Maximus Gladius
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Kevin
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2021
- Threads
- 40
- Messages
- 1,683
- Reaction score
- 1,989
- Location
- Calgary, AB, Canada
- Vehicle(s)
- 2021 Gladiator Rubicon
- Occupation
- Construction, Gold Mining, Surface Engineer
- Thread starter
- #1
FCA CANADA CASE# 83054194
You read the title correctly, AMSOIL does state in all their American advertisements that their oil will not void warranty and they even sell it up here in Canada and provide the same paper work and claims but I’ll be the first to tell openly, the use of their data sheet “specification compliant” oil for your 8 speed 850RE transmission or any other ZF transmission WILL have your warranty tossed out because the ZF manufacturer does not approve of AMSOIL.
AMSOIL states on their data sheet “use AMSOIL if the below specifications are required” and then lists a multitude of specification code numbers, specifically for the ZF auto transmissions Chrysler/MOPARChrysler MOPAR* 68157995AA (Mopar ZF 8 & 9 Speed ATF), SP-IV, 68218925AB.
Here’s my story, my 2021 Gladiator transmission imploded at 32,814k kms, end of December 2021. I’ve been without my truck since then but still making its payments.
Back in the fall of 2021 I took a trip to BC with the wife. The transmission started to whine during the trip at about 20k kms. I didn’t know at the time it was coming from there but later on when the transmission imploded, the whine stopped. Most likely the screen was plugged, starving the pump. When we got home, I took an oil sample from the transmission and took it to the lab for analysis. Lab ALERTED to glycol contamination from the factory, copper and iron metal numbers were at extreme levels and stated that I needed to change the oil and filter. I did, but not before talking with my service manager who instructed me to “drive it into the ground, I have a good warranty OR we can do 2 pan drops at $3400 to get the glycol out.” He said Chrysler would not pay for this as they wouldn’t see this transmission as “broken”. He also did not have me bring the truck in through service to have FCA make that decision. I should have insisted, I trusted him. (First mistake)
The owners manual states to change oil and filter in the transmission if it becomes contaminated with water ECT and also states in the lube section in the manual to “use only Mopar 8/9 Speed ATF, or equivalent”. I’ve used AMSOIL for many years and decided to have the transmission flushed and oil upgraded to AMSOIL FUEL-EFFICIENT ATF if it complied with the specifications for this transmission. AMSOIL said it did and showed me their data sheet that contained the codes. So I went ahead and had the flush done and AMSOIL put in. (Second mistake)
The transmission ran wonderfully for the next 8k kms except for the whine. The transmission ran cooler, shifted smoother and any shudderings I had, went away. At 32k, transmission wouldn’t come out of park and blew some codes. I had it towed to the dealership and was called by the service assistant manager at that time that they suggested I have them do 2 pan drops at $3400 to get the AMSOIL out before they inform Chrysler that I had AMSOIL in there. I said NO, tell them, the oil meets the codes. I also had a second oil sample analysis done. Glycol was gone but copper and iron metal counts was extreme.
Chrysler was informed and my warranty was axed and complaint was filed with FCA Canada January 3rd, 2022. The service manager quit his job and moved on. 6 months of many emails, phone calls to FCA and AMSOIL dug up a lot of drama and at the end of it all I had to write the president/CEO of Stalantis and his executives asking for help.
An investigation was done by FCA Canada and after 3 weeks, they called to say ZF does not approve of AMSOIL and warranty was denied. They dismissed lab results saying I decided to self diagnose. AMSOIL said their oil did not damage the transmission and would not allow a claim to replace transmission. I told them if they would have provided a warning on their data sheet that ZF will void my warranty for using their oil, I would not have used AMSOIL. Their data sheet is deceptive and not accurate and information in it can not be taken as safe to use. AMSOIL further suggested that once the transmission gets replaced, to not use their oil until the warranty expires.
I made mistakes his time from many years of looking after my vehicles. At the end of the day, I should have insisted FCA engineers look at the transmission and I should have let it die but I didn’t know if this would have done so after warranty. I expressed serious concern to my dealership and they did not handle it right.
I spoke with another service manager in town that questioned how glycol could have gotten in the transmission and he had me tow the truck to him so he could check out the coolers. They were both fine after pressure and heat tests were done. He said antifreeze was deliberately put in there at the factory, there’s no other explanation. I’ll be getting out of this truck once I get this fixed. (There’s still my issue with the engine consuming coolant at 10-12ounces every oil change duration) FCA doesn’t have a problem with this either.
