Check Your Transmission Fluid Level Now - It is fairly easy to do

20866 Views 20 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Dunrollin, Aug 8, 2021

Dunrollin

Discussion Starter · Mar 8, 2021 (Edited)

4

As you may know member @Saathoff05 just lost his transmission and the repair may cost around $7K! First thing he found out was the transmission was 2 quarts low. We don't know if this was the cause of the loss but it sure did not help. Other F150 sites on the internet have discussed owners finding the factory fill was disturbingly too low.

Checking the fluid is something any of us can easily do. I just did it in less than 30 minutes and most of that was fumbling around looking for the right size wrenches and sockets. Ford Tech Makuloco has a great video on this transmission and he notes the fluid can be checked COLD!

TOOLS: A 19mm open end will take off the dipstick cover. You will also need a 8mm and an 11mm socket to remove the felt cover under the transmission. HINT: I just removed 3 fastners and pulled one corner of the cover down and was good to go. Also note the 19mm dipstick cover was on very tight, took a lot of muscle to get it off.

Here are the three dipsticks used in our transmissions:

Mine was the first one, A and B. The fluid running and cold was just below the "B" box. Here it is just out and before starting. Fluid smelled fine and is still red.

My truck is a 2018 with 19,000 miles.

Here is the process as described by Ford Tech Makuloco. The video should start at 39 minutes in as the rest is a full service, not just a fluid check.

Ford Tech Makuloco

Let me know if you find any mistakes in this or other issues. File this under cheap insurance!

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1 - 20 of 21 Posts

jmperlik

· #2 · Mar 8, 2021

@Dunrollin - great relevant DIYer thread given @Saathoff05's current 10R80 situation.

Thanks for this proactive thread including pics and links = very thorough and informative as everything you might need is contained within this single DIY post.

Reactions: 3

FUGAZI

· #3 · Mar 12, 2021

Thanks for sharing this. Going to check the dipstick ASAP

Reactions: 1

Dijit

· #4 · Mar 31, 2021

Dunrollin said:
As you may know member @Saathoff05 just lost his transmission and the repair may cost around $7K! First thing he found out was the transmission was 2 quarts low. We don't know if this was the cause of the loss but it sure did not help. Other F150 sites on the internet have discussed owners finding the factory fill was disturbingly too low.

Checking the fluid is something any of us can easily do. I just did it in less than 30 minutes and most of that was fumbling around looking for the right size wrenches and sockets. Ford Tech Makuloco has a great video on this transmission and he notes the fluid can be checked COLD!

View attachment 2222

TOOLS: A 19mm open end will take off the dipstick cover. You will also need a 8mm and an 11mm socket to remove the felt cover under the transmission. HINT: I just removed 3 fastners and pulled one corner of the cover down and was good to go. Also note the 19mm dipstick cover was on very tight, took a lot of muscle to get it off.

View attachment 2219

Here are the three dipsticks used in our transmissions:

View attachment 2220

Mine was the first one, A and B. The fluid running and cold was just below the "B" box. Here it is just out and before starting. Fluid smelled fine and is still red.

View attachment 2221

My truck is a 2018 with 19,000 miles.

Here is the process as described by Ford Tech Makuloco. The video should start at 39 minutes in as the rest is a full service, not just a fluid check.

Ford Tech Makuloco

Let me know if you find any mistakes in this or other issues. File this under cheap insurance!

Dijit

· #5 · Mar 31, 2021

Thanks for this discussion. I’ve got a 2018 with 38,800 miles. I was changing the fuel filters and thought I‘d check since I was in the area. Felt silly and after pulling the dipstick, NADA. No red AT ALL. Kinda pissed right now.

Dijit

· #6 · Apr 4, 2021

I just put in my Mercon ULV once I got it via CARID. 3/4 of a quart. After warming it up it was was about 1/8” on the dipstick (or whatever you call that little thing). I used a yard sprayer with the end cut off to fill it ($7.50 at walmart). That Mercon ULV has the consistency of water. I had the first dip stick depicted in the original post.

Reactions: 2

Dunrollin

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 4, 2021

That is the same “dipstick” I have.

Reactions: 1

FUGAZI

· #8 · Apr 8, 2021

Sooo since this thread went live (not blaming anyone) my truck has started to shift very rough betwen 4 to 5 and down shifting 10-8. Sometimes it sounds like the rear diff clicking, others the transmission clunking...anyone have similar experience? Every week it is getting more and more severe...
Only have 1500 miles of limited warranty left, so she is going to the dealer tomorrow....hoping it’s just low on fluid 🤞🏻

Reactions: 3

apezz

· #9 · Apr 16, 2021 (Edited)

I tried this cold trans fluid level check. When I did my 'A' 'B' style dipstick didn't even touch the fluid. So I drove the truck and was able to get my trans fluid temperature up to 190 degrees. At that temp I checked the level and was just at the low end of the 'B' hash mark. So I believe if the trans fluid temp was at the correct operating temperature of 206 -115 degrees I would be right in the sweet spot.

fharrison

· #10 · Apr 26, 2021

This post got me to check my transmission and I am glad I did. Normally, I am more on top of this but I just figured it would be filled to the correct level from the factory. I have 68k miles and the fluid didn't even register on the dipstick cold. Yikes. Well, I decided to drop the pan and change the filter and fluid or at least what I could instead of just adding fluid. Used an oil extractor to empty the pan as much as possible before dropping the pan and it was easy without much mess.

