Change the Transmission Filter?

[dks5276]

Ive searched forums, reddit, ect. sorry if this is a redundant question, I have a 2018 Ram 1500 Express 97k miles with 5.7 and TorqueFlite 8HP70 which im told is the ZF 8 speed, Im going to have someone change the trans fluid but Ive been told by Dobbs, Local Trans Shop, Valvoline Instant Oil, and Rams Dealership that no dont change the filter just do the fluid flush BUT manufacturer says YES change the filter. I have taken very good care of this truck and plan on driving it til I die or it dies lol, so how many of you just flush the fluid and how many do the new pan and filter? Heard horror stories about things going bad after dropping pan and changing filter

 

[MarshRam]

As far as I know, everyone recommends changing the filter, essentially a new pan.

 

[EdGs]

Filter is part of the OE pan.

ZF recommends fluid/filter at 60-80k miles. Chrysler says "sealed for life".

PPE makes a top-notch aluminum pan with replaceable filter, for about the same price as the dealer OE pan.

The rear end of the truck has to be lifted 8-9 inches to properly fill the transmission as it has to be level to do the procedure properly, and also be completed BEFORE the trans temp reaches 122°

 

[06 Dodge]

Ive searched forums, reddit, ect. sorry if this is a redundant question, I have a 2018 Ram 1500 Express 97k miles with 5.7 and TorqueFlite 8HP70 which im told is the ZF 8 speed, Im going to have someone change the trans fluid but Ive been told by Dobbs, Local Trans Shop, Valvoline Instant Oil, and Rams Dealership that no dont change the filter just do the fluid flush BUT manufacturer says YES change the filter. I have taken very good care of this truck and plan on driving it til I die or it dies lol, so how many of you just flush the fluid and how many do the new pan and filter? Heard horror stories about things going bad after dropping pan and changing filter

Just drop the trans pan, replace the filter and refill with ATF, Do No FLUSH your transmission, a flush can cause problems in as little as few hundred miles, you can get problems that you never had before from the flush so do not flush unless you have $$$ for a new/rebuilt transmission... IMHO any shop that tell you to do a flush and not change the filters is not looking out for you just them selves in hope when it fails you come back to them for the trans replacement and or rebuild...

 

[EdGs]

Use proper fluid for the 8HP70 as well.

Mopar 8+9 speed
ZF Lifeguard 8
Valvoline MaxLife (make sure it says on back label compatible with ZF 8 speed)

 

[MarshRam]

Filter is part of the OE pan.

ZF recommends fluid/filter at 60-80k miles. Chrysler says "sealed for life".

PPE makes a top-notch aluminum pan with replaceable filter, for about the same price as the dealer OE pan.

The rear end of the truck has to be lifted 8-9 inches to properly fill the transmission as it has to be level to do the procedure properly, and also be completed BEFORE the trans temp reaches 122°

View attachment 586348

OP, I got my pan from Mopar Parts, invoice below. It's on sale at the time of this post for $227.70. I'd jump on it for that price.

Part Number​	Part Name​	Price​	Quantity​	Total​
68225344AA​	Transmission Oil Pan And Filter​	$313.01​	1​	$313.01​

Subtotal: $313.01​

Estimated Shipping via Standard Shipping: $29.62​

Total: $342.63​

 

[EdGs]

$227 is a decent price for the oe pan.

When I did mine at ~100k miles, a few years ago, the oe pan was $170 @ RockAuto. Now, prices have gone stupid since COVID.

 

[Jeepwalker]

Of course change the filter...... Pay the price for a 'good' one. You'll probably only need to do it once. Or possibly another time if you keep the truck long enough.

The key thing is to STAND THERE while they are putting fluid in and make sure 100% they jack the back of the truck up to get the fluid level right according to the proper fill procedure (print out and hand to the tech). Esp if it's a quickie oil change place.

That last part is where a lot of owners get tripped-up. Shops and techs don't like to crawl on the ground and monkey around hot exhaust pipes like you have to do on the Ram. They might argue they know better...it's not that important. Don't fall for that. Have the conversation up front before you submit your vehicle. Proper fill procedure is what is required to get the fluid level right. It's critical to be right. Fluid expands when warm/hot.

Imagine you had water in a clear glass. Then you took another glass that fit inside...and pushed down on the water. As you can see if you move the inner glass a small amount it makes a BIG difference how much the water rises or fall. Sort of the same thing in your tranny. A bunch of tranny parts fit down into the pan. And as the fluid expands the height level is more than most owners appreciate. That's why trans fluid height is critical. So ...DO make sure they follow the proper procedure so your tranny is happy. Here's to many more yrs of happy trucking!!

