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ZF 8 speed transmission fluid change

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#1 ·
Hello


Do I need to change ZF 8 speed transmission fluid , if yes on which distance
 
#2 ·
#4 ·
Thanks RitzRT for your professional reply , may I ask more questions

- How much it cost approximately and what is the best fluid on the market since I found different fluid brands for this gearbox

Many thanks
It takes ZF LifeGuard 8 fluid. MOPAR has their own re-branded version. It's pretty expensive at around $30/quart. Also, the filter is part of the actual transmission pan so you have to replace the pan as well. That alone costs a bit over $200 at Rockauto. On top of that, the process to check the fluid level is somewhat time consuming. So just in parts and fluid, you're near $500. If you're paying someone else to do it, I'd expect to pay 700-800 bucks all together.

So...2 of these:


Plus whatever filter is suitable for your car. For my scatpack, it would be this one:

MOPAR 68261170AA (available for $215 at Rockauto)

To get an idea of what a pain in the rump it is to check the fluid level, here's a handy explanation:


Best,
 
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#14 ·
The alternative being $1,200 at a dealer when the time comes because I - and most others - don't have a lift available? Despite what FCA says about it being lifetime, there's a bunch of info out there - including from ZF - that sooner is better. Getting creative seems OK as long as it achieves the proper end result, which is in this case, a correct fill level.
 
#15 · (Edited)
I changed the fluid in my 2016 8HP45 on 11/09/17 at 15,150 miles in my garage with the car up on jack stands and it was easy. There was a lot more crud on the magnets than I expected, but the fluid was clean (looked like green tea and had the same consistency). Checking the fluid level, while not as easy as using a dipstick, is also not difficult. I got the pan and fluid from Brian (BND) for about $250 and it has been flawless for 7,500 miles so far.

Changing the fluid in the NAG1 in my old 2013 was not any easier, in fact it was fairly messy due to the lack of a drain plug in the pan.
 
#16 ·
I have also changed the trans fluid in the garage on jack stands, so I would think something like this could also be done that way as well. Of course, a lift would make it way easier.

I watched the video. Several things bothered me about the whole procedure. One, that little allen bolt they use for a fill hole plug is pretty dang close to the exhaust. Looks like one could get burned while doing this thing with a warmed up car. And two, seems like as expensive as this fluid is, the procedure seems like it wastes some during the "warm up the fluid and let it drain out till it stops" step.

At the end of the video I thought I'd just get it done at the dealer rather than attempting it myself. (If I ever needed it done, that is) I've only got three thousand miles on it now, so it will be a while.
 
#18 ·
That train is never late.

I'm not sure I'd be rolling the dice on mystery fluid for my very expensive transmission. I'd stick with ZF's fluid, Mopar equivalent, or a commercial fluid that is compatible (in writing) with LifeGuard 8.

Brian, are you willing to reimburse costs to customers who have to sue if they are denied a warranty claim on a transmission issue if they use your fluid? Or will you just have it repaired at your expense?

Best,
 
#20 ·
This is a BS Scare tactic Ritz and I thought better of you than this kind of subterfuge! There has NOT been one failure of any component of any system we have ever made a fluid for PERIOD!

No warranty claims ever on a transmission or anything else for that matter! Show me ONE Failure Ritz.......there isn't any.

Our fluids are of premium quality and exceed by far the ZF Lifeguard or off the shelf fluids that state compatibility.

This is what our customers REALLY say about our transmission fluids:

https://www.chargerforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=340466

And about all our other products:

http://bndautomotive.com/testimonials/

And you claim I scare people! Sheesh.


Brian
BND Automotive LLC:driving:
440-821-9040
www.bndautomotive.com
Forum Vendor for 10 years!
 
#21 ·
**yawn**

Here we go again. Of course, we have no way of knowing if your fluid is compatible or not. Like your oil, it isn't certified by ANY standards body, doesn't carry any API/ILSAC certification, nor is it recommended by ZF or MOPAR for this (or any) application.

