Best Price...Auto Tranny Change Kit and Fluid?

[DanW]

Yeah and when your way over 60k as I was at 130k and then change the transmission I think to me logic says go back with the OEM fluid again.

Elaborate please? So you used Red Line D6 and had to replace your transmission?

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[Stan H]

Elaborate please? So you used Red Line D6 and had to replace your transmission?

Nope stayed with Mopar 8&9 speed fluid . Because I replaced the transmission and wanted to make sure it was going to last as long as the first one did.
I aint taking chances on redline.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Nope stayed with Mopar 8&9 speed fluid . Because I replaced the transmission and wanted to make sure it was going to last as long as the first one did.
I aint taking chances on redline.

I still am waiting on a solid "why do people not use the recommended fluid".
But so far, there's no logic or science or evidence of anything. Noting solid you can point to.

I have yet to see a valid reason to switch.

 

[DanW]

I still am waiting on a solid "why do people not use the recommended fluid".
But so far, there's no logic or science or evidence of anything. Noting solid you can point to.

I have yet to see a valid reason to switch.

That said, the easy, and yes, logical, to stick with the factory recommended fluid. Not debating that. But at least in the case of Max Life, price is a valid reason and there is plenty of data out there with it getting along just fine with this transmission.

I´ve been crawling all over Ram forums and even BMW, more out of curiosity than anything... and I´ve seen many running Max Life with no issues and high mileage. The question can also be asked, why not use Max Life? I see no science or evidence that it is not as good as the Mopar/ZF fluid.

Btw, do we even know who makes that fluid? I´d be curious to know.

As for D6, I have seen a few running Red Line in their ZF trannys. They were BMW´s and a Honda. None reported any ill effects and they claim they can feel a difference, which I know can possibly be a false sense or placebo effect. But nonetheless, no issues.

I´m probably going to stick with the Mopar fluid. But it is nice to see there are alternatives that appear to be viable.

 

[Stan H]

That said, the easy, and yes, logical, to stick with the factory recommended fluid. Not debating that. But at least in the case of Max Life, price is a valid reason and there is plenty of data out there with it getting along just fine with this transmission.

I´ve been crawling all over Ram forums and even BMW, more out of curiosity than anything... and I´ve seen many running Max Life with no issues and high mileage. The question can also be asked, why not use Max Life? I see no science or evidence that it is not as good as the Mopar/ZF fluid.

Btw, do we even know who makes that fluid? I´d be curious to know.

As for D6, I have seen a few running Red Line in their ZF trannys. They were BMW´s and a Honda. None reported any ill effects and they claim they can feel a difference, which I know can possibly be a false sense or placebo effect. But nonetheless, no issues.

I´m probably going to stick with the Mopar fluid. But it is nice to see there are alternatives that appear to be viable.

If I was on a overlanding trip and had a pan puncture or some awful crap and was able to get the leak stopped I would stick whatever was avaliable to get me back to a dealer . Probably valvoline.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

But at least in the case of Max Life, price is a valid reason

How many dollars would a person actually save?
Redline is $17/quart on Amazon, MOPAR/ZF 8&9 speed is $14.50 if you buy 7 quarts.

MAXLIFE is a different animal - there is a cost savings there, but I won't spend 60K on a vehicle, add the best accessories I can muster, and then save $40 bucks or whatever on maintenance of said vehicle.

I guess that's just me. If I spend that much on a truck, and cringe at the cost of maintenance, I bought the wrong vehicle. The other stuff may work fine (but you can't prove it has zero impact - not possible to prove) - but there's still no compelling reason to switch! And the ones that spend mega-bucks on pretty wheels, and things to dress them up are often the ones who then insist "fluid is too expensive!". How ironic.
Install things for the cool factor.......and balk at fluid cost.

I guess I'll never understand that.

 

[Hootbro]

I guess I'll never understand that.

Everybody has different logic models for the decisions they make.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Everybody has different logic models for the decisions they make.

And thus, my last statement.

