Ram 1500 8 Speed Transmission Fluid Change Cost and Interval
Maintenance-free does not always mean maintenance free. This is the problem with a lot of products. They are advertised as being maintenance free but that terminology may refer to the length of time you own the vehicle. You may sell it first before the transmission needs any maintenance work done.
Judging from our research, this transmission may need to have the fluid changed every 50,000 to 70,000 miles. At least that is what the manufacturer claims. Ram dealers may say something different like it never needs changing or you wait till you reach 100,000 miles.
To learn more about this topic, just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so you can make the right maintenance decision for you. The cost to make the change can run you between $750 to $1200 depending on your dealer.
How Often Should You Change The Transmission Fluid Dodge Ram 1500?
This will depend on the year the transmission was made and which dealer you talk to. If the transmission was built for the 2014 model year, the word is that you need to change the fluid regularly.
But if you buy a 2015 RAM model, then you may never have to change the transmission fluid. Our research has indicated that you will get a variety of opinions on this topic.
Some have reported that this transmission never needs a fluid change, others have said it should be changed at 50,000 miles and on it goes. Transmission shops have stated that if you use your RAM for towing, then the fluid should be changed at around 60,000 miles.
Then, you may be told that you can run the same fluid for 150,000 miles with no problems but after that, you are on your own. The decision will be up to you on how long you will go without a fluid change.
This is supposed to be a sealed transmission so technically, you would never need to change the fluid.
Ram 1500 8-Speed Transmission Fluid Change Interval
We looked at the Dodge Ram maintenance schedule and it may not be good news for some 8-speed transmission owners. According to the schedule, it seems that the transmission shop was the most accurate.
If you do a lot of towing, then you should change the transmission fluid at 60,000 miles. At that time you should be replacing filters as well. If you don’t do a lot of towing, then you should be able to go indefinitely as the maintenance schedule places no transmission fluid change anywhere on its list.
But 150,000 miles may be the top limit before you need a change. That is the same time you should replace the coolant in your radiator. This information comes from one specific dealer.
The best thing to do is check with your manual to see what it says. If the manual has no information then contact Dodge RAM directly to get the right story. It seems that every dealer and repair shop has its own ideas about when you should change the transmission fluid.
How Much Does It Cost To Change Transmission Fluid on a Dodge Ram 1500?
Dealer costs will be a lot higher than if you go to a regular mechanic or transmission repair shop. For dealers, we have read this maintenance task will cost between $750 to $1200.
That is a nice chunk of change just to replace the fluid and filter on a transmission. We did find a mobile mechanic service online called ‘your mechanic’ and this company comes to you.
That company’s list price for a Dodge RAM 1500 is $181 including fluid and labor. That cost may not be for the 8-speed transmission. You can contact them through this link to find out more specifics.
The cost you will pay will depend on your dealer or mechanic. Everyone seems to have a different price and since this transmission does not need maintenance, many people are not listing it in their list of costs.
Many just say between $160 to $180 or a flat $400 or another amount fee. These outlets may only be thinking of a different Dodge RAM transmission and not the 8 -speed option.
The best advice is to contact your local dealer or repair shop and see what they will charge you.
Ram 1500 8-Speed Transmission Fluid Change Cost
As you can see, for a regular Dodge RAM transmission, the expense is not going to be that high. If you want to keep expenses down you can buy a kit and do it yourself.
This kit costs $299 and it includes 6 liters of special transmission fluid, the gasket, and filter as well as a pan. You can check this kit out at this link and use it as a guide when you look for a similar kit in your area.
Other repair costs will be up to the dealer or transmission repair shop in your area. There is no universal fee so you will be advised to do some comparison shopping before settling on the cost.
The cost of these repairs will only affect the owners of the following vehicles:
2015-Present Chrysler 300 V6
2012-Present Dodge Charger V6
2012-Present Dodge Challenger V6
2014-2017 Dodge Durango V6
2013-Present Ram 1500 V6
You can read all about this transmission at this link. It is a very informative blog post and gives you the best information possible on this transmission.
Some Final Words
The 8-speed Dodge RAM 1500 transmission is supposed to be maintenance-free. That may or may not be the case depending on how you drive your vehicle.
In this case, it is best to double-check with transmission experts to get a better idea of how to maintain this top transmission. If you are on a tight budget, it may be a good idea to go with the kit and save.
A friend can do the work for you if you can’t do it anymore.
