Automatic Tranny drain plug?

[Brian Miller_dup1]

I don't have access to a welder, and the knowledge to weld.

Is there anywhere where you can buy a replacement pan that has a drain plug in it? I'm interested in one for a 04 Ranger.

Thanks for any help,
Brian

 

[nascarnation]

I believe they make a kit with a threaded insert.
You bore a hole in the pan, and use nuts and sealing washers on the inside and outside. The drain plug screws into threads on the inside of the insert. If you're trailer towing or run in a hot climate with a lot of stop n go traffic, I'd recommend changing fluid every 30,000 miles, otherwise every 50-75,000 is fine.

 

[SteveD2]

Yeah, I believe there are kits to add your own plug without welding. You might want to join a Ranger forum and ask if there are any pans available with plugs. You could probably find one with a little more capacity. My Jeep's transmission has a drain plug and I drain it with every oil change...it only takes $6 worth of ATF to fill it up again.

 

[n8wvi]

We spent $20,000 on one and it came w/ a free Subaru

Sorry, just had to get that in there, I'm sure there are others that equip their cars this way.

Dave

 

[Brian Miller_dup1]

Yeah, my old Saturn, that this truck is replacing had a drain plug and a spin on filter. It was no worse than changing the oil.

My wife's Hyundai has a drain plug and no filter. It's just a drain and fill every 30,000.

When I crawled under the new Ranger the other day, I just knew that I had to have a drain plug. I only want to get soaked in ATF one time!

Thanks for all your help,
Brian

 

[Virtuoso]

If you have an aux transmission cooler; you can disconnect one of the lines and let the transmission pump out xx amount of fluid for you. I drain a gallon of Mercon out of my SHO every oil change. Only adds another $4 & change to the oil change price, and all I have to do is pull off a hose and point it towards a jug.

 

[crashz]

I bought one of those $5 HELP! drain plugs. Very low quality. I had to make my own gaskets because the ones that came with it leaked. I have to re-torque the d@mn thing everytime I drain the fluid.

B&M has a plug kit that you can buy, this may be the way to go. Check out the big online parts houses. They also may have an aftermarket aluminum pan with the plug already installed for your application.

BTW - I would recommend a full drain and refill every 30,000 miles. People have had good luck doing this. Others who use a different schedule or none at all have a hit or miss reaction with their transmissions. Some people can go 100K with the factory fill, others only 40K. But everyone on the F150 boards who change their ATF at 30K have had good, reliable performance from their transmissions.

 

[tom slick]

this is what you are looking for. you won't get a complete drain-out but it will get most fluid out and make alot less mess on the floor when you pull the pan.

 

[rgl]

If you are buying a replacement aluminum pan, unless the area around the pan is completely clear of structural members make REAL SURE to talk to a rep to see if it will fit your particular truck (as in PRECISE MODEL) Some trucks are perversely designed so that the aluminum rim (which is much thicker than the stamped steel OEM) is too thick to tilt enough to clear cross members without torching them

. Believe me, not a good time to find this out when you have drained the fluid and are ready to replace the pan.

 

[Luke]

Tom
Thank you for the item (B&M)

 

[Jim Spahr]

I have used the B & M drain plug. Two issues- when you unbolt it, be sure to put a wrench on the large plug so it won't work loose and leak. Second is the height of the B & M bolt inside the pan doesn't allow all the ATF to drain out. Still it is better than no plug. You didn't say what you are driving! If you are driving a GM rear wheel drive car or truck with the 4L60E trans, you can buy a Silverado steel pan with a built in plug. It also has about one quart more capacity. Since it is somewhat deeper, you have to use a filter with a longer neck like the Silverado ATF filter. Beware of aftermarket aluminum pans because they leak. The cheaper the pan, the more likely it it that it will leak.