double deep Mag-Hytec on 2WD

[alexanderJ]

I have a '05 2500 2WD. Since it is primarily used for pulling my 9K lb 5th wheel trailer, I'm considering adding a Mag-Hytec double deep transmission pan. They report it to be 5 1/4" deep so it looks like it should fit nice and no lower than the cross member adjacent to it.

Question is do any of you have this pan on a 2 wheel drive truck and has it presented in clearance problems?? Obviously if any off road driving is done there could be problems, but I'm just trying to make sure normal road driving won't be an issue.

Also, anyone noted any significant drop in temps after installing?

 

[cerberusiam]

With that weight you don't even need to worry about the pan, not heavy enough. You would be much better off spending the cost on the pan on some of the small parts to extend the life of the trans, a shift kit and better servos\accumulator would do more than the pan ever will.

 

[LGregory]

I have had my double deep installed on my 2003 2wd for 10 years maybe and nothing has ever hit it but I did notice a scrape on the transmission crossmember so it must have come close. I think the pan is well worth every penny even if your not super heavy. Never leaks, drain plug and temp sensor port built in.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I have had my double deep installed on my 2003 2wd for 10 years maybe and nothing has ever hit it but I did notice a scrape on the transmission crossmember so it must have come close. I think the pan is well worth every penny even if your not super heavy. Never leaks, drain plug and temp sensor port built in.

I've also had one on my 2WD truck for over 10 years. (I won it as a raffle prize )

Bill

 

[cerberusiam]

I think the pan is well worth every penny even if your not super heavy.

Definitely not worth the cost of them for what they return. It amounts $250 so the fluid takes 3 minutes longer to get to the same temp and turn on the light on the dash, not a very good ROI.

 

[LGregory]

Definitely not worth the cost of them for what they return. It amounts $250 so the fluid takes 3 minutes longer to get to the same temp and turn on the light on the dash, not a very good ROI.

Maybe we can agree to disagree but I think the deep pan is good investment especially since I plan to keep my truck forever. I do know that every degree of transmission fluid temperature decrease increases the life of the fluid.This should be undisputed. Also this pan should help dissipate heat which should help lower operating temperature. I doubt many owners of these pans regret their purchase.
I drove and rebuilt Dodge's before Dodge's were kool including transmissions and I just love the Mag-hytec products, maybe because I have kept my truck 95% stock there wasn't much else to upgrade. I considered these some of my first upgrades.

 

[cerberusiam]

I do know that every degree of transmission fluid temperature decrease increases the life of the fluid.This should be undisputed.

While that may have been strictly true 30 years ago in the day of fluid couplings and non-synthetic fluids, that myth has been thoroughly debunked with newer fluids and transmissions designs. The designed operating range or ATF+4 and the 48RE is 140-240 degrees. As long as you stay within that range and exchange the fluid on a regular basis there really is no downside on a stock transmission build. A specilaized build can have different parameters and needs so this is a stock only discussion.

Adding capacity simply means the fluid will take a bit longer to get to its designed temp, it doesn't lower the overall temp. Given that the original reason for using the deep pans has been negated by design it puts a different spin on it. Without making some physical changes to the transmission operation a pan simply does not add enough to be worth the investment. To update your knowledge a bit, a deep pan with no other changes has been relegated to the bling category. It really isn't amtter of differing opinions, the functionality just isn't there.

A stock 48RE pan is already enhanced capacity and the system will easily hold 18 quarts of fluid, that easily enough to cool everything to the max GCVW. Addition of a few changes to the trans operation will enhance that. There isn't a competent transmisison builder out there that would trade a deep pan for fixing the real problems, that is just a given anymore.

For the OP's stated use, it is purely bling to add just a pan hence my comments. The same $$ can be put to much better use on somethign that will actually extend the transmission life and enhance its capabilites, those facts are just not disputable anymore either.

 

[LGregory]

Deleted because of mispost.

 

[Prairie Dog]

A GM engineer commented on extra capacity pans on RV.net.
He basically said thath the fluid around the walls of the pan doesn't move around much and forms an insulated wall around the fluid that is moving. He went on to say that the pans don't do much of anything for cooling and that a bigger cooler is a much better way to go.
I installed one on my 93 DC (A518 trans) and it made no difference at all to temps at the most critical times, like when climbing the local moutnain passes. I had to install a cooler under the body with its own fan to actually make a difference.

 

[BigPapa]

Adding capacity simply means the fluid will take a bit longer to get to its designed temp, it doesn't lower the overall temp.

This hits it on the head. Added fluid capacity does nothing to drop operating temperature. Just takes it longer to heat up and longer to cool down. Just ask someone in the hydraulic industry.

 

[cerberusiam]

the fluid around the walls of the pan doesn't move around much and forms an insulated wall around the fluid that is moving.

Then a probe is inserted into said pan right into the insulating fluid and the readings drop thereby proving the pan has lowered temperatures. The next thing we hear is a rant about the junk Dodge transmissions that can't even pull their 15k 5'er up 3 mile long 12% grade out of the campground in DRIVE without overheating and setting codes and CELs while the trans gauge never exceeds 210 degrees or so.

 

[WCPoe]

I have a '05 2500 2WD. Since it is primarily used for pulling my 9K lb 5th wheel trailer, I'm considering adding a Mag-Hytec double deep transmission pan. They report it to be 5 1/4" deep so it looks like it should fit nice and no lower than the cross member adjacent to it.

Question is do any of you have this pan on a 2 wheel drive truck and has it presented in clearance problems?? Obviously if any off road driving is done there could be problems, but I'm just trying to make sure normal road driving won't be an issue.

Also, anyone noted any significant drop in temps after installing?

Just for a point of reference I have a 2WD 2004.5 QC and mine has the deep ATS deep pan which I think is the same depth. It clears the cross member fine and doesn't hang down as far as the cross member.

Also I removed the 2 spacers in the rear leaf spring packs which lowered the rear end of the truck about 1 inch. I never had any problems even going through my pasture.

For what it's worth.