 

[Johnny Paycheck]

Just drop the trans pan, replace the filter and refill with ATF, Do No FLUSH your transmission, a flush can cause problems in as little as few hundred miles, you can get problems that you never had before from the flush so do not flush unless you have $$$ for a new/rebuilt transmission... IMHO any shop that tell you to do a flush and not change the filters is not looking out for you just them selves in hope when it fails you come back to them for the trans replacement and or rebuild...

Not changing filters is one thing (agree with your point there), but clarify your position on no flushes. A flush would use the transmission pump itself to push old fluid out. If the transmission wasn’t having issues, it’s not about to start over this.

 

[06 Dodge]

Not changing filters is one thing (agree with your point there), but clarify your position on no flushes. A flush would use the transmission pump itself to push old fluid out. If the transmission wasn’t having issues, it’s not about to start over this.

A trans flush is when they use a machine to force ATF into the trans through trans lines, some do not remove the trans pan to change out the filter, my self I don't see how one could use the ZF trans pump to do a flush being you don't have a trans dip stick tube to pour ATF into the tans as fast as the trans pump can move fluid out...

 

[Govtman]

Ive searched forums, reddit, ect. sorry if this is a redundant question, I have a 2018 Ram 1500 Express 97k miles with 5.7 and TorqueFlite 8HP70 which im told is the ZF 8 speed, Im going to have someone change the trans fluid but Ive been told by Dobbs, Local Trans Shop, Valvoline Instant Oil, and Rams Dealership that no dont change the filter just do the fluid flush BUT manufacturer says YES change the filter. I have taken very good care of this truck and plan on driving it til I die or it dies lol, so how many of you just flush the fluid and how many do the new pan and filter? Heard horror stories about things going bad after dropping pan and changing filter

They did flush on wife's car, trans died within 5k miles. Some mfg refuse to warranty a trans after flush.

 

[MarshRam]

They did flush on wife's car, trans died within 5k miles. Some mfg refuse to warranty a trans after flush.

My understanding is to not flush a high mileage or potentially trans neglected vehicle. Well maintained trans may be okay. It basically dislodges debris that ultimately clogs fluid passages and strips clutch plate grip. Those guys know this, or should. And what they don't know is how well maintained the vehicle is. I imagine, the higher the mileage, the more reluctant they are to do the flush. I'm definitely not ever doing that on a ZF 8 since just about nobody changes until after the 100K mark, including me.

 

[mdc1990zr1]

They did flush on wife's car, trans died within 5k miles. Some mfg refuse to warranty a trans after flush.

If the mileage is long or unknown, just do a pan drop and filter change. That only gets 1/3 to half the fluid out. See how that affects the transmission. If you have positive res, you can do another fluid drop without the filter change. That will get most of the old fluid out.

 

[Wild one]

If the mileage is long or unknown, just do a pan drop and filter change. That only gets 1/3 to half the fluid out. See how that affects the transmission. If you have positive res, you can do another fluid drop without the filter change. That will get most of the old fluid out.

You can split the cooler lines up by the rad and flush the cooler out seperately if you're ambitious. When i blew up the 8 speed in my truck,i wasn't buying no overpriced A/C condensor and having the A/C evacutated then recharged,so i split the lines by the rad and flushed several litres of new fluid through the cooler and also flushed the cooler lines,before installing the new transmission

 

[mdc1990zr1]

You can split the cooler lines up by the rad and flush the cooler out seperately if you're ambitious. When i blew up the 8 speed in my truck,i wasn't buying no overpriced A/C condensor and having the A/C evacutated then recharged,so i split the lines by the rad and flushed several litres of new fluid through the cooler and also flushed the cooler lines,before installing the new transmission

If you blow the transmission or have excessive debris in the pan I would flush the cooler lines. For a simple maintenance fluid swap, I’m not that ambitious anymore. If it’s that dirty, I’ll do it twice in about 5K after the initial drop

 

[Wild one]

If you blow the transmission or have excessive debris in the pan I would flush the cooler lines. For a simple maintenance fluid swap, I’m not that ambitious anymore. If it’s that dirty, I’ll do it twice in about 5K after the initial drop

Actually it's pretty easy to split the lines and just blow the cooler out with about 20 psi of air pressure,i did flush my cooler with new fluid,but even if you use just straight air and blow the majority of fluid out of the cooler,you're that much closer to having a complete fill with new fluid,the only thing left with old fluid would be the convertor