Transmission fluid - not to change, or run it low??

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Pat68

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I didn't know about the tilted transmission design of our vehicles. 2016 Big Horn.

Well I've had the vehicle 40,000 miles. Trouble free except for leaky shock. I feel, as does my mechanic the trans fluid should be changed. The truck is driven like a grandpa. I intentionally gun it going onto the highway, but really it lives a mild flat road life. Before I had it out was driven by an old lady.

So, the dealership and my mechanic say leveling the trans is overkill,, and they really can't do it in their shop. Crap right? I'm a decent wrench turner but I'm not doing this one in the garage and messing up this truck.

Don't rip into me but I'm faced with this reality. Don't change the fluid, which has had an easy life. Or, change it knowing the level will be low??? I love this truck but I'm at a loss here. Really stupid design.

Looking for real life experience. Those are my two choices, not change it, or know it's low.
 

ADWarlock20

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Sounds like you need to find another mechanic in your area that can get the pan level. If it only has 40k miles, you're well before the max mileage ZF recommends the fluid be changed by (I believe its around 75k max?).
 
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Pat68

Pat68

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Sorry should have mentioned 86000 miles
 
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Pat68

Pat68

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Anyone know of a shop in the mid-atlantic region that will level the trans? I guess it would need an school pit to work from
 

Midknight

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I may be missing something here? TBH I know zip about about the ZF tranny. But, when I've changed the tranny fluid in other vehicles I just drain it, look at how much come out, and put that much back in. I'll drive another 100-200 miles, and do it again.
You'll be pumping fluid in while it's pouring back out. Not gonna work. This job is barely harder than changing your oil if you have the ability to jack the rear high enough. I invested in some 6 ton big red jack stands and that did the trick for me.
 

huntergreen

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I may be missing something here? TBH I know zip about about the ZF tranny. But, when I've changed the tranny fluid in other vehicles I just drain it, look at how much come out, and put that much back in. I'll drive another 100-200 miles, and do it again.
That only works if the fluid wasn’t low to begin with on the ZF.
 

huntergreen

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I didn't know about the tilted transmission design of our vehicles. 2016 Big Horn.

Well I've had the vehicle 40,000 miles. Trouble free except for leaky shock. I feel, as does my mechanic the trans fluid should be changed. The truck is driven like a grandpa. I intentionally gun it going onto the highway, but really it lives a mild flat road life. Before I had it out was driven by an old lady.

So, the dealership and my mechanic say leveling the trans is overkill,, and they really can't do it in their shop. Crap right? I'm a decent wrench turner but I'm not doing this one in the garage and messing up this truck.

Don't rip into me but I'm faced with this reality. Don't change the fluid, which has had an easy life. Or, change it knowing the level will be low??? I love this truck but I'm at a loss here. Really stupid design.

Looking for real life experience. Those are my two choices, not change it, or know it's low.
Go to transmission shops, not just a mechanic garage.
 

62Blazer

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Is this really a serious post? Is there something I'm missing here as I can't imagine it's that hard to do this. If the trans/trans pan needs leveled to get the exact right amount of fluid can't you just jack up truck on one side (or front or back) to do this?
 

huntergreen

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Is this really a serious post? Is there something I'm missing here as I can't imagine it's that hard to do this. If the trans/trans pan needs leveled to get the exact right amount of fluid can't you just jack up truck on one side (or front or back) to do this?
No, only lifting from the back will level the trans.
 

Robert Fly

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Sounds like bull crap to me. I have never heard of the need to level the transmission from stock setting.
 

Dusty

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Nowhere in the service nomenclature does it say to level the transmission oil pan.

The service manual instructs to raise the vehicle on a level hoist, meaning that the lifting points on the frame should be equal.

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 74263 miles
 

PoMansRam

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I may be missing something here? TBH I know zip about about the ZF tranny. But, when I've changed the tranny fluid in other vehicles I just drain it, look at how much come out, and put that much back in. I'll drive another 100-200 miles, and do it again.
That's exactly how I've done it on every "sealed" transmission I've done fluid spill and fills on. If you never had a leak, the chances of it being low enough on fluid from the factory for it to cause an issue.

Regardless, I don't get the fear of doing this service on Ram 1500 ZF8. You can drive the ****-end up on ramps, or jack it up by the axle and set it on jack stands.

The position of the exhaust is more of a PITA given you have to have the engine idling to get the last bit of ATF in the transmission and the crossover pipe is close to the transmission pan. So close that you may have to loosen trans mounts and jack the trans up a bit if you want to swap pans to an aftermarket pan.
 

PoMansRam

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Sounds like bull crap to me. I have never heard of the need to level the transmission from stock setting.
All I've ever been able to figure is because of the position of the fill / level check plug on these transmissions. It's above the right rear corner of the pan, so it's essentially at a low point in the system. With the engine off, the ATF level settles out to way above the plug. You will under fill the unit slightly if the pan rail isn't mostly level. Will it underfill it enough to cause problems? Probably not.
 

David James

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I didn't know about the tilted transmission design of our vehicles. 2016 Big Horn.

Well I've had the vehicle 40,000 miles. Trouble free except for leaky shock. I feel, as does my mechanic the trans fluid should be changed. The truck is driven like a grandpa. I intentionally gun it going onto the highway, but really it lives a mild flat road life. Before I had it out was driven by an old lady.

So, the dealership and my mechanic say leveling the trans is overkill,, and they really can't do it in their shop. Crap right? I'm a decent wrench turner but I'm not doing this one in the garage and messing up this truck.

Don't rip into me but I'm faced with this reality. Don't change the fluid, which has had an easy life. Or, change it knowing the level will be low??? I love this truck but I'm at a loss here. Really stupid design.

Looking for real life experience. Those are my two choices, not change it, or know it's low.
Overthink time? My mechanic got it right first time. No issues. BG fluid exchange at 70k miles, will do every 40 hereafter. Cheap insurance.
 

Wild one

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Nowhere in the service nomenclature does it say to level the transmission oil pan.

The service manual instructs to raise the vehicle on a level hoist, meaning that the lifting points on the frame should be equal.

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 74263 miles
ZF says to level the pan rail,and so do the Chiltons and Haynes manuals.More inclined to believe ZF over Chrysler,as they're the ones who design and build the 8HP70.These are the instructions that came with my brand new 8HP70,you'll notice the only part high lighted is the part about leveling the pan rail.
 

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06 Dodge

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What’s a BG fluid exchange ? Thanks
BG is brand name of a Power flush machine, my self will never do it to my transmission, I've been told by several trans mechanics by using a flush machine it can loosen up crud in crooks and crannies that once flush is finished can find its way into valve body or other parts that can cause your trans to fail....
 
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