8 Speed 8PH70 Question

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huntergreen

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Had my truck for 2 weeks. Been working so much have not had time to give her a nice warm bath and fresh coat of wax. Once that is done a few pics will be up.

I hope this is not a wanna be life time fluid. I can't find any info in the owners manual about the service interval of the 8speed. Just the fluid type. I have only had 4 hours sleep and my eyes are so tired.

I hope other owners who know more about this transmission and have honest truthful facts can shine alot of light here.

Did a bit of research on this New Transmission! I am now so glad I bought the Ram with the 8 Speed.

I will do my first service around 25K-30K. Gives me more research time!!

Very impressive Transmission!


After more research--->I love the pedigree of this Transmission.
It is a lifetime ZF Lifeguard Fluid Fill--->Which I don't like!

Now to find out the {Correct} way to change this expensive fluid. I'm not a believer in these Fill and Forget it Fluids.

these are lifetime fill, sched service is at 150000 miles according the own man. other mfg that use the zf trans, i believe use a 75000 sched service. btw, dealers charge 1600.00 to do this service.
 

soSincerious

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16 hundred dollars?? I'd like to see a parts and labor breakdown on that estimate ...
 

Tach_tech

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16 hundred dollars?? I'd like to see a parts and labor breakdown on that estimate ...

The cost is all parts, the fluid is very expensive and you need 10ish litres. The filter is part of the pan, so that's a big chunk of the cost. I don't know the exact costs but last time we priced it out for someone it was right around that $1600 mark.
 

Pmexpert

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1600 is definitely too much. $240 for the pan/filter, you need 6litres of ZF tranny fluid, approximately $35 per liter. Procedure takes 1-1,5 hour at dealership if I remember correctly, so think it might be $600-700, not $1600 for sure...
 

Tach_tech

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1600 is definitely too much. $240 for the pan/filter, you need 6litres of ZF tranny fluid, approximately $35 per liter. Procedure takes 1-1,5 hour at dealership if I remember correctly, so think it might be $600-700, not $1600 for sure...

If we're talking OE prices it's much more than that. From Chrysler you won't the fluid and the pan/filter for 240. last time I changed a valvebody on one it took over 10L of fluid. Service manual says 10 for a service.
 

tsielski

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Good discussion here. I just took delivery of a 2017 Ram 1500, 5.7, with the 8HP70. After crawling around under the new Ram, noticed that the plastic 8-speed trans pan has the exhaust y-pipe directly beneath it. In fact the drain plug on the pan is directly over the y-pipe. Doesn't even look like there's enough room to drop the trans pan without first dropping the exhaust. Hope that turns out not to be the case.
Anyone try to drop the trans pan on their hemi-Ram 8-speed yet who might know?


In any event, I agree with those who have doubts about a "lifetime fill" in a transmission. When my truck gets to the 60K mile point I'll either attempt to do this myself, or take it to a dealer and pay the piper.

tim
 

Ramped

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I had my '14 in for fluid changes last week, 47,000 miles on it. The service manager said they don't service those, but fluid is 42 bucks a quart and the filter is part of the pan, as others noted. They also said not to worry about it, lifetime fluid, allegedly.
BTW, I pulled lines on a parts truck with the 8 speed, it had around 46,000 miles on it and the fluid looked like new yet. It's kind of a clear, maybe off yellow, almost like engine oil, looked pretty good for the miles.
 

huntergreen

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1600 is definitely too much. $240 for the pan/filter, you need 6litres of ZF tranny fluid, approximately $35 per liter. Procedure takes 1-1,5 hour at dealership if I remember correctly, so think it might be $600-700, not $1600 for sure...

thats exactly what i thought, but that is the price at the dealer i use. the plus side is, you only do it once. i also bought a lifetime warranty, so i hope it gets replaced before the 150000 mile mark.
 
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SyN

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I (Myself) actually did my own leg work months ago and took the effort to contact ZF themselves. The tech I talked to instructed me of the Service They recommended for this transmission. I will say this (The Lifetime) fluid idea was Rams not ZF. As well as the coolant / ATF heat exchanger.

As of late & few ideas that popped up with the conversation with the ZF tech. I added a Spin-On filter kit to my 8HP70. Along with a Very Strong Ceramic C8 grade Neodymium magnet inside the spin-on filter. As well as 4 on the outside of the filter.

Cleaner fluid at every pass will prolong the life of the expensive fluid which will help extend service intervals. Which is a win/win especially when the plastic composite pan cost over $200. Hopefully the price will drop over time.

