What is up with these Jeep Dealer Parts guys

dskater411 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2014 12:48 am

Going to do a transmission fluid/filter change so read up and went off to the dealer to get some parts.

Trip1: Tell the parts guy I need the 2 tranny filters for an 06 Liberty CRD. Comes back out of the back with the main filter. I say there is a second filter I need as well. He says no there is only one. I tell him I am positive there are 2, the second is a spin on for the oil return, I tell him I have a part# for him. He grumbles and searches on his computer annoyed, not wanting the part#. 5 minutes later he finally finds it, rings me up for the list price on each (I called the previous day and they quoted me a good price on them which is why I decided to go to the dealer for the filters), I dont feel like arguing so I say nothing. But I forgot the RTV.

Trip2: Go to a different dealer near my work not wanting to return to the first and tell them I need ATF RTV, they go look, 5min later come up and say they think they may be out but hold on another minute. Then they come back with Mopar RTV. I say that I need the one for the transmission, the ATF RTV, the guy says "yeah this is the one, its the black stuff" when he said black I trusted he knew what he was saying because I read the ATF RTV is thick and black. So I buy it. When I get home I googled the part#, and he sold me the normal RTV (5010884AC) for the axles, not the ATF RTV (5010884AA) just as I originally thought.

Getting tired of these dealer trips, they arent close by. Questions is, will the normal RTV be okay on the transmission or do I really need to go back and get the right stuff. I dont want to risk having a leak and re-doing the job, its messy and not fun. I also dont want to get an aftermarket gasket Id rather use the RTV.
Thanks

thermorex · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2014 7:49 am

I believe there is a rubber gasket for the pan, id parts may sell it, I know for sure they sell the kit, I ordered it a while ago but I haven't opened the box to see if they have the gasket. Either use gasket, either rtv, but not both since you may have tiny leaks over time. For sure advance auto sells the kit with rubber gasket (spin on filter is not part of the kit, you need to buy it separately), I have currently the advance kit installed, but I hear people saying only mopar is trustable. I haven't had any issues with advance kit though, and I have over 30k with it.

Regarding rtv, you may use the high temp orange rtv and it won't leak for sure, used it on a different transmission pan.

Edit: - found just the gasket online: http://www.makcotransmissionparts.com/72300F.html . ID Parts does not sell the gasket just checked.

Auberon · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2014 7:51 am

Just a suggestion: why not think about adding a drain plug to the tranny pan - Cascade Auto trans have one - I know there are others but these guys are nice to deal with and have a nice one I'm adding to mine.
http://www.cascadetransmissionparts.com/. The job is far less messy when you can drain the bulk away.

I like using a gasket but do know there are those who don't like them. Even the old Torqueflite 6 that had a quite flexible pan lip when compared to the 545RFE etc could be made to seal well with good technique and that gasket was/is cork. The pan gasket I have is rubber - so it should seal readily with the relative rigidity of the pan.

Sadly, your tale seems a case of near enough is good enough and if its a bit tough to remove the pan at a later date it's your lookout.

I'm certain I can recall reading about the blue RTV in the service manual as "preferred/recommended" if the RTV method is selected over a gasket so its not just web chatter.
Will have a browse and se if I can find a page number for you.

thermorex · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2014 7:58 am

Right on Auberon, that's a good tip, and also, installing a transmission probe for temperature would be a smart thing since the pan is out anyways. Napa sells some kits that would allow installing various probes.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2014 9:19 am

Skip the dealer. WIX 58843 kit has both filters and the gasket (available from Amazon for $29.36); Castrol or Valvoline ATF+4 on Amazon at 6qts for ca. $37 or any decent parts store (don't know the price at the latter); Permatex AT RTV runs about $6-7 on Amazone or probably about the same at any decent parts store. Amazon delivered to your doorstep in like 2 days if you are a prime member or a bit longer if you are not.

dskater411 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2014 5:28 pm

while I appreciate the tips, I already bought the filters from the dealer, I just wanted to know if the non-atf version of the rtv would be safe to use on the transmission pan or if it could cause some leaks. i think i am just going to be safe and get the right rtv.

thermorex · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2014 5:36 pm

If you take out the filter info from those tips, you have the choice to use either rtv (orange worked for me), either get the atf one, either buy a gasket.

