Hey "EZ" a question on the ZF8 transmission

[Kevin D Pem]

@"EZ" Because you are our RAM man and because you have the 1500RAM with 8 speed and what you have posted my guess is your pushing 200,000 miles, correct me if I'm wrong. How often if ever have you replaced the Trans fluid?

 

["EZ"]

I've never kept a vehicle for 200k in my life! I think you've added the mileage together from 3 of my trucks. I do have a 2013 Ram 1500 that I've kept because I like it so much and it's paid for. But I'm about to sell it I think. It has 76k miles on it. It has the Hemi and a 6 sp auto in it. Then I had a company car that was owned by the company. It was a Chrysler 300. It had the 8 sp in it and I put 150k on it before turning it in. Never touched the trans. Just kept the oil and filters changed in the engine. Then there's my 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the Hemi and the 8 sp auto that I own. But it only has 19k miles on it. And my 2019 Ram 1500 "Company Vehicle" that I own but the company pays me $800/mo to use making sales calls for them. It only has 16k miles on it because they put a travel ban on all us outside salesmen in March of this year. So, I've been working from home all year. I don't care as long as they keep those $800/month checks coming in to pay for the new truck they made me buy when they switched us from Company Cars to a Car Allowance.

But to answer your question there is no fluid changing schedule for the new ZF 8 speed trans. It uses a synthetic oil that is good for the "lifetime" of the transmission. I think I'd have it checked at the Dealer if I was going to keep the vehicle forever and was up to 100k miles.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I've never kept a vehicle for 200k in my life! I think you've added the mileage together from 3 of my trucks. I do have a 2013 Ram 1500 that I've kept because I like it so much and it's paid for. But I'm about to sell it I think. It has 76k miles on it. It has the Hemi and a 6 sp auto in it. Then I had a company car that was owned by the company. It was a Chrysler 300. It had the 8 sp in it and I put 150k on it before turning it in. Never touched the trans. Just kept the oil and filters changed in the engine. Then there's my 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the Hemi and the 8 sp auto that I own. But it only has 19k miles on it. And my 2019 Ram 1500 "Company Vehicle" that I own but the company pays me $800/mo to use making sales calls for them. It only has 16k miles on it because they put a travel ban on all us outside salesmen in March of this year. So, I've been working from home all year. I don't care as long as they keep those $800/month checks coming in to pay for the new truck they made me buy when they switched us from Company Cars to a Car Allowance.

But to answer your question there is no fluid changing schedule for the new ZF 8 speed trans. It uses a synthetic oil that is good for the "lifetime" of the transmission. I think I'd have it checked at the Dealer if I was going to keep the vehicle forever and was up to 100k miles.

yah I added up the 50k yr. in the post you mentioned 12' 1500 and not the others. The 300 is of interest however 150k no trans maintenance. I am easy on transmissions as attested by the 94dakota with 230k with 3speed/wOD I traded in for the RAM I now have. I usually run them till they won't but the Dakota was still running strong when I got present truck. Understanding what kills them, and doing all my own work I really don't know how long they will last.

The high cost of trans filter ( built in part of oil pan), and quart price for fluid. I just wanted to know what you did about fluid change. Mine is running like new with 68k mostly towing, and figure it will for some time, but many forums are suggesting fluid change about this time, no matter what Chrysler recommends.

 

["EZ"]

yah I added up the 50k yr. in the post you mentioned 12' 1500 and not the others. The 300 is of interest however 150k no trans maintenance. I am easy on transmissions as attested by the 94dakota with 230k with 3speed/wOD I traded in for the RAM I now have. I usually run them till they won't but the Dakota was still running strong when I got present truck. Understanding what kills them, and doing all my own work I really don't know how long they will last.

The high cost of trans filter ( built in part of oil pan), and quart price for fluid. I just wanted to know what you did about fluid change. Mine is running like new with 68k mostly towing, and figure it will for some time, but many forums are suggesting fluid change about this time, no matter what Chrysler recommends.

Well, I bought the bumper to bumper extended warranty on this new pickup strictly because of the expense I know it will be to change out the transmission if it fails. (Dealers tell me they don't work on them they just send them back as a core and bolt in a new one) So, Ram will get to pay for a new transmission if it goes out. Supposedly it's lubed for life. But I'm supposed to change vehicles at least every 5 years or 200k miles according to the new car allowance agreement. At 50k miles per year I'll be at the end of my 5 yr/200k warranty about the time I trade it for a new one. If the owners manual says don't change the fluid I'm not going to. I think that's just asking for trouble. Supposedly that fluid is really something! Did you know it glows under a UV lamp so they can trace leaks without having to remove the pan or add dye to the fluid??

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Supposedly that fluid is really something! Did you know it glows under a UV lamp so they can trace leaks without having to remove the pan or add dye to the fluid??

Before I buy I spend time reading owner stories and mechanic answers. At this time if I were looking for a truck I would want the most trouble free without any issues. Seems that Ram owners are the quiet ones. The five biggest problem reports on You tube are trivial items. You can bet that I wouldn't buy any other truck than the one I did.

I knew that Rolls uses the transmission as well as BMW. And I know the fluid glows under UV but I figured it has more to do with warranty issues when someone tries to save a buck. I also know the trans is heated at startup and the fluid never leaves the locality of the transmission. The tubes going from the radiator carry engine coolant, to a heat exchanger on the side of the trans. I watched a you tube on the rebuilding of the thing, it is amazing. The professor couldn't even explain the power flow in the system. He also said the valve body is not rebuild-able. The thing is a rock. I would have to look at electronic connections if I started having any problems (the major reason I bought the truck).

 

["EZ"]

Before I buy I spend time reading owner stories and mechanic answers. At this time if I were looking for a truck I would want the most trouble free without any issues. Seems that Ram owners are the quiet ones. The five biggest problem reports on You tube are trivial items. You can bet that I wouldn't buy any other truck than the one I did.

I knew that Rolls uses the transmission as well as BMW. And I know the fluid glows under UV but I figured it has more to do with warranty issues when someone tries to save a buck. I also know the trans is heated at startup and the fluid never leaves the locality of the transmission. The tubes going from the radiator carry engine coolant, to a heat exchanger on the side of the trans. I watched a you tube on the rebuilding of the thing, it is amazing. The professor couldn't even explain the power flow in the system. He also said the valve body is not rebuild-able. The thing is a rock. I would have to look at electronic connections if I started having any problems (the major reason I bought the truck).

I love the 8 sp trans. I just drove to my office in Atlanta from Chattanooga, TN. and back. I got 21.6 MPG. Luckily there was little traffic in Atlanta today because the start and stop traffic always lowers the total some. But for a 4 door Ram 1500 truck with a Hemi V8 engine that's pretty good! My other Ram 1500 has the same engine but has the 6 speed auto. It does good to get 13 MPG on the highway. That is a world of difference!! Even though my company buys all my gas it's still nice to know I'm saving the company money. We have to buy our own gas in the Jepp Grand Cherokee with the same drive train. I love the power and fuel economy we're getting in that one too. We drove the V6 Grand Cherokee but it just didn't have the same get up and go I had in the Chrysler 300. The 4wd GC must weigh a lot more because I thought that 300 HP V6 was a GREAT engine in the car. I loved it! But not so much in the SUV. That Hemi is the way to go there. And the 8 sp. trans too of course!