Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 47E Automatic Transmission fluid amounts

[Gerg]

I just changed the transmission fluid in my 2001. 5 4WD RAM for the first time (what a messy pain that is... installed a drain plug from Geno's that should help reduce the mess next time). I ordered the shop manuals for the truck, plus I have a Haynes manual. Both manuals say that for a drain, filter change and refill the transmission should take 4-qt of +4 ATF. Four quarts appears to be about 2. 5 quarts too little. I looked around on here a bit and people seem to be using about 6. 5-7 quarts for a drain and filter change. Does anybody know why the shop manual is WRONG? I'm furious that if I was trusting enough to believe the factory manual and just drive the thing I would have been nearly 3-qt low and would not have been doing my transmission life any favors.



PS... is there some technical reason for not installing a drain plug in the transmission pan or is it a way to save about $2? It seems ridiculous at first blush. Same with the differentials.

 

[pcarlson]

My service manual says to put in 4 quarts for a filter change and to use 6 quarts for filter, converter drain and cooler flush.



Due to variations in castings and the internals that is why they recommend added 1 1/2 quarts initially and to run it till the fluid is hot then add enough to bring the fluid up to the max line.



I can a test to this procedure as Dodge did my transmission upgrades and overfilled the transmission by a quart. So just dumping fluid without getting it hot then adding more without getting that hot causes overfilling. Thank God for the temp probe in the cooler line as this made draining a quart easy, otherwise it would have been difficult.

 

[Bob4x4]

The average amount needed duing a trans filter/fluid change is about 6 quarts with the 47re. checking the level at idle before driving is not always enough I recomend rechecking the level after a test drive .



Bob

 

[jjohn]

Yo Gerg

Just went threw the same thing with my 02... . I was so over cautious that it took a couple of days before I was sure what was going on. Adding less than a pint each time. The manual said Don't over fill!!!

At least the first one is over.

Next time I'm going to measure what comes out on the filter change.

 

[Gerg]

I took forever filling mine also because I thought it should hold only 4 quarts. I kept driving around, checking, adding a pint, checking etc. When I got to 5. 5 quarts I was thinking "OK, what could I have screwed up that could cause this?" No large puddles under the truck... no extra parts... . That's when I got online and started reading and realized I was still at least a quart shy. Good idea to just measure what comes out. Next time...

 

[jjohn]

Glad to know I wasn't the only one

Originally posted by Gerg

I took forever filling mine also because I thought it should hold only 4 quarts. I kept driving around, checking, adding a pint, checking etc. When I got to 5. 5 quarts I was thinking "OK, what could I have screwed up that could cause this?" No large puddles under the truck... no extra parts... . That's when I got online and started reading and realized I was still at least a quart shy. Good idea to just measure what comes out. Next time...

It's like were twins Gerg! We went down the same path alright.



What gets me is the parts guy at Dodge didn't say " hey you might want to take a couple extra quarts because the $100 service manual doesn't give you all the information You need rookie" He may not have known eather as it ended up I bought 2 gallons to service my tranfer case also. I should have asked more questions here first.

 

[dzldpatriot]

Add me to the list of folks not knowing the right amount of fluid for their transmission. Service manual is way off! I just changed mine (along with filter). I loosened the valve body enough to let some more drain out. I installed a new filter & a Mag-Hytec pan and began filling..... a little at a time. After the 8 qt mark, I'm full. Like alot of you, I was wondering.

As some of you have said "next time I'll check how much is drained out", as I said the same thing! Only, how do you account for the amount that missed the catch pan(s) and soaked up in the cardboard

Tomorrow's project..... coolant drain, flush and t-stat replacement.

 

[jjohn]

dzldpatriot

I found an over sized cat litter box with a 3. 5" lip at Target. I put a large piece of cardboard under that ( kind of a pain in the @$$ with the creeper... . but to the point I didn't spill enough on the cardboard to put in a shot glass. . and I'm on the messy side. size matters in transmission catch pans .



I've got to do the cooling system also, what product and how are you going to approach this one. I'm still trying to make up my mind. I Had alway had rocky mountain cummins do the cooling service on my old truck but would like to do this one myself. The dealer say's I've got a five year coolant and should wait at least 2 years. I've had my truck 14 months and have 27K miles. I like the Idea of fluid swaps every 30K with the exception of the Tanny service and rear-end every 12k- 15k.

 

[apat]

ATF fluid

Is there any ATF fluid other than Mopar that is equal to +4? I've tried several places but no one has anything.

 

[pwr2tow]

Stock 47RE on mine use to take 6 quarts. Measured everytime I drained, then refilled, then checked again after a road test of at least 8 miles.



Ron

 

[L_Rutigliano]

Lrt my 01' sit for two days, then pulled the pan. Did what the SM said (1. 5 qts) and kept adding. Figured something was wrong. Drained catch pan and almost filled 2 one gal containers. Ended up addind 8. 25 quarts to bring it to the mid of dipstick. The technical writers have no clue what they are writing sometimes.

 

[Shovelhead]

The lack of a drain plug probably saved a coupla $$ on each truck and prevents "Flat-Rate" services on the transmission. Hoping the filter is changed when the tech has to pull the pan to drain.

 

[Soot4Life]

ATF+4?

Amsoil ATF+4 is a good alternative to Mopar. Off Road Warehouse keeps it in stock or buy on line at offroadwarehouse.com



Enjoy your change... ... .....