I personally think using the rtv would be OK, a gasket would be more hassle free next fluid change.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2014 7:54 pm

My procedure is this:

I use black Permatex RTV to seal the gasket to the pan.
Then I lightly wet the gasket surface, where it mates with the case, with ATF.
Then I bolt it in gently with a 1/4 drive ratchet.
Wrench it too tight and the gasket will split and leak.
It's worked for me on nearly every transmission I've serviced.

woodtick · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2014 7:58 pm

At least you weren't in "on hold pergatory" like with the service departments. :ALONE:

Auberon · **Posted:** Sun Jun 15, 2014 12:59 am

You can clearly tell I liked dealing with these chaps.
Cascade transmissions also do the transmission filters and gaskets.
Their I/national and local shipping is at a fair rate also.
If you are not inclined to put a "T" as a probe tap-off at the line out of the transmission cooler outlet the oil pan drain plugs these guys sell can be used for a probe quite easily. They are priced well compared to others I could find and good quality.
That quality and service statement comes not just actual dealings. I have filters and two drain plugs at hand to install not just in the KJ.

thermorex · **Posted:** Sun Jun 15, 2014 2:43 am

flash7210 wrote:

My procedure is this:

I use black Permatex RTV to seal the gasket to the pan.
Then I lightly wet the gasket surface, where it mates with the case, with ATF.
Then I bolt it in gently with a 1/4 drive ratchet.
Wrench it too tight and the gasket will split and leak.
It's worked for me on nearly every transmission I've serviced.

I also use a cordless drill with the socket in the chuck, and set the torque to minimum. Then gently torque with a 1/4 ratchet.

dskater411 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 16, 2014 6:12 pm

I finished the job. Took me way longer than I expected but I guess I was being very careful not to make a mess all over my garage and smell ATF for the next few months. Everything went smooth.

I first pumped out about 4-5 qts from the didstick tube so the pan wouldnt make a mess. Then dropped the pan, still quite a lot came out. Previous owner used a gasket so cleanup was nice and easy (but the transmission had small leaks so I went the RTV route this time, no leaks so far). I changed the filters, cleaned the pan with acetone and bolted it back up. Fluid was pretty dirty/dark, sludge in the pan and magnet had some shavings stuck to it. But my transmission doesnt have any symptoms besides the common hard shift to 3rd at 35mph so im hoping all is well. 9 qts came out and I only bought 8 so had to go get more. Dont want to do this again just because of the time involved.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 16, 2014 7:58 pm

papaindigo wrote:

Skip the dealer. WIX 58843 kit has both filters and the gasket (available from Amazon for $29.36); Castrol or Valvoline ATF+4 on Amazon at 6qts for ca. $37 or any decent parts store (don't know the price at the latter); Permatex AT RTV runs about $6-7 on Amazone or probably about the same at any decent parts store. Amazon delivered to your doorstep in like 2 days if you are a prime member or a bit longer if you are not.

Only the OEM filters are the updated versions,aftermarket versions still have old style spin on filter that can cause issues.

And yes RTV is the only way to go since the trans case was not machined for a gasket.

thermorex · **Posted:** Mon Jun 16, 2014 9:30 pm

My Trans pan is bone dry and I have a rubber gasket with no rtv. But the Trans pan looks indeed grooved for rtv. I remember a while ago, when I got the jeep and I used to buy parts from any non Napa store without thinking, Autozone said they don't sell gasket and use rtv since this is what jeep said to use... I thought back then they are nuts...

Auberon · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2014 9:58 pm

Mopar pans have had grooves between bolt holes since the Torqueflite 6 and some before that well before silicon was a common product in the auto industry.

What is up with these Jeep Dealer Parts guys

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