Tranny pan, someone explain this

pearljam724 · Dec 21, 2019

Larger capacity transmission pans being sold. They are sold with or people buy those aluminum block spacers to extend the reach of the filter. It makes zero sense to me. Regardless, if you have 3 quarts in a tranny pan or 3 gallons. The top surface doesn’t change heights from a stock pan or an aftermarket larger capacity one. It makes no sense that you would want to submerge the filter into the fluid. The top level of the fluid in the pan doesn’t change. Regardless of pan capacity. Can someone explain that one ?

dadsbee · Dec 21, 2019

Do you suck your engine oil from the top?

MoparLeo · Dec 22, 2019

If the pickup is in the bottom of the trans pan or oil pan, it will still draw oil/fluid into the pickup even if the level of the oil/fluid was to not be at the top of the pan. The fluid level changes with temperature, whether in gear or neutral, rpm, air bubbles would be at the top of the fluid. Less likely in the bottom of the pan. If for some reason you leaked out a few pints of fluid in a deep pan set-up, your trans would still function. I can think of more reasons but so could you.

pearljam724 · Dec 22, 2019

I don’t suck anything, lol ! I don’t know why this is the case. That’s why, I asked. Is it only necessary to add a larger capacity pan if you modify a transmission pump ? Larger capacity better for hard running ? Or is it a kind of modification that people think is better for no reason ?

pearljam724 · Dec 22, 2019

MoparLeo said:
If the pickup is in the bottom of the trans pan or oil pan, it will still draw oil/fluid into the pickup even if the level of the oil/fluid was to not be at the top of the pan. The fluid level changes with temperature, whether in gear or neutral, rpm, air bubbles would be at the top of the fluid. Less likely in the bottom of the pan. If for some reason you leaked out a few pints of fluid in a deep pan set-up, your trans would still function. I can think of more reasons but so could you.

That makes good sense, less likely to suck air. I guess that would be better at idle or lower throttle pressures too. When your pump is more likely to suck in air.

mopar 3 B · Dec 22, 2019

What would be the purpose of the filter if not stuck in fluid?
The whole purpose of more capacity is to keep cooler fluid in the transmission longer. With the filter and valve body suction closer to the bottom of the pan it sittes in cooler fluid. Torque converts and hydraulic systems last longer if they dont over heat.

pearljam724 · Dec 22, 2019

mopar 3 B said:
What would be the purpose of the filter if not stuck in fluid?
The whole purpose of more capacity is to keep cooler fluid in the transmission longer. With the filter and valve body suction closer to the bottom of the pan it sittes in cooler fluid. Torque converts and hydraulic systems last longer if they dont over heat.

That makes good sense too, something I should definitely consider. Because, I have no cooler. Other than a return line from the radiator. But, a separate cooler might be more efficient.

Photon440 · Dec 22, 2019

Also, a lot of the deeper pans have either stamped or cast fins in them to aid in cooling. The extra volume itself is a heat sink, absorbing heat during a hard take-off or long hill climb. An extra quart or two is an extra amount of fluid to heat up.

moparnation74 · Dec 22, 2019

Am I really reading this?.......Is this for real?

Hilljack68 · Dec 22, 2019

Hey, not all of us are mechanics... I, for one, appreciate questions like this. I've rebuilt so much of my car with the help of more experienced people on this site who will answer my seemingly stupid questions. We have a good tribe here!

moparnation74 · Dec 22, 2019

lol...............sign of the times....

Lefty71 · Dec 22, 2019

Aereation (sp?) and cooling. That's your answer, as many have said. More volume of fluid takes longer to heat, and therefore gives a buffer under high load/stress conditions. Also, keep in mind, the brunt of these deep pans are heavy aluminum, which strengthens the case, and finned to aid by air cooling the additional fluid in the pan. Putting the filter deeper in the fluid, just makes sense, no explaination needed. You do realize that the entire filter needs to be always submerged in the fluid right??

tonysrt · Dec 22, 2019

And this is why Engines like a bigger oil pan, to have more fluid, 5 qts. for most engines and 6 Qts. for Hemis.

Lefty71 · Dec 22, 2019

Hilljack68 said:
And like any other tribe... there are always a couple a$$holes who think they're the smartest guys in any room.

I don't get this. I'd bet most of us are not mechanics. You havta expect a little sarcasm here, it just goes with the territory. I think the question is properly answered tho, really. The OP says it makes no sense that the filter is submerged in fluid, when actually it makes perfect sense, and I think he can see why now. If your tranny is foaming, it's gonna be shot in very, very short order.

pearljam724 · Dec 22, 2019

moparnation74 said:
Am I really reading this?.......Is this for real?

moparnation74 said:
lol...............sign of the times....

Sign of the times ....... it is.
Times where, people know everything and are better than everyone else around them. Why do you waste your time on the Internet with dumb people ? You could be saving the world as we speak ?

moparnation74 · Dec 22, 2019

pearljam724 said:
Sign of the times ....... it is.
Times where, people know everything and are better than everyone else around them. Why do you waste your time on the Internet with dumb people ? You could be saving the world as we speak ?

I had to take a break from "saving".....and fell on this thread for comic relief.......

We don't nor know everything but we do know the simple things, the basics.......

Ernie ingling · Dec 22, 2019

Simple physics and some common sense helps

super-bee_ski · Dec 23, 2019

tonysrt said:
And this is why Engines like a bigger oil pan, to have more fluid, 5 qts. for most engines and 6 Qts. for Hemis.

also, more fluid=cooler fluid

wyrmrider · Dec 23, 2019

more fluid cooler fluid not so much
acceleration and gravity or braking yes
off roading or rock crawling YES
even curves
lower the filter

33 IMP · Dec 23, 2019

Tranny pan?.....isnt that Bruce Jenners face?

Tranny pan, someone explain this

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