Changed the tranny pan/fluid and transfer case fluid on my ‘16 Longhorn yesterday. 5.7 Hemi, 4x4. All fluids in the truck are Redline now. Did the differentials at Christmas time last year. Transfer case and differentials are easy. Tranny not so much.
Gotta love what the Chrysler engineers did (again) with the crossover pipe. Blocks the drain plug on the trannny pan, blocks a bolt on the side of the pan and makes getting to the fill plug a total PIA. I have a nice burn on my left arm to prove it. These are the things the YouTube videos don’t show you.
Truck had 66K miles on it at this change. Glad I did it now. Lots of gunk and grey metal on the magnets. Fluid was very dark. I don’t drive my truck hard other than an occasional WOT. I don’t tow although we are going to be pulling a small Travel Trailer. Truck shifts much better now.
Just my opinion but ZF is spot on with their service requirements. Chrysler is a bunch of BS with their lifetime fluid recommendation.
So a couple of tips:
1) Wrap the crossover and exhaust pipes by the tranny with soaking wet towels to absorb the heat when having to fill the tranny with the truck running. This will save you from burning your arm.
2) Buy a decent garden sprayer and modify it to pump the fluid in to the trans. Have a helper slowly pump while you are underneath filling and replacing fill bolt etc. You have enough to do under the truck. Ask for help.
3) The fill plug is VERY tight when first cracked. I had to use a pipe on the end of my ratchet to loosen. No reason for it to be so tight.
4) Do not attempt this at 10AM when you are taking the wife to lunch at noon. Leave your self plenty of time.
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