I just installed one of these PPE pans this last weekend. I wanted to get it done around the 50,000 mile mark on my 2017 Express. It took a few months to ship (they are very behind on orders), and I paid $303 including shipping and tax. I bought it from XtremeDiesel.com, but they are simply distributors for the
PPE guys, who also sell it directly from their store. They just couldn't make enough of these things to fill all orders in a timely basis.
I bought a new gasket from CobraTransmission.com for $40, although once my PPE pan arrived, the instructions say you can re-use the one from the original pan if you pull it out without damaging it. Same with the pan bolts, PPE instructions say to re-use the 13 pan bolts, which I did. I can't seem to find anyone who sells those separately, although I'd like to because the original ones had a slight amount of corrosion where the threads meet the head, and I don't want anything snapping off due to the extra weight of the pan bouncing around. I'll see if I can get a hold of some for my next service interval.
I bought the 7 liters ZF Lifegard 8 fluid off Amazon for $160. I also rigged up one of those 2 gallon pressure pump/tanks from Home Depot with a ball valve and clear tubing to pump all 7 liters into the transmission. I have to say, based on all the YouTube videos I saw of others doing this service, the fluid pump works totally awesome, and I'd recommend it to anyone who wanted to do this service, especially if they want to do it multiple times down the line.
Turns out most people were saying it took 5 liters do this service, I figured they has a little left over, and since the PPE pan holds an additional 2 liters over the OE pan, 7 liters would do me well. Turns out 7 liters was EXACTLY the amount the transmission needed all in all, including the overfilling step (0.5 liters) for the transmission fluid cooler (see
ZFs aftermarket instructions for the procedure and this step in particular). Although, know that I made my own procedure to follow based on ZF's guidance and this
YouTube video. I have some thoughts on how I'd do it differently next time, but that's getting really into the weeds. Message me if you wan to discuss that more.
I plan to do one more level check following their procedure (see page 4), and in case I need to top it off, I ended up buying one more quart from my local Mopar dealership. But there's a good chance I won't need to add anymore. I'll let you know once I do this last check.
The PPE pan fits completely fine in the installed position. The only clearance issue I found was installing the pan, and getting its rear end over the exhaust pipe, and under the exposed solenoid assemblies at the rear of the transmission (the orange/white things). They're made of plastic, so I tried to be as gentle as I could, but it did require a little force to get the pan past them and finally into its seated position. Pictures below.
So far, my transmission temperatures slowly get up to 180-190 F, but I'm not sure if this is lower than before, because I never really paid attention to my transmission temperatures before. It also seems to get up to that temperature slowly, but again, I can't be sure that's any different than before.
Still, I'm pleased I can now change out the filter without buying a whole new pan, and the relocated drain plug will be nice.
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