Hey look at JASPER tranny when you rebuild. My dad PSD auto went out at 50k, second went out at 85k. Mine went out at 100k, put a JASPER in it instead of a standard rebuild. Seriously beefed. Jasper is what the ambulances, service trucks run. Mine cost $2250 and comes with a 3 year 50k warranty.

http://www.jasperengines.com/

powerstrokincowboy, I also had the Turbo bolt problem, the 99-00 are notorius for this. They ended up replacing the turbo on mine. I love this truck and it has more power than I could ever use and I have had it loaded up pretty good. If you want info on Ford Diesels go to Ford Diesel.com This is a great BB and has a ton of info on the Powerstrokes.

I got this info,first hand from Seaview Chev in Lynnwood. When the Duramax first came out the Aluminum heads didn't handle the heat the way they thought they would and had lots of overheating problems.I thought that it was a well known problem?

Since then a friend bought an 02 Duramax and have towed their 39' fifthwheel all thru the states and have had no heat problems. They are also very pleased with the Allison tranny.

Fellas-
Torque doesn't kill trannys, heat does. Torque breaks parts and if you didn't hear a loud bang and things stopped moving then heat killed it. The number one thing you can do to increase the life on an auto trans is called "lubegard". Every trans shop I have ever known uses it and it works. I have run it in everything from honda cars to my cummins dodge. My race car went through 6 "so-called" race trannys before I put a stock 727 with lubegard in it. After that it went 25,000 miles, around 400 of those a 1/4 mile at a time and used over 300 bottles of nitrous oxide without a single problem. My dodge has 190k on it and lubegard since the day I bought it and not a single problem. It also cures the Ford power steering morning sickness that is so common. Run the largest trans cooler you can find and pour in lubegard and forget about your trans forever. Theres my three cents.
Lance

Did a GOOGLE search for Duramax and came up with some good info. Primarily a site called "The Diesel Page.com

Much info on Duramax and Allison including discussion pages by current owners talking about problems.

I am driving my second Cummings Dodge with 5 speed manual and have never had a problem with Tranny or clutch. The latest one had a crank seal leak but thats the only problem in like 160,000 miles of driving and towing.

I have been hearing about problems with the chevy but its been the tranny. Its funny, Chevy sells ya a Duramax for 38,000 bucks and the first thing you see when you look at it from the side is the cheap ass emergancy brake cable running along the frame on the outside... the frame that is covered with big white stickers of some sort.

Lubeguard (Lubeguard?) sounds like good stuff. Any info on it would be greatly appreciated.
Is it carried in most auto parts stores?
Is it a transmission oil additive?
Is it only for manuals
or
is it compatable w/hydraulic fluid/automatics?

Thanx fer the info

Sincerely
Roger

I know it is not snake oil ...it is good stuff and it will take the heat and not burn up.. I found it at B&B Auto part's in Redmond

I own a '99 Ford F250 4X4 Turbo Diesel, extended cab w/8' bed. 90K on it. No tranny problems.
Just don't ask about why all the leaf springs fell out.
Oh, and I'm waiting for the brake power-assist to come in from California. Then the pedal will quit coughing fluid all over my shoe when I use the brake.
But....I just luv that truck.


diana