Transmission Drain Plug for Stock Pan

[Grumpaw]

Just throwing this out for discussion...
Many posts, including mine, concerning the PPE Trans Pan with some wanting it for the extra capacity and some wanting it for the ability to easily drain the fluid.
Derale and B&M both make a transmission drain plug kit that only requires drilling a hole for a "piggy back" type drain plug kit. Both kits run under $15 bucks and are simple to install.
Derale Kit is 13010 and B&M Kit is 80250.
Granted, the section of the drain and its bolt protrude into the bottom of the pan, thus not all the fluid would drain...but the majority would.
Wondering if any members have installed these or something similar, instead of spending $300 bucks to gain a drain plug ???

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[Dr3wDrop]

Just throwing this out for discussion...
Many posts, including mine, concerning the PPE Trans Pan with some wanting it for the extra capacity and some wanting it for the ability to easily drain the fluid.
Derale and B&M both make a transmission drain plug kit that only requires drilling a hole for a "piggy back" type drain plug kit. Both kits run under $15 bucks and are simple to install.
Derale Kit is 13010 and B&M Kit is 80250.
Granted, the section of the drain and its bolt protrude into the bottom of the pan, thus not all the fluid would drain...but the majority would.
Wondering if any members have installed these or something similar, instead of spending $300 bucks to gain a drain plug ???

Wouldn't you have to drop the pain to install the nut on the inside?

 

[2020XLT]

From Summit racing website:

B&M Drain Plug Kits

B&M drain plug kits are perfect for people who want to change their transmission fluid without making a mess. Simply remove the pan once, drill a hole, bolt on a drain plug kit, and eliminate messy oil splash forever. These kits are non-magnetic.

 

[Grumpaw]

Wouldn't you have to drop the pain to install the nut on the inside?

Yes, but it's a one time thing. Would allow you to then drain almost all the old fluid prior to dropping the pan to replace the filter....or just to regularly switch the pan fluid out....just draining the pan fluid and adding fresh fluid.

 

[daczone]

Just throwing this out for discussion...
Many posts, including mine, concerning the PPE Trans Pan with some wanting it for the extra capacity and some wanting it for the ability to easily drain the fluid.
Derale and B&M both make a transmission drain plug kit that only requires drilling a hole for a "piggy back" type drain plug kit. Both kits run under $15 bucks and are simple to install.
Derale Kit is 13010 and B&M Kit is 80250.
Granted, the section of the drain and its bolt protrude into the bottom of the pan, thus not all the fluid would drain...but the majority would.
Wondering if any members have installed these or something similar, instead of spending $300 bucks to gain a drain plug ???

Bolt or no bolt, I think the bigger issue is the plastic pan, which is HUGE btw, and has no protection over it, unless you could the tin fold heat covers on the sides

I am waiting to hit the mileage to change mine out and am sold on the cast aluminum pan.

 

[Dr3wDrop]

If I was going through the effort to remove the pan, I would replace it.

 

[Big Blue]

Just looked at the B&M KIT. I haven't looked closely at the current plastic pan, but I'm not sure where you could put it. The kit appears to be made for a stamped steel pan. I don’t think it will work on our molded plastic one. I so think the finned alloy pan has a cooling advantage as well as added fluid volume.

 

[Frenchy]

I have seen the kits you are talking about. Downside with them is if they don't get snuged down correctly they won't seal correctly. That said with the PPE pans there are two types. The basic type that is correct for the Ranger Wich also fits the mustang will keep the same capacity but adds not just the drain plug but also very effective cooling fins that will easily help the life of the transmission

 

[Trigganometry]

Our trans pans are plastic! The Ford service manual says to replace it with a fluid change. They’re not very expensive ether. Putting a drain hole in it that’s not reenforced with a plug will probably lead to bigger problems. If I were to upgrade I would ditch the plastic once and for all, get the metal with drain plugs as a bonus and call it a day.

Probably just me but a plastic pan is not what I think is a good design. Especially if you off-road. Heck just junk on the highway or streets is a gamble!

 

[Grumpaw]

Again, I was just throwing this out for discussion.
I agree that the PPE pan is a great alternative, but was bringing this up possibly for those who don't want the PPE or don't have an extra $300 bucks to buy a pan just for a drain plug.

