OK to use ramps up front to drop 5R55E pan for re-gasket and filter change?

[Beetlejuice]

My transpan is a little wet, I'm going to swap out the gasket and pop in a new filter while im down there.

Question, any harm in using ramps up front for a little extra room under the truck? Once the fluid is dumped, filter/gasket changed and pan is back on I'd fill 4 quarts Mercon V while its still up on ramp then back it off and fine-tune from there.

Thoughts?

 

[Curious Hound]

The angle of the truck may affect how much you get drained. Be careful not to overfill. Make sure wheels are chocked to prevent the truck from rolling off the ramps.

 

[adsm08]

You can also pull up on the ramps, then jack the rear end up and set it on stands to get the truck level again and still have the room to work under it.

That's what I do to take transmissions out on the ground.

 

[Beetlejuice]

thanks guys, yea I do not have a good set of stands and a jack at the moment. I can get it done without the ramps but some extra room will just make things a bit more comfortable.

 

[sgtsandman]

Since that is the case, I would not completely fill the transmission until it’s flat on the ground. Get enough in it to get off the ramps and fill the rest after. Or have a friend pull you off the ramps before filling it so you don’t over fill it.

 

[MikeG]

If you can manage to get all the fluid in the drain pan, which isn't necessarily easy, then you can pour from the drain pan into some 1 gallon or 5 quart jugs to figure out how much actually came out. Certainly you'd want to check it after getting it off the ramps, but you can at least get close enough to be able to drive the truck back down them, I'd think.

 

[ratdude747]

I've done it before... no issues. Normally I leave it on the ground, but my current one has running boards, so I needed ramps to get enough clearance.

I added most of the specified fluid amount for a fluid and filter change, then lowered the truck off the ramps and topped off from there. Took the expected amount. Didn't drain the TC (didn't check for such a plug either, shame on me )

 

[Dirtman]

If you can manage to get all the fluid in the drain pan, which isn't necessarily easy, then you can pour from the drain pan into some 1 gallon or 5 quart jugs to figure out how much actually came out. Certainly you'd want to check it after getting it off the ramps, but you can at least get close enough to be able to drive the truck back down them, I'd think.

This is basically what I do. I have a small white bucket that I marked every half quart. I check the fluid level before I drain it, if its good I refill exactly the same amount that ended up in the bucket. Maybe a little less so I can go back and check it again but it'll always end up with the fluid level close enough to move.

I never drop the pan before draining the fluid though. I despise the stupid mess so If it doesn't already have a drain plug I punch a hole in the pan to drain it and then install a drain plug after I take the pan off.

 

[Shran]

I use a big plastic concrete mixing pan for draining transmissions. It's big enough to catch all of the fluid and sturdy enough to be picked up and dumped into a jug. They also double for mixing concrete.

 

[Beetlejuice]

Thanks again for the additional details, all.

I did this successfully using ramps over the weekend. After dropping pan and draining, I used an old 5 Quart Motorcraft engine oil to measure what was dumped. While up on the ramps I filled the same amount of Mercon V that was part of the measured dump, then rolled back off the ramps (in neutral) to idle through gears on level ground. Fine tuned from there after truck was up to temp.


Here is video of YouTuber using the ramps method as well...

 

[Broosedamoose]

If you can swing it, get yourself one of these: Oil Pan. It will make things a lot easier next time!

 

[Dirtman]

Putting a drain plug on a transmission pan?! That's ridiculous!

 

[Beetlejuice]

I can see the convenience of a drain bolt, but dropping the pan and collecting the fluid wasn't too too much of a hassle.

 

[Dirtman]

The beauty of the drain isn't just about making less of mess when changing the filter. I love mine cause I can do quick partial fluid changes without taking the pan off. Just drain 3-4 quarts an top it off in between filter change intervals to keep the fluid nice and clean.

 

[MikeG]

Yep. Same here. And when you do have to drop the pan, if you empty it first, fluid does not go EVERYWHERE.

Only difference is I made a drain plug for mine, instead of buying a pan with one, but it is way convenient either way.