Fluid and was very dirty. Lots of settled material in the bottom. Fingers crossed the trans will hold up with so many miles with low fluid. Guess my dealer doesent bother checking that sort of thing. It does seem to shift smoother now though.

Dunrollin

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 26, 2021

fharrison said:
This post got me to check my transmission and I am glad I did. Normally, I am more on top of this but I just figured it would be filled to the correct level from the factory. I have 68k miles and the fluid didn't even register on the dipstick cold. Yikes. Well, I decided to drop the pan and change the filter and fluid or at least what I could instead of just adding fluid. Used an oil extractor to empty the pan as much as possible before dropping the pan and it was easy without much mess.

Fluid and was very dirty. Lots of settled material in the bottom. Fingers crossed the trans will hold up with so many miles with low fluid. Guess my dealer doesent bother checking that sort of thing. It does seem to shift smoother now though.

Great story! Ford Tech Makuloco on YouTube says to change the fluid and filter at 60,000 I think. He says ignore Ford’s 150,000 recommendation. Thank you for sharing your story.

Reactions: 1

STIAJW

· #12 · Jul 12, 2021

Checked my transmission fluid level today while I had the truck in the air for an oil change. Took almost a quart to get the fluid to just above the 6 on the dipstick in the middle of image in the 1st post. The tranni was about 120F.
Thanks to @Dunrollin for putting this post together.

Reactions: 4

thegert87

· #13 · Jul 16, 2021

FUGAZI said:
Sooo since this thread went live (not blaming anyone) my truck has started to shift very rough betwen 4 to 5 and down shifting 10-8. Sometimes it sounds like the rear diff clicking, others the transmission clunking...anyone have similar experience? Every week it is getting more and more severe...
Only have 1500 miles of limited warranty left, so she is going to the dealer tomorrow....hoping it’s just low on fluid 🤞🏻

Nearly exactly that. Mainly clunky or hard from 1 -3, and 3 -4. Traveling at highway speeds, up some hills in WV and passing some folks, 10-7 was attempted, but it was more like a 10 -7-8, with a clunk. I have noticed that regular driving habits in tow/haul or sport modes will exhibit even harder shifts in most gears.

thegert87

· #14 · Jul 16, 2021 (Edited)

Not sure if I should include this here, but I may make a separate thread at another time....

Read this blog, especially this part...

"We have been told that the thermal plate has been eliminated. The engineering theory is the fluid viscosity will control the volume of fluid through each media in the same manner without the thermal plate. Although the part number for the Ford filter did not change, the part number for the Ford 10-speed filter is #HL3Z-7A098-A (referred to as a screen assembly). The part number that we found for the GM filter is #24291343 and it’s shown as updated. At the time that this article was written, the list cost of the Ford filter was about $48.22 and the GM was anywhere from $35.00 to $40.00 from different vendors."

I take this as a potential design change in the filter, but reportedly there isn't a change in the part number...? Does this hint to a potential design flaw to anyone?

Souza Sezz 10 Speed Filter Design Change

I contemplated checking fluid level before I took it in, but I didn't. Would be interesting if really this TSB, was to top it off. I think I'll check it soon anyway.

Thanks to those that posted the info about checking fluid level.

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thegert87

· #15 · Jul 21, 2021

I was going to attempt to check fluid yesterday, but, I backed out for fear of scalding myself on exhaust. I'll be checking while it is hot.

Ideally I should probably use an articulating socket wrench or maybe a crows foot... To loosen "dipstick" cover.

For those that did check it, what worked for you?

Dropping pan in my 2WD model will be a piece of cake though. No obstructions.

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STIAJW

· #16 · Jul 21, 2021

That exhaust gets HOT.
19 mm box end wrench works well to loosen the dipstick cover.
Perhaps consider checking tranni fluid when the engine is cool? There's a link to a youtube video by an expert Ford mechanic in the first post showing how to account for the fluid levels when checking it cold.

Reactions: 2

thegert87

· #17 · Jul 21, 2021

STIAJW said:
That exhaust gets HOT.
19 mm box end wrench works well to loosen the dipstick cover.
Perhaps consider checking tranni fluid when the engine is cool? There's a link to a youtube video by an expert Ford mechanic in the first post showing how to account for the fluid levels when checking it cold.

Appreciate it.
I have access to a lift, but it is a 30 min drive away, so it'll be hot. I don't think I can squeeze under it to check while on the ground. I'll have to give it a try...

STIAJW

· #18 · Jul 21, 2021

Access to a lift would be a treat.

A swivel-head box wrench or a swivel-head ratchet with 19 mm socket may work. I think there's enough room for a ratchet and socket - but haven't tried that.
I'd wear gloves and long sleeves to check the tranni fluid hot.

Reactions: 2

Dijit

· #19 · Jul 21, 2021

I used a swivel head ratchet and I was easily (and carefully) able to avoid the exhaust. I’d suggest everyone that’s able to do this check.

Reactions: 1

Lspain1994

· #20 · Aug 8, 2021

Here’s mine after the engine has been warmed up over a 10 min drive. Seems to venture in the spot above the A section. Is this something to address or can it left as is?

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