Honestly, what I would like to see is someone who has "verified" their trans temps with the old pan, and then, after installing the PPE pan to compare the temps under the same driving circumstances.
I have read posts that state "the trans seems to shift better" or that "the fluid temps have decreased", but how was the difference obtained ???
One would have to have a Scan Gauge 3 or one of the apps that accurately reads the trans fluid temps.
I do know, from our trips towing, that with the air temps around 75 degrees, on flat/level roadways, the trans fluid temps are around 195-200 solo, and 198-205 towing our travel trailer. To me, that shows that Ford has done a relativity good job designing the cooling of the tranny.
If adding a $300 PPE pan drops those temps by 15 degrees or so, it would be worth it....but a 5-10 degree drop is not enough to justify it.

 

[Frenchy]

Again, I was just throwing this out for discussion.
I agree that the PPE pan is a great alternative, but was bringing this up possibly for those who don't want the PPE or don't have an extra $300 bucks to buy a pan just for a drain plug.

Honestly, what I would like to see is someone who has "verified" their trans temps with the old pan, and then, after installing the PPE pan to compare the temps under the same driving circumstances.
I have read posts that state "the trans seems to shift better" or that "the fluid temps have decreased", but how was the difference obtained ???
One would have to have a Scan Gauge 3 or one of the apps that accurately reads the trans fluid temps.
I do know, from our trips towing, that with the air temps around 75 degrees, on flat/level roadways, the trans fluid temps are around 195-200 solo, and 198-205 towing our travel trailer. To me, that shows that Ford has done a relativity good job designing the cooling of the tranny.
If adding a $300 PPE pan drops those temps by 15 degrees or so, it would be worth it....but a 5-10 degree drop is not enough to justify it.

It's really going to depend on the conditions to how much it will cool. I will agree that someone posting actual data would be nice. When Off-road I have seen the temps get up to 250°. When it got there I just stopped and let it cool off while idling. I suspect with the PPE pan it would have taken a bit longer to get that high

 

[RedDakooter05]

Cooling fins do very little to drop temps. They vent temps quicker but if there's constant heat(ie the transmission itself) being applied, the oil will just be the same temperature.

Like the CPU on my PC. The heatsink won't don't much if I didn't have a cooling fan constantly drawing heat away.

 

[Frenchy]

Cooling fins do very little to drop temps. They vent temps quicker but if there's constant heat(ie the transmission itself) being applied, the oil will just be the same temperature.

Like the CPU on my PC. The heatsink won't don't much if I didn't have a cooling fan constantly drawing heat away.

Oil temp changes occur elsewhere in the system, not the pan.

But the pan can still make a good difference with the cooling fins. A great example was my old 2016 Frontier I had. On that truck the power steering return line has a small section (probably about 6 inches) with cooling fins wrapped around it. Now you might ask why? Well the power steering system does get hot from the pump running all the time. Those fins made a huge difference in temperature drop. Now you ask how much it dropped right? Well unfortunately I don't have a number because I used my hand, but I can say it was a difference you could feel. It went from hot to Luke warm in just that short distance. So with that said a pan with good cooling fins would make a huge difference in the overall performance of the transmission. It would also help keep the temperature more stable in certain conditions.

 

[RedDakooter05]

But the pan can still make a good difference with the cooling fins. A great example was my old 2016 Frontier I had. On that truck the power steering return line has a small section (probably about 6 inches) with cooling fins wrapped around it. Now you might ask why? Well the power steering system does get hot from the pump running all the time. Those fins made a huge difference in temperature drop. Now you ask how much it dropped right? Well unfortunately I don't have a number because I used my hand, but I can say it was a difference you could feel. It went from hot to Luke warm in just that short distance. So with that said a pan with good cooling fins would make a huge difference in the overall performance of the transmission. It would also help keep the temperature more stable in certain conditions.

The P/S oil usually does not go above 200 degrees. So I get the fins do work, but the fluid for the P/S goes through a few devices(Reservoir, steering rack), and cools down as it does.


I'm sure it will help some, but for daily or even basic towing applications. I don't know man.

 

[Frenchy]

The P/S oil usually does not go above 200 degrees. So I get the fins do work, but the fluid for the P/S goes through a few devices(Reservoir, steering rack), and cools down as it does.


I'm sure it will help some, but for daily or even basic towing applications. I don't know man.

For towing it can definitely help especially if towing close to max capacity. If only towing 1,000 lbs then probably not really.

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