ZF 8HP Transmission Service

[typejeepgladiator]

Hi guys,

I’ve been reading up previously posted threads about the service interval for the 8 speed transmission in the JT and saw a lot of people doing 60k fluid service. I know Jeep says it’s lifetime and other people say to do it at 60k. Since I’ve wanted to confirm I reached out to ZF and they sent me this PDF that says

“ 5-, 6-, 8- and 9-speed as well as 4HP20 automatic transmissions:
ZF 5-, 6-, 8- and 9-speed as well as the ZF 4HP20 automatic transmissions are filled maintenance-free with specially developed
semi-synthetic ATF oils. However, due to the many factors influencing the service life of transmissions in individual operation, ZF
recommends an oil change after 150,000 km for its transmissions. In operating conditions with high temperatures and loads, or
with unknown vehicle use in the past, it can make sense to change the transmission oil at shorter intervals.
In each case, only released ATF oil may be used for oil changes. And oil changes must be performed in accordance with the
relevant specifications. The exception is the ZF 5HP18 automatic transmission which must be filled differently depending on the
version.”


Just an FYI.

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[Mr._Bill]

The 850RE transmission (paired with the 3.6L V6) is manufactured by Stellantis under license from ZF. They designed the transmission, and have their service recommendations, but that is all. Jeep provides the warranty, not ZF. Jeep says it is a lifetime fill and needs no service, under normal operating conditions.

You have to evaluate your situation and decide if your use case is one that would require the transmission to be serviced. For the 'average' JT owner, there appears to be no need for it.

 

[g2020]

Hi guys,

I’ve been reading up previously posted threads about the service interval for the 8 speed transmission in the JT....

I agree with Mr._Bill's statement in principle.

Please see my post on ATF Equivalents. It covers ZF docs, the owner's manual, and other key considerations. To start, see doc #s 1 and 2, and 5 thru 7.

Also see the section called Service Interval, under "Key Considerations on ATF for Automatic Transmission", in the same post.

Keep in mind that many members of and visitors to this forum take their vehicles off-road and, by necessity, do a pan drop / transmission service early. A daily driver, or a vehicle that is never taken off-road, falls into a different transmission service category.

 

[Mr Miami]

It's not surprising that Stellantis says that it is lifetime fluid since once it passes the 60k mile warranty, the buyer is on his/her own. ZF is taking a long-term vision and takes pride in its ability to produce rugged and long-lasting products. If the transmission and engine crap out after (you pick a number) 150k miles, Stellantis is more than happy and ready to supply a brand new vehicle. Why have the vehicle last longer?

 

[Stan H]

It's not surprising that Stellantis says that it is lifetime fluid since once it passes the 60k mile warranty, the buyer is on his/her own. ZF is taking a long-term vision and takes pride in its ability to produce rugged and long-lasting products. If the transmission and engine crap out after (you pick a number) 150k miles, Stellantis is more than happy and ready to supply a brand new vehicle. Why have the vehicle last longer?

Why have they lasted longer ? Is that what your asking ?

 

[Mr Miami]

Why have they lasted longer ? Is that what your asking ?

It was a rhetorical question asking why would Stellantis care about the vehicle after some extended mileage like 150k (or 125k for that matter). Since ZF is recommending 150km (90k miles) fluid changes, ZF is talking about having the transmission last much longer than that. On the other hand, Stellantis wouldn't give a rat's ass on what happens that far out, only looking at it as another sales opportunity if it fails.

 

[Stan H]

It was a rhetorical question asking why would Stellantis care about the vehicle after some extended mileage like 150k (or 125k for that matter). Since ZF is recommending 150km (90k miles) fluid changes, ZF is talking about having the transmission last much longer than that. On the other hand, Stellantis wouldn't give a rat's ass on what happens that far out, only looking at it as another sales opportunity if it fails.

Yeah ,Truth if I ever heard . It I'm sitting at 142,389 and as I see it Benny @AllMoparParts.com is liking me real well this year cause I have done alot of renewal and tune-up stuff.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

My Grand Cherokee went 280,000 miles on an unopened ZF8.

My Ram went 445,000 miles on an unopened ZF8.

My Gladiator is at 52,000 miles and I have zero intention to ever open it.

Everytime I buy a new one, it comes with new fluid.

 

[Stuntman Mike]

Have posted this some time ago in a similiar thread.

A friend of mine is working in ZF and was part of the team designing the ZF8.

He strongly recommends to do an oil change at 80-90 thousand kilometers. It is not mandatory but keeps the original smooth shifting.

 

[mpboxer]

According to the info above it’s overkill, but I did mine at 50K miles. Well, dealer did it. I brought them the parts from the online Mopar store and they charged 1.5 hrs labor. I had dealer do it while under factory warranty and I wanted to do it then since I still had 10K miles left of powertrain warranty. I noticed smoother, crisper shifting. I think I was all in $400. I hope to keep this truck a long time.

 

[mpboxer]

My Grand Cherokee went 280,000 miles on an unopened ZF8.

My Ram went 445,000 miles on an unopened ZF8.

My Gladiator is at 52,000 miles and I have zero intention to ever open it.

Everytime I buy a new one, it comes with new fluid.

That’s incredible! I hope my truck lasts that long.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The 850RE transmission (paired with the 3.6L V6) is manufactured by Stellantis under license from ZF. They designed the transmission, and have their service recommendations, but that is all. Jeep provides the warranty, not ZF. Jeep says it is a lifetime fill and needs no service, under normal operating conditions.

You have to evaluate your situation and decide if your use case is one that would require the transmission to be serviced. For the 'average' JT owner, there appears to be no need for it.

And heeeeeere we go again...............

The actual number from ZF is 93,000 miles, not 90,000km.
It's 150,000 km.
This is straight from ZF, not Jeep
Look at the "in principal" sentence. To me that means if you are an ordinary Joe and don't tow and don't go off-road, you can go 100,000 miles, but "due to many factors" -that's the ONLY reason they say do it sooner. That part is important to understand - ZF builds them and specs the fluid to last a lifetime, but because they can't control all conditions - "due to many factors" -
It's reading comprehension - understand what is actually being said or meant, not just looking at the words. Look at the intent of those words.

 

[Stuntman Mike]

And heeeeeere we go again...............

The actual number from ZF is 93,000 miles, not 90,000km.
It's 150,000 km.

The 90000 km which I mentioned came from a ZF employee and is not an official ZF recommendation.

I assume that the oil change after 90000 miles is better than no oil change and I also assume that ZF gave this number to be a little bit more in line whith the livetime oil filling which the most car OEMs are stating.

Nevertheless, I will change the oil at arround 55000 miles.

 

[brsnow2585]

I call shenanigans on both, they both want to sell or lease you a new "lifetime" vehicle every 3-4 years. I'd still have my '14 Cherokee as a second vehicle, but I asked about transmission service at about 120k miles and they said bluntly NO, they'd have to pull the engine to get at the transmission fill hole..... That's paraphrase but not far off..... Shenanigans

 

[Jrgunn5150]

I call shenanigans on both, they both want to sell or lease you a new "lifetime" vehicle every 3-4 years. I'd still have my '14 Cherokee as a second vehicle, but I asked about transmission service at about 120k miles and they said bluntly NO, they'd have to pull the engine to get at the transmission fill hole..... That's paraphrase but not far off..... Shenanigans

And yet I, and hundreds of thousands of others, managed to have our ZF8's last the lifetime of the vehicle just fine without service.

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