Transmission pan - PML aluminum high capacity

[John E Davies]

Any updates? I am regularly towing 6000+ pounds in the steep Idaho mountains (long second gear climbs) and am thinking about this pan with a dipstick....

Thanks,

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[LINUS]

+1
My odometer just ticked 60K yest (I still love my DD FZJ80) - so I need to get in front of things like this before I S/C it.

The soy based wire insulation, the plastic oil filter cap & thie sealed trans are my 3 gripes of the platform (slated a Sequoia TC swap, so my Tundra will be 'strange brew' 5.7 powertrain soon).

 

[bjowett]

As uclafan mentioned, there are slight interference problems on the prototypes. The pan was prototyped on a 2WD Tundra, which did not have the t-case lip interference. PML knows of this, so it won't be an issue on production pieces. I'll check with them on production.

 

[John E Davies]

As uclafan mentioned, there are slight interference problems on the prototypes. The pan was prototyped on a 2WD Tundra, which did not have the t-case lip interference. PML knows of this, so it won't be an issue on production pieces. I'll check with them on production.

Thanks, can you elaborate on the dipstick option? I hope there would be a _really_ good seal where the stick enters the tube.

Any idea on pricing?

Thanks.

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[tirewater]

This is interesting. I just towed a 5000# trailer, 2000+ miles to Yellowstone and back. Transmission temperatures were in the 207-209f range for most of the trip. Towing in 85-90f heat at 5000+ ft altitude during quite a bit of it.

That said, from searching the Tundra forums, the AB60x transmission appears to run hot. There is some guessing that it's a function of the thermostat. Forcing the thermostat open at all times can alleviate the temps (anecdotal evidence on forums).

If the thermostat is the limiting factor, a larger sump may not provide the temp. relief expected. Nothing wrong with more AT fluid though.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

This is interesting. I just towed a 5000# trailer, 2000+ miles to Yellowstone and back. Transmission temperatures were in the 207-209f range for most of the trip. Towing in 85-90f heat at 5000+ ft altitude during quite a bit of it.

That said, from searching the Tundra forums, the AB60x transmission appears to run hot. There is some guessing that it's a function of the thermostat. Forcing the thermostat open at all times can alleviate the temps (anecdotal evidence on forums).

If the thermostat is the limiting factor, a larger sump may not provide the temp. relief expected. Nothing wrong with more AT fluid though.

Anything above 180° on my trans is because the T/C is sitting unlocked for extended periods of time. My AB60F acts the same as my A750F (which is in the 5 speed 100 Series, 2nd gen tacomas, 4/5th gen 4Runners, and the FJC. They run in the 160-180° range until you keep the T/C unlocked also.

I suspected you were doing the same thing. Unless you regear to compensate for the newer Toyotas super high final drive, or manually limit your truck to its second from final gear, seeing over 200° is what most likely will happen.

 

[linuxgod]

Wondering how you see 180? I've never seen less than 195F in the pan or TC, according to my reader. Once the engine warms up if I sit idle the A/T temp will get to 195F. That's both with Toyota fluid with 60k on it as well as new Amsoil fluid.

This last trip I was seeing about 200F in 4th gear on the highway. Pan got up to about 220F through the mountains between Denver, Breckinridge, and Moab. TC got up to 238F. That's dropping down into 2nd gear for a while though.

I'm not against a bigger pan designed to help with cooking, but I do believe Toyota designed the A/T to run optimally at 195F. Personally I'd invest in a secondary A/T radiator inline after the TC (and before the factory radiator) first though.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Wondering how you see 180? I've never seen less than 195F in the pan or TC, according to my reader. Once the engine warms up if I sit idle the A/T temp will get to 195F. That's both with Toyota fluid with 60k on it as well as new Amsoil fluid.

This last trip I was seeing about 200F in 4th gear on the highway. Pan got up to about 220F through the mountains between Denver, Breckinridge, and Moab. TC got up to 238F. That's dropping down into 2nd gear for a while though.

I'm not against a bigger pan designed to help with cooking, but I do believe Toyota designed the A/T to run optimally at 195F. Personally I'd invest in a secondary A/T radiator inline after the TC (and before the factory radiator) first though.

Oh I'm all about a bigger pan also, never hurt having more fluid.

I should of specified when I was seeing those temps, that was on long highway cruise trips. But back to the T/C lock up, it only locks up in direct and overdrivers. Fall to and underdrives and you will build that extra heat. So driving around slow, yeah no was around it, the trans will run at those hotter temps, but no reason to do it on the highway. Towing or a modified truck causes it, until you do things that ensires you are not just driving long distances with the torque converter always unlocked.

I don't have a reader but a dedicated temp guage so maybe that's the difference.

