Trans pan gasket

[etc1006]

Well, it looks like the pan gasket is taking a dump on the trans. I gently snugged them with the 1/4" drive a couple of weeks ago and it seems to work except on the left rear corner. Been leaving large spots over night after a drive(8" or so) in the garage. Not a bad leak, just enough to dampen the underside of the car and make a general mess... Now I did a search and am kinda confused. Fluid is nice and red no weird smell. I see posts saying changing fluid (I know it won't be all the fluid) will **** the trans. Then I see posts saying it'll be fine. The car itself has a just over 99k on it. I suspect somewhere in its life the trans and/or engine had been out, as the plate between them is not there and I can see the teeth of the flexplate/flywheel or whatever you want to call it... Any thoughts and is there a preferred brand of filter/gasket and fluid. TIA

 

[wood_e]

My car has had the fluid changed twice in its life. I have 146k on my oroginal ford trans. Just recently I put a new gasket and filter in and filled it up with Mobil 1 synthetic ATF.

Changing the fluid probably won't hurt anything. It hasn't for me.

 

[projectSHO89]

Replacing the pan gasket is easy, but messy. I had my pan off 4 or 5 times after my recent rebuild exercise. If you're going to replace a leaking gasket, might as well replace the filter while you're at it. If you get the AC Delco filter kit, it includes a new gasket.

You can use any ATF meeting Dextron III/Mercon spec. I used the Wally-world version. Cheap and it will do the job.

Materials will run you around $35 for this job if you DIY.

Steve

 

[SHOtimer]

My experience with tranny pan gaskets has caused me to know use the "Pioneer" filter/gasket set from Kragen - it has a nice rubber gasket rather than cork. They do a much better and longer job of sealing (and arn't as easy to split) IMHO.

Doug

 

[etc1006]

Thanks folks. Makes me breathe a bit easier. I'll probably end up getting the filter/gasket at AZ. I don't have Kragen here...

 

[Hank F.]

Why can't we use RTV red or black to seal these trans. pans? Why use the gasket at all? My other manufacture cars actually specify to dump the gasket and use the goop instead. I do not see anyone even suggesting it. Why or why not?

 

[SHOtimer]

...because it can break off inside the tranny and clog the thing up.

Doug

 

[Hank F.]

I have two Chryslers- one built in North America and one in Mexico. The mexican one is considered a real Chrysler ( convertible Sebring) and the one built in Illinois a semi-import because Mitsubishi engineers it. However, the Mitsu is by far a more intuitive car to work on, and to drive, while the convert is a softer, smoother ride. Both now have only had RTV tranny gaskets for 40k miles. These autos remind me alot of the comments I see here on the SHO autos- a generally brittle engineering job, at best. I change the trans. fluid and filter at 36k, and have been rewarded by 81k and 114k trouble free driving miles. Unless I see that Ford prohibits the use of RTV, I will use it when I repair the 93 ATX I am currently fixing as a driver. I will honestly let you guys know if my hubris ends up causing me to "fall on my sword" mechanically speaking.

 

[38SHO]

The Chrysler trannies and the sho tranny are two vastly different animals...

The Chrysler 604 transaxle, such as used in the Sebring, PT Cruisers, Minivans, Neons, etc etc etc uses RTV as a gasket. RTV pangaskets suck, they are hard to change right and make it so it doesn't leak. You can strip out bolts very easily if you aren't a clean **** on the service. The bolts can loosen up on these transmissions, so Chrysler says to use silicone gaskets, and they come that way from the factory or as remanufactuered oem units, because when done right they won't leak. You can theoretically remove all the bolts from your pan once its dried properly and is not leaking and you wouldn't have a problem unless you whacked the pan on a curb or such...

BUy the best pan gasket for the SHO that you can find. This means no parts stores like Discount Auto or Pep Boys.. they have crap junk. You would probably have to find a quality setup online, and purchase there. Also the filters are a lot better quality if you spend some more money and don't get the made in china ones or paper filters like pep boys or such sells. They last longer, they leak less, they install better, and the filters work better. For just a little more money you might as well do it right.

SPX/Filtran filters are good. Look for a Duraprene pan gasket, rubber is the worst, RTV shouldn't work with your pan because it might have raised metal pieces the thickness of the gasket around the bolt holes... if so hope you have a couple of bottles of RTV hehe.... Cork isn't too bad, but I see a lot of cork pan gaskets with varied qualities. Some are very thin and feel pretty cheap, you have to stretch them more to get on the bolt holes and lign up, stay away from those pan gaskets.

 

[38SHO]

also on the leak, Taurus have a cover on the back side of the transmission towards the left/middle above the pan, holding it down are 3 8mm bolts, make sure they are snug as they like to loosen up on these cars, that can cause leaking, and it will go right by your pan and you will think the pan gasket is leaking, so make sure that is dry and tight before chasing down other leak problems...

 

[etc1006]

I'll check that other location, too. Thanks!