Transmission Pan question
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,377
Likes: 294
From: SE Michigan
However, yes, how the dealership WORDS and COMMUNICATES your issue and their findings can most certainly sway Ford to make a decision one way or the other.
That's why I've always recommended to build a good relationship with your chosen dealership so they are willing to work with and for you, if and when the need arises.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 643
From: McKinney, TX
The dealer I bought my truck from regularly has brand new trucks for sale, loaded with aftermarket parts (which is a big market here in Dallas.) I'm assuming they sell them with a factory warranty, etc, etc. There are so many ways to disprove a mod like a high volume oil pan would cause a failure, I don't see how they could argue it. I don't think the shop and/or the mechanics want to deal with aftermarket doodads on the trucks they service, which may or may not been installed by Bubba, if you see what I mean.
As far as I'm concerned, I'd put the pan on now. The ability to drop the oil without having to drop the pan would be worth it right there.
As far as I'm concerned, I'd put the pan on now. The ability to drop the oil without having to drop the pan would be worth it right there.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 134
Yes but you don’t have to drop the pan with 2 gallons of trans fluid sloshing around. Being able to drain it before dropping the pan makes a difference. Also some people like to drop the fluid without changing the filter at a shorter interval.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,862
Likes: 943
From: Kaufman TX
The filter really doesn't need changing, used filters do a better job anyway. They'll go 200k miles before filling up to the point of actually needing to be changed. The fluid should be changed a lot more frequently though and dropping the pan sucks.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,052
Likes: 1,550
From: Media PA
It’s my understanding (a large part of which is from Mark K’s @Mark Kovalsky posts here) that the trans pan’s filter is basically there to catch chunks vs how oil filters stop very tiny particles and that the trans pan filter does not need to be changed frequently if ever over the life of the vehicle even with multiple ATF changes.
Last edited by WE3ZS; Mar 5, 2026 at 01:51 PM.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,723
Likes: 2,650
From: SE Florida
That was true until 2008. As a running change in 2008, the rock catcher filter was replaced with a real filter. It filters at least as well as the bypass filter that was in the cooler lines. It's been too many years for me to remember the micron rating, but it will catch very small particles.
The newer filters DOES need to be changed on a regular basis. See your owner's manual.
The newer filters DOES need to be changed on a regular basis. See your owner's manual.
Last edited by Mark Kovalsky; Mar 5, 2026 at 05:08 PM.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,052
Likes: 1,550
From: Media PA
That was true until 2008. As a running change in 2008, the rock catcher filter was replaced with a real filter. It filters at least as well as the bypass filter that was in the cooler lines. It's been too many years for me to remember the micron rating, but it will catch very small particles.
The newer filters DOES need to be changed on a regular basis. See your owner's manual.
The newer filters DOES need to be changed on a regular basis. See your owner's manual.
I do like the idea of a pan with a drain plug to make periodic fluid changes much less of a mess though, even if the pan still needs removed for the filter change.
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 5,848
Likes: 3,470
From: Uh oh, CA
According to the 22 manual it's every 150k miles for fluid and filter. I dropped my pan at 45k and installed a new filter and a PPE deep trans pan. Of course I filled it with new fluid too. I plan to do another drain and refill at 75k and do another filter swap and refill at 100 - 110k. The PPE pan will make this easier since it actually has a drain in the bottom of the pan.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 643
From: McKinney, TX
According to the 22 manual it's every 150k miles for fluid and filter. I dropped my pan at 45k and installed a new filter and a PPE deep trans pan. Of course I filled it with new fluid too. I plan to do another drain and refill at 75k and do another filter swap and refill at 100 - 110k. The PPE pan will make this easier since it actually has a drain in the bottom of the pan.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 5,848
Likes: 3,470
From: Uh oh, CA
I bought a large plastic tote and placed it under the trans pan, then I cracked the bolts and let it start hanging little by little on one end. It drained kind of slow and it took a while but I finally got it.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 543
From: Florida
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post21726310
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 643
From: McKinney, TX
You didn't ask me, but this is how I did it on my 23. Watched the ARod video and followed suit with the tools I already had. Not a drop spilled.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post21726310
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post21726310
I wondered how it would work with a gasser... definitely more room with the diesel. That video answered a lot of questions. I don't really understand why Ford made it so difficult to check the fluid level, or even add fluid...