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The Chrysler RE family (46RE in gas Rams, Durangos and Grand Cherokees; 47RE and 48RE in heavy-duty 2500/3500 Rams, including the 5.9 Cummins trucks) all share the same basic pan and filter layout. That makes a pan service one of the easiest and most useful things you can do for one of these transmissions, and it is the right time to fix the two things the factory pan does not give you: a drain plug and enough fluid capacity for towing.
Stock Pan, Drain Plug Pan, or Deep Pan
| Option | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stock pan + new filter and gasket | Daily drivers, light use | No drain plug, so every service is a messy pan drop. |
| Replacement pan with drain plug + filter | Anyone who services on schedule | Drain most of the fluid before the pan comes off. Cleaner and faster every time after. |
| Deep or finned cooling pan | Towing, Cummins trucks, hot climates | Extra fluid capacity and more surface area to shed heat. Needs the correct filter or filter spacer for the added depth. |
The deep pan point matters. If you bolt on a deeper pan and reuse a stock-height filter, the pickup can sit too high in the sump and the pump can draw air on hard stops or steep grades. Use the filter or spacer the pan maker specifies.
What to Buy
Pan with drain plug and filter kit
The simplest upgrade for most RE owners: a replacement pan with a drain plug, plus the filter and gasket for the service you are doing now.
Finned cooling pan for towing
For Cummins trucks that tow, a deep cast aluminum pan adds capacity and cooling surface.
Service kit with solenoid parts
If you are chasing a shift complaint as well as doing the service, this kit combines filter service parts with solenoid components.
Do These While the Pan Is Off
Adjust both bands
The RE transmissions use two bands. The front (kickdown) band adjuster is on the outside of the case on the driver's side. The rear (low-reverse) band adjuster is inside, and you can only reach it with the pan off. Chrysler calls for band adjustment as part of severe-service maintenance, and towing trucks qualify. Tighten each adjuster to the specified torque, then back it off the exact number of turns listed for your transmission and year. The back-off spec differs between units, so look it up rather than guessing. See our band adjustment guide.
Look at the governor pressure solenoid and sensor
On the electronically governed RE units, the governor pressure solenoid and sensor are reached from under the pan. They cause a lot of erratic-shift and no-upshift complaints. If you have those symptoms, this is the time to replace them: A518 46RE 47RE Governor Pressure Solenoid and Sensor Kit. More on symptoms in our governor pressure solenoid guide.
Check the band strut and anchor on high-mileage 47RE/48RE units
Heavy-duty upgrades exist for the front band anchor and strut on these units: PW518AC Band Anchor and 22717HD Band Strut. That is a bigger job than a pan service, but worth knowing about on a hard-working Cummins.
Service Notes
- Fluid: ATF+4 only. The RE family is specified for Mopar ATF+4 (MS-9602). Do not use Dexron or a generic universal fluid in place of it.
- How much fluid: a stock-pan service only replaces part of the fluid, roughly 4 to 5 quarts. A deep pan adds more. Fill partway, start the engine, and finish filling with the transmission at operating temperature.
- Sealing: many of these pans were sealed with RTV from the factory. If you switch to a gasket, clean every trace of old RTV from the case rail and pan flange first. See our 46RE pan bolt torque spec; overtightening crushes gaskets and bends the pan rail.
- Read the pan: fine dark paste on the magnet is normal. Brass or aluminum flakes, or band lining material, mean something is wearing faster than it should.
46RE / 47RE / 48RE Parts, Shipped Fast
Pans, filter kits, governor pressure solenoids, valve bodies and rebuild kits for the RE family.
Shop 47RE Parts → Shop 48RE PartsFAQ
Do 46RE, 47RE and 48RE transmissions have a drain plug?
Not from the factory. The stock pan has no drain plug, which is why many owners replace it with a pan that has one during the first service.
What transmission fluid does a 47RE or 48RE use?
Mopar ATF+4 (MS-9602). The 46RE uses the same fluid.
Do I need a different filter with a deep pan?
Usually yes. A deeper pan needs a filter or filter spacer that keeps the pickup near the bottom of the sump. Use what the pan manufacturer specifies.
Should I adjust the bands when I change the filter?
Yes, on a towing or high-mileage truck. The rear band adjuster is only reachable with the pan off, so the filter service is the natural time to adjust both bands to the factory spec.