sorry for the delayed response.
yeah it didnt look right, the transmission appears to work correctly, no shifting issues, runs about 150-170 on the gauge, just under 200 in slow traffic but goes down quick once you get moving. i have only had it about a year, no issues to date, other than MPG, not sure what theyre supposed to get, but this one seems on the low side.
my only thought on that hole that could be a problem, and this is from a low understanding of whats going on in there, is that the fluid coming from above, exhausted from clutches or whatever, is not flowing down the designed path, instead straight back to the pan, as there are other holes to the right where i can see the same drum/sunshell, may lead to the trans running exessivly hot?
i would guess someone broke it taking that piece of S%$# filter seal out, slipped and busted it out, that seal is a PITA.
not going to take it to a shop, ill keep an eye out for a core, as at the moment i have 4500$ wrapped up in just parts for the allison in my D max, and dont need another trans on my plate if i can avoid/postpone it the truck just turned 78k miles, came from california.
off topic. what do you guys typically get for MPG in the XL denali? mine is all stock except air ride eliminated, running 265/70/17 tires, averages 10-11 mpg, best ever was 13.3
thanks for the replies
---------- Post added at 12:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:37 AM ----------
forgot to add....
nothing out of the ordinary in the pan, the magnet was covered in the usual black material i find on most trans pan magnets, wipes right off, no chunks of aluminum and the fluid didnt sparkle