Aisin AS69RC Pan Gasket

[JLandry]

To anyone who's already changed the fluid on their Aisin AS69RC transmission...

Is the pan gasket reusable?

What's it made of?

Thank you,

John L.

 

[Missouri Mule]

John I'm sure someone will answer soon.

 

[TCDiesel]

Yes You can reuse the Gasket if careful, You will also NEED to raise the Transmission 1.5" to remove the rear pan bolts, the Transmission cross member is within 1/2" of the bolts, no way to remove them W/O raising the transmission, take look for yourself.

 

[SnoKing]

John, you must be REALLY racking up the miles outfitting that new truck!!! You still in Benson? You may have to retire your "Tim the Toolman" thinking with this new truck. However I do have a question. What type of transmission fluid does the Aisin take.

How about a little follow up on how you are liking it. I will go check your blog, maybe you have posted some there on the new truck. But we are your Dodge Boys!

Chris

 

[JLandry]

John, you must be REALLY racking up the miles outfitting that new truck!!!

No... just perusing the factory service manual and thinking ahead to the eventual day when I'll have to service the transmission. With a 30,000 mile fluid change interval on the AS69RC, it should be over two years away. You can never be too early with maintenance planning... right?

You still in Benson?

Yes. Tuesday we're supposed to drive the 150 mile trip back up to Tempe to have the dealer install the Mopar cab-length tube steps on the new truck. I say "supposed to" because they're expected to arrive at the dealer on Monday and there's always the possibility of delays.

You may have to retire your "Tim the Toolman" thinking with this new truck.

I suspect you're right. Based on the complexity of these new trucks and the apparent need for dealer diagnostic scan tools to do just about anything, I'm thinking I'll be spending a lot more time and money at Dodge dealers instead of fixing stuff myself. That was one reason I once said I'd never get rid of my 2001... it was probably the last vehicle I'll own that I could still do most of the repair work on it myself.

Along that line, I'm seriously thinking of buying a Chrysler extended warranty for this truck (Maximum Care). No rush though.

However I do have a question. What type of transmission fluid does the Aisin take.

It takes a transmission fluid that meets specification JWS3309, which from what I've been able to learn is usually from Mobil, Exxon, Mopar, and a few others. It's not widely available that's for sure. For now I'm going to grab a bottle from the dealer just to have on hand for a top-up if needed, but when the time comes to drain and refill the transmission, I'll likely order a case of Mobil 3309 online.

How about a little follow up on how you are liking it. I will go check your blog, maybe you have posted some there on the new truck.

We absolutely love the truck! I still can't get over how quiet, comfortable, and powerful it is. There are so many cool features, that while probably commonplace now, are new to me... such as the side view mirrors that tilt down (to better view into the blind spots) when I put the truck in reverse. I also really appreciate the backup camera in the tailgate plus the Park Assist feature with its visual and audible warnings as objects are being approached to the rear. It sure helps eliminate the normally huge blind area to the rear on a dually. I only wish the truck had Park Assist to the front as well. The hood on this thing is so huge that it's hard to get a sense at how close the truck is to an object when parking. I feel like I'm driving a locomotive, but I'm sure I'll get used to it over time.

I really like the way the Aisin transmission shifts. As the truck accelerates lightly, it almost sounds like a manual transmission shifting gears. Specifically, even though I'm holding the accelerator steady, it sounds like the throttle is reduced ever so slightly, then there's a very brief pause, then the transmission shifts... yet the whole event is still perfectly smooth shift. There's definitely no flair between gear shifts like I've read others complain about with the 68RFE transmission.

I can't wait to tow with it. Hopefully that'll come Thursday morning when we're scheduled to pull out of here.

Off to wash the truck...

John L.

 

[JLandry]

ou will also NEED to raise the Transmission 1.5" to remove the rear pan bolts, the Transmission cross member is within 1/2" of the bolts, no way to remove them W/O raising the transmission, take look for yourself.

Thanks! I'll check it out.

John L.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I got Mobil 3309 ATF from Amazon for about $62/12qt.

 

[JLandry]

I got Mobil 3309 ATF from Amazon for about $62/12qt.

Thanks Joe,

I saw that too, but since my first fluid change is probably 2+ years away and I'm currently living on the road (don't want to haul around anything I don't need to), I think I'll just grab a single quart from a Dodge dealer for now.

John L.

 

[JLandry]

...the Transmission cross member is within 1/2" of the bolts...

I took a peak at it this afternoon... boy you're not kidding.

On my truck it looks like the clearance between the bolt heads and the cross member directly below is closer to an inch. I think the bolts could actually come out IF it were possible to get a wrench on them, but that looks impossible. There's just no clearance to get at them from any direction.

To raise the rear of the transmission, it appears only three nuts need to be removed from under the cross member then stick a bottle jack under the transfer case. Does that sound right?

John L.

 

[TCDiesel]

I took a peak at it this afternoon... boy you're not kidding.

On my truck it looks like the clearance between the bolt heads and the cross member directly below is closer to an inch. I think the bolts could actually come out IF it were possible to get a wrench on them, but that looks impossible. There's just no clearance to get at them from any direction.

To raise the rear of the transmission, it appears only three nuts need to be removed from under the cross member then stick a bottle jack under the transfer case. Does that sound right?

John L.

Yep, It needs to be raised about and Inch , the Pan must miss the VB when it drops Down, Also the Filter in the 69 is Different then the 68. When you drop the Pan you can see why the Aisin 69 superior design and engineering over any other trans on the Market. If the aftermarket comes out with a Pan that has sight angle on the rear I think you could remove it W/O raising the trans to remove the bolts.

 

[gsbrockman]

JLandry.....if I'm not mistaken, the first service of the AS69RC at 30k miles is simply a drain & fill. At 60k, the pan is dropped, the filter replaced, then refilled with fluid. At 90k....drain & fill again, and 120k....another filter, etc. I was going to change mine in the 2013 when the weather let up, then was involved in an accident that kept it tied up in the body shop waaaaaay too long.

 

[JLandry]

...the first service of the AS69RC at 30k miles is simply a drain & fill. At 60k, the pan is dropped, the filter replaced, then refilled with fluid.

Hey you're right! I didn't notice that.

Thanks for the tip... that'll save some $$$.

John L.