68RFE trans VB upgrade

jvbuttex · Aug 31, 2022

Getting ready for an oil / filter change on the 18 2500 truck approaching 30k miles. The internet can make mountains out of mole hills. But also bring things to light. Is the valve body warp issue a real concern in this group. I've read and heard alot about the VB will warp and causes lots of shifting issues. Is it worth to replace the VB with modified upgrade form the trans shops? Or just wait.

06 Dodge · Aug 31, 2022

Why spend money if its not giving you problems of any kind?

jvbuttex · Aug 31, 2022

why, because I hear the problem can turn up as low as 40k miles. My thinking is this, wont take it down just to replace it, but if I am opening up the pan, then fine swap it out. This is why I'm asking how much of a problem it is. If its not that big of a problem, then I wont, but if it happens often, my thought is prevent it from happening. Yes i know, there is some guy out there with 453,000 miles an no issues.

GsRAM · Sep 1, 2022

I understand your concern. I've heard of the VB warp issue causing the early demise of some 66 and 68rfe transmissions.

I believe sonnax makes an upgraded one that @HEMIMANN was looking into at some point if I recall correctly. They are hard to find though/ supply issues.
I don't have much info on the subject though, hopefully someone who does will post.

mtnrider · Sep 1, 2022

jvbuttex said:
.... The internet can make mountains out of mole hills.

^ There is your answer...

While there have been a few cases of this happening it's pretty rare. The overwhelming cause of all the issues you read about are self inflicted by owners modifying the truck or driving like a complete knucklehead (thinking it's a dragster)

Avoid social media for advice (FB). That platform is an absolute **** show of bad information.

Also, the scheduled maintenance on the trans is 60K for severe use, 120K for regular use so doing at 30k is way overkill. Engine oil is 15K also, anything less is a waste.

.

SouthTexan · Sep 1, 2022

I don't drag race my truck from a dead stop, however, I do(or did) roll into the accelerator at highway speeds without downshifting on a high hp tune(around 500rwhp) setting which is why my overdrive clutches were toast at 80k. If you are keeping your truck stock then I would not worry about it too much.

GsRAM · Sep 1, 2022

mtnrider said:
^ There is your answe

Also, the scheduled maintenance on the trans is 60K for severe use, 120K for regular use so doing at 30k is way overkill. Engine oil is 15K also, anything less is a waste.

.

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you on these statements without getting into the weeds about it. Your truck, your decision. If I want to invest a few hundred dollars in premature (in your stated opinion) fluid, changes, that's my prerogative. A new engine for these trucks is probably 7k plus, trans probably 5k plus. No harm can come from too frequent fluid changes, but things can be from extending things to far.

15k on an oil change, same filter in service the entire time? Not me Sir, but agsin certainly your right to care for your equipment as you see fit.

SouthTexan · Sep 1, 2022

GsRAM said:
15k on an oil change, same filter in service the entire time? Not me Sir, but agsin certainly your right to care for your equipment as you see fit.

That depends on what a person is basing this on and whether it is an opinion or there is actual data behind it. If the person is just saying they will not go that long based on subjective feeling then it is opinion. If the person is basing it on objective facts like a used oil analysis then there is actual data behind this decision.

In my case, I work for a heavy truck dealership group that has over 120 dealerships across the US and every one of them has a used oil analysis machine. I ran my oil at 5k, 10k, and 15k. Even at 15k it was still within spec. We also have data from other 6.7L Cummins engines in busses and medium duty trucks from across our network to know that 15k intervals is safe.

Understandably, not everyone has access to this kind of data to make an educated decision and would rather go on subjective feeling because it makes them feel safer about their decision.

06 Dodge · Sep 1, 2022

GsRAM said:
I'm going to respectfully disagree with you on these statements without getting into the weeds about it. Your truck, your decision. If I want to invest a few hundred dollars in premature (in your stated opinion) fluid, changes, that's my prerogative. A new engine for these trucks is probably 7k plus, trans probably 5k plus. No harm can come from too frequent fluid changes, but things can be from extending things to far.

15k on an oil change, same filter in service the entire time? Not me Sir, but agsin certainly your right to care for your equipment as you see fit.

Maybe you did not notice but OP was talking about a diesel engine not the Hemi that has a max of 8K OCI... FYI the 15K OCI for a diesel is what's listed in owners manual...

GsRAM · Sep 1, 2022

06 Dodge said:
Maybe you did not notice but OP was talking about a diesel engine not the Hemi that has a max of 8K OCI... FYI the 15K OCI for a diesel is what's listed in owners manual...

I did not. Thanks for the clarification.

jvbuttex · Sep 1, 2022

mtnrider said:
Also, the scheduled maintenance on the trans is 60K for severe use, 120K for regular use so doing at 30k is way overkill. Engine oil is 15K also, anything less is a waste.

where do you see this at. All the info i find, its 60k / 4yr. nothing about 120k miles. I would never let it go that far. Not without some testing the mid term. i test my engine oil. and would do the same if possible on the trans.

