Is one gasket material/brand more removable than the other?

[sickwilly]

What I mean is, Im going to drop the trans pan, drain, new filter, and refill. But since that only drains some of the fluid out, Im going to do it again maybe a few hundred miles later. I’d just prefer not to replace the gasket every time if I didn’t have to, especially if it requires rtv. I guess I could suck it out through the fill tube. That’d be easier, not sure how much comes out that way. Just trying to save myself some trouble.
I think the original gasket may have been reusable, but I did a partial change a few years ago and it’s gone.

 

[Blmpkn]

First off, how many miles are on the fluid currently in the trans?

And why not just get a pan that has a drain?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

First off, how many miles are on the fluid currently in the trans?

And why not just get a pan that has a drain?

With a drain plug in the pan you can fill through the dipstick tube. I know the Dorman replacement pan has the plug. Not sure if there are any re-useable gaskets for these. Because these pans seem to like to leak, I usually use gasket shellack which usually seals great but there’s no saving the gasket. Arguably filter should be replaced and bands adjusted every roughly 50k, although I’ve seen arguments all the way down to 20k for the old A4LD. Not sure if there are adjustable bands on the newer trans. With having to run the Mercon V in the newer trans, I’d rather replace it less than the older. But probably ever 100k max for that sort of thing. Not sure how much of a difference it would make on the newer trans, but the older ones benefit greatly from a shift kit and valve body mods. Might be something to kick around.

 

[sickwilly]

First off, how many miles are on the fluid currently in the trans?

And why not just get a pan that has a drain?

Its the original 2003 86000 mi fluid (yep 2003 86k miles , that is correct. I bought it new) except for the 3 or 4 quarts from the drain/ refill at about 40k IIRC. I’ve considered a pan with drain, Ive just heard/read about problems with them leaking, being warped, basically being cheaply made. If I knew i wouldn’t have a problem with it, i’d buy one in a heartbeat.

 

[DILLARD000]

...going to drop the trans pan, drain, new filter, and refill
...only drains some of the fluid out, Im going to do it again maybe a few hundred miles later.
...prefer not to replace the gasket every time if I didn’t have to, especially if it requires rtv.
...could suck it out through the fill tube. That’d be easier, not sure how much comes out that way.

On my 5r55e, routine here is to drop Pan + change Filter & ~7qts new MerconV every 33kMiles,
then every 6mths HandPump ~1qt from DipTube & refill with new MerconV, along with routine 6mth EngineOil+Filter change.
Figure that results in both fresh ATF & full change through out that cycle.
Recommend a Felpro cork gasket; seals better than rubber, then a new one every 33kMiles & not worry about saving\reusing it.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

On my F150, I do it off the cooling lines. Saw it on youtube lol. pumps out in each gear...I stick the return line in some fresh fluid. Key is not to let any gear completely pump dry. I didnt need to remove the pan, but did to clean in there too. Probably skeptics on this method, but it worked for me.

 

[Blmpkn]

Its the original 2003 86000 mi fluid (yep 2003 86k miles , that is correct. I bought it new) except for the 3 or 4 quarts from the drain/ refill at about 40k IIRC. I’ve considered a pan with drain, Ive just heard/read about problems with them leaking, being warped, basically being cheaply made. If I knew i wouldn’t have a problem with it, i’d buy one in a heartbeat.

I've never had issues with any of my stamped pans that had a drain in them. I've never used a gasket though, I've always used black rtv.

A cast pan wouldn't come with the worry of being warped out of the box, extra cost.. but ease of maintenance and saving time during maintenance is worth it IMO.

 

[sickwilly]

Sorry bout the slow reply. I was just thinkin maybe one of the gasket materials would be easier to reuse after a week or so for a couple times in order to do 3 or 4 quick drain and refills. A pan with a drain would be way easier, I just didn’t really consider them because I haven’t seen glowing reviews of any of them and dont want to worry about leaks . I suppose I could order one and if it seems good quality, keep and use it.
To clarify, Im just talking about several drain/refills in quick succession- enough to pretty much replace all the old fluid.
Im not really worried about reusing the gasket past the 3 or 4 quick drain/refills after I change the filter. I don’t mind replacing the gasket every 30 or 40k, I just dont want to do it 3 times in a month.
In retrospect, its not a huge deal. I’m just busy as hell right now and trying to make it easier for myself.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I wasn’t really planning on replacing the pan on my 92. I had ordered a Dorman replacement pan for a different project only to find they had the wrong pan listed for that. So I hadn’t yet returned what turned out to be an A4LD pan when I did the shift kit and valve body work on the 92 and being in a hurry to get that truck back on the road instead of fitting a drain plug in the old pan, I just put the new pan on that already had the plug. Seemed to be about the same quality as the factory pan, but it was only on there about two months before someone smashed into the truck. Seemed to be doing it’s job to that point.