What's new
By:
Ram Heavy Duty Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

68rfe fluid change

Toyotaguy

Toyotaguy

Active Member
Messages
110
Reaction score
170
Points
43
Location
California
I know there are a bunch of thread on servicing 68rfe but I want to make sure I’m not crazy or don’t mess anything up.

Truck is a 21 6.7 SO 68rfe 150,000 miles I serviced my transmission today, both filters and 7 quarts of atv 4 purchased from the dealer.

I did check the 4x4 sump filter, it is correct.

First thing I ran into is the pan gasket. It’s supposed to be rtv, but my pan had what appeared to be a resusable rubber seal on it. This transmission has been serviced before but it was by the dealer. Did some web searching couldn’t find anything so I went ahead cleaned up everything put the rtv on top of the rubber seal during reassembly.

The sump pump seal was a little bit of a bear to remove and get the new one fully seated but I did.

I pre filled the spin on filter and reinstalled.

As mentioned before I put Rtv over the gasket and reinstalled the pan.

Put it 6.4 quarts including what I put in the spin on down the dipstick tube. Started the truck, parking break on cycled through r,n,d 5 times, fluid level looked good. Awesome cleaned up my mess parked the truck.

Part of cleaning up my mess was degreasing and scrubbing the area around the transmission with degreaser and soft brush.

A few hours later, I took the truck into town everything was good/ normal until I was almost home about 30 miles later. Truck through 2 dtc p0871 and p0933. Still driving and shifting fine though.

So pop the hood and check the level and it’s not even on the dip stick. Where did it all go? Under the truck is 100% dry and clean underneath. So I added the rest of the quart I had so 7 total and the dip stick looked ok/ a little low. So I ran the truck around my country block about 3-5 miles no codes popped back up and it’s shifting fine. Check the dip stick and I’m barely on the bottom of the dipstick now.

Did I somehow managed to remove more than 7 quarts that normally comes out with dropping the pan and just need to top it off and check again after little more driving?

Anyone have any ideas? Obviously tomorrow’s the 4th so I’m going to struggle getting atf 4 from the dealer so I’m going to have to go to an auto parts store, any recommendations for fluid to mix with mopar atf 4?

This truck is supposed to be driving 500ish miles Monday and going camping pulling my camper up to Lake Tahoe 300 miles 1 way Wednesday.
 
Something I did just think about, the trans was still at operating temp when I took the pan off, could the thermostat have still been open allowing more fluid to drain out? Then by the time I was done with the fluid change it was closed with air trapped in the cooler. Then it and opened after my trip to town and drained down enough to dip pressure? I know these things hold like 2-3 gallons of fluid typically.
 
Keep adding fluid until it registers on the dipstick. If the codes return after the dipstick reads correctly then you need to worry.
 
Aftermarket ATF+4 will be fine. Don’t sweat it, go to the local parts store and buy another 3qts. Add 1/2 qt and double check the level. Keep adding until it reads correctly. I like to check the transmission level when it’s cold and on the high side of “Cold” if there’s an option. I’d rather have a little extra than a little short.
 
that’s the plan as of now. I’m just trying to figure out what I did wrong / different to be low on fluid after following the normal procedure.
 
Toyotaguy said:
that’s the plan as of now. I’m just trying to figure out what I did wrong / different to be low on fluid after following the normal procedure.
Click to expand...
Did you measure the amount that came out? On a container that has level readings?
 
Now that I think of it. I basically filled up my 10 quart drain pan and that doesn’t include the half a quart that missed the pan because ram was to cheap to put in a drain plug
 
Ended up with just over 8 quarts and it’s sitting just above the full hot mark at 165 degrees. After the last top off and test drive it seems to be shifting smoother. Hopefully I didn’t hurt anything in the transmission but driving it a quart and a half low on fluid.

Note for anyone changing your fluid. If you’re going to do it with the transmission hot, grab 2 extra quarts. Also after more research if the sump filter seal seems like it’s in good shape don’t replace it, it’s just an unnecessary pain in the ass.
 
Toyotaguy said:
Ended up with just over 8 quarts and it’s sitting just above the full hot mark at 165 degrees. After the last top off and test drive it seems to be shifting smoother. Hopefully I didn’t hurt anything in the transmission but driving it a quart and a half low on fluid.

Note for anyone changing your fluid. If you’re going to do it with the transmission hot, grab 2 extra quarts. Also after more research if the sump filter seal seems like it’s in good shape don’t replace it, it’s just an unnecessary pain in the ass.
Click to expand...
If you drop the pan you minus we’ll replace all the filters. I tell all my techs to always keep filling until it registers on the dipstick. Don’t ever go off the “service spec”.
 
Drove the truck another 50 miles, checked it when I got back home and the dip stick was dry again. Truck drove total fine and normal. I added another quart and a half to get it to hot full in neutral. I’m now in it 9.5 quarts. Bottom of the truck is still dry .
 
Toyotaguy said:
Drove the truck another 50 miles, checked it when I got back home and the dip stick was dry again. Truck drove total fine and normal. I added another quart and a half to get it to hot full in neutral. I’m now in it 9.5 quarts. Bottom of the truck is still dry .
Click to expand...
How did it end up being? I need to change mine and read your thread.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top