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8 Speed 8HP70 Transmission Service

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#21 ·
Ram 1500 bighorn 2014 said:
I had a bad experience with that transmission. Who knows I may have had a lemon. Lol
Click to expand...
Haha pretty much everyone has had a bad experience with the 545rfe. I'm the exception, I drove mine very carefully from the beginning using it mostly as a three spd when driving hard.
 
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#22 ·
I only towed my bass boat,and I did my transmission service every 30,000. Also I drive like grandpa. The 8 speed the software was bad at first. I went got a diablo trinity haven't had a problem since. I bought my truck with a rebuilt title so I had no warranties or anything. It had 4300 miles when I bought it and that was the best decision I've ever made. It's got 36,000 now and haven't had a problem. Except software for tranny,and 3 way coolant valve P26A7 code lol and P26AB.
 
#24 ·
I did my transmission service. I will continue to do it every 40,000. My pan was filled with alot of metal shavings. Also my truck only has 37,000. My truck has been pre-owned. But anyways I was doing the service and the fluid was red! It's been changed before idk when. But anyways I suspect 10,12,000 miles ago. My filter was probally at capacity. ZF fluid is absolute garbage. I used amsoil OE because I plan on doing a complete flush. After that I'm using amsoil signature series. I use pennzoil ultra platinum 0w20 engine oil. I may switch over to amsoil,any suggestions? Oh yeah replaced the 3 way coolant valve and engine light did not go away. P26A7 engine code. I have a bad connection somewheres. A 4 year old could've came up with a better design.
 
#26 ·
Curious, is the metal aluminum or steel? Clutch disc material? there a magnet in the pan?
 
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#28 ·
Mostly steel,little brass. As you know brass isn't magnetic. My transmission had over 9.5 quarts of oil in it so it wasn't low or anything. I baby my truck. Someone who drives on hard I couldn't imagine how it would look. My truck has 37,000 miles. I almost back out changing it bc you know you can wait 75,000 up to 150,000 miles to change it. Most people don't change it. Here on out every 40,000 to 50,000 mine will be changed. Also I used the same exact parts number for the pan and filter,and theirs some slight differences in it. Anyways the truck drives the best since I had it. Shifting etc.
 
#29 ·
I've heard many and various opinions regarding the "Complete Flushing" of an automatic transmission...unfortunately I have seen a few that were 'serviced' when working within normal parameters end up being literally flushed down the crapper and in need of a major rebuild or replacement.
:facepalm:
 
#30 ·
Nothing is wrong with my transmission. I'm just stating what's inside the pan when you service the zf8hp70 transmission. After I serviced it its shifts perfectly now. I love this truck it's the complete package my only disappointments is the software behind it. The trinity fixed that. I'm only stating this is not a sealed for life transmission if you keep the truck for 10 years that's all. Transmissions have come along ways from the 545rfe lol
 
Discussion starter · #31 ·
Ram 1500: How did you go about refilling the transmission! Did you just add fluid until it come out the fill hole? I know I have read were the fluid needs to be a certain temp.

I added a spin/on filter to my 8HP70. Will do my first drain and fill at the 50,000 mile mark. At 100,000 miles I will drop the pan and add fresh fluid as well as a new spin on filter.
 

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Discussion starter · #32 ·
I have witnessed a few You-Tube videos of this transmission being serviced. Draining the pan is very easy with the plastic drain plug. Filling looks to be a nightmare. Quite along list of things to do to get the correct level back in.
 
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Discussion starter · #33 ·
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#34 ·
Yeah the filling process is the hardest part about it. On my truck part of the exhaust was in the way. 2014 ram 1500 5.7 2wd. Idk how the 4WD would be. But yeah there's a long list of directions you have to follow to fill it up correctly,also the temperature has to be right. Watch Shawn and his leakodiesel. He's got good directions on his videos on YouTube. But he's extremely over dramatic. He finally destroyed his leakodiesel by modifying it to much. His videos are entertainment that's why he disabled his comments lol.
 
#35 ·
I will at least drop the pan at certain intervals and check it. Also maybe you add new fluid depending if the pan and filter are not at capacity. Pan and filter is 350 luckily I got a discount. For transmission fluid I used amsoil OE because I plan on draining refilling one more time. I'm going to add Amsoil signature series on the next round. Amsoil is specifically designed for the zf 8hp70. Or at least one of their line up is.
 
Discussion starter · #37 · (Edited)
https://www.google.com/search?q=1/2...010A,cdl:1,cid:4726728810622995047&ved=0ahUKEwizhYrI4vvPAhUJwYMKHQEzCWsQgTYImQM

Here is where I started.
Hoses are 1/2" fittings are all 1/2 NPT

You can even use the side mounts

https://www.google.com/search?q=1/2...AFPVH72-yYMnCsfnmMA5fHJDOwYWvTFQ4Q&ved=0ahUKEwizhYrI4vvPAhUJwYMKHQEzCWsQgjYIogM

Then 2 of these

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/Brass...950.html&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping?gclid=CMaL_Mbj-88CFYc1aQodv14AQw

This kit makes it simple all you need is hose & hose spit connectors. Make sure to invest in some quality hose clamps.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=272369992410&globalID=EBAY-US

Hose connectors

http://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tnp...&CS_003=7867724&CS_010=48437297&mkwid=lqErQ4K6&gclid=CJWxjLDl-88CFQEyaQodQegPvg

This filter kit lets allows you to use over 100 different filters. Paper media or Synthetic

I also added a large Tru-Cool transmission cooler down stream of the filter but due to the coolant/transmission heat exchanger it might have been for nothing.
 
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Discussion starter · #38 · (Edited)
one question: Do you have the factory HD Transmission Cooler?

I plumbed my filter into the return line back to the transmission from the radiator cooler. I found the return line by using a Lazer thermal gun. Return line was cooler!

If you have the Factory HD Cooler I have no idea if the lines are plumbed the same.

I contacted ZF before I completed this. The tech I talked too thought it was a great idea and said the smaller micron filter should really extend the life of the ZF fluid along with extend the service intervals of the trans. As long as I plumbed the kit in on the return line.

I also have 4 very strong neodymium magnets on the outside of the filter & one ceramic coated neodymium magnet place inside the filter itself to catch and trap ANY metals shavings or particles from recirculating back into my 8HP70.
 
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#39 ·
Thanks I will invest in all that. After seeing my pan I will do anything to make it better. I plan on keeping my truck forever lol I love it. The zf fluid they put in these transmission is the same as the mopar 8 and 9 atf fluid. It's got a green tint to it. My opinion for only 37,000 miles it's flat out garbage. Granted the zf fluid had 37,000 miles on it,it looked burnt up. I baby my truck. Garage kept,never towed anything but a pontoon. I don't race my truck. I think the adaptive learn caused problems too bc when it was active my shifts were horrible. Get rid of it.After the amsoil OE it shifts better than ever. I'm going to drain the fluid out in 5,000 and replace it with Amsoil signature series. Depending on the pan and filter the most the 5.7 hemi can have in it is around 9 quarts. 8.8
 
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