Hey Guys,

I have a 16 4x4 with the 6.2. What's my best and most cost effective option for adding a drain plug to my trains pan. I guess the newer 6 speeds don't have one. I like to drain and fill every 25k to keep fresh fluid in the trains. Is it best to buy an aftermarket pan with a plug?

 

On differential covers with no plugs I have taken the cover off, drilled a hole in the low spot and mig welded a nipple for the size of magnetic plug I purchases. Never had a problem.

 

They sell drain plug kits, jegs or summit have them. Napa may have them as well. Only problem is they tend to leak over time. Best but most expensive opinion would be an aftermarket pan, haven't seen one without a drain.

 

you know if you put in a trans drain plug and your rear brakes fail warranty will not cover this becuase of that.

 

+1 to warranty concerns. These days, I wouldn't touch anything till the warranty is up.


And every time you change it, you should take the pan off and change the filter anyway. so the plug isn't a big deal, just neater draining.


Does anyone know if the stock pans come with a magnet at the bottom? To catch metal filings? This just made me think of that. I put a small magnet from a used hard drive into the bottom of the pan for my old bronco, when I changed the fluid.

 

Just drop the transmission pan. Stamped into the bottom of the pan is a note which states the pan gasket is reusable. Therefore, drain and then refill as usual.

On the other hand, I don't think this transmission requires any fluid or filter change before 150k miles. Therefore, I would not bother. There are two filters (or a single "dual media" filter) inside which do a good job. The nice part is that there still is a dipstick, which makes it easy to look at fluid color and smell. No such luck on the F-150 with its German-clone ZF transmission (great trans, though).

 

Its really pointless to do, you will still leave quite a bit of fluid by just dropping the pan, these units should be flushed to get the proper fluid change.

 

I used the ol' B&M transmission drain plug kit on several vehicles ($7 at summit). I was satisfied with that. On a really thin pan you feel like you're doing something kinda lame when you clamp something into it. Welding on a coupling would probably make you feel better. Buying a new pan with a drain it might be better than that.

 

That was dumb of ford. Does anyone know why they removed them? My 2011 has a drain plug.

 

I'm special...crawled under the truck for the first time (4 feet of snow) and the truck indeed has a plug. I was told by my dealer that they didn't any more...AWESOME!!!

 

Clearly, he sold you an old truck that's been re-badged...

 

All of this insightful and useful feedback for naught!

 

Exactly!!! the transmission holds way more fluid than what is in the pan. You wouldn't change the oil without changing the filter right? So why would you mix dirty trans fluid with clean fluid?

 

Changing transmission fluid without a full flush requires a three step, expensive process for the home mechanic: drain the pan, refill. Drive the vehicle long enough to reach top gear, return home, back up, park. Drain fluid from pan again, then refill. Repeat drive procedure, reaching top gear, and then backing up. Drain pan again, this time replacing filter(s)], and then refill to level.

At this point, *most* of the fluid will be fresh and clean. It is expensive because you are replacing a lot of fluid, especially in a big transmission like the 6R140.

This procedure is still not as good as a transmission flush machine, which literally pumps in new fluid as the old is being pumped out, by connecting the machine inline with the transmission cooler lines. Nevertheless, some people who perform flushes on older or higher-mileage vehicles report transmission problems shortly thereafter because the flush dislodged buildup or sediment that may have collected in the fluid circuit, and was "flushed" into a critical area of the transmission, causing failure. This problem is avoided with the manual procedure.

Bottom line, with a 150k transmission "service" point from the factory, why do it before then?

 

First of all, putting a drain plug in the pan will not cost warranty. If a dealer wanted to be a pain, they have to prove the modification caused said failure. So it would only be on the tranny.

Secondly, some manufacturers say never to change trans fluid. Those same companies need trannys almost every 100k. So I'm gonna go ahead and worry less about a manufacturer keeping cost of ownership down, and more about my truck lasting. Change the fluid at least every 50k.