Transmission Fluid Change

I'm coming up on 30K miles on my '23 and wanting to service the transmission and possibly install the PPE pan. The problem is there is no fill port on the transmission. How is it filled and the level checked?

Edit: After doing some more investigation, there is a standpipe in the latest version of the PPE transmission pan. So, that's nice. I imagine it is nearly impossible to fill and check the level without making a huge mess.
 
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Bluzharp said:
I'm coming up on 30K miles on my '23 and wanting to service the transmission and possibly install the PPE pan. The problem is there is no fill port on the transmission. How is it filled and the level checked?

Edit: After doing some more investigation, there is a standpipe in the latest version of the PPE transmission pan. So, that's nice. I imagine it is nearly impossible to fill and check the level without making a huge mess.
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Maybe I am just dreaming but I swear I saw a fill plug on the side of the transmission just yesterday when I was down there.

[rant] I am still not convinced on the PPE pan and for now, I will refuse to go that route; why bigger?[/rantoff]
 
2022's have the plug drilled and tapped. 2023+ are not provided the plug on the side.

I don't think there is any thermal advantage (or disadvantage) but the extra fluid will reduce the contamination level some.

I just think a plastic pan is not as nice as a cast aluminum one.
 
Damn. The wife's Audi was the same way. Complete pain in the ass.
One nice thing about the PPE pan is they provide the adapter for it.
 
AZsurveyor said:
[rant] I am still not convinced on the PPE pan and for now, I will refuse to go that route; why bigger?[/rantoff]
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Just curious what you’re not convinced on? I didn’t really need to be convinced of anything other than the fact it’s not plastic.

I refuse to have a plastic transmission pan on my SD, 1-ton truck and that is the reason I ordered the PPE. The added 8 qts. will be an added bonus for towing as well.

I am all for giving manufacturers credit for improved designs but I cannot stand behind this one. It was a cost savings move, plain and simple, IMHO. Should have asked the SD engineers about this one at the KTP meetup.

Tranny and diff. pan arrived today so looking forward to getting them on.
 
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gmbpilot757 said:
Just curious what you’re not convinced on? I didn’t really need to be convinced of anything other than the fact it’s not plastic.

I refuse to have a plastic transmission pan on my SD, 1-ton truck and that is the reason I ordered the PPE. The added 8 qts. will be nice for towing as well.

I am all for giving manufacturers credit for improved designs but I cannot stand behind this one. It was a cost savings move, plain and simple, IMHO. Should have asked the SD engineers about this one at the KTP meetup.

Tranny and diff. pan arrived today so looking forward to getting them on.
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I just don’t understand why it needs to be bigger. Every aftermarket fabricator seems to push designs that require more fluid.

Not only does it sit closer to the ground (reducing clearance), but it also increases the amount of fluid that needs cooling, which doesn’t seem ideal. I’m not a fan of the stock pan, and the aftermarket steel options haven’t really been much of an improvement either.

The only real advantage I can see is having a pan with a proper drain plug.

Even upgrading to an aftermarket steel pan, which now sits lower to the ground, would still mean adding body armor to protect it from getting damaged, leaving me back at square one.
 
I'm sure it's already been mentioned, but is a hot topic with the Raptors. Be sure you don't do a flush, only a drain and fill. Flush breaks debris loose and wreaks havoc typically, many dealers do not follow that protocol and you'll soon have a trashed transmission.
 
AZsurveyor said:
I just don’t understand why it needs to be bigger. Every aftermarket fabricator seems to push designs that require more fluid.

Not only does it sit closer to the ground (reducing clearance), but it also increases the amount of fluid that needs cooling, which doesn’t seem ideal. I’m not a fan of the stock pan, and the aftermarket steel options haven’t really been much of an improvement either.

The only real advantage I can see is having a pan with a proper drain plug.

Even upgrading to an aftermarket steel pan, which now sits lower to the ground, would still mean adding body armor to protect it from getting damaged, leaving me back at square one.
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I too am disappointed that there isn't a stock capacity pan. Or even + 2 qt. But +2 gallons is a bit much IMHO.
Will I buy one? Yeah. Most likely. Only for the drain port.
DFS said:
I'm sure it's already been mentioned, but is a hot topic with the Raptors. Be sure you don't do a flush, only a drain and fill. Flush breaks debris loose and wreaks havoc typically, many dealers do not follow that protocol and you'll soon have a trashed transmission.
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Maybe if you wait too long. I have had it done on multiple vehicles multiple times. Twice on the old SD.
Most folks feel a problem or a hiccup in the trans then think a fluid change will solve it. Damage is done, it won't help. Tranny then shits the bed and the fluid change is blamed. See it over and over.
 
