My PPE transmission pan: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

[flynn]

Quick update: I felt like I had under-filled the transmission a bit while trying to work around the hot exhaust and race against the transmission temp clock. After driving it for about 750 miles I parked the truck on a slight incline, chocked the front wheels, jacked up the rear of the truck until the tires were off the ground, and re-followed the fill procedure. Between 30°C and 50°C (86-122°F) it took another whole quart of fluid before it started trickling out the fill plug. I'll drive it a couple times this week check the level again. Damn these things not having dipsticks!

I've also attached the official procedure on transmission fluid service from ZF that I found on another website.

 

[outlaw24]

Why does it need to be so difficult to change/check your fluids.
Some vehicles don't have dipsticks for engine oil now too. You need to rely on the electronic oil level sensor to tell you if its full or low. CRAZY!

 

[HSKR R/T]

Why does it need to be so difficult to change/check your fluids.
Some vehicles don't have dipsticks for engine oil now too. You need to rely on the electronic oil level sensor to tell you if its full or low. CRAZY!

Most European cars have had oil level sensors for 20+ years. They have been proven reliable. If wager most drivers now days wouldn't check their oil or trans fluid even if there is/was a dipstick. The small percentage of owners that would, can still check level, it's just a little more involved.

 

[Aidan]

Quick update: I felt like I had under-filled the transmission a bit while trying to work around the hot exhaust and race against the transmission temp clock. After driving it for about 750 miles I parked the truck on a slight incline, chocked the front wheels, jacked up the rear of the truck until the tires were off the ground, and re-followed the fill procedure. Between 30°C and 50°C (86-122°F) it took another whole quart of fluid before it started trickling out the fill plug. I'll drive it a couple times this week check the level again. Damn these things not having dipsticks!

I've also attached the official procedure on transmission fluid service from ZF that I found on another website.

What did you use to fill it? I got a nice surprise with the exhaust but managed to do it pretty easily, as in there was enough time to jump in and out and refill. I used a small hand pump to get the fluid in though.

 

[21BigLoneSport]

My PPE review:

The pan is a definite upgrade to the OEM. It holds more, it has cooling capability (aluminum with fins) and will make future filter swaps MUCH less expensive. A filter costs $30, a drain O-ring is $6, and a gasket (from KLM) is $27.50. Fluid cost would be the same (okay, add a quart for the bigger pan): Less than $65 instead of north of $250. I'll save $200 per filter change from here on.

The bad: no gasket??? WTF. And the "re-use the old one"? No...just, no.

Get the pan. Buy a gasket from KLM. Install a NEW O-ring on your drain plug. Add an aftermarket magnet to it if you want (like I did.)

Hopefully my experiences and suggestions will save you the time, trouble, and expense, that I had to go through to learn about PPE's shortcomings.

Again, the pan should help my transmission's longevity: cooler temps and more oil.

Good luck!

Dude, excellent post. We are all better for having read this. I just ordered the bits for ‘21 5th gen 1500. Bravo

 

[1791]

funny mopar claims lifetime fluid the trans manufacturer states 75k and justin wheeler on youtube with a 2019 limited 4wd "high mileage edition" works his truck and at 250k mi he has never did a trans service and has not had a issue. that being said i will be servicing my trans

 

[silver billet]

funny mopar claims lifetime fluid the trans manufacturer states 75k and justin wheeler on youtube with a 2019 limited 4wd "high mileage edition" works his truck and at 250k mi he has never did a trans service and has not had a issue. that being said i will be servicing my trans

He has been suspiciously absent with recent updates though. Not a good sign.

 

[Scottparrish]

wow!
good job
you seem to have a lot of patience.

I was thinking a lot of bad luck

 

[Gumpa]

Quick update: I felt like I had under-filled the transmission a bit while trying to work around the hot exhaust and race against the transmission temp clock. After driving it for about 750 miles I parked the truck on a slight incline, chocked the front wheels, jacked up the rear of the truck until the tires were off the ground, and re-followed the fill procedure. Between 30°C and 50°C (86-122°F) it took another whole quart of fluid before it started trickling out the fill plug. I'll drive it a couple times this week check the level again. Damn these things not having dipsticks!

