6.6L Gas 10 Speed Transmission Pan

bruceb58 · May 20

One of the first things I will do when my 10 Speed 6.6L gas truck reaches 30K is do an ATF change and put on a PPE transmission pan with a drain.

What aftermarket pans with drains have other people put on or used? Most people with 10 speeds are most likely diesel engine owners since the 10 speed for the 6.6L gas was just introduced this year. Pan should be the same between the gas and diesel engines though.

Edited May 20 by bruceb58

64BAwagon · May 20

I looked around earlier this year and didnt really see anything for the RPO "MKM" 10 speed that comes in the gasser. Everything I found was for the "MGM" that comes with the L5P diesel. Maybe someone has developed one now that there are enough of them on the road.

Superior products makes a drain plug kit https://superiortransmission.com/product/superior-k032/ My plan is to add one of these with a copper washer instead of the nylon one. I still have a while before mine will need any service though since I am still under 7K miles after a year.

My plan is to change the filter around 30K and add the drain plug to the pan. After that I can just do a drain and fill when I decide it needs it. Once I get a level check I can just replace whatever I take out like I have done on my Cruze.

bruceb58 · May 20

Just looked at my pan on my new truck and compared the pan to the one PPE is selling for the 10 speeds on the diesel engine. I don't think it will be compatible since the exhaust on the Gas engine crosses under the pan and the pan is less deep in that area.

I think the PML one might fit though

https://yourcovers.com/pml-gm-allison-10-speed-10l1000-deep-transmission-pan.html

Edited May 20 by bruceb58

bruceb58 · May 20

Reading my OEM service manual, you must remove the exhaust at the both the left and right manifolds and after the CAT converter and lower the exhaust to clear the pan so it can be removed. What a poor design!!!

64BAwagon · May 20

If thats truly the case then its an epic fail and another clear sign that Allison didnt have a big role in designing this trans, they would never do something that stupid, GM on the other hand has a long history of dumb stuff like that.

bruceb58 · May 21

1 hour ago, 64BAwagon said:

If thats truly the case then its an epic fail and another clear sign that Allison didnt have a big role in designing this trans, they would never do something that stupid, GM on the other hand has a long history of dumb stuff like that.

That would be an issue no matter who made the transmission.

I can see why it's done. The gas truck as one exhaust pipe so they cross it over to form the one. Personally two pipes would be nice but I would have to look to see if the fuel tank is in the way.

Edited May 21 by bruceb58

64BAwagon · May 21

I did maintenance on a lot of Allison transmissions, never once have I needed to remove anything to replace filters or drop a pan. I was a certified Allison maintenance tech. Allison is very conscientious about ease of servicing because they realize time is money, GM on the other hand doesnt seem to have ever been focused on making anything easy, just ask anyone who has had to replace a headlight on a malibu.

Would you post the page from the manual ? I am interested is seeing how they frame this operation.

Thanks

Scott

Edited May 21 by 64BAwagon

bruceb58 · May 21

The auto manufacturer is the one that runs the exhaust...not Allison.

Get underneath your truck and look at how it's routed. You can see with your own eyes.

Allison used a spin on filter so there was no need to drop the pan. The new transmission has the filter inside the pan.

Edited May 21 by bruceb58

64BAwagon · May 21

The 1000's had an external as well as an internal filter that only needed to be changed during a rebuild. I had one in my 2005 LLY duramax.

I have been under this truck to the point that I wrapped that crossover pipe with heatwrap to keep it from radiating up into the trans pan. Since I havent seen the pan removed on the gasser or done it myself I had some hope that it would clear without messing with the exhaust like some of the 6L80's and 6L90's are. . I just think they could have done better on this setup, its a disappointment from a serviceability standpoint and ultimately will make the trucks more expensive to have serviced since the time it takes to complete the job is more.

Scott.

bruceb58 · May 21

My service interval for trans fluid is every 30K. First 30K I will drop the pan, change the filter and replace the pan with a drain. At 60K, it will be a drain and fill. 90K, it will be another pan drop to change filter and fluid(If I keep the truck that long).

64BAwagon · May 21

4 hours ago, bruceb58 said:

My service interval for trans fluid is every 30K. First 30K I will drop the pan, change the filter and replace the pan with a drain. At 60K, it will be a drain and fill. 90K, it will be another pan drop to change filter and fluid(If I keep the truck that long).

Thats pretty much whats in my head at this point. Most of my mileage is towing our 5th wheel. Right now the truck is exactly a year old and has less than 7000 on it.

I am hoping that I could drop this pan in the front and squeeze it between the pipe and whatever is towards the back.

Either way I am going to put some anti seize on those exhaust studs.

bruceb58 · May 21

40 minutes ago, 64BAwagon said:

Thats pretty much whats in my head at this point. Most of my mileage is towing our 5th wheel. Right now the truck is exactly a year old and has less than 7000 on it.

I am hoping that I could drop this pan in the front and squeeze it between the pipe and whatever is towards the back.

Either way I am going to put some anti seize on those exhaust studs.

Looks like a 30 minute to 45 minute job to lower the exhaust and equal amount to reinstall. Not bad for something I will do once at 30K and again at 90K miles.

sno1 · May 21

1 hour ago, 64BAwagon said:

Thats pretty much whats in my head at this point. Most of my mileage is towing our 5th wheel. Right now the truck is exactly a year old and has less than 7000 on it.

I am hoping that I could drop this pan in the front and squeeze it between the pipe and whatever is towards the back.

Either way I am going to put some anti seize on those exhaust studs.

Is the bolt I circled in your pic the one that is used for checking fluid level and adding fluid?

Capt Bob · May 22

4 hours ago, 64BAwagon said:

Thats pretty much whats in my head at this point. Most of my mileage is towing our 5th wheel. Right now the truck is exactly a year old and has less than 7000 on it.

I am hoping that I could drop this pan in the front and squeeze it between the pipe and whatever is towards the back.

Either way I am going to put some anti seize on those exhaust studs.

Interesting.

I don’t have that heat wrap on mine. Do you add that?

It looks like you could drop the pan by that method. There is certainly more room to work with than on my 2018.