4l60 power flow question

[ken1mod]

Gentlemen,

 

In the design of many things, there are designed-in temporary or intermittent and continuous ratings.

 

My question is, in a 4l60, is third gear auhorized (designed for) continuous duty. Can one drive this transmission for 100000 miles in third if one were towing a heavy trailer? Or are some parts in the third gear power-flow fragile and designed for short term use?

 

If third is as strong as 4 th gear, it would seem that one should not buy 4.10 gears other than for off the line performance as the effect can be had in third gear without the mileage penalty of the 4.10 when not towing.

 

Any of this make sense?

 

Ken

[asilverblazer]

I think the benefit from towing in third gear is to reduce heat from shifting in and out of overdrive, and from the torque convertor locking and unlocking. The benefit of hving a 4.10 gear ration (in my case at least) would be making it easier to get heavy loads moving at slow speeds and up grades. Yes mileage would suffer at highway speeds but I wouldn't be working the truck as hard.

[ken1mod]

I compltely agree 4.10 gears make it easier to start things moving and I wish I had the 4.10s from time to time but the 4l60 does have an extremely low first gear, much lower than the 4l80 and I never have trouble getting things moving.

 

Can one buy a truck with a 4l60 and never ever put it in drive, using only 3 on the quadrant and expect completely normal transmission life, in excess of 100000 miles or is there some part of that which makes third gear fragile?

 

Ken

[redvett]

Way back in 1980 the was a transmission called 350 turbo it had no OD. Using a 4L60E in 3rd wont hurt a thing. Third is 1 to 1 ratio.