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68RFE Transmission Service

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Contacted the two RAM dealers within 50 miles of me for a quote on basic transmission service on my 68rfe. Both quotes were for $350. What am I missing?; 2 filters, 8 to 10 qts. fluid, some RTV and an hour labor should be way less than that.

Guess I'll do it myself for the $250 I'll save. I serviced a 47rh in my '95 Ram many times. Anyone know if there are any bands to check/adjust?
 
Yes there are bands and should be adjusted properly, plus fluid and labor, and they are probably charging 1 1/2 to 2 hours for labor hence the $350
 
Or....don't worry about it and do it how Ram recommends and how the rest of the world does it. Typical, partial fluid change is fine, and has been for decades.
 
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Or....don't worry about it and do it how Ram recommends and how the rest of the world does it. Typical, partial fluid change is fine, and has been for decades.

Yea, I'll just do it the old fashioned way - but I was hoping that Cummins12V98 had a way to do it from the top! :D
Thanks everyone for the input. Nice not to have to mess with the bands. Sure do miss having a factory service manual.
 
Did fluid and filter change on my 68rfe today. I was able to pump out a bit more than 2 quarts from the dip stick access tube. The large aluminum block I think the temp control valve was in the way from being able to drop the pan, moving it and the lines out of the way did the trick. That block is close to the pan where the spin on filter is located on the inside. The FCA gorilla is at work installing those spin on filters. Not too bad of a mess, I had put down some plastic sheeting, a large catch pan 3'x 4' and a large container I use for oil changes. Start to finish about 4 hours not including cleanup. The hardest part was getting the old RTV sealant off the pan, very little if any on the trans body. The magnet inside the pan had about 1/32" of metal mud on it don't know if thats bad or not. 45K miles on the truck, I think this is the first filter fluid change. Bought it used with 26K on it. Took 11 quarts of ATF+4. 10 quarts had it looking ok till I took it for a ride and got the trans temp to 168º, the 11th quart got it almost to the full hot mark on the stick. I pull a 10K 5er and will be pulling it in the mountains again this year, she did a great job last year. Tomorrow it's the diffs, xfer case, fuel air and oil filters and an oil change. Should be good to go. Am I missing anything?
 
Yes there are bands and should be adjusted properly, plus fluid and labor, and they are probably charging 1 1/2 to 2 hours for labor hence the $350



There is NOTHING to adjust!

I highly advise doing a fluid exchange by popping a line at the drivers side radiator area.
 
If you have any ATF+4 remaining after the xfer case fluid change (assuming yours takes ATF+4), drain or suction out the power steering fluid since it is ATF+4 also.
 
If you have any ATF+4 remaining after the xfer case fluid change (assuming yours takes ATF+4), drain or suction out the power steering fluid since it is ATF+4 also.

Thanks for the info I had not thought of that, I have 1 quart left. I have been holding on to that quart just in case the trans needed a bit more but so far all looks good. Everything under the truck is bone dry. I did have concerns using the RTV vs gasket but all looks good and dry. Finished up on the diffs and Xfer case today. A piece of cake compared to the trans pan.
 
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