2014 RAM Laramie 88K, Never towed anything

[tommy991155]

Hi, Newbee to this forum. I want to get my 2014 transmission serviced. I want to service the transfer case as well.
I got a price of 1,100. WHAT .....
if I go to a local mechanic, Whats reasonable? I saw the pan with the filter on amazon for about 200.00 and the fluid for 150 for 8 quarts.
I m thinking 400 - 600 for service and another 100.00 for the transfer case.
thoughts ? Am i crazy. Can I go longer before I change this out. This is a light duty truck as well.
thanks in advance

 

[EdGs]

Yep, dealers gonna charge you good.

The OE pan wil run 300+ at RockAuto, dealer will be a bit more, dealer will get $30 at least for 8+9 speed fluid. No idea what the book labor time is.

A simple drain and pan/fluid/filter replace would normally use about 6qts of fluid. System capacity is 9.5 qts (I think).

There is a very specific procedure for servicing the trans fluid, IMO most dealers would get it wrong, OR try to tell you that it's lifetime fluid. ZF recommends 60k ish mile intervals on trans fluid changes, depending on severity of use.

Transfer case fluid costs a little $$ too, do there's that as well.

How mechanically abled are you to DIY?

 

[tommy991155]

Hi,
I'm mechanically sound. I don't have a lift is the issue. Amazon has the parts and lube to do the job. I'm going to find a garage (Local) , Ill buy the parts and have the garage do the labor. I have 88K on the RAM. Need to say, Runs great, No issues except for the power mirrors.. ( LOL ). I don't want the headache of the newer ones. I don't want a payment either.

Any recommendations on filter and Lube types. That would be super helpful.
-Thanks for helping.

 

[Daw14]

Look at our search function, there is lots of information on this.
What transmission is it equipped with a 6 speed or 8 speed.
This makes a big difference in how the service is performed.

 

[tommy991155]

The trans is an 8 speed.....

 

[Burla]

1100 is cheap for that service, there is a larger problem. How would you even know if it was done? No dip stick, they could take 1100 out of your pocket and not do the fix, and yes I have had that done before not on this but a brake part. The worst thing is they can do it and not get it full, how would you know? 10k miles later your trans dies BECAUSE you got it serviced. The only except able thing to do is dyi and learn how to do it right, then it will be done right. As far as fluid goes, maxlife multi vehicle is popular and lifeguard 8 as OEM clone. wildone aka Rick will post the process, follow to a t and ask questions...

rhino ramps is all you'll need.

 

[EdGs]

PPE trans pan all day long. Solid aluminum, replaceable filter. You do have to use the sleeves from the OE pan, though.

Quite a few on here have used Valvoline maxlife with no issues, but if you have warranty in play, might stick with OE pan and fluid?

 

[NETim]

You don’t need or even want a lift. What you need are tall jackstands under the rear axle to get the rear tires roughly 9” off the ground. The idea is to get the transmission as close to level as possible.

The procedure sounds intimidating but it’s actually not too bad of a job to perform. Lots of folks here have done it and both they and the truck survived.

Good link here including the famous “green sheet” which details ZF’s procedure.

 

[tommy991155]

8HP70 8 Speed trans.

AMSOIL Signature Series Fuel-Efficient 100% Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid​

Heavy Duty Cast Aluminum Transmission Oil Pan w/Filter 228053000 Compatible with 2013-2021 Ram 1500 5.7L V8/3.0L EcoDiesel Engines 2015-2021 Dodge Challenger/Charger 5.7L/6.4L V8 Engines 8HP70/75​

168.00 for 9 quarts. Amsoil works for me.
176.00 for the Pan and Filter

I figure 300 for labor, Its not even 2 hrs.

around 650.. Total/Total.... 1,100.00 is BS. I wish I had access to a lift.

 

[EdGs]

Like has been said, you need the transmission level, not the truck.

The 8 speed trans angles downward in our Rams. That's why you need to get the rear tires 8 - 9 inches off the ground, to level the transmission pan rail.

The green sheet has been copiously posted throughout RamForum. Follow it as it came with a brand new 8 speed transmission.

