Automatic transmission fluid and filter change

[dakotanut]

I have a 2015 1500 5.7L Hemi. Yes the tick has been fixed. Plugs were changed also. I have been told it's not needed to change the tranny fluid. If it's got a filter then it probably does. I've seen some videos on YouTube but it all seems different. Figured I'd ask yalls opinion. I have over 100k on it. I think it needs to be done. What am I looking at? What are the tips and tricks and info on doing this? Do I need a new pan with a replaceable filter? Does it have a replaceable filter already? What fluid do I use? Sorry for all the questions but these vids make it seem like all the transmissions are different. Thanks for the help.

 

[crash68]

The transmission pan is the filter. The Mopar fluid for these transmissions is equivalent to the ZF 8 speed transmission fluid. Some people use the Valvoline MaxLife trans fluid.
Procedure for filling/checking the transmission fluid level:

picture thanks to @Wild one

 

[EdGs]

I went with OE pan/filter and fluid on my '15, but as @crash68 said, some on here have used Valvoline fluid with good results. Some have even went to an aluminum pan as well. Your call.

Heres what my 8spd fluid looked like at 108k miles:


RockAuto was cheapest for me for the OE pan and fluid.

May your repairs go smoothly.

 

[EdGs]

Also, you will have to raise the rear of the truck about 10 inches to get the transmission pan rail level.

Make sure you crack the fill plug loose BEFORE you open the drain plug on the pan. Hercules was on the line when my trans got filled, that sucker was tight - I had to use a cheater to break it loose.

I drained about 4-1/2 quarts out, and the fill took about 5-1/2, just FYI.

Fill capacity is approx. 9 qts. I believe.

My 8HP70 fluid change

Hello all, D-day for my 8HP70 fluid change. 2015 Ram 1500 SLT QC 5.7L 2wd, 108K on the odo. Had the truck since Sept. '17, had 28.6K miles. Have no hitch, very little hauling by me. I try not to drive it like I stole it, but I have my moments, and it is a HEMI. Jacked up the truck, had to get...

www.ramforum.com

 

[PoMansRam]

Sorry if I missed it, but do you have the dial shifter (8spd) or the column shift (6spd). Vastly different transmissions.

 

[RedSRT4Me]

I'm at 131,000 now on the original fluid. I was told the same thing that it was lifetime fill. I don't have any abnormal issues on mine.

Trying to decide if I'll ever do it or just wait till I swap to 4x4 tranny.

 

[greg mayrhofer]

2014 dodge ram 1500 8 speed trany, change my fluid last summer 184000 km ,original fluid and it was black ,replaced the tranny pan with a dorman replacement that has removalable filter. It seemed to shift and run smoother, attached is the procedure i used, and a shot of the black fluid that was drained, drained 4/12 liters and added the same.

 

[Elkman]

Diesel engine transmissions for heavy duty pickups will have an external filter. Light duty pickups do not have this need and with most manufacturers they recommend only changing the fluid and its filter when repairing the transmission.

Avoid doing a transmsission flush as this often causes problems with the internal seals and shortens the life of the transmission. Avoid the chain transmission repair shops.

Transmission components and lubricants have improved greatly over the years and what you daddy did does not apply today. Go by the owner manual recommended maintenance and service intervals.

 

[Rader]

Because I do some off-roading and cracked a plastic pan I installed a STEEL 2019 Jeep Wrangler transmission pan on my 2015 Eco-D ZF8, yes it's steel and from the weight about 1/8" thick steel. It seems to transfer heat well, if anything the fluid stays cooler than it did in the plastic pan.

Fluid capacity must be close to the same, the fluid change took exactly 6 qts. The only negative is it does not have a drain plug, that's not an issue for me, most of my past vehicles didn't have drain plugs.

The pan P/N IS 68362041AB, it has a replaceable filter, P/N 684170054AB. The filter bolts to the pan with two bolts. Filter number PA66-GF-35, Mopar sites sell the filter for about $28.00.

 

[quickster2]

Avoid doing a transmsission flush as this often causes problems with the internal seals and shortens the life of the transmission. Avoid the chain transmission repair shops.

Good advice here. My dealer and a couple of local shops near me all want to flush the transmission. There used to be TSB's out advising against this when the service interval was less and a couple of previous generation trans ago. Have not seen one recently though. I'm about to do my 2500 soon. Last time I did this on my 2003 2500 V10 I replaced the pan with a PML. Went with OEM filters as I will do again. On my Jeep Commander Hemi I used the WIX kit and kept the stock pan a few years ago. It is a messy job. Make sure you have a calibrated torque wrench. Those pan bolts don't take much abuse.

 

[Wild one]

Diesel engine transmissions for heavy duty pickups will have an external filter. Light duty pickups do not have this need and with most manufacturers they recommend only changing the fluid and its filter when repairing the transmission.

Avoid doing a transmsission flush as this often causes problems with the internal seals and shortens the life of the transmission. Avoid the chain transmission repair shops.

Transmission components and lubricants have improved greatly over the years and what you daddy did does not apply today. Go by the owner manual recommended maintenance and service intervals.