Like I have said oh maybe 17 times or so I don't know I quit counting. I am doing basic preventive maintenance for those miles after my warranty is done/expired/out/over.
Preparation for that time when my Ram reaches 100,001 miles or that quickly approaching 5 years has past!
Since I have plans on keeping my Ram well beyond that. I will do maintenance now to prepare for Those Miles. Ram only cares about getting you through that 5 Year/100K period. For me that 5 years is Fast approaching. I don't even have 20k miles on my Ram yet!

Don't you all fret over my maintenance on my 8HP70. We will be just fine.

One thing to remember:
Just because someone else thought of it and is doing it (with outstanding results)
Even though YOU didn't think of it (OR) are not doing it--->Does not mean it's wrong!

There is a very good chance when my 5 years comes and goes my Ram will barely have 40k miles on her. There for that puts a lot of future miles going foreword with Zero warranty. Yup I'm doing the right thing!

My future plans as of today are:
At the 25K mile mark replace the spin-on ATF filter / fill filter w/Red Line D6).
At the 50,000 mile mark drain the pan and refill with Red Line D6 and change out the spin-on ATF filter.
At the 100,000 mile mark drop the pan and replace. And refill with Red Line D6 / replace the spin-on ATF filter / fill filter with Red Line D6.
Each new spin-on ATF filter will get a New Ceramic C8 magnet inside.
 

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Hipps2000

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I agree...can you post a link of the products used here. I am keeping my ram as well and have just done a coolant flush 3 years 21000 miles when I changed thermo to 180. When I upgraded to LSD I also changed the rear end diff fluids. I would also like to protect tranny. A filter and magnets are just added protection!
 
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Boosted Motorsports

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Any news on this subject?

My 2014 Ram with HEMI & 8HP70 has about 93k miles on it.

Still shifts great but am wondering if I should be trying to:
A - Leave it alone
B - Drain fluid & Fill with new fluid from mopar
C - Drain fluid, replace pan with filter, fill with new fluid from mopar
 
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SyN

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O'Malley: Only you can answer these questions!
Most would be scared and just Say: Leave it alone.

My Question to U is: How many more years do U plan on being the owner of this same Ram?

If 1 or 2 more years? I would honestly say just save your money & drive it! They say it is full for life fluid, I will pretend to be brainwashed and ignore all service that probably should have been done already.

If you say: For many more years to come with many more miles accumulating very rapidly!
I would honestly say with a straight & serious face you might want to shake that $$$ Tree today!
We need to spend a very large amount of it on a Pan/Filter & Expensive Fluid!

Most 8HP70 owners would honestly ignore my thoughts/opinions! Which is perfectly fine! I will still be driving this very same Ram in 5-10 years. Also you half to understand where this is all coming from.
I am not one of those gullible/naïve owners who believe just by installing a CAI: I can gain 10 to 20 more horsepower at the rear wheels.

Here are my next 2 projects scheduled for my 8HP70 @ the 50K mile mark.
I will have the drivers side exhaust moved from below the pan & rerouted.
Then install the New Pan & Filter & Refill with RL D6 & replace my spin-on transmission filter again. (My first filter change will be at 25K miles!)

New Pan:
http://www.pacificp.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_143&products_id=695
 

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clh1220

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I don't get changing that fluid that early. It's lifetime fill no service is required. I have the max care lifetime warranty. All I have to do is go by Chrysler service manual. Antifreeze is 100k transfer case is 120k. Inspect differential for leaking.
 
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SyN

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I don't get changing that fluid that early. It's lifetime fill no service is required. I have the max care lifetime warranty. All I have to do is go by Chrysler service manual. Antifreeze is 100k transfer case is 120k. Inspect differential for leaking.


If you don't get it! You have nothing to worry about then!

The service manual is only a guideline it is not the Bible.

I am basically doing in a roundabout way, only 10,000 miles less exactly then what the ZF tech told me to do.
By the way ZF is the creator/designer/builder of this transmission not Chrysler/Ram.

Also after seeing all the fine metal shavings within Shawns 8HP70 plastic pan only after 40K miles. I know I'm doing the proper service @ 50K miles. As well as a Huge added benefit by adding the Spin-On filter kit. (By the way as of today there has been not 1 issue! No Leaks/No Drips/Temp/PSI issues!) Sorry to disappoint those who were hoping.

I basically call it Preventive Maintenance! Most today don't & will never get it or understand it! No worry to me! I can only control so much.
I also enjoy it & feel good doing it. Most don't even like getting their hands dirty.
 
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Boosted Motorsports

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O'Malley: Only you can answer these questions!
Most would be scared and just Say: Leave it alone.

My Question to U is: How many more years do U plan on being the owner of this same Ram?

If 1 or 2 more years? I would honestly say just save your money & drive it! They say it is full for life fluid, I will pretend to be brainwashed and ignore all service that probably should have been done already.

