Transmission pan torque specs?
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Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Lynchburg, VA
Transmission pan torque specs?
I'm changing the tranny filter on my '96 van today and need to know if the pan bolts and the filter bolts need to be torqued to a specified ft-lb. I don't own a torque wrench but may be able to borrow one. TIA
Tim
1996 E150
1983 F150
Lynchburg, VA
Tim
1996 E150
1983 F150
Lynchburg, VA
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New User
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Lynchburg, VA
Finally got to the transmission filter change today. In the process of taking out the 17 bolts in the pan, one of them rung off in the transmission housing (oh joy). Will attempt to drill out and remove with an extractor. If that doesn't work I'll have to drill one step bigger and tap hole. Also, I found an odd object laying in the pan when I removed it. It's a little yellow plastic piece about an 1-1/4 long with a conical end with an O ring on it. The other end is a 3/16 shaft. I have no idea what it is or where it came from!
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
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From: So Cal
That plastic piece is the dipstick tube factory plug. It is on the tube before it is installed into the tranny during assembly. When the dipstick is pushed in the first time it pushes the plug out to float harmlessly in the pan until the next fluid change. This means the fluid in your tranny has never been changed before. Maybe why one bolt broke off.
Be careful while torquing the bolts back into place. Some pan gaskets will squeeze out or cut under the bolts and give you a really good leak. Cork and rubber gaskets seem to do this most. The black "hard paperboard" like gaskets don't have as much problem with that.
If you are using a soft gasket you might want to "glue" it in place and go light on the torque while watching the gasket for bulging. If it bulges, back off a bit on torque and maybe use some gasket sealer on the bolt since it won't be torqued to spec.
Without a torque wrench, hand tight is more than enough. Don't go honking on the wrench.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
Be careful while torquing the bolts back into place. Some pan gaskets will squeeze out or cut under the bolts and give you a really good leak. Cork and rubber gaskets seem to do this most. The black "hard paperboard" like gaskets don't have as much problem with that.
If you are using a soft gasket you might want to "glue" it in place and go light on the torque while watching the gasket for bulging. If it bulges, back off a bit on torque and maybe use some gasket sealer on the bolt since it won't be torqued to spec.
Without a torque wrench, hand tight is more than enough. Don't go honking on the wrench.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
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New User
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Lynchburg, VA
Thanks Jim. I was speculating that the plastic piece in question must have been dropped or pushed through the dipstick tube since it matches nothing else. 
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,544
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From: Des Moines
One thing I've learned is that, once the bolt has made contact with the surface and is just a little bit snug, one 1/4 turn with a wrench or ratchet from that point is equivalent to about 14 ft-lbs. It's obviously not as accurate as a torque wrench, but it might work for you.
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