I found a transmission pan drain plug kit from B&M Racing, and I am considering putting it in when I change my fluid and filter. ANy experience with aftermarket universal drain plug kits? Thanks!
Drain Plug Kit
- Thread starter lobo11
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Kestas
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I installed these kits in several cars. You can do one better than the instructions if you braze the part to the pan. You get solid engagement of the unit to the pan plus more clearance on the inside of the pan.
The big advantage is that you can drain the pan and avoid a red bath when you remove the pan for service.
The big advantage is that you can drain the pan and avoid a red bath when you remove the pan for service.
The only caveat that I'm aware of is that you need to use two wrenches when removing the plug to avoid loosening the fitting each time you remove the plug. If you braze it on there, obviously you wouldn't need to worry about that. This also isn't a "get out of periodic pan drops free" card. You still need to clean the pan and change the filter periodically.
Or you can spend $80,000+ and get a 7 series BMW which has lifetime transmission fluid.
( I think the Aztec also has this feature)
Also depending on what car you drive, alot of the imports do not need the filter changed. Good luck either way.
Also depending on what car you drive, alot of the imports do not need the filter changed. Good luck either way.
Kestas
Staff member
... or you can spend $90,000 and get an S Class Mercedes which already has drain plugs in the transmission pan and torque converter.
Check out the pans on older used cars sometime. You'll probably see a lot of holes in them that are filled by brass. It used to be common to punch a hole with a center punch to drain the fluid, then pull the pan to clean it and braze the hole shut...
Put one in my Dodge truck, worked okay. With the new truck I think I am going to have a plug brazed or welded on.
JSharp
My dad used to tell me that, but I never seen it myself.
JSharp
My dad used to tell me that, but I never seen it myself.
I've put a couple of those B&M kitson and they all had a little bit of ATF seepage around the threads. All were fixed by using a little wrap of teflon tape on the plug bolt.
I was amazed that my wife's 2000 Cherokee Limited has a trans drain plug! And that's OEM! I added one to my Corvette, but had to be real careful about clearance since the pan is not all that deep. Sure makes draining a cleaner job thats for sure!!
Had the B&M kit installed in the Aerostar last summer. It prevents complete drain of the pan because it sticks up maybe 3/8 inch, but does allows me to get about 3.3 qts out our 1/3 the total tranny capacity. The shop dropped the pan, changed the filter, installed the plug kit, and installed about 4 qts Redline tranny fluid (that I brought in). I drive it a couple hundred miles, drained the pan and refilled with more Redline. So now it has about 60% or so of Redline. Now I will probably do that every 10,000 miles and periodically do the filter. My understanding is the filter can go 50 or 60 thousand miles, but by doing the fluid exchanges frequently it should make the tranny last the life of the vehicle.
Bottom line: I really like the plug kit and may get one installed on my other Auto tranny vehicle.
Bottom line: I really like the plug kit and may get one installed on my other Auto tranny vehicle.
I put one on my new Ranger. I love it. It seems like everytime I drop the tranny pan on any vehicle I have ever owned, it's in my mouth, eyes, hair
I got mine on Ebay for $3.00 shipped. It's not a B&M, but some off brand, but it works the same. I like it because it uses a regular O ring for the gasket. I've had it on for about 2 months, and no leaks yet. I check it every so often though, just in case.
You should have seen the look on my wife's face when she came out in the garage and said, "your drilling what on your new truck?"
Bottom line, check Ebay.
Brian
I got mine on Ebay for $3.00 shipped. It's not a B&M, but some off brand, but it works the same. I like it because it uses a regular O ring for the gasket. I've had it on for about 2 months, and no leaks yet. I check it every so often though, just in case.
You should have seen the look on my wife's face when she came out in the garage and said, "your drilling what on your new truck?"
Bottom line, check Ebay.
Brian
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