with respect, extended service life.

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    mines only done 115,000k's and its playing up when changing into 4th, rev's go up for a sec or 2 befor going into gear, but only when it changes at 70kph, 75kph+ its fine, bitch of a thing.

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    Quote Originally Posted by VZ_SS View Post
    Its like anything mechanical, poor servicing and treat it hard, short service life. Maintain it and treat it with respect, extended service life.
    Never a truer sentence spoken and it not only applies to commodores.

    Funny how you have a really good run with cars when they are treated and driven with respect and properly maintained.

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    Mine was rebuilt at 150,000. Didn't exactly shit itself but came close enough for me!

  11. #11
    Peanuts Inc.'s Avatar
    Peanuts Inc. is offline the holden mechanic Peanuts Inc. ClubSport Peanuts Inc. ClubSport
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    ive seen heaps of boxes go over the 250,000 k mark, even most ex cop cars get to the 180,000 km mark, but then again that is out in the country, city driving is a bit different tho... decent sized trans coolers help extend the life of the trans aswell, servicing every 60,000 k's is a good idea too... all the little things add up to having a happy trans
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    Mine has done 225K without any servicing. I've heard that you either service them religiously or completely ignore them!

    Your mileage may vary!

    My former VS crapped itself @ 160K completely but it had been an ex cop car too.

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    My mates VR box went with 135,000 on the clock. my VY box doesn't whine, but does take a while (3-4sec) to shift from 2nd to 3rd manually, not sure if thats an ECU thing or mechanical.

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