First Transmission Drain and Fill

[g2020]

That depends on if it was sitting or hot among other factors.

All responses are in a way, speculation, not having been there to know how much came out and the exact conditions.
8 would seem high - however, it's a guess as to exactly how it was done

These dry take 9 to 10 quarts, depending on cooler and so on.

Typical for a drain and refill is 5 to 7 quarts. (yes, it varies that much)

If you give them the benefit of the doubt, it's still likely 1 quart over.

This also applies to the reply from Maximus Gladius.

Drop-off: New Year's Eve (for other, warranty repairs)
Work started: Yesterday (Mon 1/5)
Engine temperature: Stone cold
Pick-up: Today

Not worried about the extra quart, if it was indeed "extra". He only charged me for an hour of labor. Gotta pick your battles.

To confirm your estimate of the capacity, the internal dealer spec sheet lists a capacity of 9.5 quarts.

Repeating my lesson learned, always check the number of quarts (six or seven).

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[Maximus Gladius]

This also applies to the reply from Maximus Gladius.

Drop-off: New Year's Eve (for other, warranty repairs)
Work started: Yesterday (Mon 1/5)
Engine temperature: Stone cold
Pick-up: Today

Not worried about the extra quart, if it was indeed "extra". He only charged me for an hour of labor. Gotta pick your battles.

To confirm your estimate of the capacity, the internal dealer spec sheet lists a capacity of 9.5 quarts.

Repeating my lesson learned, always check the number of quarts (six or seven).

From my own personal experience (not speculating from my couch) of 8 pan drops over 5 of these transmissions, I will buy 7 quarts for the job and by the time I’m done, I’ve used 5.5-6 quarts and will have 1 -1.5 quarts sitting on the shelf for next time. I’ve never dropped the pan hot so can’t and won’t speculate other than if a transmission is hot (truck is driven there and they work on it right away), pan is dropped with hot oil in it, torque converter has the hot oil in it and the fresh oil is cold going in the reinstalled pan and then you have engine start up and the cold has to mix with the hot …. Maybe by the time the cold and hot mix, the tranny temp is too hot to do a proper level check. I just wouldn’t do it that way.

I remember taking my 21 JTR in one day and they decided to do a level check but the transmission temp was at 90c (194F). They did the check and gave it back and said all was good. …HOW??! The level check was to be at 30c-35c, maybe even at 50c, tops, not 90c.

 

[Hootbro]

Question: Did the dealer pad the number of quarts? (Are too many quarts listed on the invoice?)

I just had a pan drop done at my selling dealer. They used genuine MOPAR parts and not BG substitutes.

Everything on the invoice looks good except the volume of ATF (8 quarts). Is this out of line, or is it possible that the tech actually used 8 quarts for a pan drop? I was expecting to see 6 or 7 quarts.

I bought my vehicle in Sep '19, the odometer reads 52,000 miles, and this is the first pan drop. I use my vehicle as a daily driver (no off-road use). On a related note, I drained & filled the transfer case myself last year.

Shifting has improved significantly.

Some dealers are a bit douchey. If they put in 7.1 quarts, they are going to upcharge you for the whole quart regardless and probably had a partial quart laying around from some other service prior.

 

[jac04]

... I will buy 7 quarts for the job and by the time I’m done, I’ve used 5.5-6 quarts and will have 1 -1.5 quarts sitting on the shelf for next time.

I bought 7Q and ended up using about 5.5Q. Instead of having the ~1.5Q extra fluid sit on my shelf for 4-5 years, I drove about 20 miles, let it cool, pulled the fill plug (which drains about 1.5Q) and then re-filled to proper level using proper procedure. When all was said & done, I ended up with .25Q left over.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

I bought 7Q and ended up using about 5.5Q. Instead of having the ~1.5Q extra fluid sit on my shelf for 4-5 years, I drove about 20 miles, let it cool, pulled the fill plug (which drains about 1.5Q) and then re-filled to proper level using proper procedure. When all was said & done, I ended up with .25Q left over.

Sounds about right. I do my pan drops annually, nobody has to, it’s just me, but I do see the benefits.

 

[JTGuy]

I have 7 qts of the ZF fluid and the PPE pan. I just need a way to get the fluid into the trans fill hole. Just a way to get a hose on the ZF quart bottle would do it. Don't want an expensive pump. I'll take the magnets out of the factory pan and put them in the new PPE.