 

[Stan H]

For example : I bought steel rims cause they are cheap easy to repaint & I bought 2 more since cause I bent them 150-170 is alot cheaper than 350-700 a piece.
Lift was bought for utilitarian purposes . I needed the height to traverse these raw gas Well Sites. Tires same deal. Do I enjoy the look , yep sure do . Does this lift get real world trail use -Yes 5 Days a week. Did I need a winch = nope .
Dies it look better lifted with a winch =yep
Have I used the winch = yes rarely though. Its good peace if mind and is super hand for loading heavy objects in the bed .
@Hootbro your right everyone has different logic for what they do , but I also have to say until someone's proves that Redline is as good as Mopar 8&9 then I would consider . It will also have to come with real world usage.
All you guys using redline.
Start a thread and keep us updated on mileage and performance of the transmissions.

 

[Hootbro]

@Hootbro your right everyone has different logic for what they do , but I also have to say until someone's proves that Redline is as good as Mopar 8&9 then I would consider . It will also have to come with real world usage.

That is problem with threads like this. Somebody makes the decision to use a non licensed alternate fluid and it become this "prove it to me it's better" when that is not the subject at hand.

 

[Stan H]

Yeah true @Hootbro Cheapest would be whichever "equivalent Spec" fluid is on sale at any given moment. Right now the 8&9 speed Mopar stuff can be found 14-15.50 a quart.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yeah true @Hootbro Cheapest would be whichever "equivalent Spec" fluid is on sale at any given moment. Right now the 8&9 speed Mopar stuff can be found 14-15.50 a quart.

Just don't use "because it's cheaper" crap as a reason after spending all of that money on the truck and all of the accessories. That's laughable for at least 2 reasons.

"Because I thought I'd try it" is at least some sort of reason.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yeah true @Hootbro Cheapest would be whichever "equivalent Spec" fluid is on sale at any given moment. Right now the 8&9 speed Mopar stuff can be found 14-15.50 a quart.

When I make a list of pros and cons - usually in my head, but sometimes on paper, the pros to switching would have nothing.
I won't consider price unless it's a crazy difference. If you can't afford what's recommended, you bought the wrong vehicle. Don't spend $600 on a chain saw and then run a no-name Walmart chain on it and cheap used engine oil for the bar lube.
The cons are not really provable but are "iffy" enough that they would offset the pro side, which really has nothing other than money on an already crazy expensive vehicle.

That's my logic, anyway.
There are no pros.
There are "maybe" cons.
So the sides are fairly even, with the cons weighing just a bit more.

I've fought warranty claims over the years to the point I wanted to slap people around and I will leave nothing to chance on a drivetrain warranty.
Even after the warranty expires - there's a warranty on replacements.

So there's MY logic and reasoning.

If you can't afford to maintain it, why did you buy it?
That's what our government does with all roads and buildings and bridges - we'll talk people into letting us build them, but then won't set anything aside for maintenance.
So you must be a government worker.

 

[Stan H]

When I make a list of pros and cons - usually in my head, but sometimes on paper, the pros to switching would have nothing.
I won't consider price unless it's a crazy difference. If you can't afford what's recommended, you bought the wrong vehicle. Don't spend $600 on a chain saw and then run a no-name Walmart chain on it and cheap used engine oil for the bar lube.
The cons are not really provable but are "iffy" enough that they would offset the pro side, which really has nothing other than money on an already crazy expensive vehicle.

That's my logic, anyway.
There are no pros.
There are "maybe" cons.
So the sides are fairly even, with the cons weighing just a bit more.

I've fought warranty claims over the years to the point I wanted to slap people around and I will leave nothing to chance on a drivetrain warranty.
Even after the warranty expires - there's a warranty on replacements.

So there's MY logic and reasoning.

If you can't afford to maintain it, why did you buy it?
That's what our government does with all roads and buildings and bridges - we'll talk people into letting us build them, but then won't set anything aside for maintenance.
So you must be a government worker.

Not me lol , I find what ypur saying to line up with my thinking about it.
I am same way even though I was way way out of warranty and still am I still went back factory recommended.
Now what would you do in an emergency case though. Far away from a dealer , hole in pan repaired etc etc..

What I also know is that the ones switching to Redline are going to havr to change fluid 3 or 4 times to be completely of their new preference.
Redline is the ones that say will " mix" with factory fluid. uh not me . Nope no sir .

 

[Hootbro]

I use MaxLife ATF because it is cheaper and support two other vehicles with it. What is wrong with that?

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