Transmission service

[CRHardie]

My new to me 2015 2500 has 90,000 miles on it and I’m not sure if the transmission has ever been serviced. I plan to do it this weekend. Anything I need to know? I’m planning to use NAPA filters.

 

[Topzide]

With the 68RFE, there is a great way to get as much of the fluid out as possible from TRD article. I've used this method on my truck and works slick! Gets so much more the just dropping the pan and helps with the amount of the splashes since no drain plug in the pan. While at NAPA, pick up the add a drain plug kit, can't remember the manufacture, that will allow the next time to also drain pan after pumping out the fluid. Also would allow you to add temp sensor to trans pan.

 

[AH64ID]

Also would allow you to add temp sensor to trans pan.

Doesn't the 68RFE already have a temp sensor in the pan that is displayed on the dash?

 

[BigPapa]

And, a sensor in the pan is just good for telling you when you've toasted the transmission already....

 

[Jim W]

Doesn't the 68RFE already have a temp sensor in the pan that is displayed on the dash?

Depending on the year of the truck that has the 68RFE installed. My 2008, did not come with a temp sensor in the pan for the transmission. I had to add the temp sensor when I went with a deep-dish pan. It might be a 4th gen improvement, but I don't remember if my younger son's 2013.5 truck had the temp sensor as standard.

 

[AH64ID]

Depending on the year of the truck that has the 68RFE installed. My 2008, did not come with a temp sensor in the pan for the transmission. I had to add the temp sensor when I went with a deep-dish pan. It might be a 4th gen improvement, but I don't remember if my younger son's 2013.5 truck had the temp sensor as standard.

Looking into it a little more, your 2008 should have had a sensor, but it didn't display on the dash. The ECM uses trans temp for fan control and gear selection when hot or cold.

I just don't recall when the reading was available on the dash, but I know it was there by 2015 and likely 2013 with the engine changes.

 

[Topzide]

No sensor in pan on my 2014.

 

[AH64ID]

No sensor in pan on my 2014.

There is a sensor. You don’t have a trans temp reading on the dash? I was able to find the EVIC trans temp reading in the manual on a 2013.

 

[Topzide]

From the service manual; "The transmission temperature sensor is a thermistor that is integral to the Transmission Range Sensor (TRS)".
Yes there a temp shown on the EVIC but no sensor in the pan.

 

[AH64ID]

From the service manual; "The transmission temperature sensor is a thermistor that is integral to the Transmission Range Sensor (TRS)".
Yes there a temp shown on the EVIC but no sensor in the pan.

I would call that good enough and not add anything. It's located on the top of the valve body and will give you an accurate temperature of the transmission.

 

[Cummins12V98]

With the 68RFE, there is a great way to get as much of the fluid out as possible from TRD article. I've used this method on my truck and works slick! Gets so much more the just dropping the pan and helps with the amount of the splashes since no drain plug in the pan. While at NAPA, pick up the add a drain plug kit, can't remember the manufacture, that will allow the next time to also drain pan after pumping out the fluid. Also would allow you to add temp sensor to trans pan.

“get as much of the fluid out as possible”

Funny no one has criticized you for thinking of such a horrific thought.

With my last DRW with 68rfe it was EASY to get all the old fluid out. I told how to do so and you would have thought I was suggesting cutting an arm off.

Hey good for you thinking outside the box!!!

 

[Ozymandias]

You talk about the same.
There is no Sensor in the pan, never was, never will be.
The sensor sits in the valvebody and measures there, every transmission has one since decade's.

Point is the newer trucks with a higher trim level can show that to the driver through the EVIC.
The Tradesman for example can not.

 

[AH64ID]

I’m to blame for misrepresenting the location of the sensor, it is in the valve body and I think of that as “pan temp” as it’s not in the TQ converter output line. I’ve seen it referred to as sump temp before, which in my mind is the same as pan temp. I’m willing to bet there isn’t much of a difference in valve body and pan temps.

The Aisin does have 2 sensors, one in the valve body and one in the TQ converter output line. It’s amazing how fast the temp rises coming out of the converter when it’s unlocked, and how fast it falls when it’s locked. Watching both temps it’s pretty obvious why the owners manual says to use 1st for long slow climbs where trans temps start to rise.

