I have a Derail deep pan on my 07 48RE, and it keeps seeping fluid around the gasket. Also, I honestly haven't noticed any difference in Trans temp between the Derail and stock pan. Now my temp probe is connected on the Hot line so not sure if I should expect to see a difference using this method. Anyway, what's the general consensus of the use, other then it takes another 4+ quarts to reach the full mark.

 

I say any time you can get more fluid you are better off. How much is the question. The true way to find out would be oil analysis before and after. As for the temp I can't help. I run a manual but I imagine the temp has to be down a bit with the addition of 4 qts.

 

No need for it. Only good it does is aid when changing the tranny filter with the drain plug. Keeps the mess down.

 

Here's a uniformed opinion....

Goerend asked if I want a deep pan for $250. It adds 2.5 quarts, billet aluminum, sloped shape.

I'm sure it is a great pan. I don't know if I want it yet, I mean it is $250.

I don't live in Arizona or south Florida, and I have never seen my trans temps climb above 180. Maybe they will if I work in those areas. I figure I can always add one if I want.

For $250 I could change the fluid every 10,000 miles, I don't know... I have to seek advice from the trans guru's here too!

 

Yea and since I already have a drain plug installed in my stock pan and with it I can use the reusable gasket maybe next tranny fluid change I'l go back to the stock pan.

 

...and with that drain plug in the stock pan, you can add a temp sensor real easy. just remove the sensor to drain.

 

I have a PML because maintenance is easier,... that's garage floor maintenance. My intuition tells me that operating temp is operating temp. It may take marginally longer to get there with more fluid in the mix but I believe that is irrelevant in the grand scheme.

 

The Goerend tranny pan is a whole lot cheaper than a Mag-Hytec. I may get one in the future. Messy tranny filter changes suck.

 

My main issue with the Derail is I can't seem to stop it from leaking (seeping) around the gasket. I wonder if I can ues the stock reusable gasket with the Derail pan...Hum!!! I used the new gasket that came with the Derail... Anybody tried this????

 

Throw the gasket that comes with the aftermarket pans back into the box and dispose. The stock gasket is a much better piece. If it doesn't seal with the stock gasket throw the pan away and go back to the stock pan.

 

I'll go ahead and ask the obvious. Did you tighten it down to spec in a criss cross pattern? If so, go with no 6 oh no's advice.

 

I don't know about you guys but my rebuilt 48 easily gets to 210 (probe is in the pan) and that's with the extra deep Mag Hytec-which adds an extra 8 or 9 quarts. And that's in Cleveland, OH, in the summer and with just sitting in traffic (i.e. not towing at all). The stock 48 did the same thing. Our motors make too much torque not to heat the fluid up a lot.

It's all converter. If you've upped your motor from stock HP/torque levels, then the stall speed of the converter will change (it goes up) and it will slip more before the clutch locks it-and it will put way more heat into the tranny fluid than a stock motor/converter combo will.

The extra deep pan is just extra insurance. Once tranny fluid cooks, it's worthless as a lubricant-absolutely worthless. The price of the pan might be a bit steep, but a $5K rebuild cost hurts-and you don't want to shell out for that any sooner than you have to.

 

So, all the dollars spent on the pan and extra fluid and your temps are still what they would be with a stock pan.

Much better to take those $$ and add an aux cooler with a thermostat that will benefit the low air flow times.

The only time the larger fluid capcities really help is if the transmisson is being operated at +80% load constantly. Even then they come with massive coolers to remove the heat in stationary environments.

 

I don't know if you can really say that. When I put in my new TC, I changed the pan out too. Plus, my motor makes about 2 times the amount of torque than a stock motor does. So, if I had left the stock pan on there instead of putting on the deep pan, my tranny temps may very well have gone sky-high-but I'll never know because I'm not taking the deep pan off to test it.

As for the aux cooler-I agree with you, but IIRC all '06s have thermostatically controlled aux coolers that are sufficiently sized to cool tranny fluid for a GVWR of 25000 lbs-and when my tranny gets to 210, that cooler is hot-so I know I'm pushing fluid through it.

The bottom line is I think the deep pan is a worthwhile investment if you have a cranked up motor or a looser converter.

 

It doesn't quite work that way. Your engine makes no more TQ sitting idling in traffic than a stock engine. A diesel engne is load based, no load it only makes enough power to do what needs done.

Replacing the TC with a more efficient one will drop the temps created in the trans because the coupling is so much more efficient. More power is transferred so less is wasted spinning the TC. Less throttle and less load time equates to less heat in the trans. The only difference you will see between a stock and deep pan is the time it takes to get to a certain temp.

The extra 3 or 4 minutes the trans takes to get to say 210 is some very expensive time.

Back in the day of no lockup or less than adequate lockup a deep pan was a benefit as long as the truck had the cooler capacity. Under normal circumstances the newer trucks spend 80% or better of their running time in lockup which does not generate massive amounts of heat. The deep pan has its uses but they are very specific.

All the 3rd gen trucks have a thermostat in the front cooler, but, its not for cooling. It is for warming the fluid. The thermostat bypasses the main cooler body until the fluid temp reaches 140 degrees then it runs thru the cooler body. All of which does squat for cooling sitting idling in traffic with no airflow across the cooler.

An aux cooler with a thermostat and fan that turns on at 180 degrees is way more beneficial than any deep pan available. Dollar for dollar there is simply no comparison in the ROI there, forget the pan and go with an aux cooler if needed.