Ford E4OD/4R100 Deep Pan Transmission Filter & Gasket Kit

Searching for the right filter for a Ford E4OD or 4R100 usually ends in confusion, because two pans, two pickup lengths and a look-alike 4R70W all share the same trucks. This kit is the deep-pan version: one long-neck (long-tube) pickup filter and one molded 20-bolt rubber pan gasket, crossing to F6TZ-7A098-BB, YC3Z-7A098-BA, E9TZ-7A098-B and F3TP-7G186-BB. It is the service kit for the heavy-duty four-speed behind the 7.3L Power Stroke, the 5.4L V8 and the 6.8L V10, covering everything from a 1990 Bronco to a 2004 Super Duty. If your truck has a pump whine, a soft or late engagement, or it is simply overdue for a pan drop, this is the kit for a deep 20-bolt pan.

What the deep pan filter does in an E4OD

The filter seals into a bore in the oil pump and draws from the bottom of the pan. ATSG describes the 4R100 as an updated E4OD, and the bottom pan, filter and 20-bolt pattern carry across both, so this one kit serves both names. On a deep pan the floor is farther from the pump, so the filter needs a long neck to put the inlet down in the sump. Raybestos catalogs the 4WD deep-pan filter separately from the 2WD shallow-pan filter for exactly that reason. A short-neck filter in a deep pan sits high and can uncover on a hard stop, a grade or a sharp turn, and the pump gulps air. A long neck in a shallow pan can bottom out and choke the inlet. Either way the result is low line pressure and the symptoms below.

Symptoms this kit addresses

• Whine or moan from the pump that changes with engine speed
• Delayed or harsh engagement into Drive or Reverse
• Momentary slip or flare on a hill, a hard stop or a turn, from aeration
• Running hot when towing with a filter loaded with clutch dust and varnish
• Pan rail seep from a compression-set old gasket

Known E4OD problems such as solenoid pack wear, coast and intermediate clutch wear, and heat damage from towing can produce some of the same complaints, so a service is a first step, not a guaranteed cure.

How to confirm before you order

Count the pan bolts. Twenty bolts is the E4OD/4R100 family; the 4R70W used in many F-150 and Expedition trucks has a 14-bolt pan and a different filter. Then check pan depth against the 2WD shallow pan, and compare the neck on your old filter with the photos. If the truck already shifts badly or sets codes, read the E4OD valve body symptoms guide and the common problems guide so you know what a service can and cannot fix.

Fitment

Listed for 20-bolt deep pan E4OD and 4R100 units: 1999-2004 F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 Super Duty; 2000-2005 Excursion; 1989-2003 F-150 4WD; 1990-1996 Bronco; 1997-2004 Expedition and Navigator with this transmission; and E-Series vans fitted with the deep pan. Not for the shallow 2WD pan or the 14-bolt 4R70W. Thirty-year-old trucks have had pans and transmissions swapped, so trust the bolt count and the old filter over the catalog, or send us your year and VIN. Browse the rest of the E4OD/4R100 parts collection while you are under there.

Install notes

• Drop the pan level and read the debris before cleaning; the E4OD filter and pan service guide breaks down what each type means.
• Pull the old filter straight down and confirm its seal came with it. A leftover seal in the pump bore is the classic comeback.
• Lube the new seal and press the filter fully into the pump bore.
• Set the molded gasket on a clean, dry flange with no RTV and torque the 20 bolts evenly in a crisscross pattern to ATSG's 10-12 ft-lb.
• Refill with MERCON V and finish the level at operating temperature, idling in Park.

A pan with a pushed-in floor or bent rail will undo the new gasket, so swap it for our 4R100 4WD oil pan at the same time. If the pan is full of friction material, the unit is ready for a 4R100 master rebuild kit instead.

How do I tell a deep pan from a shallow pan?

4WD E4OD and 4R100 trucks use the deep pan and a long-neck filter; 2WD trucks use the shallow pan and a short-neck filter. Compare your old filter's neck length to the photos and check that the pan has 20 bolts.

Will this fit my F-150 or Expedition?

Only if it has the E4OD or 4R100 with the 20-bolt deep pan. Many F-150 and Expedition trucks use the 4R70W, which has a 14-bolt pan and needs a different filter.

Do I need sealant on the gasket?

No. It is a molded rubber gasket. Install it dry on a clean flange; sealant can let it slide out of place when the bolts are torqued.

What torque do the pan bolts take?

ATSG lists 14-16 N-m, or 10-12 ft-lb, in a crisscross pattern. Overtightening bends the stamped rail and causes leaks.

What fluid should I use?

MERCON V. Ford's original MERCON is discontinued, and Motorcraft lists MERCON V for transmissions previously serviced with MERCON.

Does a pan service reach the solenoid screen?

No. ATSG shows a separate solenoid screen in the spacer plate under the solenoid body. If the truck had a shift or EPC complaint before the service, a filter alone will not fix it.

• E4OD Filter and Pan Service Guide
• E4OD Valve Body Symptoms and Testing
• E4OD Common Problems and Fixes
• 4R100 vs E4OD: Differences, Interchange & Which Is Stronger
• E4OD High-Mileage Service Checklist