@Ozymandias some, if not all, of the newer Tradesman’s can show trans temp. I’m not sure what year that started thou.

 

[Ozymandias]

I'm not so sure that it really makes sense to measure the TC output temperature.
The over all temperature of the oil going into the circuit seems more important to me.

On an engine I also don't measure the oil temp in the Turbo return hose.

But that's e never ending story.

 

[Topzide]

@Ozymandias and @AH64ID, On my 2014 Tradesman, there is a trans temp reading given on the EVIC. All I was saying that if you wanted to add an extra temp gauge in the pan, you could with the add a drain plug setup. May not be useful to some but others might want to see the difference. The aftermarket pans all mention that you can add sensors with their $ upgrade. This is a $20 option that could be used since you have to drop a pan full of fluid!

 

[AH64ID]

@Ozymandias and @AH64ID, On my 2014 Tradesman, there is a trans temp reading given on the EVIC. All I was saying that if you wanted to add an extra temp gauge in the pan, you could with the add a drain plug setup. May not be useful to some but others might want to see the difference. The aftermarket pans all mention that you can add sensors with their $ upgrade. This is a $20 option that could be used since you have to drop a pan full of fluid!

I was just trying to point out that there already is temp on the dash, so why bother with another very similar reading that has a probe that could easily break off on the bottom of the transmission.

I’d also be leery of those add a plug kits, I’ve seen more of them leak than not.

It is unfortunate that there isn’t a drain plug in the OE pan.

I'm not so sure that it really makes sense to measure the TC output temperature.
The over all temperature of the oil going into the circuit seems more important to me.

On an engine I also don't measure the oil temp in the Turbo return hose.

But that's e never ending story.

I think they are both important, but if you just had one the overall temp is probably best and most stable. I like the TQ converter outlet for long pulls in 1 & 2 with an unlocked converter, but the rear of the time it reads within a degree or two of the sump sensor.

 

[Jim W]

Will I have gone at least 130,000 miles without a leak from my transmission sensor in the pan after three transmission oil changes. A deep-dish pan, and temp sensor was added back in 2009 to the truck.

I agree that there is a temp sensor available at the valve body but for my 2008 MY truck but the technology was slowly evolving for readings from VIA the OBDII port. That is why I went with gages since I was pulling a 5er and wanted to know the trans temps when pulling. Even when I was climbing I70 in CO, I never saw any temps above 210F at the pan, if my memory serves me right.

 

[AH64ID]

Will I have gone at least 130,000 miles without a leak from my transmission sensor in the pan after three transmission oil changes. A deep-dish pan, and temp sensor was added back in 2009 to the truck.

I agree that there is a temp sensor available at the valve body but for my 2008 MY truck but the technology was slowly evolving for readings from VIA the OBDII port. That is why I went with gages since I was pulling a 5er and wanted to know the trans temps when pulling. Even when I was climbing I70 in CO, I never saw any temps above 210F at the pan, if my memory serves me right.

Yes it the OBD monitoring has come a long ways.

Did your pan come with a port for a sensor? Or did you use one of the add on kits that threads on like an add a drain kit?

B&M 80250 Automatic Transmission Universal Drain Plug Kit https://a.co/d/eWqwhYd

 

[Cummins12V98]

"B&M 80250 Automatic Transmission Universal Drain Plug Kit"

I added one to my Turbo 400 and it always seeped a bit. It would be a great option welded to the pan.

 

[CRHardie]

I completed the project yesterday. I did use the method of disconnecting the return line and running the truck. It worked well. I’ve never done it that way before because of the thought of running the pump dry. I’m a heavy equipment diesel mechanic and running any pump dry just doesn’t sit right. Anyway I did find that the previous owner had it serviced in 2021 according to the date on the spin on filter. Speaking of the spin on filter NAPA does not carry that filter. There’s no cross for it. They have the pump filter and gasket but no spin on. Had to get a CarQuest spin on Doing it as I did I used 11 quarts of automatic transmission fluid to refill. No I did not install a drain plug or a port for an additional trans temp gauge. I’m perfectly fine with the trans temp that is displayed on my dashboard even with it just being a tradesman truck.