Who has actually SEEN the "green ZF transmission instructions" on paper from ZF or dealership?

[ron2hoff]

To reiterate what I already stated earlier...



I'm ultimately trying to figure out how to PROVE to the dealership (or any mechanic, really), who has "no evidence" of the "proper fill procedure"... that the green sheet is correct.

I hear a whine in the transmission after this transmission service that I didn't hear before. There's a chance that it's all in my head, but I don't think so. That's not something I can really prove, but I would really hope that there's something concrete I could offer this scammership, even if only the proper direction to look, so that they DO the job correctly in the future, as I'm sure I won't be the last person that asks them for a filter replacement and/or drain & refill.

I'll bite and add to this mystery. When I did mine, I put in a request on the ZF Transmission Website. They got back to me promptly. I leveled at the frame and have had zero issues. I saw that green sheer multiple times but had no idea where it came from so I checked with the source.

Below is their reply:
On Jan 23, 2026, at 12:19 PM, [email protected] wrote:

Dear Ronald,,

for further processing of your request, we kindly asked for the following information:

I have spoken to MOPAR engineers about this very question. They told me the truck needs to be level. Do not worry about the pan rails. The pan is designed with the angle in mind of which the transmission sits in the truck. .



Your question to us:

Hi,

I have a 2019 RAM 1500 Rebel with a ZF 8 speed automatic
8HP75 transmission. Vin number of the truck is: 1C6-SRFLT3KN-688211.

I am preparing to change the transmission fluid and I am
getting conflicting information on leveling the truck to ensure fluid level is
correct.

Some forums state that the truck must be leveled at the
transmission pan rail (e.g. smooth machined surface that pan attaches
to). Other forums state you should level the truck using the trucks cross
members (front to back and side to side)

Can you please tell me which method is correct for leveling
the truck to ensure the fluid level is correct when checking at the fill port.

 

[RamDiver]

I'll bite and add to this mystery. When I did mine, I put in a request on the ZF Transmission Website. They got back to me promptly. I leveled at the frame and have had zero issues. I saw that green sheer multiple times but had no idea where it came from so I checked with the source.

Below is their reply:
On Jan 23, 2026, at 12:19 PM, [email protected] wrote:

Dear Ronald,,

for further processing of your request, we kindly asked for the following information:

I have spoken to MOPAR engineers about this very question. They told me the truck needs to be level. Do not worry about the pan rails. The pan is designed with the angle in mind of which the transmission sits in the truck. .



Your question to us:

Hi,

I have a 2019 RAM 1500 Rebel with a ZF 8 speed automatic
8HP75 transmission. Vin number of the truck is: 1C6-SRFLT3KN-688211.

I am preparing to change the transmission fluid and I am
getting conflicting information on leveling the truck to ensure fluid level is
correct.

Some forums state that the truck must be leveled at the
transmission pan rail (e.g. smooth machined surface that pan attaches
to). Other forums state you should level the truck using the trucks cross
members (front to back and side to side)

Can you please tell me which method is correct for leveling
the truck to ensure the fluid level is correct when checking at the fill port.

Why would the ZF transmission manufacturer have the Mopar engineers tell them how the tranny should be filled?

Mopar didn't make the 8HP75; ZF did. LOL

I'm sticking to the directions on the green card.
Mopar has clearly demonstrated that they're just looking to sell more products.

Why would I trust their word with anything?

.

 

[Yardbird]

[email protected] is nothing more than an underpaid person to answer the phone and look up the answer to your question on the computer.

99 plus percent of the people answering the phone in that area couldn't pick a transmission out from a table with an engine, axle, and transmission, sitting on it.

It's most likely a foreign call center.

I don't think any manufacturer would make a transmission that requires a certain amount of fluid to operate, then when placed in one of the vehicles, the transmission holds less fluid, and then call it OK.

If the transmission needs a certain amount of fluid to operate when level, why would it need less when the fill plug is sitting lower so as not as much fluid is in the transmission?

 

[mdc1990zr1]

[email protected] is nothing more than an underpaid person to answer the phone and look up the answer to your question on the computer.

99 plus percent of the people answering the phone in that area couldn't pick a transmission out from a table with an engine, axle, and transmission, sitting on it.

It's most likely a foreign call center.

I don't think any manufacturer would make a transmission that requires a certain amount of fluid to operate, then when placed in one of the vehicles, the transmission holds less fluid, and then call it OK.

If the transmission needs a certain amount of fluid to operate when level, why would it need less when the fill plug is sitting lower so as not as much fluid is in the transmission?

I think it was Wildone who posted the green sheet which came with the replacement transmission for his Ram truck. Since ZF builds and ships the transmission from Germany, picture the unit being filled on a table or conveyor belt. Now, the mechanic takes this transmission and puts it in the vehicle, one of our Ran trucks. When the unit is bolted into place and the cooler plumbing is hooked up, the transmission is probably run and checked for leaks and the fluid is most likely added to “top” off before being released to the customer.
On the initial assembly line when the transmission is bolted to the vehicle, it may or may not be run, but I’m sure mother MoPar doesn’t run and check every one for fluid level. During the initial install, once the transmission is plumbed through the radiator and coolers, residual fluid will now lay at various positions throughout the system. Without adding any more fluid other than the fluid that the transmission left Germany with, the transmission pan will be low on fluid. I believe that reasoning would account for when the members here drain and measure the transmission fluid after initial fill, the always wind up putting more fluid back than what came out.
Proper engineering should have caught this at the factory and a predetermined amount of fluid should have been added to account for this distribution of the fluid throughout the system.

 

[RamDiver]

What if the ZF 8HP70 and/or 8HP75 are manufactured for many different vehicles and most of them are mounted level to the frame?

ZF fills all the trannies while flat on the conveyor during manufacturing and ships them to the car and truck assembly plants.

Now Mopar in their infinite wisdom engineer the Jeep & Ram trucks to have the tranny mounted on an angle.

And they add a remote cooler. I don't know for sure but it sounds like many members who have drained and filled have found the original fill to be a quart or more low.

ZF sells to how many different manufacturers? I would be very surprised if they were skimping on the Unicorn fluid.

If most of their customers mount the transmission level with the frame, they likely have a suitable SOP for fluid fills.

Mopar tilts the transmission when mounting in Jeep and Ram trucks, adds a cooler and fluid lines.
My money is on Mopar for skimping on the fluid, not ZF.

.