2017 8 speed Transmission

[Roadwarrior1500]

Hello Everyone!! (Newbie here)
Just hit 100k on my '17 1500.
Yes I drive a lot for work....
I have asked multiple dealers regarding if the Trans fluid should be changed?
Responses: 1) It's sealed for life don't touch it. 2) Don't change it till 120k.
3) You can but you must use Mopar fluid only, no one else makes it and it's $40/qt.
Curious if anyone has changed the fluid?
Appreciate any help!!

 

[AFMoulton]

Hello Everyone!! (Newbie here)
Just hit 100k on my '17 1500.
Yes I drive a lot for work....
I have asked multiple dealers regarding if the Trans fluid should be changed?
Responses: 1) It's sealed for life don't touch it. 2) Don't change it till 120k.
3) You can but you must use Mopar fluid only, no one else makes it and it's $40/qt.
Curious if anyone has changed the fluid?
Appreciate any help!!

ZF who originally designed and built that transmission says 60k, so I’d change it. You will need a whole new pan because the filter is part of that.

Here is a video from a member who did it.



2018 2500 6.4 4x4 4.10 Amsoil SS 0w-40, Softopper
Black Rhino Armory 18x9 +12mm
Cooper St MAXX LT295/70R18

2016 Durango 5.7 AWD 3.07 Amsoil SS 4 Qts 5W-30 and 3 Qts 0W-40
1996 Nissan Altima 2.4 Amsoil SS 5W-30

 

[Raylan Givens]

I have seen a few videos on it. Valvoline Maxlife seems to be what people are saying is a cheap alternative (their website says it meets specs, who knows?)

I figure drain it, put a new filter/pan on, measure how much came out. Put the same amount back in.

Add a little Lubegard Red and you are good to go.

 

[tidefan1967]

I have seen a few videos on it. Valvoline Maxlife seems to be what people are saying is a cheap alternative (their website says it meets specs, who knows?)

I figure drain it, put a new filter/pan on, measure how much came out. Put the same amount back in.

Add a little Lubegard Red and you are good to go.

9 liters of the OEM ZF Lifeguard is $200 on eBay and that should be more than enough for the change. Four liter jugs of the Ravenol equivalent are also around $110 on eBay. Personally I've had good luck with the Maxlife going over 225K miles on two changes in the first 160K on a GM 4L60e tranny and its still going strong. Verndiesel another member on here has 500K miles on his running nothing but Maxlife so it must be some pretty good stuff.

 

[16RamHemi]

I believe Redline D6 is another option. Not sure on the pricing. Is there a better filter available for the trans pan than the oem set up? i think ppe makes an aftermarket pan but its spendy. I would think that if you can get another 80-100k miles out of the oem setup its worth it. Pan around $160, fluid around 110...Under 300 isnt bad vs 1000 at a dealer.

 

[Burla]

Hello Everyone!! (Newbie here)
Just hit 100k on my '17 1500.
Yes I drive a lot for work....
I have asked multiple dealers regarding if the Trans fluid should be changed?
Responses: 1) It's sealed for life don't touch it. 2) Don't change it till 120k.
3) You can but you must use Mopar fluid only, no one else makes it and it's $40/qt.
Curious if anyone has changed the fluid?
Appreciate any help!!

Search the youtubes, many of those on this subject. Sean's eco diesel channel amoung the best, he used maxlife and amsoil as alternatives. Here's the issue summed up, it is extremely hard and costy to change zf fluid in comparison to the cost of the transmision itself. Some guys are quotted 1200 for a trans flush, and to be honest that isn't that far off reasonable. You need to replace pan everytime if you use dealer, pan is the filter, plus pao based fluid times 14, plus labor intensive process.

Here's the rub, no way not changing the fluid in a transmision that is mechanically heated and operates at such a higher temp then the rfe, is a good strategy that will make that transmision last.

Pick your poisen, but if I was to do it myself, I would get the pan that allows for disposable filters with dip stick or window to check level, and I would use other then pao based fluid. Now, redline d6 from nick@gotexhaust is 1/2 the price of pao based fluid and is pao/esters so better at dealing with hot oil when you use esters. And another alternative is amsoil atf, I believe they have one that has a cSt in the 6's. That is what zf wants, operating viscosity in 6's like redline d6 or factory transmision fluid, that is what you should look for other then spending 30 bucks for oem fluid. I'd use redline d6 personally if it were mine, that is what I use in place of oem in the wife's suv.

 

[That_CAT_Guy]

Im sorry, but the dealer saying it's sealed for life and not to touch it seem's like the type of dealer who's hoping the trans goes bad and you bring it to them if it does...

 

[Burla]

Amsoils article on the 1200, opps I mean 1500 dollar atf flush, lol. Oh Canada.

 

[Wild one]

I have seen a few videos on it. Valvoline Maxlife seems to be what people are saying is a cheap alternative (their website says it meets specs, who knows?)

I figure drain it, put a new filter/pan on, measure how much came out. Put the same amount back in.

Add a little Lubegard Red and you are good to go.

Make sure you jack the rear of the truck up,till the pan rail is level front to back and side to side when you do your final fluid level check.The instructions that came with my brand new ZF 8 speed are very specific about having the pan rail level,it's the only part of the instructions that are actually high lighted.Most video's don't show the truck being jacked up to level the pan,but it's probably wise to do so.

