WXman
Ram Guru
If you don't change the filter, that's like putting fresh clothes on over top of dirty underwear. Why would anybody do that?
Protip: Buy the Dorman brand pan. It is the same price of the Mopar OE pan, but it has a replaceable filter element inside AND it has a drain plug on the pan. Much nicer than the OE version. Also, Valvoline Maxlife ATF is listed as a compatible fluid for the ZF 8 speed and it's much less expensive than the ZF or Mopar branded fluid.
Protip: Buy the Dorman brand pan. It is the same price of the Mopar OE pan, but it has a replaceable filter element inside AND it has a drain plug on the pan. Much nicer than the OE version. Also, Valvoline Maxlife ATF is listed as a compatible fluid for the ZF 8 speed and it's much less expensive than the ZF or Mopar branded fluid.