GsRAM · Sep 2, 2022

Yes, the trans is a whole nother ballgame. Diesel engines can have longer drain intervals, but regardless of mileage I never allow anything to go over a year without an oil change, generally. An old junk lawn tractor I have as a woods only mower is the only exception...lol

However, the trans, transfer case, front and rear diffs gets done every 30k or 5 yrs, whichever comes first. Same for radiator and overflow tank drain and flush.

Agsin, just my .02. To each their own.

mtnrider · Sep 2, 2022

jvbuttex said:
where do you see this at. All the info i find, its 60k / 4yr. nothing about 120k miles. I would never let it go that far. Not without some testing the mid term. i test my engine oil. and would do the same if possible on the trans.

The owners manual... I agree I would not go 120K either, I did mine at ~70k but doing it at 30k seemed a bit much but I wasn't tracking you were at 4 years with that low of miles. I put almost 25k on mine in a year Lol

I've done 15K oil changes since day 1 and had blackstone analysis done and it is more then good to go at that interval.

.

jvbuttex · Sep 2, 2022

yes @mtnrider i bought it a year ago with only 14k on the ticker. With work at home now, i dont drive much, when i do, its in a plane then rental car for work. So not quite the 20k i used to put on the old 2015 1500 ram. I am also impressed with the extension of lubrications these days. Seems oils are better based, engines are build cleaner, better tolerances, burn cleaner, and so the oils last longer. So, lifetimes get extended.

@GsRAM Im with you. i live in PNW. lots or rain in winter = moisture. add the tipple digits we have been having last 2 summers. This is why there is also a yr based change.

either way, need to find a way to get a sample out of the pan, and do a test on it. See what they say. Don't need to waste money, but dont need to push it. at $60k this needs to last a good long time. longer then the 5yr old previous truck.

SouthTexan · Sep 2, 2022

jvbuttex said:
where do you see this at. All the info i find, its 60k / 4yr. nothing about 120k miles. I would never let it go that far. Not without some testing the mid term. i test my engine oil. and would do the same if possible on the trans.

Blackstone also does transmission fluid analysis.

Transmission Fluid Analysis

GsRAM · Sep 2, 2022

jvbuttex said:
yes @mtnrider i bought it a year ago with only 14k on the ticker. With work at home now, i dont drive much, when i do, its in a plane then rental car for work. So not quite the 20k i used to put on the old 2015 1500 ram. I am also impressed with the extension of lubrications these days. Seems oils are better based, engines are build cleaner, better tolerances, burn cleaner, and so the oils last longer. So, lifetimes get extended.

@GsRAM Im with you. i live in PNW. lots or rain in winter = moisture. add the tipple digits we have been having last 2 summers. This is why there is also a yr based change.

either way, need to find a way to get a sample out of the pan, and do a test on it. See what they say. Don't need to waste money, but dont need to push it. at $60k this needs to last a good long time. longer then the 5yr old previous truck.

Maybe you could get a good siphon and flexible hose, remove the trans dipstick and pull a sample that way? I don't know how much is needed, but it's a thought. Or just drop the pan now and do the change, change both trans filters awhile and then base future service intervals from that?

I just do the service every 5yrs or 30k for the peace of mind. I could probably push it longer, but then my OCD would kick in and it would bother me... LOL.

jvbuttex · Sep 2, 2022

@SouthTexan Yup they do my oil and i did see trans also.
@GsRAM good idea, i think if this will be regular thing a new pan with a drain plug on it. I need about 8oz to fill there little bottles. I know my old 2015 Ram 1500 with that European ZF trans in it had a fill plug on the side.

06 Dodge · Sep 2, 2022

jvbuttex said:
where do you see this at. All the info i find, its 60k / 4yr. nothing about 120k miles. I would never let it go that far. Not without some testing the mid term. i test my engine oil. and would do the same if possible on the trans.

I think that the time mileage you list is either for server usage like heavy towing, police, fleet or for the RFE 66 six speed trans used with the Hemi and not the RFE68 six speed trans... My 2022 RFE68 six speed trans has a service interval of 96 month or 120K for normal usage but for server usage it drops down to 48 month or 60K...

mtofell · Sep 2, 2022

06 Dodge said:
I think that the time mileage you list is either for server usage like heavy towing, police, fleet or for the RFE 66 six speed trans used with the Hemi and not the RFE68 six speed trans... My 2022 RFE68 six speed trans has a service interval of 96 month or 120K for normal usage but for server usage it drops down to 48 month or 60K...

66RFE for my 2014 6.4 Hemi Ram the manual states 120K or 12 years. Luckily (or not... LOL) my tranny has never made it close to that long before blowing up and needing to be rebuilt (presumably with fresh fluid). Rebuilds were at 38K and 90K and I'm now at 120K.

jvbuttex · Sep 3, 2022

ok, so i found it in the manual 120k miles. Not sure If i should go that long. Yes Ram will stand behind it IF its under warranty. at 5yr old, its well out side the window. So IM guessing all these blown trannies are not from fluid issues? Just hard part failures.

68RFE trans VB upgrade

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