Transmission service question

[mdc1990zr1]

My local shop has been in the transmission business for 30+ yers. They also do heavy diesel engine work.

While visiting them recently on another matter….a group of them entered into conversation with me… and one mentioned he had a zf that he decided to test…using the ordinay Golden West ATF4 the shop has by the barrel. He has over 30K miles on it now… and it’s still working perfectly.

Thirty years in business and I wouldn’t let him put that golden p*i*s*s or whatever in my truck as the first experiment. I’m glad that customer “thinks” it worked out perfectly for him. They would be dropping the fluid three or four times in front of me the changing the filter before I left that shop

 

[Seedog]

If that was the case,why would ZF specifically make "leveling" the transmission the very first step in the instructions they send with a "brand new" truck specific 8 speed,and they've high lighted it to the point you'd have to be blind to miss it. Don't take this wrong,but your head is up somewhere that the sun doesn't shine,if you think you know more then ZF does
Read these instructions,especially the very first highlighted part.

So the idiots won’t mess up there purty trans

 

[mdc1990zr1]

So the idiots won’t mess up there purty trans

ZF probably doesn’t want the FCA techs touching their trans either. They’ll probably mess it up and the customer will blame it on ZF

 

[Grams]

Thirty years in business and I wouldn’t let him put that golden p*i*s*s or whatever in my truck as the first experiment. I’m glad that customer “thinks” it worked out perfectly for him. They would be dropping the fluid three or four times in front of me the changing the filter before I left that shop

It was not a customer’s transmission. It was the transmission TECH’s OWN ….and he put that ATF4 in it as an experiment. (We had been discussing transfer case fluids and he related this information …that he was running an experiment on his own vehicle.)
This shop is an EXCELLENT shop, very affordable, a FULL PARKING LOT of vehicles to be worked on…. (everyone in this town knows how good and affordable they are…owned by a descendant of town founders)…. that I have used for 30 yrs on many different vehicles. They will continue to get my business.

 

[Grams]

Take the Green sheet to them,and make sure you specify the "transmission" needs to be "level" not the truck.If they do it on a lift odds are they'll just pick it up,and not lift the rearend high enough to actually get the transmission level.
Leveling the transmission is mucho important,as it's the very first step in the procedure,and ZF highlighted it enough you can't miss it.
BTW these are the instructions that come with a "brand new" truck specific 8 speed when you buy the transmission through your local dealer,and supersede any generic instructions your local shop will have access to.
Ram trucks are a total oddball,as they're the only application that uses the ZF 8 speed and points it downhill,pretty well every other application that uses the same transmission,whether it be Audi or Rolls Royce or a Challenger/Charger has the transmission basically sitting level in the chassis

I’m not arguing the intent of the “green” sheets’ intention to “level” the tansmission….and not the vehicle… But, if this is SO CRITICAL…. I find it amusing the instructs fail to allow for a shop floor that is not level.

(I wonder how they expect you to “level” it to the “shop floor”….. Perhaps use a rule, front and back, and measure to the floor….. or … Do they mean side-to-side….?.)

 

[Wild one]

I’m not arguing the intent of the “green” sheets’ intention to “level” the tansmission….and not the vehicle… But, if this is SO CRITICAL…. I find it amusing the instructs fail to allow for a shop floor that is not level.

(I wonder how they expect you to “level” it to the “shop floor”….. Perhaps use a rule, front and back, and measure to the floor….. or … Do they mean side-to-side….?.)

No where does it say you level it to an uneven shop floor.Apparently you've never used a level in your life with that comment. You should maybe invest in a level and see how they actually operate,then you might want to delete your comment,as it leaves a bit to be desired

 

[Grams]

No where does it say you level it to an uneven shop floor.Apparently you've never used a level in your life with that comment. You should maybe invest in a level and see how they actually operate,then you might want to delete your comment,as it leaves a bit to be desired

Wild one…. You are so quick to “jump” others sometimes.

THAT was MY POINT! The Green Sheet instructs to level with the shop FLOOR!

But what if the Shop Floor is not level..?? Doh!

The Green Sheet SHOULD instruct to USE A LEVEL to “level” the transmission…. (The shop floor has nothing to do with “level”.)

But YOU are so hasty to criticize other participants… …

PS: and it was an attempt at “humor” when I remarked that perhaps they mean to level it to the shop floor…. “Side to Side”…. lol
(Everyone thinks fore/aft …but transverse clearly should also be considered)

 

[Wild one]

Wild one…. You are so quick to “jump” others sometimes.

THAT was MY POINT! The Green Sheet instructs to level with the shop FLOOR!

But what if the Shop Floor is not level..?? Doh!

The Green Sheet SHOULD instruct to USE A LEVEL to “level” the transmission…. (The shop floor has nothing to do with “level”.)

But YOU are so hasty to criticize other participants… …

PS: and it was an attempt at “humor” when I remarked that perhaps they mean to level it to the shop floor…. “Side to Side”…. lol
(Everyone thinks fore/aft …but transverse clearly should also be considered)

Your attempt at humour leaves alot to be desired.
I also think you took the instructions out of context with your comment about leveling to the floor,as it states right after that to make sure it's "level"
The sheet does tell you to level front to rear and side to side,if you read it better.

 

[MarshRam]

Sorry, I had to do it gentlemen!

 

[Quick_Shifter]

BMW uses ZF fluid we use liqui Molly in all Euro stuff so we opted to go Molly in a BMW ZF Trans. Had another shop comment on instagram that they experienced the transmission “barking” when shifting and switched to ZF and it went away. I think they either used the wrong kind or didn’t follow the procedure properly as my wife’s car was the transmission we serviced with no “barking” and she drives it like it doesn’t cost anything to fix it. But I have experienced the wrong fluid used at these places that stock bulk fluids these are normally the places that use 20 cent oil filters and offer lifetime alignments