No drain plug!!
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 329
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No drain plug!!
Hey guys, I'm in kind of a bind here. I noticed my 90 Bronco with the E4OD tranny does not have the drain plug for the transmission pan. My question is how do I drop the pan with out spilling fluid all over the drive way. Have you guys made something to catch all the fluid. Or is there a trick to it?? I need help quick!!
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: MN
No drain plug!!
Remove the pan bolts along the rear and sides. Loosen but do not remove the bolts at the front of the pan. Pry down the pan at the rear and allow the fluid to drain into large pan. Be careful, don't pry very much on the pan. You don't want to bend the flange. This should let enough out so that you can take the other bolts out and drop the pan and drain out the rest. It's really messy but that's the best way to do it. Have a large drain pan on hand and it will be easier.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
No drain plug!!
That's actually the ONLY way to do it. If you've ever watched in a transmission shop, that's how they do all their fluid changes. You can add a drain plug by buying Motormite's HELP! "Transmission Drain Plug Kit" PN65128 - there are instructions on the back of the blister pack. It'll help next time.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
No drain plug!!
I can change my Aerostar/BII A4LD without spilling anything (usually 
. Here is how. Loosen all the bolts a tad. Starting with the left rear corner bolt, I take out it and a couple on each side. Gradually loosen each one left in the "V" until the pan tips slightly and starts to dribble fluid out of the corner neatly into the oil pan. Gradually loosen bolts (and remove them) in the V until it drains most of the pan, then start on the remaining V ending up with five bolts with most of the bolt out.
There is now very little fluid left in the pan to bend the flange or to spill.
Now, push the pan up and flat, remove the last bolts by finger, lower the pan into the catch pan, level with both hands. Slide from underneath vehicle with catch pan. Stand up and pour remainder of contents out of pan.
Note: If you worked in a shop at flat rate this would not work too well
. Here is how. Loosen all the bolts a tad. Starting with the left rear corner bolt, I take out it and a couple on each side. Gradually loosen each one left in the "V" until the pan tips slightly and starts to dribble fluid out of the corner neatly into the oil pan. Gradually loosen bolts (and remove them) in the V until it drains most of the pan, then start on the remaining V ending up with five bolts with most of the bolt out. There is now very little fluid left in the pan to bend the flange or to spill.
Now, push the pan up and flat, remove the last bolts by finger, lower the pan into the catch pan, level with both hands. Slide from underneath vehicle with catch pan. Stand up and pour remainder of contents out of pan.
Note: If you worked in a shop at flat rate this would not work too well
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
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No drain plug!!
Wait guys, I just thought of an idea. How about loosening all the bolts just enough until you can get a suction tube in there and suck most of the fluid out!! Then once you got it all out drop the pan. Oh one more question. Where do you re-fill it at. From the hole by the dip stick or somewhere else!
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 886
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From: Cincinnati
No drain plug!!
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 28-Dec-02 AT 08:41 PM (EST)]Suck it out the dip stick tube. I now have an easy way since I added an external transmission filter (oil filter type). I just remove the filter, start the engine, and wait till two quarts pumps out. This drops the level enough so you can drop the pan without spilling much. It's still going to drip. I once dropped the pan for a couple of weeks while I was doing some other work. Three weeks later it was still dripping! You best find a big pan if you don't want a mess. Drain plugs are only an accident waiting to happen.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
No drain plug!!
None of the plugs I've installed have ever had a problem, but I use LocTite on them so they won't back off. You still have to use a backup wrench on the fitting while you unscrew the plug, but it says that on the package.
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,697
Likes: 2,620
From: SE Florida
No drain plug!!
You can remove a cooler line and start the engine. That will pump the pan almost dry.
There is a procedure in the Tech Articles section on changing the transmission fluid. You can use the first part of the procedure to drain the pan without spilling any fluid.
There is a procedure in the Tech Articles section on changing the transmission fluid. You can use the first part of the procedure to drain the pan without spilling any fluid.
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Joe Kucinski
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
No drain plug!!
Have a big bag of kitty litter handy. It is very good at soaking up oil spills.
Yeah dropping the pan is about the only way unless you want to try one of those pumps through the dipstick tube. You could also drain through the oil cooler lines, but some people are nervous about running the tranny dry. Some people will drain through the cooler lines and start pouring fresh fluid down the dipstick tube. It takes a lot more fluid that way but supposedly it flushes the tranny and torque converter.
I drop the pan because I always change the filter and I want to see what bits are floating around at the bottom of the pan. Looking around is a great diagnostic procedure.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
Yeah dropping the pan is about the only way unless you want to try one of those pumps through the dipstick tube. You could also drain through the oil cooler lines, but some people are nervous about running the tranny dry. Some people will drain through the cooler lines and start pouring fresh fluid down the dipstick tube. It takes a lot more fluid that way but supposedly it flushes the tranny and torque converter.
I drop the pan because I always change the filter and I want to see what bits are floating around at the bottom of the pan. Looking around is a great diagnostic procedure.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 7
From: Gretna ,LA.
No drain plug!!
jus thought i would add the factory doesnt give it a drain plug because then you could change fluid without changing filter. i guess they figure that since one has the pan off,it would foolish not to change the filter.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
From: Watauga TEXAS
No drain plug!!
Here's another trick fellas-
Go to the hardware store and buy a big plastic trash can lid- maybe a few bucks (it's been a while). Turn it over and drill a bunch of holes in the center. Then let it rest on your drain pan like a wide/flat funnel. Comes in handy when changing oil on a windy day, too.
Joe
Go to the hardware store and buy a big plastic trash can lid- maybe a few bucks (it's been a while). Turn it over and drill a bunch of holes in the center. Then let it rest on your drain pan like a wide/flat funnel. Comes in handy when changing oil on a windy day, too.
Joe
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 845
Likes: 2
From: Bakersfield Ca.
No drain plug!!
JDS, great idea! I've never changed the oil or filter on a automatic tansmission before. After reading many threads and posts on the subject, I don't think it's gonna be all that bad. My biggest problem was how to deal with the mess. Thanks alot guys for all the imput.