We live, we learn, we make better choices.
You read the title correctly, AMSOIL does state in all their American advertisements that their oil will not void warranty and they even sell it up here in Canada and provide the same paper work and claims but I’ll be the first to tell openly, the use of their data sheet “specification compliant” oil for your 8 speed 850RE transmission or any other ZF transmission WILL have your warranty tossed out because the ZF manufacturer does not approve of AMSOIL.
AMSOIL states on their data sheet “use AMSOIL if the below specifications are required” and then lists a multitude of specification code numbers, specifically for the ZF auto transmissions Chrysler/MOPARChrysler MOPAR* 68157995AA (Mopar ZF 8 & 9 Speed ATF), SP-IV, 68218925AB.
Here’s my story, my 2021 Gladiator transmission imploded at 32,814k kms, end of December 2021. I’ve been without my truck since then but still making its payments.
Back in the fall of 2021 I took a trip to BC with the wife. The transmission started to whine during the trip at about 20k kms. I didn’t know at the time it was coming from there but later on when the transmission imploded, the whine stopped. Most likely the screen was plugged, starving the pump. When we got home, I took an oil sample from the transmission and took it to the lab for analysis. Lab ALERTED to glycol contamination from the factory, copper and iron metal numbers were at extreme levels and stated that I needed to change the oil and filter. I did, but not before talking with my service manager who instructed me to “drive it into the ground, I have a good warranty OR we can do 2 pan drops at $3400 to get the glycol out.” He said Chrysler would not pay for this as they wouldn’t see this transmission as “broken”. He also did not have me bring the truck in through service to have FCA make that decision. I should have insisted, I trusted him. (First mistake)
The owners manual states to change oil and filter in the transmission if it becomes contaminated with water ECT and also states in the lube section in the manual to “use only Mopar 8/9 Speed ATF, or equivalent”. I’ve used AMSOIL for many years and decided to have the transmission flushed and oil upgraded to AMSOIL FUEL-EFFICIENT ATF if it complied with the specifications for this transmission. AMSOIL said it did and showed me their data sheet that contained the codes. So I went ahead and had the flush done and AMSOIL put in. (Second mistake)
The transmission ran wonderfully for the next 8k kms except for the whine. The transmission ran cooler, shifted smoother and any shudderings I had, went away. At 32k, transmission wouldn’t come out of park and blew some codes. I had it towed to the dealership and was called by the service assistant manager at that time that they suggested I have them do 2 pan drops at $3400 to get the AMSOIL out before they inform Chrysler that I had AMSOIL in there. I said NO, tell them, the oil meets the codes. I also had a second oil sample analysis done. Glycol was gone but copper and iron metal counts was extreme.
Chrysler was informed and my warranty was axed and complaint was filed with FCA Canada January 3rd, 2022. The service manager quit his job and moved on. 6 months of many emails, phone calls to FCA and AMSOIL dug up a lot of drama and at the end of it all I had to write the president/CEO of Stalantis and his executives asking for help.
An investigation was done by FCA Canada and after 3 weeks, they called to say ZF does not approve of AMSOIL and warranty was denied. They dismissed lab results saying I decided to self diagnose. AMSOIL said their oil did not damage the transmission and would not allow a claim to replace transmission. I told them if they would have provided a warning on their data sheet that ZF will void my warranty for using their oil, I would not have used AMSOIL. Their data sheet is deceptive and not accurate and information in it can not be taken as safe to use. AMSOIL further suggested that once the transmission gets replaced, to not use their oil until the warranty expires.
I made mistakes his time from many years of looking after my vehicles. At the end of the day, I should have insisted FCA engineers look at the transmission and I should have let it die but I didn’t know if this would have done so after warranty. I expressed serious concern to my dealership and they did not handle it right.
I spoke with another service manager in town that questioned how glycol could have gotten in the transmission and he had me tow the truck to him so he could check out the coolers. They were both fine after pressure and heat tests were done. He said antifreeze was deliberately put in there at the factory, there’s no other explanation. I’ll be getting out of this truck once I get this fixed. (There’s still my issue with the engine consuming coolant at 10-12ounces every oil change duration) FCA doesn’t have a problem with this either.
We live, we learn, we make better choices.
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