Aluminum finned, deep transmission pan

[chancem]

I'm not sure if this is the best or appropriate place to post this, and I couldn't find any threads on this.

I have a 2016 F-250 6.7 Powerstroke with about 54,750 miles. I use my truck as a daily commuter and to tow my fishing boat, gross weight about 7,000lbs. My truck has stock engine oil and transmission oil temp sensors. Going up grade towing my boat at 50mph, my engine will hit 215-221F with Valveoline Synpower 5W-40, but I've recently switched to Shell Rotella T6 5W-40. The transmission temp will hit around 201-203F. The highest I've seen the trans temp was 210F.

I'm planning to do a transmission flush at 60,000 miles. At the same time, I was thinking of replacing my stock trans pan with a finned, aluminum deep trans pan. I'm not sure on the make, but I was considering aFe plain aluminum (not powder coated and adds 3 quarts of fluid) for better heat transfer from the surface. I'm looking to lower my transmission oil temp. On the highway without towing anything and depending on how long I am driving, my transmission will hit 195-203F. I have heard that the temps are lower with a larger fluid reservoir, but will take a lot longer to cool down. The better thermal conductivity of the aluminum appears to be offset by the thickness of the aluminum pan, from what I could tell, it seems the heat rejection may be about the same with either.

Does anyone have real world experience of these types of aluminum finned, deep trans pans? I'm curious about oil longevity, oil temps, pros/cons

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Coming from the VW aircooled world all the extended sump does is buy you time. Once all the oil is heated up it makes no difference. Now it is just more oil to cool off. The fins are nowhere near a pressure zone to get good air flow at any speed. The advantage is it will have a drain plug for future changes. You can install a temp gauge and verify if you want.

 

[clinebarger]

210°F......Nothing to worry about!

 

[chemman]

What about adding auxiliary oil coolers for the engine oil and the transmission fluid if you are that concerned?

 

[CKN]

Those temps are WELL WITHIN PARAMETERS of what modern transmission fluid can handle.


BTW-let's not dig out that chart that's been floating around the Internet for 20plus years showing transmission fluid is toast after 200 degrees and 20,000 miles......

 

[clinebarger]

That stupid chart predates the Internet!

 

[MNgopher]

If the highest you are seeing is 210 on the transmission, then your transmission is operating as designed. This generation of transmissions are designed to run in the 195-210 range as the normal operation temp.

 

[chancem]

Thanks for all the input. I figured spending the money for a trans pan may not be worth the extra 300-400 bones. The input has really helped me make my decision. My pan already has a drain plug in it, so not much of an improvement there. Just wishful thinking that there'd be a noticeable improvement.

 

[mattd]

Don't waste your money. These transmissions are thermostatically controlled to around 200*. All it will do is lighten your wallet.

 

[Tman220]

You are well within the operating parameters of that transmission. That truck is designed to pull at least double that weight. I would imagine that transmission pan is also the same as the pan that comes on the F350 dually, a truck that is designed to pull 4 times plus! the weight you are pulling!

Don't waste money on something you don't need, that isn't a 20 year old F250 with a souped up 7.3 with a garbage designed to fail 4R100

 

[Cujet]

Aluminum pans will not reduce the fluid temperature by much.

One thing to keep in mind, a good steel oil pan or transmission pan is much less likely to leak when damaged.

 

[JustChuck]

A flush is probably a waste of money since the thermal bypass valve will just immediately flush the new fluid back to the machine. Put a pan with a drainplug and just do a drain and replace.

I've seen these for 6R80 but haven't used on.
https://globaltransmissionparts.com/ford-6r60-6r75-6r80-sure-cool-thermal-control-bypass-valve

Also if your trans uses the LV fluid, this is about as cheap as you will find it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X4AXGCC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[WyrTwister]

Originally Posted by chancem
Thanks for all the input. I figured spending the money for a trans pan may not be worth the extra 300-400 bones. The input has really helped me make my decision. My pan already has a drain plug in it, so not much of an improvement there. Just wishful thinking that there would be a noticeable improvement.



Did not realize the Al pan would cost that much ?

I think someone has already mentioned an external cooler , in front of tghe radiator ?

 

[4wd]

Barely in front of radiator
Tale of two Taco's (identical) … both had mounted the same cooler for trip in sand. One still had the trans getting hot.
A little disco smoke proved that one had too much gap … so the fan was not pulling air through that cooler at slow speed … but heavy loads.
Re mount solved the issue.