Transmission Pan Magnet

[doferty]

When I changed my transmission fluid recently, I forgot to put the magnet back in the pan. Realized this a few days later when I found the magnet on my workbench. Question: Will leaving the magnet out of the pan cause any problems? When I cleaned it and the pan there was no evidence of metal or any other material. The pan did have a fairly good buildup of what I assume if cluch plate material but that seems normal. Any advice appreciate. Thanks.

'02 Silverado 2500HD 4WD. 96k. Perfect condition.

[iroc343]

I don't think I'd worry about it too much. There are many transmissions out there without them.

[jdmccright]

I understand the dilemma you feel. It's a lot of work to get the pan off for such a simple piece. But remember that the magnet keeps all that 'sludge' you found on it from circulating around your tranny...tiny metallic particles can score valve body walls and pump internals when present in enough quantity. Plus if something were to happen catastrophically, the mag could help limit damge.Do you need to replace it right away? No, but I wouldn't wait very long...3-5k miles before the particulate concentration in the fluid gets too high.Just had a thought...stick a stronger magnet to the exterior of the pan until you can replace it. Radio Shack sells them in various shapes...may want to paint them to keep them from rusting since they are iron-based. Hope this helps!

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by doferty

When I changed my transmission fluid recently, I forgot to put the magnet back in the pan. Realized this a few days later when I found the magnet on my workbench. Question: Will leaving the magnet out of the pan cause any problems? When I cleaned it and the pan there was no evidence of metal or any other material. The pan did have a fairly good buildup of what I assume if cluch plate material but that seems normal. Any advice appreciate. Thanks.

'02 Silverado 2500HD 4WD. 96k. Perfect condition.

I have a 3 inch dia. speaker magnet on the bottom of the transmission pan...this is in addition to the internal one..

this exterior magnet does the same thing and will cause the magnetic debris to be held...


any metal flowing through the torque converter will eventually damage it...

usually at your mileage you should not have a great amount of debris at the pan....

what transmission fluid do you use and how many miles between changes??

[iroc343]

The steel pan will shunt the magnet and very little to no magnetic force will get through the pan to attract metal particles. I work for a company the manufactures magnetic equipment and steel plates on the face of the magnet is how we shunt the magnetic fields to enable us to air freight permanent magnets. You probably ought to bite the bullet and take the pan down and put the magnet back in, your not going to sleep till you do.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by iroc343

The steel pan will shunt the magnet and very little to no magnetic force will get through the pan to attract metal particles. I work for a company the manufactures magnetic equipment and steel plates on the face of the magnet is how we shunt the magnetic fields to enable us to air freight permanent magnets. You probably ought to bite the bullet and take the pan down and put the magnet back in, your not going to sleep till you do.

a strong speaker magnet will magnetize the steel pan bottom...this is the fact, as when I drop this pan, the round gray debris is formed exactly where the exterior magnet was installed...

your shunting of,,, isolation of ,,,the magnetic force would be correct if the pan where copper/stainless steel , or some other non magnetic material....


if anyone doubts this see if the magnet with a 1/8inch thick , flat steel sheet will pick up a steel nail...then you will understand why it does
work.

also I've done this for years on other vehicles,,,many years....
got the idea when they came out with the oil filter magnet,,,