Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Auto transmission Gasket

[Scheibins]

This is my first auto in 20 years of driving. I've helped friends with theirs in the past and had problems with them leaking.

I'm planning on doing some transmission work tommorrow and I'm not sure of the best way to put the pan back on.

First off, should I get a new gasket just in case. No, I don't have a new one, just a filter and a valve body.

Sealant or no sealant?

Torque using a star pattern?

I would just like to hear any tricks of the trade.

Thanks.

 

[rrausch]

If it is a stock pan, you are gonna get wet! But transmission fluid isn't too bad, I soak as much of the spilled stuff up as I can, and the rest soaks right into (and seals!) the concrete & brick drivway where I change mine. I've always had the Mag-Hytec on this truck, but have changed fluid on other trannys with stock pans. It's messy.



I would think with the stock pan you should do whatever the service manual specifies in regards to the gasket. With the M-H, I re-use the same gasket and it seems fine, I have used this gasket for about 100,000 miles, but I do have a spare if I need it. I don't torque my pan bolts with a torque wrench, but some guys do. Don't know if this helps, since I do have a different pan than the stock one.



You might consider getting the Mag-Hytec pan. They are pretty nice, with a drain plug, a hole for a temp sending unit, and they also hold more fluid.

 

[rblomquist]

When I replaced mine with a Mag I saw on the TDR where somone said they went to Home Depot and bought a plastic concrete mixing pan. Well, I went to HD found 2 sizes of pans, bought the $5 one went home and proceeded to take the stock pan off without getting as much as a drop of oil on the gararge floor (and I had never done it before!).



Just take some of the bolts out and slowly loosen the rest, some fluid will come out then slowly start taking the rest out going from back to front (or vice versa) just support the bottom of the pan with your hand when you get it drooping good. Can't comment on the gasket as I used the paper one that comes from Mag.



Good luck but you should be fine if you go slow and have a nice big drain pan.



p. s. you might want to look at putting an open filter on

 

[csutton7]

I'd get the spare--you will use it sometime and there's nothing more frustrating than needing it and knowing that you should've a bought it but you didn't--chris

 

[Scheibins]

If I recall correctly, I think the problem in the past was in using sealant with the gasket (rubber) I couldn't even get up to spec torque with out the thing being smooshed out. Unless suggested otherwise I guess I'll go back on dry on both sides. Of course, the manual says to "put the gasket in place and install the pan". I'm just looking for any experiences that work.

Any input would be appreciated.

Btw, I've put this off for a couple of days. I need to figure out where I want to sense my transmission temp... ... Pan, line, cut the line, new line, etc... .

 

[parcher]

Go to the dealer and get the composite gasket. Basically it's a plastic gasket with molded rubber beads to seal it. You can re-use this gasket up to 3 times, sometimes more. This gasket is designed not to deform when the bolts are torqued. I know of a 727 that failed when the gaskest got sucked out of position and dumped the fluid, vehicle owner (my boss) was in Canada at the time snowmobiling.