The owners manual tells you it's sealed for life,while ZF says to service the 8 speed between 80,000kms and 130,000kms (50,000 to 80,000 miles) or 8 years which ever comes first. Who are you gonna believe,the outfit who designed the transmission,or the outfit (FCA/Stellantis) who wants to sell you a new truck every couple years.Me i'm more inclined to believe ZF over Ma Mopar who only cares that the transmission lasts long enough to be off warrenty. Take the owners manual reconmended service intervals with a grain of salt,as it's wrote so the trucks last just long enough to be off warrenty,then they want to sell you a new truck

 

[MRFREEZE57]

I changed the fluid on my 8 speed around 45k miles with Redline D6, replaced pan with a PPE pan, ran about 500 miles, drain and fill, another 500 miles drain and fill so figure most of the old fluid was gone after 3 drain and fill. At the time the Redline fluid was less than half the cost of the Mopar fluid.

 

[HEMIMANN]

Define "lifetime". There are a number of threads that beat this to death. Esp. if you don't get rid of the trans oil thermostat. That thing exponentially reduces oil life from heat. Even the best transmissions don't have "lifetime" oil. The instantaneous heat from clutch engagement is over 400 degrees F. You can google it, I think I read it in Machinery Lubrication article.

 

[HEMIMANN]

I changed the fluid on my 8 speed around 45k miles with Redline D6, replaced pan with a PPE pan, ran about 500 miles, drain and fill, another 500 miles drain and fill so figure most of the old fluid was gone after 3 drain and fill. At the time the Redline fluid was less than half the cost of the Mopar fluid.

Did your trans slip with Redline, as some reported? On some other threads, Amsoil seemed to work better in the 8 speed. (disclaimer: I am not associated in any way with Amsoil. In fact, I don't use it - I use Redline, but have a 6 speed).

 

[MJCs18Diesel]

I recently changed my 2500 Diesel's transmission fluid and filter. Some auto parts stores don't keep very many transmission filter kits in stock, possibly since so many people choose to not change the fluid. I tow a mid-sized 5th wheel with mine, so I changed it around 50K. There was also a "return-line" filter inside my transmission that I had to purchase that filter separatly (not in the fillter/gasket kit). If you have never done this, don't rush, take your time and keep checking yourself; it is not that difficult. I make sure to have the wife's car on standby and set aside all day to "get it right". I also aline the new gasket along the pan and count bolt holes before I begin to make sure I have the correct gasket. Loosen the bolts so that the pan lowers toward the back to drain. It will drain for a long time too. I also clean the pan real good with brake-kleen and paint it with red "higher-temp" red paint before I put it back together. Don't forget to clean and replace the magnet. You can even write the mileage on the pan with a sharpie. Always pour the dirty ATF back into 1-gallon milk jugs so you know how much ATF came out. You can also see how "clean" it really is through the clear milk jugs. I also used the "best" brand-name ATF Advance Auto Parts had in stock. Plan to change it again at 90-100K too because you are really only changing about half of the fluid. I prefer to use Permatex non-hardening gasket sealer also, and don't skimp on sealant thickness on all four surfaces. Also tighten the pan bolts gradually, and not too tight to bend the pan. And, after driving, keep checking the level and top it off gradually over several days.

 

[Connie Mack]

change it now. I had 212,000+ before I changed mine and when they pulled the pan, they found a piece of a snap ring, NOT GOOD. had to rebuild the entire transmission, $3600.00 BTW, it was on a 03, 2500, 4x4 5.9 diesel.

 

[dakotanut]

Sorry if I missed it, but do you have the dial shifter (8spd) or the column shift (6spd). Vastly different transmissions.

Dial shifter

 

[dakotanut]

The transmission pan is the filter. The Mopar fluid for these transmissions is equivalent to the ZF 8 speed transmission fluid. Some people use the Valvoline MaxLife trans fluid.
Procedure for filling/checking the transmission fluid level:
View attachment 492434
picture thanks to @Wild one

So this is for after I've changed everything and have filled it back up?

 

[dakotanut]

So how do I know what pan to get for my truck?

 

[Atcer2018]

So this is for after I've changed everything and have filled it back up?

Yes those instructions are the final fill and check procedure. As another poster noted make sure you can get the fill plug out before you drain the pan. Once you crack the seal on the fill plug drain the pan via the plug on the bottom of the pan. Remove the old pan, yes there will be quite a bit of fluid still in the pan so protect for a small mess. Install the new pan and filter if you don’t go OEM as the OEM pan has the filter built in. Make sure the old orange/pink sealing ring for the filter is removed or the new filter won’t seat correctly. Torque pan to specs and remove the fill plug. Fill the pan till the new fluid begins to run back out of the fill hole. Replace the fill plug then follow the instructions provided by crash68/wild one. Note what others have stated that the transmission pan rail needs to be level per the instructions. Personally I skipped the step about shifting the transmission to second gear as I level my transmission by parking on an incline instead of raising the rear wheels off the ground. I’ve changed my fluid twice and skipping the second gear **** does not appear to have effected the procedure. I got 5 1/2 quarts out and following the instructions without the second gear engagement put 5 3/4 quarts back in both times.