How do you level 8hp70 for fluid change/fill?

[kayla02110]

And I got the 8 on the display (from what I understand this is the max gear I’m allowing), but still didn’t see the 2….or Amy other number pop up beside it when I’m in drive and pressing the accelerator.

How precise does the “put it into 2nd gear for 5 seconds) step need to be? Like if I’ve got the rear end raised, and am in Drive and pressing the accelerator to about 1500rpms….but don’t really “feel” any shift, is it safe to assume that I probably did hit 2nd gear, and if I keep my foot on the pedal for about 5 seconds, that should be good?

 

[kayla02110]

Sorry guys, I don’t mean to be annoying but last last question. Do I need to wait for the trans temp to hit 86f before I start the procedure, or can I start it as soon as I turn on the truck?

Ok that’s the last question haha. Thanks again guys!!

 

[NETim]

Sorry one more question, say I run through the fill procecdure but my truck gets hotter than 122deg before I’m able to get under there to open the fill hole to fill.

I obviously shut it off and wait for it to cool down. But once it’s cooled down again to between the 86-122 range….do I have to run through the fill procedure again before refilling, or can I just turn the engine on and fill?

I'd run it through the procedure to ensure the ATF is up in the clutch packs etc. You'll have plenty of time as long as the ambient temp isn't crazy like in the '90s or better.

 

[NETim]

And I got the 8 on the display (from what I understand this is the max gear I’m allowing), but still didn’t see the 2….or Amy other number pop up beside it when I’m in drive and pressing the accelerator.

How precise does the “put it into 2nd gear for 5 seconds) step need to be? Like if I’ve got the rear end raised, and am in Drive and pressing the accelerator to about 1500rpms….but don’t really “feel” any shift, is it safe to assume that I probably did hit 2nd gear, and if I keep my foot on the pedal for about 5 seconds, that should be good?

That is strange. I have to wonder now if your truck's display has an issue. The current gear # should display just to the left of the "8" (or whatever you select as your max gear.)

I think Wildone mentioned 1800 RPM as when to expect the transmission to hit 2nd.

 

[NETim]

Sorry guys, I don’t mean to be annoying but last last question. Do I need to wait for the trans temp to hit 86f before I start the procedure, or can I start it as soon as I turn on the truck?

Ok that’s the last question haha. Thanks again guys!!

As long as the truck is indicating the proper temp range, you're gold. Obviously, the more you let it cool, the more time you'll have to get it topped off and get that darn fill plug back in. Right there with that hot exhaust pipe.

 

[Wild one]

Sorry guys, I don’t mean to be annoying but last last question. Do I need to wait for the trans temp to hit 86f before I start the procedure, or can I start it as soon as I turn on the truck?

Ok that’s the last question haha. Thanks again guys!!

The colder you have the transmission at the start the better Kayla,i actually let them sit till the transmission is as cold as ambient temperature will allow it to be,as it gives you a bigger window to get everything done before you hit the 122 limit.If you start with it cold,and run through the procedure really fast,you can usually get it done before the transmission gets to 115F,the colder the transmission is at the end the better,as long as it's over 86F. The sheet says 122 as the max,but if you dig around on ZF's site,they actually prefer the final temp to be 115F or less.
The green sheet is what comes with a "brand new" 8 speed from the dealer,cost me a few bucks to get that sheet,several years ago,lol

 

[kayla02110]

The colder you have the transmission at the start the better Kayla,i actually let them sit till the transmission is as cold as ambient temperature will allow it to be,as it gives you a bigger window to get everything done before you hit the 122 limit.If you start with it cold,and run through the procedure really fast,you can usually get it done before the transmission gets to 115F,the colder the transmission is at the end the better,as long as it's over 86F. The sheet says 122 as the max,but if you dig around on ZF's site,they actually prefer the final temp to be 115F or less.
The green sheet is what comes with a "brand new" 8 speed from the dealer,cost me a few bucks to get that sheet,several years ago,lol

Awww man!! Mine was about 50F when I first started the truck, but I thought I had to wait til it got to 86….so I let it idle and waited til it got to 86 and THEN started the whole gear shifting phase. And of course at that time, such a small window before it gets to 122 and have to shut it down and wait lol.

I think I’ll just leave it overnight and finish it tomorrow.

