68RFE Cast Aluminum Deep Transmission Pan 1061525 Cummins

If your Ram 2500 or 3500 with the 6.7L Cummins runs hot on the transmission gauge every time you hook up a fifth wheel or gooseneck, the stamped steel pan under the 68RFE is part of the problem. This is a finned cast aluminum deep pan that crosses to 1061525 and bolts to the 68RFE six-speed in 2007.5 through 2024 Ram heavy-duty Cummins trucks. It is cast from A356-T6 aluminum, the wall is thick, and the kit includes a reusable gasket and stainless steel bolts, so the pan, gasket and hardware arrive together.

What a deep pan does on a 68RFE

The pan on a 68RFE is the reservoir the pump draws from and the place hot fluid settles before it goes back through the converter and cooler. The factory pan is thin steel with a modest sump. A deeper cast pan holds extra ATF+4, and more fluid in circulation means each quart spends less of its time in the hottest part of the loop. The external fins add surface area so the pan sheds heat into the airflow under the truck. GEARS Magazine puts the ideal maximum fluid temperature for this family around 200 degrees F and notes that every 20 degrees above that roughly halves fluid life, which is why heat control matters so much on a diesel that tows. The heavy flange also stiffens the bottom of the case where a thin pan can flex at the rail and start to seep.

Symptoms that point to a heat problem

• Transmission temperature climbing well past 200 degrees F on grades or long pulls with a trailer
• Fluid that is dark, smells burnt or has a varnish film on the dipstick
• Slow, soft or flared upshifts once the truck is fully warm, especially 4-5 and 5-6
• Converter shudder at light throttle when the lockup clutch applies
• A wet pan rail or bent steel pan from a rock or a jack placed in the wrong spot

Overdrive clutch burnup is a known 68RFE failure, and Sonnax ties it to pressure loss and heat in the same circuit. A pan will not fix a unit that is already slipping, but it helps a healthy one stay that way.

How to confirm before buying

Watch actual fluid temperature on a scan tool or gauge during a typical tow, not the dash light. If it runs high, check the basics first: correct fluid level set hot, a clean cooler, and the thermal bypass valve opening. GEARS lists one gallon per minute as the minimum cooler flow. If the fluid is already burnt or you have codes, read our 68RFE Ram 2500 Cummins common problems guide and the Ram 3500 shift problems guide before spending money on a pan.

Fitment

Listed for 2007.5 to 2024 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups with the 6.7L Cummins and the 68RFE automatic. It does not fit trucks with the Aisin six-speed that Ram used behind the high-output Cummins and in some 3500 and cab-chassis trucks, because that is a different case with a different pan pattern. Look under the truck or check the build sheet: the 68RFE pan is the one this replaces. A deeper pan can sit closer to a crossmember or skid plate on some lifted or aftermarket setups, so check clearance before you drain. Send us your year and VIN if you want us to confirm. Everything we carry for this unit is on the 68RFE parts page.

Install notes

• Drain the fluid and drop the factory pan. Save a little of the old fluid in a clean cup and look for clutch material or metal.
• Replace the filter while the pan is off and clean the case rail completely; old gasket residue is the most common cause of a new leak.
• Set the pan with the supplied gasket and run the bolts down in a crisscross pattern to 105 in-lb (about 8.75 ft-lb). Overtightening crushes the gasket.
• Refill with ATF+4 only. The deep pan takes more than the factory refill amount, so add fluid in stages and set the final level with the engine running and the fluid at least 160 degrees F, per FCA's procedure.

If the fluid you drained is burnt or full of debris, the pan is not your first purchase. Plan a rebuild with the 68RFE master rebuild kit, and inspect the pump gears; the 68RFE pump is the usual partner on a heat-damaged unit. Our 68RFE pump failure guide covers what to look for.

Will this pan fit my 2016 Ram 3500?

Only if the truck has the 68RFE. Many 3500s, especially high-output Cummins trucks, came with the Aisin six-speed instead, and this pan does not fit that case. Check the transmission on your build sheet or send us the VIN.

How much extra fluid does it hold?

The deeper sump holds more than the stamped factory pan, but we do not publish a capacity figure. Add ATF+4 in stages after the install and set the level hot with the engine running, using the factory check procedure.

Does it come with a gasket and bolts?

Yes. It includes a reusable pan gasket and stainless steel bolts. Plan to buy a new filter separately, since you should replace it any time the pan is off.

What torque do the pan bolts take?

105 in-lb, which is about 8.75 ft-lb, tightened in a crisscross pattern. Going tighter crushes the gasket and can cause a leak.

Will a deep pan stop my 68RFE from overheating?

It helps by adding fluid volume and fin area, but it does not fix a plugged cooler, a stuck thermal bypass valve, low fluid or a slipping clutch pack. Check those first if the temperature is climbing fast.

• 68RFE Ram 2500 Cummins Common Problems and Fixes
• 68RFE Ram 3500 Cummins Shift Problems: Diagnosis and Fix
• 68RFE Pump Failure: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Replacement
• 68RFE Ram 3500 Cummins Common Problems and Fixes