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DFS said:
I'm sure it's already been mentioned, but is a hot topic with the Raptors. Be sure you don't do a flush, only a drain and fill. Flush breaks debris loose and wreaks havoc typically, many dealers do not follow that protocol and you'll soon have a trashed transmission.
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I'm not a mechanic or a transmission expert, but most of this stems from Ford's claim that the oil is "lifetime." As with any transmission service, the longer you wait to perform it, the more harm you're doing by flushing/draining out what has essentially become part of the mechanism.

I've been holding off on a transmission service for a few months now, and my mileage only keeps climbing. At this rate, any service might end up being detrimental since I have waited this long to begin with.

It's really unfortunate how Ford has put us all in this position of uncertainty. Part of me thinks I should stick with the stock pan, do a drain service, and add some body armor. I can repeat this every couple of years and it would be no dig deal to me.

Even if I do it once year or 30K, replacing a pan and a gasket would seem perfectly normal to me.
 
The Evil Twin said:
I too am disappointed that there isn't a stock capacity pan. Or even + 2 qt. But +2 gallons is a bit much IMHO.
Will I buy one? Yeah. Most likely. Only for the drain port.

Maybe if you wait too long. I have had it done on multiple vehicles multiple times. Twice on the old SD.
Most folks feel a problem or a hiccup in the trans then think a fluid change will solve it. Damage is done, it won't help. Tranny then ships the bed and the fluid change is blamed. See it over and over.
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Exactly my point—what's the deal with the extra 2 gallons? Is this some kind of magical number I'm unaware of?

From the research I've done, more doesn't necessarily mean better.

Just a disclaimer, I'm not a transmission guru, just raising questions that don't seem to add up logically.
 
There's no harm in more fluid our trans is thermostatically controlled so it'll force fluid where it needs to go until it gets to temp. Will it take longer to get to full temp yes bc the thermostat will cycle it through but in theory it will cool better as it'll sit in the pan at rest before being sucked up. The secondary cooling system will take care of it and even potentially improve the system. Now if something does happen more fluid will take longer to cool. More fluid also could allow you to go longer on changes (the big rig argument and why they have like 30gallons of oil). I do think there's a level of diminishing return. Keeping the fluid cleaner longer is probably a huge improvement for the finicky 10r140 as you'll, in theory, keep the PPM of contaminations lower longer and we know these are sensitive to flow through the ports and valves. You'll also add structural rigidity to the case overall with metal pan vs plastic.

I would argue that anything that would hit the lower pan already had a potential to hit the plastic pan and more than likely wouldve taken it out. What are we really talking about about here just a couple inches lower not like a foot?
 
AFE and PPE both offer a “semi” deep pan for the 10R140. With additional 4-5 quarts
Actually for the 7.3

Ford 23+ pan, part number PC3Z7A194A has the fill port on the bottom similar to the PPE.

You can also drain “some” fluid from the pan for a change. Bad assumption on my part

ZooDad
 
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@ZooDad : PPR?? Or PPE? I didn't see a PPE pan that adds only 4-5 quarts.

EDIT : I found it....okay it's listed as a gasser motor version as the piping cause a clearance issue.
 
HeavyAssault said:
@ZooDad : PPR?? Or PPE? I didn't see a PPE pan that adds only 4-5 quarts.

EDIT : I found it....okay it's listed as a gasser motor version as the piping cause a clearance issue.
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I never would have looked at a different engine for a different depth edit: capacity pan. Good find! When the time comes I will have to ask them if the pans are interchangeable.
 
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So I did a little looking on a full screen. I was hoping that the 7.3 pan was shorter than the 6.7 version. I'm not so sure it is. I think the lower capacity comes from the tapered sides and rear contour to clear exhaust routes. It isn't like I do rock crawling. If the ground clearance is the same, that's not an issue.
 
The Evil Twin said:
It isn't like I do rock crawling. If the ground clearance is the same, that's not an issue.
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That's how I look at it. If you're getting hung up on the transmission pan, you've got bigger problems.
 
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