kurt bladergroen

just picked up my 2013 5.0 F-150 last month (love it), looked under the hood and no trans dip stick. looked at the trans and there is a plug where the dip stick should. any aftermarket dip sticks?

I'm not going to the dealer to service my trans.

thanks

BCMIF150

You don't have to worry for at least 100,000 miles but there are threads on here on how to check your fluid level.

RLXXI

Not sure if they still do it but back in 2004 some of the transmissions Ford had were sealed for life, no servicing, no dipstick and the only way to put fluid back in after a repair was to pump it up thru a valve in the bottom of the pan.

Edit: Just looked at the pan on mine and didn't see the valve they used way back so it looks like I also have to wait to find out what's up.

As soon as my service dvd arrives I'll be able to let you know for a fact what's what.

.

kurt bladergroen

it looks like a standard dip stick would fit, unless the plug I saw in the trans is screwed in. all the older trans dip stick are pressed in with an o-ring.
Nothing will last 100.000 mls, I don't care what ford says

thanks

20004.6

The dipstick is under that plug, the 6r60's and 6r80 are like that.

kurt bladergroen

screw in or pressed in?

20004.6

the dipstick just set in there, but the plug is screwed in. Just take a 19mm wrench and unscrew that plug, and the dipstick will come out with the plug. Be careful and don't drop the dipstick or it will break.

RLXXI

Got my disk and can't believe what I'm seeing, WTF would they do something that retarded?

Indeed there is a dip stick, think lawnmower style, unscrew the plug, then seperate the cap from the micro stick and put it back in and with the engine running.

I am at a loss for words, you have to get underneath the truck and work around skin blistering exhaust pipe.

RLXXI

My wifes 03 Escape we just traded in tonight had 144000 miles on it and that trans had never been serviced.

Still shifted perfectly.

63AKDN

I was considering replacing the transmission pan in my 2012 (currently less than 10 000 km on it) with one from "Performance Automatic".....it holds I believe one quart extra and comes with a dipstick/tube.

The transmission does not have to be serviced for some ridiculous amount of kilometres as far as I am concerned (after the warranty period) according to Ford. Although many would say it would be a waste of money by doing the filter/fluid change two or three times before the first suggested interval, I would prefer to do so. You will always get someone who goes a considerable amount of km/miles without changing transmission fluid and never has a problem. I just think that 15 or 17 litres of the same lubricant in a system for that period of time is a gamble.

I emailed Ford, inquring about changing the pan, and their response was basically.....replace any factory parts and the warranty is void (for that component). I believe it was more to the effect that if the problem was a result of the replacement part, then you are out of luck.

I can pretty well guarantee you that Ford (or any other manufacturer) would say that any transmission problems encountered was due to the replaced pan...even if the level was correct and the correct fluid was used.

I wouldn't hesitate to say that 70 to 80% of a dealers money is made by the service department. Why recommend replacing fluid more regularly (even though they make maybe $100 a pop) when they can make thousands on a repair/replacement?

Sorry for sounding so cynical....must be the two hours of sleep between my nighshifts.