Answer my question. Are you prepared to pay if someone's transmission is damaged by your product? What warranty do you offer to consumers who purchase your product for use in an application that it is not certified for by any recognized body or the transmission manufacturer?

You're encouraging someone who has come here for information to intentionally risk warranty coverage if there is an issue with their transmission after using your products. I find that to be pretty irresponsible, but not surprising given your behavior here.

Best,
 
#22 · (Edited)
You are like trying to answer the question.......when did you stop beating your wife.......well I never started!

Given my behavior.....the only behavior we have an issue with is your being inane! My behavior is paying as a vendor for 10 years on this forum supporting it so people can have a free forum. Also our behavior of making exceptional products that people love and purchase over and over again with no failures on lubricants or fuel materials!

Maybe you are still not getting it so I will try it a little slower.
There....Will....Be.....NO....Failures.....With.....Our.....Transmission.....Fluids.....in....ANY.....Transmissions......that......use......our....fluids. 2 speed, 3 speed, 4 speed, 5 speed, 6 speed 7 speed, 8 speed, 9 speed and 10 speed transmissions that we work on! There has never been a failure and there never will be so your statement of us paying for a failure that will never happen is a straw man argument. You first show me one failure of any system anywhere from any place!

We have no need to pay for a failure that will never happen. Of course we make the fluids to meet and exceed the specifications for the ZF 8 Speed Lifeguard Fluid but with 200 degrees hotter temperature resistance and better more robust modifiers for racing purposes. We have many customers that race 8 speed ZF transmissions and they depend on the quality of the fluid we provide. These don't fail during racing so you can be assured that it won't happen with a regular user of our transmission fluids.

People here have even put themselves out saying they use our fluids but I guess they are somehow stupid in your estimation. If there is ever a failure on one of these transmissions it won't be a lubricant failure so there is no reason to pledge something that won't happen.

It is like having a warranty for pigs flying out of their pens with their wings!

Give it up because you have nothing but your continual ignorance and subterfuge!

Brian
BND Automotive LLC:driving:
440-821-9040
www.bndautomotive.com
Forum Vendor for 10 years!
 
#24 ·
Mopar fluid the 8 & 9 speed fluid carries a part number of 68218925AA. They will warranty any transmission during the warranty period as long as the fluid introduced into it meets or exceeds the specification....Mopar or otherwise. The Magnuson-Moss Act provides protection through FTC. There has NEVER been a refusal of warranty claim on any system using our products ever.

What the manual actually says is as follows:

Image


So use the Mopar fluid at between $35.00 and $43.00 per quart or you can get one of the off the shelf fluids that are shown to de-laminate the clutch materials and attack the seals...as they are not completely compatible or you can get a fluid that is much better.....our QuantumBlue ZF 8 Speed Racing ATF and get the best possible outcome. $14.95 vs OEM.

Remember that we have been doing these ZF 8 Speeds since 2012......for 8 years this year and zero problems.

We have also done 5HP and 6HP transmissions in the BMW and Audi vehicles for 14 years.....and again.....zero problems and actually much better smoother performance out of these units. :bigthumb:

Regards,
Brian
BND Automotive LLC:driving:
440-821-9040
www.bndautomotive.com
Forum Vendor for 9 years!
 
#27 ·
No, its a fair question. And I personally have no clue as I have never owned a car with a warranty on it. I just wanted to clarify that this wasn't about any claims what the BND fluid can do, but the what if scenario involving warrenties.



I could only wager that any of the bulk carriers have certifications or labels or whatever they are called that dictate they meet/exceed the requirements and that would be the argument a person would show to mopar in case of this scenario unfolding in a battle to re-instate said warranty.



Where as this scenario is/would be rare it is a legit idea and question. As stated, a guy lost out big time cause Chevy decided a Catch can was the reason why his still brand new camaro had an oil pump failure. Not the dealer but GM Directly. For some folks that's a huge hit on a new car. I never read rather or not the people who sold him the CC would help stand beside him and fight this absurd declaration of failure cause or not. Last I heard he got screwed. Bottom line, It's not what I think, you think, what BND thinks, it comes down to what Mopar (FCA) thinks. And if it happens what knowledge, routes, and information a person changing anything from stock on their car has when factory warranty applies.