 

[Burla]

Make sure you jack the rear of the truck up,till the pan rail is level front to back and side to side when you do your final fluid level check.The instructions that came with my brand new ZF 8 speed are very specific about having the pan rail level,it's the only part of the instructions that are actually high lighted.Most video's don't show the truck being jacked up to level the pan,but it's probably wise to do so.

does it ride or sit level? or you have to jack up one side to achieve level? maybe the mutli position ramp can help?

 

[Wild one]

does it ride or sit level? or you have to jack up one side to achieve level? maybe the mutli position ramp can help?

They'd be a little short Burla.To get my pan rail level when I replaced my 8 speed,i had to jack the rear of the truck up,so the bumper was a probably close to 4ft in the air.It took my tallest set of 6 ton jack stands on their highest setting ,set ahead of the rear locating arm mounts to get the pan rail level

 

[crash68]

Verndiesel another member on here has 500K miles on his running nothing but Maxlife so it must be some pretty good stuff.

^^^ this
Should also note that a good majority of those miles are towing Airstream TTs. The fluid temp is running at 200°F most of the time, so that sort of debunks some peoples thinking the higher temps the 8HP transmissions run is detrimental.

 

[Wild one]

^^^ this
Should also note that a good majority of those miles are towing Airstream TTs. The fluid temp is running at 200°F most of the time, so that sort of debunks some peoples thinking the higher temps the 8HP transmissions run is detrimental.

Paramount recommends their 160 transmission T-stat if you buy one of their 8speeds.Only downside is you have to buy one of their transmissions to get it.

http://www.paramountperformanceprod...rmostatic-valve-by-paramount-performance.aspx

 

[crash68]

Paramount recommends their 160 transmission T-stat if you buy one of their 8speeds.

Paramount builds transmissions for high performance/horsepower situations. Even the description it states:

Imagine the benefit of leaving the starting line at 160F compared to 195F! This will help your transmission fluid life.

Running a car/truck down a dragstrip puts a lot of heat really quick into the fluid. In that type of situation starting off cooler is better.

 

[Wild one]

Paramount builds transmissions for high performance/horsepower situations. Even the description it states:
Running a car/truck down a dragstrip puts a lot of heat really quick into the fluid. In that type of situation starting off cooler is better.

Pulling a 6 percent grade for a mile or so ,with 6500lbs of TT hung off the rear bumper puts a lot of heat in a transmission to.Not sure what you're point is .Both situations are going to put a pile of stress on the tranny fluid .FCA upgraded to the newer 8HP75's in the 5th Gens with it's 750 nm of torque capability.I've heard guys saying their 5th Gens seem to have less torque management then the 4th Gens they traded off,and the shifts are better and faster.I personally haven't rode in a 5th Gen,but if what they are saying is true,it sounds like maybe FCA reduced some of the torque management with the stronger 8 speed

 

[crash68]

Pulling a 6 percent grade for a mile or so ,with 6500lbs of TT hung off the rear bumper puts a lot of heat in a transmission to.Not sure what you're point is .Both situations are going to put a pile of stress on the tranny fluid .

Going down the dragstrip puts a lot of heat in the fluid very quick, the higher heat is more likely damage the fluid.
Pulling a grade also puts a lot of heat into a transmission, but it's also over a longer period of time. Going up a mile long grade towing 6500 lbs doesn't happen in less than 15 seconds.
There have been multiple posts by people saying the higher temps that the 8HP transmissions run would cause them to fail.

 

[madtrucker2016]

They'd be a little short Burla.To get my pan rail level when I replaced my 8 speed,i had to jack the rear of the truck up,so the bumper was a probably close to 4ft in the air.It took my tallest set of 6 ton jack stands on their highest setting ,set ahead of the rear locating arm mounts to get the pan rail level

so how do they do it in the dealer when they only use a lift and the mechanic is under the truck working

 

[Raylan Givens]

Make sure you jack the rear of the truck up,till the pan rail is level front to back and side to side when you do your final fluid level check.The instructions that came with my brand new ZF 8 speed are very specific about having the pan rail level,it's the only part of the instructions that are actually high lighted.Most video's don't show the truck being jacked up to level the pan,but it's probably wise to do so.

I am just thinking, if 7 - 9 quarts comes out, make sure the same amount goes back in. If that requires lifting the rear to do it, so be it.

 

[Wild one]

so how do they do it in the dealer when they only use a lift and the mechanic is under the truck working

Very few dealers are familiar with servicing the 8 speeds.Pick a facebook page like Tuned Rams or High Preformance Rams,and i'll post the instructions that came with my tranny,and they are very specific about getting it level.The only part of the instructions that are high lighted and capitalized is the part about leveling the tranny rail,so apparently ZF and FCA figure it's pretty important to level the tranny pan rail,lol

 

[Wild one]

Going down the dragstrip puts a lot of heat in the fluid very quick, the higher heat is more likely damage the fluid.
Pulling a grade also puts a lot of heat into a transmission, but it's also over a longer period of time. Going up a mile long grade towing 6500 lbs doesn't happen in less than 15 seconds.
There have been multiple posts by people saying the higher temps that the 8HP transmissions run would cause them to fail.

Going to wot throttle towing 6500lbs uphill,creates heat just as fast. Only Burla figures the higher heat will cause issues,lol