8HP70 Cast Aluminum Transmission Pan with Gasket, 228053000

A cracked or weeping transmission pan on a Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, a Hemi Ram, or a Charger or Challenger R/T or Scat Pack is a bigger problem than it looks, because the ZF eight-speed has no dipstick and owners rarely notice the level dropping until shifts go harsh or engagement gets slow. This finned cast aluminum pan replaces part number 228053000 on the ZF 8HP70 and 8HP75. It is listed for the 2013-2022 Ram 1500 with the 5.7L Hemi or the 3.0L EcoDiesel, and the 2015-2021 Dodge Charger and Challenger with the 5.7L or 6.4L V8. In the box: the pan, a pan gasket and a set of pan bolts. Shipping weight is 12.08 lb.

What the oil pan does in a ZF 8HP70

The pan is the bottom of the fluid circuit. It holds the sump the pump pulls from, it sits right under the mechatronic valve body, and on these vehicles it is also the lowest hard point of the transmission, so it is the part that meets rocks, curbs and badly placed floor jacks. ZF builds the 8HP with three pan types and treats them differently: its oil change service sheet lists plastic pans with the filter molded in, and aluminum and steel pans with the filter as a separate part. That difference is the most important thing to understand before you order this pan. A cast pan does not carry the factory filter, and this listing does not include one, so the filter has to be handled as its own part of the job.

The finned casting is much stiffer than a plastic pan and puts more metal in the airflow under the car. Heat is what wears out 8HP fluid, and ZF's own fluid data sheet shortens the change interval for high temperature and heavy load, which describes a truck that tows or a V8 car that sees launches.

Symptoms that bring owners to this pan

• ATF wetting the pan flange, crossmember or exhaust after a pan service
• A cracked or gouged pan corner after an off-road hit or a jack slip
• Harsh upshifts, flare between gears or slow engagement into Drive or Reverse once the level has dropped
• Transmission temperature climbing on a scan tool when towing or after repeated hard pulls

How to confirm the pan is the problem

Clean the case and pan, drive, and find where the wet line starts. Fluid that begins at the cooler line fittings or higher on the case will run down and drip off the pan even when the pan is fine; our ZF8HP fluid leak spots guide walks through each one. If shift complaints are the reason you are under the vehicle, scan for codes and set the level at the correct temperature first. On 2020-2023 vehicles with the 850RE, Stellantis has a D clutch repair bulletin, and no pan fixes that. The ZF8HP common problems guide helps separate a fluid problem from a hard-part failure.

Fitment

Listed fitment is the ZF 8HP70 and 8HP75 in the 2013-2022 Ram 1500 with the 5.7L or 3.0L EcoDiesel, and the 2015-2021 Dodge Charger and Challenger with the 5.7L or 6.4L. All-wheel-drive and high-output variants can use different hardware, so compare the pan flange and bolt pattern with your old pan before you drain anything, or send us your year and VIN and we will check it. If you would rather have a deeper sump with a filter and magnetic drain plug already in the box, look at the 8HP70 deep aluminum pan 228053010. Every pan, filter and service kit we carry for this unit is on the ZF 8HP parts page.

Install notes

• On vehicles with a crossover exhaust pipe, the install guide for this pan pattern has you remove the crossmember and lower the exhaust at the manifolds to get clearance.
• Confirm your filter arrangement before the old pan comes off. If your vehicle has the factory pan with the filter built in, the filter leaves with that pan, and a separate filter must be in place before this pan goes up.
• Clean the case sealing surface with a lint-free cloth, thread every bolt by hand, then tighten crosswise from the center outward. Use the torque in the pan's own instructions; the published guide for the 2280530xx pattern lists 8-10 ft-lb.
• Fill through the fill plug with the engine running and set the level by overflow inside the temperature window. Gen 1 8HP70 units take ZF LifeguardFluid 8, such as our 7-liter LifeguardFluid 8 service fill. Never use ATF+4 and never add additives. Our 8HP filter and pan service guide covers the full procedure.

Does this 8HP70 pan come with a filter?

No. The listing includes the pan, a pan gasket and the pan bolts only. Because the factory plastic pan has the filter molded into it, plan on a separate filter for the swap. If you want a filter and drain plug in the box, the 228053010 deep pan includes both.

Will it fit my Ram 1500 EcoDiesel?

The listed fitment includes the 2013-2022 Ram 1500 with the 3.0L EcoDiesel and the 5.7L Hemi. Compare the flange and bolt pattern with your old pan, or send us your year and VIN to confirm before you order.

What fluid goes back in after the pan swap?

The 8HP does not use ATF+4. Gen 1 8HP70 units take ZF LifeguardFluid 8. Stellantis bulletins for the 850RE call for Mopar 68218925AB. Do not add friction modifiers or shift additives.

How tight do the pan bolts go?

Follow the pan's own instructions. The published install guide for this pan pattern calls for 8-10 ft-lb in a crossing pattern. ZF lists 4 Nm plus 45 degrees for its own aluminum pans, so do not borrow a number from a different pan design.

Will a new pan fix harsh shifts?

Only if the harsh shifts came from low fluid caused by a pan leak. Worn valve body bores, solenoid faults and clutch problems produce the same complaints, so scan for codes and check the level at temperature before you blame the pan.

• ZF8HP Filter and Pan Service Guide
• ZF8HP Pan Bolt Torque Spec and Service
• ZF8HP Ram 1500 Fluid Change: Type, Capacity and Cost
• ZF8HP Dodge Charger Common Problems and Fixes
• ZF8HP Common Problems and Fixes