I've searched this forum and didn't find much. Does anyone have any experience with a deep transmission pan in their 3rd Gen Dakota? I have a 2011 4.7L 4WD automatic.

I'm thinking about upgrading my pan to hold more fluid to help it stay cooler. I haven't had problems; so, this is really just an added precaution to ensure the truck's longevity. I'm due for a flush and filter change soon. So, now is as good a time as any to do it.

I found two options that claim to work with our 545RFEs with the cross bar. Open to other ideas if someone has experience with a different brand or version.

https://mag-hytec.com/product/45rfe-545rfe/

https://yourcovers.com/pml-chrysler-...ssion-pan.html

Note: also posted the same question in the Facebook group...in case you see it there.

 

Yeah I don’t remember anyone doing that.

 

I didn't either. But, it seems fairly common with owners of larger trucks who report positive results. So, I thought maybe someone has done it here with ours to make it last longer as a work or towing vehicle...or just generally.

 

It's all about cooling..... The deep pan gives you more fluid volume, with larger surface area to radiate heat to the atmosphere. You can accomplish pretty much the same thing with an auxiliary cooler, if your truck doesn't already have one. Heat IS the biggest killer of automatic transmissions after all.

 

Yep...definitely looking for more cooling for insurance. I don't have an auxiliary transmission cooler, only what was included in the tow package. I was thinking that it might be the same effect as an auxiliary cooler but with less work to install it since it just replaces the existing pan. And, an auxiliary cooler would be a custom installation. But, I don't see too many auxiliary transmission cooler installations on here, either. Seems like neither of these mods are very common on the 3rd Gen Dakotas.

 

Since you have the tow package, do you already HAVE an aux cooler? I know on the full size trucks (2nd gens at any rate) part of the tow package was the aux cooler.....

 

Agreed...I have a transmission cooler already as part of the tow package. From what I can see while crawling under the truck, the tow package included a transmission cooler that was part of the radiator. I guess that means that a Dakota without the tow package didn't have a transmission cooler at all. (right?)

When I think of an auxiliary transmission cooler, I'm thinking of a separate unit that can be run in series, or inline, with the OEM transmission cooler to provide additional cooling beyond the one that is part of the radiator. Or, I suppose that it could become the transmission cooler if I had a truck without the OEM tow package.

I've seen my transmission temperatures hit 200-220 degrees when hauling or towing through West Virginia or Wyoming. So, I was thinking the extra fluid might help a little. An additional transmission cooler in front of the A/C evaporator and the radiator would also be helpful, but that could be more work to install than a deeper transmission pan.

 

Look between the radiator, and a/c condensor, if you have an aux cooler, that is where I think it would be..... (that's where they are on the full size trucks....)

 

There is a plastic shroud under there, probably to help air flow. But, sticking my hand in there, I can't find an additional cooler...only the radiator and the A/C condenser. Also, as best as I could see, the transmission lines and the water pipes were going into the same radiator. I'm not sure that there is a third.

 

It would be plumbed inline with the engine radiator. If you don't see lines running off somewhere else from there, then you probably don't have an aux cooler.