Dealer said No for transmission fluid change.

[EdGs]

Think I had about 108k then, I'm at 183k now. I wanted to do a 2nd drain and fill, but never had a chance to.

Now my work is super slow and hours have been cut, so not sure how I will be able to afford to do it around 200k.

 

[Forsakentalon]

Keep an eye on Crappy Tires sales,they'll put the weed sprayer on sale ,usually starting in the spring. I think i bought mine for under 15 bucks on sale,but that was several years ago,but i'd hazard a guess it won't be much more then 20 bucks on sale even now.

General PDP Template

www.canadiantire.ca

I wish we had the Canadian tire here in the states. I want to build that sprayer. Why the copper 90's?

For those with a Menards you can get the sprayer for $9.

 

[Wild one]

I wish we had the Canadian tire here in the states. I want to build that sprayer. Why the copper 90's?

For those with a Menards you can get the sprayer for $9.

They're for filling other things.I have diff braces on the wifes Challenger and to get around the rear brace to the fill plug on the rear diff,the copper tubes make it easier

 

[RamDiver]

I wish we had the Canadian tire here in the states. I want to build that sprayer. Why the copper 90's?

For those with a Menards you can get the sprayer for $9.

The prices aren't fabulous at Canadian Tire (CTC) but their weekly sale often has great deals.

You have Menard's, Princess Auto, and Home Depot, just to name a few. Our Home Depot is expensive unless you catch a sale.

Everything costs more up here and in the past few years it seems to have gotten worse.

I hope the Canadian/US $ exchange improves and then for those of us living near a border, we can start buying more less expensive items again.

.

 

[Maddawg2009]

2016 1500 Ram Bighorn, 5.7 8 speed trans. 117,000 miles. First post here, I called local dealership for price on tranny fluid and filter change. They ask if I was having problems, I said no. Well they said for my PU the fluid and filter is for Life time, unless there is a problem they won't change it. I said nothing is life time and it ended. How true is this, Life time? I don't haul anything, no slippage, just thought it should be serviced. Thank you.

I have a 2019 ram 1500 and had to replace the pan because the filter is built into it. It's pretty costly if taken to an independent shop let alone a dealer. The independent shop I went to cost me 685 but that was for the pan and fluid for it.

 

[Hardracer]

Maybe the dealer use is not as busy as the one you go to. Appointments are usually 2 weeks out ever since covid. I heard thats not bad compared to others

Dealer here is always over a month out for anything...they have like 15- 20 bays also.

 

[Mb7640]

Dealer here is always over a month out for anything...they have like 15- 20 bays also.

Thats crazy

 

[Curmudgeon]

I have a 2019 ram 1500 and had to replace the pan because the filter is built into it. It's pretty costly if taken to an independent shop let alone a dealer. The independent shop I went to cost me 685 but that was for the pan and fluid for it.

$685? I'd take that deal. I paid my dealer $947.10 a couple years ago for the whole job, state tax extra.

Next time I'll buy the pan/filter and fluid myself and start shopping for a place to do the work. A place with windows.
The place I'm using now charges $10 for the motor oil change when I supply everything.

 

[BenchTest]

I'm just as crazy. Every time I'm under mine I'm wiping and spraying.

Good to see these posts. Thought I was the only mental patient that spent time identifying rust or future rust points and treating, or just generally cleaning the underside.

 

[BenchTest]

I use my homemade transfer pump made from a 1 gallon weed sprayer pump for filling the transmission,it also works good for filling rear diffs etc.
They're cheap and easy to make,and come in handy.

DIY Homemade Fluid Transfer Pump for $13. Cheap and Easy!

Decided to try out an easier and faster way to transfer transmission fluid. Doesn't take much prep time to get it done. Finished it in less than 5 minutes.Th...

www.youtube.com

+1 on the sprayer. That's how I've done my last several "filled for life" BS transmission services. That same sprayer fits the wife's Avalon and Honda. I cussed and cussed on the first FFL service I did until I asked "Isn't there a better damn way to do this than trying to squeeze a bottle at some ****-eyed angle losing half of the $hit on the floor???" Yeah..been there, done that.

 

[Heels82]

2016 1500 Ram Bighorn, 5.7 8 speed trans. 117,000 miles. First post here, I called local dealership for price on tranny fluid and filter change. They ask if I was having problems, I said no. Well they said for my PU the fluid and filter is for Life time, unless there is a problem they won't change it. I said nothing is life time and it ended. How true is this, Life time? I don't haul anything, no slippage, just thought it should be serviced. Thank you.

I was inquiring about that very thing on my 2016 5.7 Bighorn during last oil change and my guy said leave it alone unless I was having trouble with it! so far at 110,000 it still operates like a brand new one, but i haven't toad anything with it and I don't abuse it especially since paying for exhaust manifold bolt change out!

 

[mdc1990zr1]

I was inquiring about that very thing on my 2016 5.7 Bighorn during last oil change and my guy said leave it alone unless I was having trouble with it! so far at 110,000 it still operates like a brand new one, but i haven't toad anything with it and I don't abuse it especially since paying for exhaust manifold bolt change out!

