Volume: approximately 1 quart over stock compared to AW4 stock pan Mopar part number 83504037
Dimensions: Click here for dimensions. 1 1/4 inches deeper than stock Mopar part number 83504037.
Number of Bolts: 19
Benefits:
- Fins and extra capacity to keep fluid cooler
- Drain and magnetic drain plug for easy servicing
- Heavy duty, quality sand cast aluminum contruction for strength and a leak-free seal
- Boss for optional temperature sending unit
- Includes new mounting bolts and magnetic drain plug
- No ground clearance issue or skid plate interference since pan is only 1 1/4 inches deeper than stock (for most vehicle and skid plates)
Transmission: Transmission we used for development is labeled 30-40LE. 30-40LE may also label A340 transmissions for older Toyota vehicles, which probably cannot use an AW4 pan.
Skid Plates and Off Roading: Skid plates are recommended for any offroading vehicle. A sand cast aluminum pan is heavy duty but if it hits a rock, it will crack. Some skid plates may need spacers to allow for the additional depth of the PML pan.
See Specifications for details on this "No Dipstick" design.
Thanks to those who installed prototype pans and helped us with development.
- 1987 to 2001 Jeep Cherokee (XJ) with the 4 speed automatic transmission
- 1987 to 2000 Jeep Wagoneer with the 4 speed automatic transmission
- 1991 to 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ) with the 4.0L engine and 4 speed automatic transmission
- 1987 to 1992 Jeep Comanche MJ with the 4 speed automatic transmission
- AW4 swaps on Wrangler YJs and other vehicles
Vehicle configurations vary! Always check you vehicle configuraton and clearance before ordering.
The 4.0 engine is usually paired with the AW4 transmission.
We have had installations on Cherokees and a Comanche. See Installations.
Toyota and Lexus Vehicles: See PML Part Number 11175, A340 Transmission Pan.
- 2000 Cherokee
- 1998 Cherokee
- 1990 Cherokee
- 1989 Comanche
- 1995 Wrangler YJ with AW4
2000 Cherokee 4.0 XJ
Kurt provided details about his installation (PDF file coming shortly). He noted that he had to pry the stock pan off. After installing the PML pan, he saw fluid temperatures 15 to 20 degrees cooler overall.
2000 Cherokee
Stock transmission pan
PML and stock pan side by side
2000-cherokee_pml_pan_install
Filling PML AW4 pan with transmission fluid
Bending hose on fluid pump to keep fluid from running back out
Transmission fluid temperatures with PML AW4 pan installed
PML pan on 2000 XJ
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1998 Cherokee 4.0 XJ
Richard reported that he had to remove the transmission cross member to remove his old pan and install the PML pan. Pumping fluid in gets messy unless the pump has a flexible tube that can bend at the top to prevent fluid from running back out.
1998 Cherokee 4.0
1998 Cherokee Stock Pan
Installing PML AW4 transmission pan on 1998 Cherokee
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1990 Cherokee
Aaron installed this PML pan on his 1990 Cherokee XJ Limited 4.0 4WD. His Cherokee has a 4.5 lift, aftermarket high flow exhaust, transmission cooler, and tow package. He was pleased to see lower fluid temperatures with the PML pan installed.
1990 Cherokee XJ
1990 Cherokee stock transmission pan
Transmission on a 1990 Cherokee
1990 Cherokee PML AW4 transmission pan installed, view from driver side
Plenty of clearance available with PML AW4 pan on 1990 Cherokee
Drain on PML AW4 pan on 1990 Cherokee
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1989 Comanche
Enrique reported that the pan fit perfectly right out of the box and saw his fluid temperatures drop from 210 to 180.
1989 Comanche
Stock AW4 Transmission Pan
PML and Stock Transmission Pans
PML Pan Installed
PML Pan Installed
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1995 Wrangler YJ with AW4 Swap
This 1995 Jeep Wrangler YJ had its 3 speed transmission swapped with a 4 speed AW4 transmission. The YJ has also been lifted and aftermarket skid plates installed.
Darren reported that the PML transmission pan fit great and he had no problems with installation.
1995 Wrangler
1995 Wrangler YJ with PML transmission pan installed
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Included with PML AW4 Pan
PML includes a magnetic drain plug with copper sealing washer, new mounting bolts with washers, plugs for the fill and level check holes and a brass fitting for filling the transmission with fluid.
Click on image to view larger.
Drain, Supports Inside of Pan
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Images show the inside of the PML pan and passenger/right side of the pan. The drain, maximum and OK level check holes are all on the passenger/right side.
No Dipstick Design
This pan does NOT work with a dipstick. To install this PML pan, you will need to remove the stock dipstick and possibly the receiver tube.
This means you would no longer use your dipstick. The transmission fluid level would be checked from pan!
The PML design is flexible to to work with several vehicles. This design is for the AW4 on Jeep vehicles and is based on Mopar part number 83504037.
How to fill: You fill through the fill/level check hole on the bottom of the pan. PML provides a fitting for the hole. You could also use a pump. You would fill until the fluid starts to dribble out then put in the plug.
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How to check: To check the fluid, you would remove the plug and see if any fluid dribbles out. If it does, it's full and you're good to go.
How did we come up with these levels? By measuring the dipstick "OK" and "MAX" levels with relation to the flange of the stock pan. Read about PML No Dipstick Design (PDF file).
Any benefits to the PML no dipstick design? Checking the fluid on the pan is less convinient than using a dipstick but there are a couple small benefits:
- Current dipstick tube has so many bends that pulling out the dipstick wipes off the fluid so it's hard to get an accurate reading
- More space available in the engine compartment
Manufacturing a sand cast aluminum pan with the receive tube would be very expensive. This design keeps the price manageable and provides the benefits of an extra capacity, finned transmission pan.
Stock Pan and Transmission
This PML design is based on the AW4 transmission for a 1987 to 2001 Jeep XJ. Transmission pan is Mopar part number 83504037.
Click on image to view larger.
PML pan compared to stock pan:
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Filter and Gasket
PML designed this pan to work with the stock gasket and filter.
The filter bolts on to the valve body. No filter extension is needed. The pick up and fluid level is at the same place with the PML pan as with the stock pan.
Transmission Info
The A340 (A340E, A340F, A340H) and the AW4 are sister transmissions. The AW4 is commonly found in Jeeps, such as 1987-2001 Cherokees. The A340E, A340F, A340H transmission is found in Toyota cars, trucks and SUVs and a few Mitsubishis, Kias, Lexus cars and SUVs, and Volvos.
There are 9 different stock pans. These 9 stock pans have 4 different depths and 7 different dipstick receiver heights and angles. The dipstick receivers complicate the design and manufacturing. There are 13 different filters and 15 different valve bodies in addition to 9 different pans.
This variety of pans, filters, valve bodies and applications complicates the design and testing. Information and pictures on vehicle configurations are much appreciated!
Optional Temperature Sensor Machining
This pan has a location on the driver (left) side of the pan that can be drilled an tapped for a temperature sending unit.
There is a machining charge for this option and it can be added in the shopping cart.
Dipstick Thoughts (NOT PLANNED BY PML)
It is theoritically possible, not something PML plans to do, to add a dipstick to the side of the pan. There is a thick area on the side of the pan and someone could possibly fabricate an adapter, receiver tube and dipstick.
This is a computer generated drawing of the PML pan with an adapter bolted
on to the side of the pan. The adapter would connect to a dipstick tube. Click on image to view larger.