Any harm in running through the phase with all the gear shifts etc again? I’m still not 100% confident I did the 2nd gear step right lol.

…..or would it be better to consider that phase done, and leave it as is, and just start the truck tomorrow morning and fill the fluid as needed (still with the rear end raised of course)?

 

[NETim]

Awww man!! Mine was about 50F when I first started the truck, but I thought I had to wait til it got to 86….so I let it idle and waited til it got to 86 and THEN started the fill procedure. And of course at that time, such a small window before it gets to 122 and have to shut it down and wait lol.

I think I’ll just leave it overnight and finish it tomorrow.

Any harm in doing the fill procedure of all the gear shifts etc again? I’m still not 100% confident I did the 2nd gear step right lol.

…..or would it be better to just consider that phase done, and just start the truck and fill as needed tomorrow morning on a cold truck?

Just to be on the safe side, after letting the truck sit and cool, I'd run it through the gears/neutral etc to be sure the ATF is up in the transmission where it's needed. At 50F ambient, you will have an ample window from the 86F starting point before it hits 122F.

Once you see it hit 86 (after running it through the gears), fill it until it's dribbling out the fill hole and then plug it w/o burning yourself.

 

[Wild one]

Awww man!! Mine was about 50F when I first started the truck, but I thought I had to wait til it got to 86….so I let it idle and waited til it got to 86 and THEN started the whole gear shifting phase. And of course at that time, such a small window before it gets to 122 and have to shut it down and wait lol.

I think I’ll just leave it overnight and finish it tomorrow.

Any harm in running through the phase with all the gear shifts etc again? I’m still not 100% confident I did the 2nd gear step right lol.

…..or would it be better to consider that phase done, and leave it as is, and just start the truck tomorrow morning and fill the fluid as needed (still with the rear end raised of course)?

As Tim stated,i'd go through the procedure again,if it's sat overnight,and start with it cold.A welding glove or wet rags draped over the exhaust helps to keep the swear words to a mininium,lol

 

[kayla02110]

Thanks again guys!

Yeah I think that’s what I’ll do, start fresh tomorrow morning. Time to call it a day and time for a shower! Lol

Any last tips for how to feel confident I nailed that 2nd gear step? Should I just press the gas til I hit about 1800rpm, and then just hold it there for 5 seconds? Even if I don’t “feel” the shift….safe to assume it most likely hit 2nd gear and I completed that step sufficiently lol

Or…if I press the gear +/- til it shows a “2”, and not an “8”….. would that mean that I set my “max gear” to just 2nd?…and then no matter how hard I press the pedal,…say I hold it at 1800-2000 for a steady 5 seconds, it’ll be in 2nd…….would that be a safer way to ensure I don’t go anything higher than 2?

Thanks again for all your help guys!!

 

[Wild one]

Thanks again guys!

Yeah I think that’s what I’ll do, start fresh tomorrow morning. Time to call it a day and time for a shower! Lol

Any last tips for how to feel confident I nailed that 2nd gear step? Should I just press the gas til I hit about 1800rpm, and then just hold it there for 5 seconds? Even if I don’t “feel” the shift….safe to assume it most likely hit 2nd gear and I completed that step sufficiently lol

Or…if I press the gear +/- til it shows a “2”, and not an “8”….. would that mean that I set my “max gear” to just 2nd?…and then no matter how hard I press the pedal,…say I hold it at 1800-2000 for a steady 5 seconds, it’ll be in 2nd…….would that be a safer way to ensure I don’t go anything higher than 2?

Thanks again for all your help guys!!

You could go all the way down to 1st,by hitting the (-) button a few times,till it shows 1 on the cluster,then take it up to about 1500 or slightly higher and hit the (+) once that'll put you into 2nd gear,and you should feel it make the shift doing it that way.

 

[kayla02110]

You could go all the way down to 1st,by hitting the (-) button a few times,till it shows 1 on the cluster,then take it up to about 1500 or slightly higher and hit the (+) once that'll put you into 2nd gear,and you should feel it make the shift doing it that way.

Sounds good! And then start I counting the 5 seconds AFTER that right?

 

[Wild one]

Sounds good! And then start I counting the 5 seconds AFTER that right?

Yup,but if you're starting with a transmission that's down around 50 or 60 degrees you have a little bigger window to work with,so if you end up doing 6 or 7 Mississippi's i don't think it's a big deal,lol