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ZF Fluid change on 2019 2500 6.4

Gondul

Gondul

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Changed the transmission fluid @ 72K miles.
Minimal towing of the TT so I was ok with waiting this long.

Picked up a MOPAR filter as it came with new hardware (also had 4 magnets) and I couldn't really find a solid/consistent review on the Dorman (which apparently can have only 2 magents), wasn't interested in a metal/bigger pan.
Used AMSoil Signature Series Fuel-Efficient Synthetic ATF vs Lifeguard.
Original pan did indeed have a drain plug... dumped the old fluid and removed/installed the pan while it was cold and on the ground.
The Lifeguard smelled fine, though it was a bit of a darker green than what I see for new fluid online.

Jacked up the rear, and filled, ran the truck and 86-122 degrees was *plenty* of time to go through the procedure and get back under the truck to re-fill.

The only thing I will say is that I had to jack up the rear *a lot*... (yes, the driveway is pretty level) had to put a 4x4 on the floor jack to be able to get it high enough and even then I was a smidge off level. Also will be draining/refill one more time to get more of the old fluid out.

573103135_25166169026352856_7507775031013199677_n.jpg
 
Gondul said:
Transmission is supposed to be level... #1 on the list.

View attachment 90737
Click to expand...
Ok thanks for the answer
Hmm
Is the trans not level in the truck? Im confused. I feel like at the dealer they’re just gonna put it on a lift so how does this work?

To clarify, I’m not saying you’re doing it wrong. I just need to get under my truck and look at it and then I’ll understand probably
 
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Rockcrawlindude said:
Ok thanks for the answer
Hmm
Is the trans not level in the truck? Im confused. I feel like at the dealer they’re just gonna put it on a lift so how does this work?

To clarify, I’m not saying you’re doing it wrong. I just need to get under my truck and look at it and then I’ll understand probably
Click to expand...

100% understand...
I've seen the videos where they are at a service center of some type and they just have it on a lift so either they are doing it wrong or it doesn't matter (despite the instructions).
Honestly I'd rather just jack up the rear far enough to get the tires off the ground to go through the steps vs getting it up this high.
 
I leveled the pan rails on my 1/2 ton. Much easier to do since the truck doesn’t already start way higher off the ground. I suspect it’s not as sensitive to level as long as it’s close = why people get by with doing it with the truck level and not the trans.
 
Almost all vehicles with rear drive axles have some tilt to the transmission (front to back). For that matter so does the engine have the same tilt.

This decreases the angle of the driveline to the rear axle pinion.

It seems the fill port on the ZF should accommodate this but it seem like it doesn’t.

What happens when someone pulls the fill plug to check it will it pour out?
 
dieselscout80 said:
Almost all vehicles with rear drive axles have some tilt to the transmission (front to back). For that matter so does the engine have the same tilt.

This decreases the angle of the driveline to the rear axle pinion.

It seems the fill port on the ZF should accommodate this but it seem like it doesn’t.

What happens when someone pulls the fill plug to check it will it pour out?
Click to expand...
Yea but a little trans tilt and a little rake usually nets a pretty level trans on flat ground
 
Rockcrawlindude said:
more uneven as you lift the front. as @dieselscout80 pointed out the axis of the engine-trans-tcase typically is a little nose up, tail down.
Click to expand...
Figured, got it, just wanted to confirm.

I have never heard anyone ever doing this my whole life for a trans fluid changed so this is news to me.
 
Slutzk said:
Figured, got it, just wanted to confirm.

I have never heard anyone ever doing this my whole life for a trans fluid changed so this is news to me.
Click to expand...
This is mostly because of the dumb fill procedure you have to do with the ZF. If they had put a dipstick in it, we could have changed it the "normal" way.
 
oppizzippo said:
This is mostly because of the dumb fill procedure you have to do with the ZF. If they had put a dipstick in it, we could have changed it the "normal" way.
Click to expand...
Manufactures putting no stick is just absolutely pathetic tbh. Like when i heard the hurricanes didnt even have one for the oil i literally did not believe it and went to the dealer myself to see one; then just laughed in disappointment. I really dont understand it. Transmissions should have them, oil should have them, coolant should have then and diffs should have drain plugs. IMO at least
 
Rockcrawlindude said:
Ok thanks for the answer
Hmm
Is the trans not level in the truck? Im confused. I feel like at the dealer they’re just gonna put it on a lift so how does this work?

To clarify, I’m not saying you’re doing it wrong. I just need to get under my truck and look at it and then I’ll understand probably
Click to expand...

So, near as I can tell the green page is from MOPAR and the ZF service info sheet states "vehicle is in a horizontal position.
I found a contact email for technical questions on the ZF website and asked which is correct... because putting it level on jack stands is much easier than trying to level the transmission pan case rail... hopefully they answer.
 
Gondul said:
So, near as I can tell the green page is from MOPAR and the ZF service info sheet states "vehicle is in a horizontal position.
I found a contact email for technical questions on the ZF website and asked which is correct... because putting it level on jack stands is much easier than trying to level the transmission pan case rail... hopefully they answer.
Click to expand...
In for clarification.

I never try to work on my rig when it’s in a vertical position
 
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