AW4 Deep Transmission Pan For Jeep, "No Dipstick" Design

PML Part Number 11076

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$295.00 As Cast Finish

$375.00 for Black Powder Coat Finish, no picture available, call to order in black powder coat (310-671-4345).

Volume: approximately 1 quart over stock compared to AW4 stock pan Mopar part number 83504037

Number of Bolts: 19

Dimensions: 1 1/4 inches deeper than stock Mopar part number 83504037. Click here for dimensions.

Thanks to those who installed prototype pans and helped us with development.

Applications

Some models of these vehicles have an AW4 transmission:

• 1987 to 2001 Jeep Cherokee (XJ)
• 1987 to 2000 Jeep Wagoneer
• 1991 to 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ) with the 4.0L
• 1987 to 1992 Jeep Comanche MJ

We have had installations on Cherokees and a Comanche. See Installations below.

Vehicle configurations vary! Always check you vehicle configuraton and clearance before ordering.

Toyota and Lexus Vehicles: See PML Part Number 11175, A340 Transmission Pan.

Benefits

PML AW4 pan has:

• 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 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.

Because different models have different the stock pans and dipstick receiver tubes, we have replaced the dipstick and receiver tube with level check/fill holes on the pan.

PML No Dipstick Design Details

How to fill: There is a fill/level check hole on the bottom of the pan. You would need to use a pump and fill the transmission through the bottom of the pan. You would fill until the fluid starts to dribble out then put in the fill hole plug.

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

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.

   
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PML pan compared to stock pan:

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 picture showing an example of a possible adapter on the side of the pan. This would be expensive and PML does NOT have plans to manufacture this. This is just an idea for folks to consider.

Installations

These are pictures of installations of prototype pans. Our thanks to those installations for their feedback.

• 2000 Cherokee
• 1998 Cherokee
• 1990 Cherokee


• 1989 Comanche

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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