8HP70/75 Trans Fluid Never Changed? What's your miles?

Never changed your 8HP70/75 transmission fluid? How many miles do you have on your truck?

  • 50 - 100k

    Votes: 45 61.6%
  • 100K - 150K

    Votes: 19 26.0%
  • 150k - 200K

    Votes: 6 8.2%
  • Over 200K

    Votes: 3 4.1%

  • Total voters
    73

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EdGs

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I just brought my 18’ Ram to the dealer at 105k miles and asked them to do the transmission service. They said it’s not required, ever. I was surprised considering I was going to pay for it. But they said “Dodge does not recommend ever changing the fluid on the 8 speed”. Seems hard to believe
Not surprising, I called my local dealer TWICE to get a quote and schedule service. They never called me back. I was fully resigned to getting financially violated by them just to have it be done.

Not getting a callback (twice) gave me the resolve to DIY, and posts from members here gave me the confidence to do it myself.

@Wild one has posted a green instructions sheet throughout this site. Follow it.

Here's what my fluid looked like at 106K miles:
20210101_173936 (1).jpg

P.S. - NO towing or heavy hauling, either. Your truck, your call.
 

Ghost1500

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Please only participate IF YOU HAVE NEVER changed your transmission fluid and filter on your 8HP70/75.
2014 Ram 1500 4x4, 5.7L Hemi with 20,488 miles. I have not changed it yet. I don't tow or anything....

Best regards,

-Mike
 
Last edited:

Wild one

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2014 Ram 1500 4x4, 5.7L Hemi with 20,488 miles. I have not changed it yet. I don't tow or anything....

Best regards,

-Mike
You're at the 8 year mark though Mike,and ZF says change it at 8 years if you haven't hit the milege number yet.
 

Ghost1500

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You're at the 8 year mark though Mike,and ZF says change it at 8 years if you haven't hit the milege number yet.


I wasn't gonna mess with it until next summer. Spent too much on it recently already.

-Mike
 

indept

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A member of this forum, Verndiesel changes his trans fluid every 60k miles (or thereabouts) with max life. He tows large camping trailers with it for a living. I know he has over a half million miles (I recall he posted over 700k) with just fluid changes so don't worry about changing it.
Of course the dealer said no need. When it does fail they'll be happy to install a new trans when you're paying for it.
 

Swamprnr

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2017 with 165k. Trans has never been touched and shifts just like it did new.
 

Donn

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2017 w/59k miles. Not issues so far. Shifts the same as it did since it was new. I tow a 4 wheeler behind it occasionally during fall and winter for hunting.
 

JimmyO

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Today, I turned 77,777 miles, on my 2017 Laramie 1500.
 

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boblonben

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2017 with 68K, nothing ever done to it. Trans fluid looks new in it. Little towing, mostly raod travel and upper speed limits. Occasional hauling but medium to light loads. What else can one say. cheers
 

Wild one

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2017 with 68K, nothing ever done to it. Trans fluid looks new in it. Little towing, mostly raod travel and upper speed limits. Occasional hauling but medium to light loads. What else can one say. cheers
If you've never done anything to it,how do you know the trans fluid looks good.BTW what does "good" trans fluid look like,curious on how you're judging the fluids quality by looking at it
 

CamperMike

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I have around 66K miles on mine. I don't know if I'll change the fluid or not but I do tow with it often. No issues with the transmission; motor got a new LH cylinder head last year.
 

Ranhood

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My 2014 bought new-to-me with 19k miles, now has 137k miles. Tow a 23' boat up the mountains all thru summer. No change but in the back of my mind. Also, I have to ask... if tranny is not shifting well, wouldn't it be too late for a fluid change?? Just hear folks say "it's shifting well, not worried". New fluid won't fix a poorly shifting tranny.
 

Dusty

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In years past, and on any Chrysler-built transmission model I can recall, there was a regular (sometimes listed as "normal service") maintenance schedule, and a severe duty maintenance schedule. My 2019 owners and service manuals do not list a severe duty maintenance schedule for the 8HP75 except:

"Fluid And Filter Changes [owner's manual]

Under normal operating conditions, [emphasis mine] the fluid installed at the factory will provide satisfactory lubrication for the life of the vehicle. Routine fluid and filter changes are not required. However, change the fluid and filter if the fluid becomes contaminated (with water, etc.), or if the transmission is disassembled for any reason."

Use of the phrase "under normal operating conditions" seems inconclusive or ambiguous at best, especially since they neither supply a definition for normal operating conditions nor furnish a severe duty schedule.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 3 June 2018. Now at 78455 miles
 

Wild one

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I just hit the 50,000 mile mark. Will be changing it with a ppe pan and maxlife in the spring.
Canadian Diesal in Alberta used to be the cheapest place in Canada to get the PPE pan.They changed their website recently,and i can't find it in their online store now,but their facebook page has their phone number listed.I'm pretty sure they still carry the ZF PPE pan,but you might have to phone them to get it.Until they get the new site sorted out,or it might be just me,being blind in 1 eye and can't see out the other,missing it,lol

 

Gero

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Canadian Diesal in Alberta used to be the cheapest place in Canada to get the PPE pan.They changed their website recently,and i can't find it in their online store now,but their facebook page has their phone number listed.I'm pretty sure they still carry the ZF PPE pan,but you might have to phone them to get it.Until they get the new site sorted out,or it might be just me,being blind in 1 eye and can't see out the other,missing it,lol


Thanks
I did order it from them during covid 2021. Paid 411.31 shipped.
 

SpaceRanger1

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I have a 2017 Ram Rebel 205k + when I did the flush and a PPE pan on my trany... Works as good as new.. Not much metal and the oil still had a green tint.
 

Dusty

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I find it interesting that many are skeptical of Ram's position that the 8HP series is good for lifetime, yet there's no skepticism of ZF recommendation for 80K fluid changes of their expensive, proprietary fluid. Seems to me that it's been just the opposite for ATF-4.

But I digress from my main point.

Recently I had scheduled to have the fluid and filter replaced in my ZF transmission as I was at the 75,000 mile mark. After the vehicle was taken in the transmission tech. approached me and asked if I was having an issue. I said "no" and that I was concerned about the condition of the fluid because of miles and because I tow about 7K, six or seven times a year.

He suggested that a health check be performed which would determine if there were any internal issues and verify the condition of the fluid. I said go ahead since I can't say I was anxious to spend the $900. He explained there were a number of checks performed with the scan tool that could determine the health of the fluid. I did specifically ask for a clutch index count, but he said there were four others that more directly analyze the fluid condition.

He came back later and gave me the condition report, as well as a small sample of the fluid. The fluid looked as green as the new stuff. So I declined the transmission service.

Later, I discovered online the recommended scan tool checks and thought I would share it with you: Gears Magazine - The ZF 8-Speed Transmission Fluid and Filter Change

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 3 June 2018. Now at 78566 miles
 
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