I've also attached the official procedure on transmission fluid service from ZF that I found on another website.

Thanks, flynn- can't find this procedure on ZF website now (maybe if you register).

 

[Gumpa]

Here’s some of my experience with installing my PPE pan .
I originally bought the smaller pan that takes one additional quart of fluid .
After the install I had issues with the truck going into park and not being able to get back into gear . I also had codes.
I thought that I had broken something and went ahead and had the truck towed to the dealer .
They discovered that the park mechanism was binding on the pan filter thus tripping codes and making the vehicle inoperable. They then installed the original stock pan and I was able to drive the truck until we came up with plan B .
I contacted PPE and they were skeptical that this could have happened.
I sent them the video the dealer had put together of the issue . That convinced them of the problem.
PPE offered me the larger pan ( 2 quarts additional fluid ) no additional charge and gave me 2 additional filters at no charge.
With that pan I ended up putting in a mix of 7 quarts of ZF and MoPar transmission fluid .
I did not use the spacers. My thought is that the spacers are there because of the plastic pan . Too much torque would crack the pan . With the aluminum pan not so much.
I did not level the transmission. I leveled the truck. At the dealer they just put the truck on a lift and have the truck level .
So far alls good. It has been most interesting to read of everyone’s experience and to hear the different opinions and options that have been put forth.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

PPE website says the 1 quart additional fluid pan (228053400) does not fit my 2019 1500 DT 5.7L, but the 2 quart additional pan does. Maybe they updated their website based on your experience.

 

[Jako]

Quick update: I felt like I had under-filled the transmission a bit while trying to work around the hot exhaust and race against the transmission temp clock. After driving it for about 750 miles I parked the truck on a slight incline, chocked the front wheels, jacked up the rear of the truck until the tires were off the ground, and re-followed the fill procedure. Between 30°C and 50°C (86-122°F) it took another whole quart of fluid before it started trickling out the fill plug. I'll drive it a couple times this week check the level again. Damn these things not having dipsticks!

I've also attached the official procedure on transmission fluid service from ZF that I found on another website.

FYI bolt sequence from Mopar vs ZF.

 

[KAP705]

I cant find these pans anywhere in stock and its about time for me to drop my pan. Would one thats advertised for the EcoDiesel fit my truck with the 5.7 Hemi? Same truck same trans same pan?

Amazing thread everyone thank you.

 

[Nonducor]

I cant find these pans anywhere in stock and its about time for me to drop my pan. Would one thats advertised for the EcoDiesel fit my truck with the 5.7 Hemi? Same truck same trans same pan?

Amazing thread everyone thank you.

I put this one on my 2020 5.7 hemi. 20,000 km and no issues thus far.

 

[c3k]

I cant find these pans anywhere in stock and its about time for me to drop my pan. Would one thats advertised for the EcoDiesel fit my truck with the 5.7 Hemi? Same truck same trans same pan?

Amazing thread everyone thank you.

I would think so. Were it me...I'd go for it.

FWIW, I -think- all these ZF8 pans share the same pan. (The depth may differ.) I've gambled on that by buying a BMW pan for an Alfa. I was right. The same pan gasket fits my Ecodiesel.
I cannot imagine the hemi would have a unique ZF pan.

 

[KAP705]

Gotcha, I was thinking the same thing. Thank you both

 

[jbrew20]

DORMAN (OE SOLUTIONS) - 265-850 - Transmission Pan With Drain Plug, Gasket And Bolts

Buy DORMAN (OE SOLUTIONS) 265-850 Automatic Transmission Oil Pan

partsavatar.ca

Im going with this one.

Any issues with the pan since installing?

 

[jason ross]

Refilling a ZF8...

This is not rocket science.

Step 1: Fill until it dribbles from fill port.
2: Loosely install fill plug.
3: Start vehicle. Run through reverse, 1st, 2nd, and then 2,000 rpm. Hold each for 5-10 seconds. (Some vehicles say the wheels should rotate. Shrug.)
4: With engine running (so transmission pump is pressurized), open fill plug and pump in fluid until it overflows from fill port.

