4.5 SEL eats torque converters

[PanzerSD]

Can and engine have a condition which causes some sort of vibration or imbalance that can cause repeated and frequent torque converter failure?

[JonL]

I know next to nothing about this but I feel like speculating nonetheless. Things that come to mind... strange torsional vibration due to a bad crankshaft damper or misfiring on one or more cylinders. Bent or cracked flex disc putting some kind of offset or cyclical load on the converter. The converter pilots in the crank, no? Perhaps the bushing is worn or somehow offcenter. Bent crankshaft. Worn rear main bearing allowing a lot of whirl. Cracked crank allowing whirl. Something not square between engine and transmission - a bent bell housing, a big burr someplace, or a dowel that doesn't seat all the way. I'd also wonder if the problem is in the transmission itself... something wearing and putting debris in the converter. Water getting in from the trans cooler. I'm sure it's something else altogether.

[PanzerSD]

Originally Posted by JonL

I know next to nothing about this but I feel like speculating nonetheless. Things that come to mind... strange torsional vibration due to a bad crankshaft damper or misfiring on one or more cylinders. Bent or cracked flex disc putting some kind of offset or cyclical load on the converter. The converter pilots in the crank, no? Perhaps the bushing is worn or somehow offcenter. Bent crankshaft. Worn rear main bearing allowing a lot of whirl. Cracked crank allowing whirl. Something not square between engine and transmission - a bent bell housing, a big burr someplace, or a dowel that doesn't seat all the way. I'd also wonder if the problem is in the transmission itself... something wearing and putting debris in the converter. Water getting in from the trans cooler. I'm sure it's something else altogether.

Since this transmission is a 'frankenstein' transmission, the TC and pump were suspect to begin with but worked better than the other TC. I found one in Calgary for $450 with 88,000 certified KM on it

[Hit Man X]

What's being "eaten" since there are no lockup clutches internally?

Sounds more like installation error on the pump snout or shims between converter and flexplate.

[PanzerSD]

The vanes have let go and piled in the pump twice.

[PanzerSD]

this time being the second time.

[pawoSD]

Must be the sheer power of the 450 V8 tearing it apart.

[Hit Man X]

No, something is not lining up. Could be the input shaft pushed too far into the converter body.

[PanzerSD]

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Must be the sheer power of the 450 V8 tearing it apart.

haha not likely