Deep Pan upgrade

midieselguy · 10-19-2009, 06:13 PM

I just put the Hughes Supply deep pan on and WOW. I've easily dropped 40 degrees just on highway driving.

What prompted this was pulling 8,000 lbs up the grade from Phoenix, AZ to Flagstaff. This is a climb of roughly 5,000 feet with most of the climb in 3 short sections. I had the tranny up to 235 degrees.
I'll be pulling the grade this weekend to see the improvement to the tranny with this upgrade.
The Hughes pan is a +4 pan, aluminum with fins. I'm expecting great results.

**JuniorDiesel** · 10-19-2009, 06:18 PM

Very curious to see what improvement you get since I too pull a large trailer and would like to keep those temps at bay.

**Hondarider552** · 10-19-2009, 06:20 PM

your guage is lying to you.

deep pans do not lower transmission temperatures, they only take longer for the fluid to warm and slower for the fluid to cool.

midieselguy · 10-19-2009, 06:23 PM

how is the guage "lying to me" There's a temperature probe in a fixed location measuring the temperate of the ATF as it passes that position. Seems to me, if it's reading 130, then the fluid is 130'ish

**Hondarider552** · 10-19-2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midieselguy

how is the guage "lying to me" There's a temperature probe in a fixed location measuring the temperate of the ATF as it passes that position. Seems to me, if it's reading 130, then the fluid is 130'ish

OEM trans probe is in the valvebody, not the pan, there is quite a bit of difference between the two.

lets just say 150* on oem cluster isn't 150* pan temperature.

WisconsinHick1 · 10-19-2009, 06:26 PM

Yes but like Brian said it takes longer to warm up and longer too cool down so if you where driving 40 miles before the new pan and you where seeing 160'ish and with the new pan you see 130'ish it is taking longer to warm the extra fluid up.

**Hondarider552** · 10-19-2009, 06:29 PM

A true test would go 200+ miles up to flagstaff and back pulling max GVWR. i bet you wont see a difference.

**Chazm107** · 10-19-2009, 07:35 PM

i agree, i only noticed the same results of longer warm up and cool down times but i think it is beneficial to have the extra fluid in there

subparwelder · 10-19-2009, 08:22 PM

I've noticed a solid 20deg drop in temps pulling with mine this summer. He's right about the temp difference from the factory probe to the bottom of the pan. I have a mag pan with a probe and temp gauge and the fluid in the bottom of the pan is always 10-12 deg cooler than up by the factory probe or dic display. Can't say its the best 300 stones i've spent but having a bigger internal filter and more fluid can't be a bad thing. Oh yea and it looks bad ass too.

jhnttrpp · 10-20-2009, 04:34 PM

Subpar you said your oil is 20 degrees cooler than before you put the new pan in, that means it is working. You also mentioned that the oil in the valve body was cooler than the pan. Adding more fluid and putting fins on the pan will reduce your oil temp. It's one of the reasons Diesel engines have so much larger engine oil sumps. You have inspired me to look into getting a larger pan. I pull a heavy fifth wheel camper and tranny temps get up there on long climbs but comes right back down when it levels out. thanks for the info.