4r100 life question

SmokeyHaze · Apr 18, 2016

Hey guys, I've looked and searched and have read many threads about pushing the stock trans, and I personally know 3 people with over 300k miles on stock 4r100's. But I'm curious on first hand experiences with how hard some of you might have driven or pushed your trans and how low it has lasted.

My truck has the stock 4r100 and I am the second owner. The first older gentleman who owned it babied it and had a Banks transcommand on since 2001 around 12k miles. I bought it with 120k and yanked it in favor for a Hydra that adjusted line pressure in the tunes and a John Wood valve body. I know every truck has its differences, just curious how long some have lived pushing them a little. For how many miles and what mods. I run a 80 performance tune. Don't launch it but do drive aggressively at times. Thanks

wiseguy · Apr 18, 2016

I have owned a lot of ford trucks over the years never had tone of luck with the e4od or 4r100 my 2000 f350 drw crapped out under 3&36 warranty it had never pulled a trailer. the ford reman lased till just under 100,000 k ended up selling it just after. Also had several obs f super duties most only lasted about 100k my f450 chassis usually lasted 75-100k had one unicorn went over 400k dont know why

DEEZUZ · Apr 18, 2016

I'm over 200k and the truck has bend lifted with 37s most of its life. Before it got to me it had crappy boxed tunes.

Still hits strong but I do believe a rebuild is soon

weekendwarriorfsw32 · Apr 18, 2016

2001 with 240k on on it, Dp tunes since 100K and at 150K got 238/80's, 38R, JWVB and thats it. 240k and still kicking.

SmokeyHaze · Apr 19, 2016

weekendwarriorfsw32 said:
2001 with 240k on on it, Dp tunes since 100K and at 150K got 238/80's, 38R, JWVB and thats it. 240k and still kicking.

That's pretty good! Thanks for the responses guys. Id like to upgrade injectors before too long, but didn't want to strain the trans too much. I only wanted 160/30 max, but glad to see some holding on strong with way more

sqrlgtr · Apr 19, 2016

145,000 and far as I know the only thing that's been done to mine is the jwvb that i just installed a couple months ago.btw I consider that's one of the best things I've done to my truck.the shifting on my truck absolutely stunk.200% better now.anyway I know of several boys that's making alot more power than me still on thier stock trans.I wouldn't be afraid at all to go 160/30 sticks on my stock trans.
sqrlgtr

PABowhunter · Apr 19, 2016

180,000 on mine. As far as I know it's all original. I bought the truck with 147,000 and put GH tunes and a BTS valve body in right away.

The last 25,000 or so have been with 250/100 injectors and a 468 FMW turbo.

Tuning and driving characteristics play a big role.

Sterling B. · Apr 19, 2016

I'm 3rd owner of my truck and currently at 325900 miles. 2nd owner had it from about 120K to 270K and hadn't touched the trans, but added a DP Tuner and 6637 early-on. Still going strong. Unless the original owner rebuilt/replaced it, it's all original.

TyCorr · Apr 19, 2016

It could be. My 225k mile stocker worked great until i added larger injectors and a valve body. Then i had heat issues. Instead of buying a big cooler I got a hd rebuild before it went.

SmokeyHaze · Apr 19, 2016

TyCorr said:
It could be. My 225k mile stocker worked great until i added larger injectors and a valve body. Then i had heat issues. Instead of buying a big cooler I got a hd rebuild before it went.

How do you like the HD? Once again, I appreciate the responses. It's nice to see how far some have lasted and through what.

TyCorr · Apr 19, 2016

I dont have "thee" hd. I had a heavy duty trans built. My buddy mitch has it now. I parked my truck and his had a bts in it and it broke. They didnt give him a time line so after two months he was looking for one. Its a stg2 from twisted diesel. It was fine behind my 250/200s and he runs 175/80s with it.

DEEZUZ · Apr 21, 2016

Is it worth it to add a JW valve body to a high mileage trans? Will it help the life expectancy?

sqrlgtr · Apr 21, 2016

CTC DEEZUL said:
Is it worth it to add a JW valve body to a high mileage trans? Will it help the life expectancy?

I put one in mine at 143k and its honestly like a different truck..

DEEZUZ · Apr 21, 2016

sqrlgtr said:
I put one in mine at 143k and its honestly like a different truck..

Awesome. I might do this along with a tune revisions. My 1-2 is kinda elongated

ToMang07 · Apr 21, 2016

I just replaced mine this past fall after 140,000 miles. Given, I drive it HARD, tow a bit with it, and plow my (long) driveway all winter, but even then, IMO it shouldn't have failed. (Mods in sig, essentially stock)

I did a lightly upgraded transmission, with a triple disc torque converter, and a much lowered stall speed, and a shift kit, as well as upgraded clutch packs, and it is a night and day difference. (Had the truck for a little over 50k miles.)

Honestly, I've even experienced better mileage with this transmission. Absolutely worth the TC/VB upgrades, IMO. Wish I did it sooner, tranny might have gone 200k if I did. :doh:

rosspulliam · Apr 21, 2016

I don't drive mine terribly hard, but 2002 with 240k and it's still kicking. It runs pretty hot in the Texas summers making me concerned for how much life it has left. For the last 2 summers running around empty it will get up as high as 190 or so and just stop there and not get any hotter. It's definitely hotter than what it used to run as I remember it.

I've had the truck since 2005/65k miles and am pretty confident the trans is untouched. I know I've never touched it other than the change the fluid and the filter. I do run Beans tunes.

dmd · Apr 21, 2016

Smoked mine at 140k. Should have added a valve body with the other upgrades on the motor. Was pulling a 10k trailer two states away. Turned the chip down, flushed the old fluid and got home.

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TyCorr · Apr 21, 2016

ToMang07 said:
I just replaced mine this past fall after 140,000 miles. Given, I drive it HARD, tow a bit with it, and plow my (long) driveway all winter, but even then, IMO it shouldn't have failed. (Mods in sig, essentially stock)

I did a lightly upgraded transmission, with a triple disc torque converter, and a much lowered stall speed, and a shift kit, as well as upgraded clutch packs, and it is a night and day difference. (Had the truck for a little over 50k miles.)

Honestly, I've even experienced better mileage with this transmission. Absolutely worth the TC/VB upgrades, IMO. Wish I did it sooner, tranny might have gone 200k if I did. :doh:

Plowing and 35s is the recipe for trans rebuilds. I like my big tires and **** but ill never do that to a dedicated plowtruck again. Ill stick with 33s or stock sized.

And there are guys who could roach a stocker in 30k miles. A tuner and daily towing I could smoke one in a year.

If a guy is worried about his trans stay with stock fueling because its a real possibility with anything over 300hp.

Sure you can toss a vb, tq c and huge cooler in it but thats 2 grand you could have put towards a trans.

Arisley · Apr 21, 2016

TyCorr said:
Plowing and 35s is the recipe for trans rebuilds. I like my big tires and **** but ill never do that to a dedicated plowtruck again. Ill stick with 33s or stock sized.

And there are guys who could roach a stocker in 30k miles. A tuner and daily towing I could smoke one in a year.

If a guy is worried about his trans stay with stock fueling because its a real possibility with anything over 300hp.

Sure you can toss a vb, tq c and huge cooler in it but thats 2 grand you could have put towards a trans.

My VB mods, Torque converter and huge cooler all ran less than 500. I thought I finally smoked my trans, but all I did was shell another flexplate.