Changing a Transmission Pan Gasket

Changing a transmission pan gasket is probably a job you can tackle on your vehicle with the tools you already have in your garage!  If you’ve got some rubber gloves, hand tools, an inch-pound torque wrench you should be ready for changing a transmission pan gasket in your car!

Here are the steps to flow for changing a transmission pan gasket:

1. Drain the fluid either though the drain plug or by loosening the pan

2. Remove the pan and old gasket

3. Clean the mating surfaces

4. Check the old transmission pan for flatness

5. Install the new transmission pan gasket and pan

6. Torque the bolts to the correct torque and in the correct sequence

7. Refill your transmission and set the transmission fluid level 

If that seems like too many steps and too many complications, consider adding BlueDevil Transmission Sealer to your transmission to seal your gasket leak without all the work!

If you’re ready to grab your tools box and drain pan, here are a few more helpful hints:

Always remember to collect your old fluid and dispose of it properly.  Lots of local auto parts stores have oil recycling programs and will take your old fluid for free.  On the topic of fluids, make sure you’ve got enough of the right kind of fluid before you get started.  Unlike your engine oil, automatic transmissions will require a different amount of fluid based on how long you leave the pan off and let it drip so refilling it is not an exact science.  You don’t want to get stuck without enough fluid and no way to get to the store to grab more.

There may be more than one type or brand of gasket available for your transmission including a form in place gasket.  Do your research and see which will work best for your application. In our experience, rubber-coated metal gaskets or properly formed liquid gaskets tend to have the best long term seals.  Torquing all the bolts to the specification will help minimize the possibility of stripping a bolt hole but also helps ensure a good seal on your gasket. Also, if your transmission has a drain plug, getting a new gasket or washer for the drain plug can help prevent future leaks.

Lastly, make sure your transmission pan has a flat mating surface before you reinstall it.  Older thin pans can warp around the bolt holes and if you had to pry at all on your pan to remove it can get bent or marred where you had to pry.  Sometimes the surface can be pounded flat and other times the pan has to be replaced altogether. 

If you keep all this in mind and have the right tools, you can be changing a transmission pan gasket in no time!

You can pick up BlueDevil Transmission Sealer and the correct transmission fluid for your vehicle at one of your local auto parts stores like:

• AutoZone

• Advance Auto Parts

• CarQuest Auto Parts

• NAPA Auto Parts

• O’Reilly Auto Parts

• Pep Boys

• Canadian Tire

• Walmart

Pictures Provided By:

transmission_pan.jpg – By Leonid Eremeychuk – Licensed by Getty Images – Original Link