Gather all your supplies and such beforehand, because you have to finish the fill before the trans hits 122°F.

Crack the fill plug loose BEFORE you drain the trans.

The process seems intimidating, but it is not that bad. The hardest part for me was getting up and down during the process.

 

[DILLIGAF]

You don’t need or even want a lift.

That's the dumbest thing I read all day. Who TF wants to work on the ground like a peasant.

 

[tommy991155]

I agree. I have a Stinger Lift in my garage. My ceiling is 14 Foot. Stupid but true. The builder sold the home that way. The RAM 1500 won't fit on the lift and go up. This job is simple. I have two cars on that lift now and I refuse to crawl on the floor. My back has bad disks and I wont be able to walk the next day. Ive done rears, tyranny rebuilds and even pulled motors. I got a good feel for this task.
Ill buy the lubes and trans pans. A good decent garage can knock this out in 3 hours or less.
1100.00 is pure B/S for this labor. I would go 350 for Parts and 350 for labor. That's fair in my book. Anything more is pure robbery. Its a friggin fluid change, Not space shot...
Like this site. The Ram 1500, 2014 is not a bad truck either. My sons have F150's and GMC's.
Nightmares.

 

[Mojo88]

I agree. I have a Stinger Lift in my garage. ......

If you decide to DIY, please keep us posted. I have a big 4-post lift in my garage and I should be doing this service at some point. I've been putting it off, mainly because I'm irritated about the ridiculous process to achieve proper fluid level, when they could have just installed a dipstick. I wish someone made a replacement trans pan that included a dipstick!

 

[joesstripclub]

I've done the transmission service on an 8 speed multiple times and its really not bad, but if you have issues getting onto the ground thats a different story. You can do the service anywhere from cheap (ebay pan, couple jugs of maxlife <$100) up to OEM or PPE pan and OEM fluid. I would search around this site for the amsoil transmission fluid before you buy it, I know there were people with issues running Redline but can't remember if amsoil had any issues too. Also you should only need about 6 quarts for a pan drop.

 

[joesstripclub]

If you decide to DIY, please keep us posted. I have a big 4-post lift in my garage and I should be doing this service at some point. I've been putting it off, mainly because I'm irritated about the ridiculous process to achieve proper fluid level, when they could have just installed a dipstick. I wish someone made a replacement trans pan that included a dipstick!

It's really no different than a manual transmission or differential, just some extra steps to get everything full of fluid and up to temp. In the end you are just filling it with fluid until it runs out of the fill hole.

 

[Mojo88]

It's really no different than a manual transmission or differential, just some extra steps to get everything full of fluid and up to temp. In the end you are just filling it with fluid until it runs out of the fill hole.

haha, I've been doing this kinda stuff for a long time, and the fill procedure is a lot more complex than the 'standard' old way you reference...... wayyyyyyyyy more complex.

 

[TC]

Worst part of this DIY, IMO, is the final step...trying to get the fill plug back in without burning your hand on exhaust pipe. Wrapping the pipe with a wet rag helps, but still gets hot and ******.

 

[stenerson]

I have two cars on that lift now and I refuse to crawl on the floor. My back has bad disks and I wont be able to walk the next day. Ive done rears, tyranny rebuilds and even pulled motors. I got a good feel for this task.
Ill buy the lubes and trans pans. A good decent garage can knock this out in 3 hours or less.
1100.00 is pure B/S for this labor.

Stealerships will scalp yah. I bought the PPE pan and have done the drain and fill 3 times using Amsoil SS fuel efficient ATL. My truck seems to love it.
I should be good for at least another 60K or so.

 

[tommy991155]

I'm going to do this my self as well.. Waiting for a warm day. I have the PPE pan and the Amsoil SS.
The process is straight forward. Just crawling on the ground. Oh Well.
Thanks to all who responded. All good information.

 

[NETim]

Worst part of this DIY, IMO, is the final step...trying to get the fill plug back in without burning your hand on exhaust pipe. Wrapping the pipe with a wet rag helps, but still gets hot and ******.

Which is why I wear leather welding gloves.