From a Customer standpoint I think its fair to want to know rather or not the supplier would be there to help win a warranty battle against a shady diagnosis or just claim it is sold as a performance enhanced aftermarket fluid that exceeds criteria based on spec,and that the user understands that said supplier is not responsible for any claims of failure direct or indirectly related to sold product based on it's usage.
 
#30 · (Edited)
So then basicly NO AFTERMARKET FLUIDS should be used, no one but the dealership can do the service, Hell for that matter you better not even open your hood because the dealer can void your warranty if you do? I'm not sure I'm understanding why any aftermarket fluid companies even exist or could exist if this is the case.

Something doesn't sound right about all of this to me. I used to be a manager at Advance Auto and in all my years working there or as an ASE certified master tech I've never had 1 customer tell me how a manufacturer denied them warranty because of using oil A over oil B. Even Quaker Cake!

IDK, I must be missing what some here are saying.

I know about the catch can dude but to be fair Dodge voided a Hellcat owners warranty due to a K&N drop in air filter.

Lastly challenge to you both!

Mr.Brian can you please supply proof that your product meets or exceeds OEM Mopar ZF fluid?

Mr.Ritz can you please supply proof that the ZF transmission fluid marketed and sold by BND does NOT meet or exceed OEM Mopar ZF fluid?

Thank you both as I'm SURE both of you have laboratory test results to prove your claims.
 
#31 ·
So then basicly NO AFTERMARKET FLUIDS should be used, no one but the dealership can do the service, Hell for that matter you better not even open your hood because the dealer can void your warranty if you do? I'm not sure I'm understanding why any aftermarket fluid companies even exist or could exist if this is the case.


If you would read everything besides what you want, you would see I wrote that shelf products have the certifcations/labels that state they meet the requirements of the fluid they are being used for. This is what matters. legally speaking a bottle labeled from a manufacture stating it meets the O.E. requirements will fair alot better than bottle of fluid that the seller states failure will never happen no way no how in a this specific warranty scenario.. There is no control over what corporate can/will use as a reason to deny warranty work. If asked of service history and folks say changed myself with this fluid and it does not have any certification approved by them (mopar this case) they can deny it. The question is rather or not BND will help the owner in said situation in proving the fluid meets and exceeds the requirements and was not cause of the failure.



Something doesn't sound right about all of this to me. I used to be a manager at Advance Auto and in all my years working there or as an ASE certified master tech I've never had 1 customer tell me how a manufacturer denied them warranty because of using oil A over oil B. Even Quaker Cake!


Congrats. I was a lower level manger in parts and held a ASE in parts. However personally ASE certifications mean nothing more than a person can read and pass a test. I was highly disappointed when I took mine and looked at others due to simplicity or ease of answer finding. I 've out diagnosed several "master Techs". However Techs with experience is what matters and I've always gone to them first. Also, anyone can claim to be a ASE Master Tech online. Easy as typing. Nothing personal just I've seen this used many times in forums debating mechanical aspects.



IDK, I must be missing what some here are saying.

I know about the catch can dude but to be fair Dodge voided a Hellcat owners warranty due to a K&N drop in air filter.

Never read rather K&N had any warnings or disclaminers on such things. May have to read a box next time in parts store. I fear the warranty deal with such devices from mundane to higher level will be getting worse as car manufactures start squeezing for every dollar.


Lastly challenge to you both!

Mr.Brian can you please supply proof that your product meets or exceeds OEM Mopar ZF fluid?

Mr.Ritz can you please supply proof that the ZF transmission fluid marketed and sold by BND does NOT meet or exceed OEM Mopar ZF fluid?

Thank you both as I'm SURE both of you have laboratory test results to prove your claims.