In my case, it took an extra quart to fill it after it was running. That explains why all the fluid pours out when you open the fill plug on a stopped vehicle: all the "excess" fluid comes out of the pump/torque converter, etc., and comes out.

Next, a quick test drive.

Awesome! Everything worked great. I'm convinced the pan reduced my temps by at least 2-5F.

After 100-200 miles, I crawled back under...and found a leaking gasket. Yeah, that instinct was telling me what an idiot I'd been. Agreed. Don't listen to PPE CS.

Luckily, I'd found and purchased gaskets in the meantime. The company is KLM Performance. Go to: Mopar 68172556AA ZF 8 Speed Automatic Transmission Pan Gasket

I bought 5. One to replace the old one (installed and leaking), and one each for each of the 4 filters I had purchased. Since a filter swap will need a pan drop...and therefore a new gasket. (This means I'm good for about 200,000 miles. (35k now, plus 35k x 4, and the last one will be good for 35k before needing a new one...on my (short) interval.)

My pan was leaking from the rear, where that red arrow is, upstream.

I went through the entire drain procedure, dropped the pan, and installed a new gasket.

The extra fluid I'd purchased helped.

View attachment 183906

I also had a pump, from: Macnaught All Purpose Oil Transfer Pump with Extender - PN# MAOP20

View attachment 183907

Note: the pump does NOT screw onto that jug. The jug is German...and has some crazy euro thread. Sigh. One of the pump adapters allows it to snap into place and it stays stable. It is GREAT having a place to put the hose (metal end piece) so it drains back into the pump.

Okay, new pan, new fill. Great. I've drained and filled twice. That means, 1/2 * 1/2 = 1/4 of the original fluid is left. So, a 75% swap. (More than that, actually, due to the increased volume in the new pan. Maybe 85% new fluid.)

Also, with the drain prior to swapping a new gasket, I had obviously removed the PPE drain plug. It has as green O-ring. The replacement O-rings I'd bought ($6 each) are brown and listed as being Viton. O-Ring for 1 inch Drain-Fill Plug

I did not replace that O-ring.

Why?

Because I wanted to post this picture:

View attachment 183908

That's my drain plug seeping. I cleaned the green O-ring (wiped down and left wet) and reinstalled to correct torque.

So, what's next? Yep, a drain and fill. YAY! At least the new pan gasket from KLM is tight and dry, so I just have to dump and fill the oil. Now I'm REALLY glad I bought the 5 gallon jug of LiquiMoly.

(I did spray that area with brake clean, ensured it was dry, then drove. Yep, the O-ring does leak.)

With 3 drain and fills (I've got to do the 3rd, just need to find a morning that's free), I'll have ~ 96% new fluid. (Usually a drain and fill is about 1/2. I'm guessing I get about 3/5s with my extra capacity.)

Summary, next...

(Edited because I wrote "drain plug" twice by mistake instead of "fill plug".)

would you recommend to the pan with 2 extra quarts?

 

[HSKR R/T]

would you recommend to the pan with 2 extra quarts?

Yes, and make sure you remove the metal spacers for the bolt holes from factory pan and install in the PPE pan. Some have gotten away without doing that, but I guarantee most of the people who complain about leaks reusing the original pan gasket did not use those spacers, which causing you to crush the seal more than intended and leads to leaks. The spacers limit how much the seal will compress when the bolts are torqued. Also make sure to follow the proper tightening sequence for the bolts.

 

[c3k]

would you recommend to the pan with 2 extra quarts?

If you tow? Absolutely. I like the ability to cheaply change the filter when I drain the fluid. (Gotta drop the pan, natch.) The extra 1 quart I have has definitely dropped my normal temps by ~6F. Not much, but something. Extra fluid is always good.

 

[2021QCBH]

Yeah mine runs about 5-7 degrees cooler in all instances vs the original. Will be coming up on another change fall spring 2027 so will see how the fluid fared this time around.