ES300 Transmisison Gurus NEEDED!!
 

This afternoon I dropped the pan on my '98 ES300 to clean the magnets and do an ATF change (went with mobil 1 synthetic new formula). I drained both the Trans pan and the front diff, unbolted the trans filter/oil strainer to drain the last bit of ATF out. I put a new pan gasket on, I locktited all the trans pan screws and snugged it back up. I drove it around thte block to see if there were any leaks and none so far.

Here's the kicker....

When I was cleaning up I saw there was a 1" square gasket (wood and rubber) sitting on my oil catch pan...CRAP!!

I'm assuming it was above the trans filter/oil strainer and dropped off when I drained it.

Does anyone know how vital this gasket is? I REALLY don't want to drop the pan again! If it shifts fine and doesn't leak would it be safe to drive without it? I'm not even entirely sure where it goes, or what it does.

Any help/thoughts/ideas would be great...thanks.

Jason

It will be fine, Its more than likely the "gasket" pad that keeps the filter from rubbing on the valve body. Just hang onto it and put it back in next time.:thumbup:

EDIT: BTW, your rims are NOIIIIICE.

Love em.

Thanks for the reply and the compliment! That's kind of the only place I figured it would be (it wasn't there on my wife's '03 RX300) and after locktiting all 16 or 18 or those trans pan bolts I REALLY didn't want to undo them!

Yeah guys, you will both be alright to wait 12k miles and throw it back in. Just dont lose the piece! those little things are fairly expensive (around $10 a piece!).