My question/argument as I understand it isn't rather it meets or exceeds it. Rather or not BND will provide the necessary information and support in case XX guy gets fluid, enjoys it works fine, transmission dies - service history is asked reports proof of service with BND fluid and FCA says whoa, they arn't approved by us warrantied denied. I repeat, not about the fluid it is all about how it may effect the rare chance of warranty work. I have seen in shop once where Chrysler denied warranty transmission cause last service listed dex/merc as fluid used. Didn't even care that sun-gear had failed. Wrong fluid = No Warranty.
 
#35 ·
CE9311, ease up man I wasn't giving anyone any crap.


https://goo.gl/images/YuZg5P


So don't get upset sir.



That's the issue Mango, I return the exact type of attitude interpreted from your words and you get upset as well. I've discussed this before about how context may be lost and such. Perhaps you ment it towards Ritz who has a little bit more emotion in this than I do as I could careless about the fluid. I would imagine and assume it meets and further exceeds it just fine I just like to know how much does BND stand behind their fluids beyond "words". And honestly that hasn't been answered. If they do that's more than alot. If they do not offer any help in such case then that follows most aftermarket stuff and really does not mean anything bad IMO. Like my B&M Trans Pan. I'm sure I read they hold no responsibility to anything that goes wrong after installation as it is left up to the installer and owner to weigh the benefits and risks.
 
#38 · (Edited)
Our posts may be unwanted by some and yet appreciated by so many more who don't want to be shouted down when they purchase from us.

Brian
 
#36 · (Edited)
CE9311, How much does ANY fluid manufacturer stand behind their products? Do you guys ask these same questions to a rep from Pennzoil or Mobil 1? If not why not?

Brian just posted the specs and I believe it isn't the first time he has done so. And would you looky there they meet or exceed the specs required by Mopar.

So as someone famous once said "what the problem is?"

P.S. You've received from me the exact treatment you've given me, just as the meme says. If you do not like this treatment I suggest you alter yours. If you read more into my words then I write that isn't my fault. I would suggest that perhaps if your own attitude towards others wasn't so poor and confrontational you wouldn't automatically assume that's how others replies are intended. A glass half empty view of the world isn't the best way for it to be viewed.
 
#39 ·
CE9311, How much does ANY fluid manufacturer stand behind their products? Do you guys ask these same questions to a rep from Pennzoil or Mobil 1? If not why not?

If I meet one I would id I had a car under warranty. Then again I would most likely use certified or approved fluids. These guys have it on the bottle. That's the idea that it meets it and FCA would have hard time arguing with it.


Brian just posted the specs and I believe it isn't the first time he has done so. And would you looky there they meet or exceed the specs required by Mopar.


How do you know the meet or exceed? I don't see a comparison of FCA fluid? I could careless as this is not my question.




So as someone famous once said "what the problem is?"


P.S. You've received from me the exact treatment you've given me, just as the meme says. If you do not like this treatment I suggest you alter yours. If you read more into my words then I write that isn't my fault. I would suggest that perhaps if your own attitude towards others wasn't so poor and confrontational you wouldn't automatically assume that's how others replies are intended. A glass half empty view of the world isn't the best way for it to be viewed.

From the very first you have been belittling of others and calling them kids in these type discussions. You can take that high horse all you want but I'll call you out with the rest of us that you so easily call out. I've tried writing nice and you always get bit ill tempered and read into what fits your needs. I wrote quite nicely the first time about fluids you found in shelves with the labeling/certifications in relation to his lack of same and you completely disregarded in repsonse exclaiming in a sarcastic if not smartass tone NONE SHOULD BE USED< DON'T OPEN YOUR HOOD FOLKS. OMG.



If you had spent time in parts store you would also know and had people ask you about correct fluid and people worried about their warranty and what label means what. I only spent 3 years doing it and I know this was a weekly question and I did my best to answer them correctly.





From this discussion and lack of direct answer It seems, Like most aftermarket items, BND does not offer or take responsibility of any failures that may happen in use of its fluid and is not legally liable to represent or assist any persons using said fluid in litigation of a warranty claim. This is not a bad thing in any way as most items carry same idea.
 