You're way overdue according to ZF, the manufacturer of the transmission. Change the fluid, you'll notice a difference.

 

[Sherman Bird]

2016 1500 Ram Bighorn, 5.7 8 speed trans. 117,000 miles. First post here, I called local dealership for price on tranny fluid and filter change. They ask if I was having problems, I said no. Well they said for my PU the fluid and filter is for Life time, unless there is a problem they won't change it. I said nothing is life time and it ended. How true is this, Life time? I don't haul anything, no slippage, just thought it should be serviced. Thank you.

Manufacturers play a game. That game is to get you to buy a new vehicle as often as possible without tipping you off to the scam.
70 grand for a new truck is ludicrous, at best, most would agree. That said, in what rapturous world does lifetime product exist, nowadays? Or, for that matter, since when does any complex machinery last a lifetime, EVEN WITH maintenance? Heck, even simple metal fatigue will doom a car or other "durable" good eventually. Why exacerbate this with wanton, intentional neglect?

Oils and coolant have limited ability to withstand repeated stresses of temperature cycles and contaminants.
One doesn't need to be and engineer to know this set of facts.

ZF, Hydramatic, Borg Warner, and all other manufacturers of transmissions know this and NONE of these stand-alone vendors recommend something as short sighted as the notion that trans fluid is "lifetime".

The vehicle dealer would rather sell you a new car than help you enhance it's service life, at least as evidenced by these outrageous recommendations of NOT servicing transmissions, for example.

 

[bigfootgreg]

OK, I got my VERY nice truck 2019 RAM Limited 4x4 6+ months ago. I am getting ready to take a trip to Colorado while pulling our UTV between it and the double axle trailer they weigh around 5klbs. The truck has 89k miles onit and I am not sure if the fluid has been changed or not. The truck was taken care of pretty well but you are never sure. I am 62 and in NO condition to be jacking up and crawling under my truck. Should I get the fluid taken care of or leave it alone. The transmission shifts smooth and perfectly.

 

[Wild one]

OK, I got my VERY nice truck 2019 RAM Limited 4x4 6+ months ago. I am getting ready to take a trip to Colorado while pulling our UTV between it and the double axle trailer they weigh around 5klbs. The truck has 89k miles onit and I am not sure if the fluid has been changed or not. The truck was taken care of pretty well but you are never sure. I am 62 and in NO condition to be jacking up and crawling under my truck. Should I get the fluid taken care of or leave it alone. The transmission shifts smooth and perfectly.

ZF says service the transmission at roughly 60,000 miles. I'm 64 and still doing this kind of $h!t on my own toys,lol

 

[corneileous]

OK, I got my VERY nice truck 2019 RAM Limited 4x4 6+ months ago. I am getting ready to take a trip to Colorado while pulling our UTV between it and the double axle trailer they weigh around 5klbs. The truck has 89k miles onit and I am not sure if the fluid has been changed or not. The truck was taken care of pretty well but you are never sure. I am 62 and in NO condition to be jacking up and crawling under my truck. Should I get the fluid taken care of or leave it alone. The transmission shifts smooth and perfectly.

Well if you don’t have any kind of factory warranty, I’d probably get it done as according to the manufacturer of the transmission, there is a maintenance schedule just despite what Ram says but it won’t be cheap if you don’t do it yourself. Depending on where you go to have it done, you’re looking at $300 to as high as 6, 700 bucks.

 

[Rebel4Mo]

Depending on where you go to have it done, you’re looking at $300 to as high as 6, 700 bucks.

Here in Billings Mt. the local dealer wants $850 and an independent shop wanted $750 last time I checked.

 

[ppine]

For people that have been around awhile, we are trained to think about changing all of the fluids pretty often. The quality of lubricants of all types has greatly improved. But I think lifetime or forever are a stretch. Make sure you use the lubricants that are specified by the manuf. When you change fluids you are never likely to be wrong.

 

[bigfootgreg]

I believe in that philosophy as well. My oil goes at every 5k and I SUPPOSE I will get the transmission fluid changed (just to make sure) it's OK. Radiator has been done and the other fluids will go when we get home.

 

[Ram1988]

I’m in the Middle East where it gets up to 55°C in the summer.


I bought my RAM from the dealer back in 2014. When I hit 100,000 km, I asked them why they didn’t service the transmission during the major service. They told me the same thing they always say — it’s a sealed transmission and doesn’t need service unless there’s an issue.


Fast forward to now — I’m at 400,000 km and I’ve never serviced the transmission. Still zero issues. It shifts smooth like I just bought the truck yesterday.


Maybe I got one of those lucky golden units that was built just right —haha or maybe because I mainly drive on highways and lite off-roading on dunes.


I’m actually planning to buy the 2025 Rebel now, but I’m not sure if I’ll follow the same approach with the new one. This current RAM might have survived because I just happened to get a lucky piece. Not sure if I’d be that lucky again.


Anyway, I’m leaving the transmission on this one alone. Changing the fluid now could stir up debris that’s been sitting in the system for years — I’d rather not risk it. Better to let it keep running as is.