If you say: For many more years to come with many more miles accumulating very rapidly!
I would honestly say with a straight & serious face you might want to shake that $$$ Tree today!
We need to spend a very large amount of it on a Pan/Filter & Expensive Fluid!

Most 8HP70 owners would honestly ignore my thoughts/opinions! Which is perfectly fine! I will still be driving this very same Ram in 5-10 years. Also you half to understand where this is all coming from.
I am not one of those gullible/naïve owners who believe just by installing a CAI: I can gain 10 to 20 more horsepower at the rear wheels.

Here are my next 2 projects scheduled for my 8HP70 @ the 50K mile mark.
I will have the drivers side exhaust moved from below the pan & rerouted.
Then install the New Pan & Filter & Refill with RL D6 & replace my spin-on transmission filter again. (My first filter change will be at 25K miles!)

New Pan:
Heavy-Duty Aluminum Transmission Pan - Ram 1500 (ZF 8HP70) [228053000] - $329.99 : Pacific Performance Engineering, Innovations in Diesel Performance

Hey thanks for the link to that pan. These guys are actually only about 15min from me. I changed the fluid myself on my 09 hemi but that was pretty straightforward with just dropping the pan, swapping two filters and reinstalling.

I've actually serviced VW/Audi transmissions with this same setup with a mechatronics unit. No dipstick and using a scantool to monitor trans temp. A bit more of a process but still doable so not worried about tackling it.

The biggest thing with these newer transmisions are the mechatronics units. If it is anything like the VW/AUDI versions this unit has numerous solenoids and is the valve body that is sold as an entire unit (usually $2500+) They wont sell you just one solenoid if it goes bad. Ze Cherman Engineering :roflsquared:
 
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SyN

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^^ anything you can add within this thread about this transmission you are more than welcome.

Even a step-by-step service of this transmission would be kind of cool to get a few ideas and thoughts on how to within these walls.

You are more than welcome to share yours this is what I created this thread for.

I have kind of a small spiral notebook of step-by-step instructions on how I'm going to service my transmission. Most of my info come from Shawn's video which he proved he was doing it properly because he had over 200,000 miles on he is with no issues ever.
 
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clh1220

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If you don't get it! You have nothing to worry about then!

The service manual is only a guideline it is not the Bible.

I am basically doing in a roundabout way, only 10,000 miles less exactly then what the ZF tech told me to do.
By the way ZF is the creator/designer/builder of this transmission not Chrysler/Ram.

Also after seeing all the fine metal shavings within Shawns 8HP70 plastic pan only after 40K miles. I know I'm doing the proper service @ 50K miles. As well as a Huge added benefit by adding the Spin-On filter kit. (By the way as of today there has been not 1 issue! No Leaks/No Drips/Temp/PSI issues!) Sorry to disappoint those who were hoping.

I basically call it Preventive Maintenance! Most today don't & will never get it or understand it! No worry to me! I can only control so much.
I also enjoy it & feel good doing it. Most don't even like getting their hands dirty.

The service manual is not just a guide line. You can do more that's up to you. I do all the work on my vehicles except for warranty work. With the lifetime warranty it is a waist of time and money messing with the 8 speed. :favorites13:
 
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SyN

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The service manual is not just a guide line. You can do more that's up to you. I do all the work on my vehicles except for warranty work. With the lifetime warranty it is a waist of time and money messing with the 8 speed. :favorites13:

I can tell as always you are one that thinks he is always right!
That's ok! (Golf Clap!!)

One thing to attempt to think about!~~~>Talking about a total waste of money 10x the cost of My Preventive Maintenance Plan! Millions of Millions of Fine Folks every minute of every day waist $$$$$$$$$$$$$ on Smoking/Abusing Drugs/Dipping/Vaping I can go on & on! All spending so much more $$ then I.
I am so thankful my (Waisting Money LoL!) has a huge benefit compared to those other Millions!

I am so thankful my Waisting is only a 16th of theirs!
Not to even mention the owners who spend literally Thousands of $$$$$$$$ on Huge Fancy Wheels/Tires/Lifts/Lowering Kits/LED lights/HID Kits/Engine Mods to gain 20-40 extra RWHP/CAI/Sound Systems for inside their Rams! On & On & On!

My Waisting (LoL!) $-->(Total so far as of today $86.37) on my 8HP70 can't even scratch the surface of what these owners spend! Yup I am (Indeed) the Waistful One!

I do want to apologize now for Waisting more $$$$$$ in my near future for installing a Level Kit & installing NEW 20x10 Chrome wheels & very expensive set of 305/55R20 A/T tires!
 
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