#42 ·
CE9311, Hugs and kisses right back atcha there tough guy! LMFAO!

Keep up the libelous comments I can not wait to see the 71GTX treatment spread around.

No worse than you.







Difference, I don't buy his products.





And I don't make threads saying I'm leaving.
 
#58 ·
I wonder why the 8 speed has shorter fluid changes than the NAG1 5 speed? For the 5 speed you only change the fluid at 50,000 miles if using your vehicle for any of the following: police, taxi, fleet, off-road, or frequent trailer towing. Otherwise it is recommended at 120,000 according to my owners manual.
 
#59 ·
The communication we have from ZF says 80,000 km to 120,000 km (49,709 miles to 74,564 miles)

Image


It is our supposition that Mopar doesn't want to touch them till far after the warranty period. In the past, 60k miles was recommended and not long after that, the transmissions seemed to have issues. Mopar was always stepping up and giving "assistance" by either paying for labor or parts or both just after the warranty. They want to make sure that 100k is as far as possible from the 60k warranty so no assistance will be given. Also it gives them a lower cost of ownership number in the EPA guide if you don't change the transmission fluid, differential or coolant for 100,000 miles. It is for CAFE and EPA and not for longevity. Who cares after 60k miles....buy a new one etc. mentality from them.

When you get to looking inside of the unit, the fluid comes out like black gritty water. A lot of the modifiers are cooked and the magnets are covered in shavings at 50k.

This is why we recommend no more than 50 k while we up the modifiers in the fluid and raise the temperature resistance by 200 degrees to handle regular driving and high performance use with out any degradation in performance while protecting the internals. :bigthumb:

Regards,
Brian
BND Automotive LLC:driving:
440-821-9040
www.bndautomotive.com
Forum Vendor for 10 years!
 
#64 ·
I have never been comfortable with that much on the trans fluid. Since we make ATF+4 and turn it into ++ IIA fluid for higher temperatures and 18% more friction modifiers, I will still suggest no more than 60k miles on the fluid and 50k if the trans is raced on a regular basis. Like Flattop on the Challenger Forums running a 5.7L Hemi V8 Supercharged and running 11.20s all day. He did that for 20,000 miles constantly on the track.

He wrote me what he did:

https://www.chargerforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=155876

We also make it for the mods you have and the impact it takes. They are all unique and not off the shelf at all!:bigthumb:

Regards,
Brian
BND Automotive LLC:driving:
440-821-9040
www.bndautomotive.ocm
Forum Vendor for 10 years!
 
#61 · (Edited)
Again, will ignore the snide remarks from our resident sales guy. My comment about my personal warranty carefree lifestyle is that I've already gone to the "dark side" by using Rotella T6 5W-40 in my engine. Clearly not what's recommended by FCA, but I'm comfortable with it based on the other certifications it has and I had a fair amount left over from my Audi A8L maintenance. The difference here is that the cost of having to drop a new engine in my car wouldn't even introduce statistical noise into my financial situation. That's probably not the case for a lot of people.

Best,
 
#62 · (Edited)
#65 ·
Yes, Valvoline Max Life has been out for a long time and some people have used it as a cheap alternative to the OEM fluids. Compatible isn't certified for. Amsoil is compatible too and they have the same problems. Flex fuel vehicles can run E85 but there is a difference between what you can do and what you should do!

However, it is not known about the delamination issues with the clutches and the seal problems that it promotes in the system after a while.

(Delamination is a mode of failure for composite materials and steel. In laminated materials, repeated cyclic stresses, impact, and so on can cause layers to separate, forming a mica-like structure of separate layers, with significant loss of mechanical toughness.)

Many people that have used the Maxlife have told me about having the transmission refreshed and coming to us to get our QB ZF ATF Racing Fluid and telling me to warn other about it since I have a much larger voice on these matters.

Have at it Ritz!;)

Regards,
Brian
BND Automotive LLC:driving:
440-821-9040
www.bndautomotive.com
Forum Vendor for 10 years!