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Hey Austin,
I am changing the automatic transmission filter in my Ford F150 4.6 V8 and I found this yellow plastic thing inside the transmission pan. What is it?
Donald
Hey Donald,
Oh no, not the yellow plastic retaining pin that holds everything together!!!!! Actually that is to help keep the fluid from burping back up through the dipstick tube. Just push it back into the dipstick hole and you should be good to go. In case you are unaware, that round ring stuck to the bottom of the transmission pan (upper left portion of your picture) is a magnet to catch all the metal shavings and debris that is wearing off inside the transmission.
Don’t be too alarmed if you can pick off a 2 finger pinch of metal filings from the magnet…that is pretty much normal wear and tear. I have seen bits and chunks of plastic and metal in the bottom of some transmission pans….that’s NOT a good sign. Just clean off the magnet, reinstall the plastic burp plug in the dipstick, replace your filter and reuse the Ford hard plastic gasket.
Lucas makes some really good semi synthetic transmission fluids and additives http://www.lucasoil.com/products/display_products.sd?iid=40&catid=3&loc=show
Blessings,
Austin Davis