 

[linuxgod]

Yeah if you're using a gauge it could be where your sensor is installed. Obviously using the OBD2 port I'm reading the factory sensors. I assume they are accurate because the coolant temp also reads 195F on the highway, but they may very well be in a less-than-ideal location for temp monitoring.

FWIW flat mid-west, 4th gear, 70mph highway, even with 34s I'm still getting 195F in the pan and TC when cruising. I always tow in 4th (even though the Toyota manual says 5th is OK).

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Yeah if you're using a gauge it could be where your sensor is installed. Obviously using the OBD2 port I'm reading the factory sensors. I assume they are accurate because the coolant temp also reads 195F on the highway, but they may very well be in a less-than-ideal location for temp monitoring.

FWIW flat mid-west, 4th gear, 70mph highway, even with 34s I'm still getting 195F in the pan and TC when cruising. I always tow in 4th (even though the Toyota manual says 5th is OK).

Yeah I need to set up the same reader as you versus my own and see what the difference is. Only way to know for sure. Besides, I love testing stuff.

 

[linuxgod]

My reader, phone app, and codes are buried in my Towing With A 200 thread. $25 and about 20 minutes to get working if you use EngineLink for iPhone

 

[TonyP]

I can't remember my transmission numbers but it was around 195 also, maybe slightly lower. I'll keep Torque open on my drive to work tomorrow (if I remember) and see what my numbers are.

 

[tirewater]

I used S4-S5 continuously on the trip. The TC would be enaged in 4th and 5th. It was immediately apparent that there's no lockup in 3rd as the TC temperature would shoot up 20+ degrees.

I use the OBD Fusion Android application with the Toyota PIDs + ELM OBD transmitter. It provides transmission T1, T2 temperatures which appear to be pan + TC temps.

Anything above 180° on my trans is because the T/C is sitting unlocked for extended periods of time. My AB60F acts the same as my A750F (which is in the 5 speed 100 Series, 2nd gen tacomas, 4/5th gen 4Runners, and the FJC. They run in the 160-180° range until you keep the T/C unlocked also.

I suspected you were doing the same thing. Unless you regear to compensate for the newer Toyotas super high final drive, or manually limit your truck to its second from final gear, seeing over 200° is what most likely will happen.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

I used S4-S5 continuously on the trip. The TC would be enaged in 4th and 5th. It was immediately apparent that there's no lockup in 3rd as the TC temperature would shoot up 20+ degrees.

I use the OBD Fusion Android application with the Toyota PIDs + ELM OBD transmitter. It provides transmission T1, T2 temperatures which appear to be pan + TC temps.

Very cool. @linuxgod brought up a good point in that we are using different ways to measure temperatures. So I must recant my statement till I test some more with the AB60F.

I don't use the OBDII and I have 4.88s. So this comparison is already skewed and I apologize for that.

 

[linuxgod]

If I had 4.88s I'd probably tow in 5th. For me I've never been able to keep the TC locked in 5th for more than a few seconds. 4th gear is 1:1 on the 6 speed.

 

[bjowett]

The dipstick will allow one to check fluid condition easily... it could also be utilized to check the level, though we still need to be at the proper temp with the t-stat open to inspect the way Toyota likes to do it. Yes, well sealed and protected to prevent contamination.

Thanks, can you elaborate on the dipstick option? I hope there would be a _really_ good seal where the stick enters the tube.

Any idea on pricing?

Thanks.

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

If I had 4.88s I'd probably tow in 5th. For me I've never been able to keep the TC locked in 5th for more than a few seconds. 4th gear is 1:1 on the 6 speed.

We all have our driving styles. I've been towing an 6,500 lbs trailer through the Appalachian's for a half a year now and I keep it in 6th. Don't have any issues staying locked up hills, until I would need to legitimately down shift anyway, which is not a constant occurrence.

But if you like 4th to tow, then that would make sense you would like 5th. Having 4.88s are like, just dropping a gear. 6th becomes 5th, 5th becomes 4th... 1st becomes awesome.

But I'm going to have to bow out of this conversation. The more I think about this, the more I'm not helping this particular thread. I've done a lot of additional work to my drivetrain, not just gears, which is why I'm running cooler and stronger. This thread needs to just be about a good trans pan bolt in replacement.

Thanks @bjowett for helping make some great products.

 

[TonyP]

My reader, phone app, and codes are buried in my Towing With A 200 thread. $25 and about 20 minutes to get working if you use EngineLink for iPhone

Here's mine after 30mins of 80mph

 

[LINUS]

The dipstick will allow one to check fluid condition easily... it could also be utilized to check the level, though we still need to be at the proper temp with the t-stat open to inspect the way Toyota likes to do it. Yes, well sealed and protected to prevent contamination.

Thought I’d bump this to see where this is at, would be awesome if it’s in production!

What’s the current situation @bjowett ???

 

[bjowett]

I decided not to carry this part. They have gone through several prototypes and are currently advertising Feb of 19 for a release date.