 

[Hootbro]

I have 7 qts of the ZF fluid and the PPE pan. I just need a way to get the fluid into the trans fill hole. Just a way to get a hose on the ZF quart bottle would do it. Don't want an expensive pump. I'll take the magnets out of the factory pan and put them in the new PPE.

How are you going to transfer magnets from the factory steel pan and attach to the aluminum PPE pan?

 

[Stan H]

I have 7 qts of the ZF fluid and the PPE pan. I just need a way to get the fluid into the trans fill hole. Just a way to get a hose on the ZF quart bottle would do it. Don't want an expensive pump. I'll take the magnets out of the factory pan and put them in the new PPE.

Are you going to industrially glue them in place ? On the outside or inside ? Is there a new attachment point ?

 

[Vtur]

Mine 8hp75 took 5.7qt. Drained cold.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

I have 7 qts of the ZF fluid and the PPE pan. I just need a way to get the fluid into the trans fill hole. Just a way to get a hose on the ZF quart bottle would do it. Don't want an expensive pump. I'll take the magnets out of the factory pan and put them in the new PPE.

Epoxy a fishing magnet to the outside of the pan and you’re golden. That’ll keep the iron out of circulation.

 

[jac04]

...I just need a way to get the fluid into the trans fill hole. Just a way to get a hose on the ZF quart bottle would do it. Don't want an expensive pump. ...

Get some tygon tube, then make a hole in the cap that is slightly smaller than the tube. Warm up the tube a little bit and feed it through the hole in the cap. I've done this a bunch of times and it works great.

Just watch out when you are doing the 'warm' fill with the engine running. The fluid bottles (at least the Mopar ones) are fairly thin and if you touch the exhaust pipe it will melt a hole in the bottle very quickly.

 

[berb]

4 transmissions later in 75k kms, the fluid levels were spot on in all of them. What the heck was going on with them ??? had me learning the fluid level technique in under 30 min.

It takes more time now waiting for the temps to get to the right place then it is to get the truck raised and level things up. In every case of the 4 transmissions levels were too high to begin with and was corrected and in every failure and brought in, (except the 4th transmission I have now that’s awesome) the tech determined the fluid levels were good.

The condition of these transmissions (the whine I was hearing in 1st and 2nd) had me diligent and doing oil analysis reports every 5-10k to watch the wear numbers so I had to be good at knowing how to check the level’s correctly.

The relationship with Chrysler and two dealerships started off very heated and rocky but now that I found the dealership I trust to handle my drivetrain concerns and the relationship with Chrysler has advanced so much better, there is respect that’s given in both directions.

Basically, the law suit didn’t materialize because it would have taken 2 years to get to court, because of COVID delays. My insurance company, at that time, approved replacing the engine and first transmission.

I think because all of my mechanical issues (2 engines, 3 transmissions and 3 power steering pumps) all happened during Covid (4th transmission is new, outside Covid), quality issues in employees, manufacturing, supply and control was out the window and a lot of these components had issues.

I hope they gave you an extended warranty for your troubles. When they had my Gladiator for a month when they had to replace the transmission, they compensated me with a Max Care warranty taking me to 110,000 miles.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

I hope they gave you an extended warranty for your troubles. When they had my Gladiator for a month when they had to replace the transmission, they compensated me with a Max Care warranty taking me to 110,000 miles.

Nope, Chrysler didn’t care about my troubles. But that’s all behind me. Things are different now.

 

[4-Low]

When I do these 8 speeds, I install the Dorman pan. It's identical to OE in construction, but it has two important updates. One, it has replacement filter elements available. Two, it has a proper drain plug on the bottom of the pan.

For fluid I use Valvoline Max Life. It's ZF 8 and 9 speed compatible and costs WAY less money than the factory brand.

As far as fluid temp, I just wait until the middle of summer when ambient is 90F and do the job. That way there are no fancy tools need to measure fluid temp and there's no waiting around. Just do the job "cold" and fluid level will be perfect.

 

[Hootbro]

For fluid I use Valvoline Max Life. It's ZF 8 and 9 speed compatible and costs WAY less money than the factory brand.

You have done it now and have awaken the Kraken(s) that will be along shortly to eviscerate you.

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