Dreaded Transmission Whine

[MrSilly]

Hey folks! I’m new here and looking for some help/guidance.

I have a 2015 Tahoe with 180,000 miles. It had a tranny installed about 60,000 miles ago before I purchased it.

It has had a whining noise for about the last 15,000 miles. It sounds like an old power steering pump whine. It shifts perfect, no shudder, nothing. Just the whine. To give more detail, it does do it at idle or in any gear and changes pitch with rpm, you can’t hear it from the drivers seat unless you roll the windows down go across a bridge and get the noise back from the barriers.

I took a stethoscope all over that thing and honestly can only hear that noise from the engine oil pan, oddly enough.

I did drop the pan about 500 miles ago when I changed the engine oil and noticed the fluid was dark and looked like some friction material on the magnet, otherwise no metal chunks or anything alarming besides the fluid.

I’ve tossed around changing the torque or the torque, pump, and bell housing, or just installing a reman transmission and getting a warranty.

What do you guys think?

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

Before firing the parts cannon, let our resident transmission expert, @NickTransmissions , chime in with his thoughts and suggestions.

 

[NickTransmissions]

I took a stethoscope all over that thing and honestly can only hear that noise from the engine oil pan, oddly enough.

Why do you think the noise is coming from the transmission, given this statement?

 

[tom3]

If you're seeing flakes of friction material you're on borrowed time I suspect. But I'd run it till it quits.

 

[MrSilly]

Why do you think the noise is coming from the transmission, given this statement?

I guess because I’ve seen so many posts and videos across various platforms that say that the whine is coming from torque and/or pump.

 

[the 18th letter]

How’s the fluid level looking?

 

[MrSilly]

How’s the fluid level looking?

It’s where it should be.

 

[CMoore711]

2015 Tahoe with 180K and you’re on your 2nd 6l80e. If the transmission is the issue this 2nd unit has only lasted you about 60K.

If you’re willing to spend the coin to replace the transmission then you plan on keeping it.

If you plan on keeping it then why put another 6l80e in it?

For not much more money than a reman 6l80e and billet torque converter you can put a 10 speed in it.

2015-2020 GM SUV - Powertrain Swap Solutions

www.powertrainswapsolutions.com

 

[EddieC]

Just a fork in the road, our'08 rear end has had a whine since professionally rebuilt at 90,000 miles. It had bearing noise before rebuilding. It went back in 600 miles after rebuilding and some adjustments were made and road tested but that only moved the whine to a different road speed. We have just lived with it for about 40,000 miles now after reassurance that it was sound.

Could the noise be from the rear?

 

[RST Dana]

Trans pump, OR, maybe Idler bearing?