Transmission Horror Story (replacement/factory underfilled?)

[NotBudule]

Im not under any warranty obligation to check it am I ? I don't see how they could hold anybody on that if they make it that hard... Hard for me , I know others think its fine to go through all this to check and add fluid when needed (in some cases , it needed some all along ! Since day one !) But in the stone age we pulled a dipstick from up top , looked at , smelled , took some out in the sun ( does it sparkle ?) and if low put a funnel in the same hole the dipstick came out of and added , that seams easier to me ...

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[yamahaSHO]

Looks like this is the first thing I am doing when I get my vehicle. Warranty or not, I'd rather not deal with going through the warranty process and take care of it before issues happen. It's pretty sad that this is an issue... They did design the damn thing.

 

[Utah_Bound]

Im not under any warranty obligation to check it am I ? I don't see how they could hold anybody on that if they make it that hard... Hard for me , I know others think its fine to go through all this to check and add fluid when needed (in some cases , it needed some all along ! Since day one !) But in the stone age we pulled a dipstick from up top , looked at , smelled , took some out in the sun ( does it sparkle ?) and if low put a funnel in the same hole the dipstick came out of and added , that seams easier to me ...

Well, no, there is zero obligation to do this. The reason so many people do, and add fluid to the correct level, even under warranty... Is that your truck and its transmission will probably last at least 36k miles, even with 1-2 qts low in the transmission. The issue will rise when you have 70,000 or 90,000 miles on the truck, especially if the transmission was never serviced. And you will be well outside the warranty period and will probably be paying for a rebuild or new transmission install. This is a 30 minute procedure to possibly save dozens of hours and thousands of dollars in years time. The manual does state to check fluids at regular intervals and includes directions on how to do so, even if it is inconvienent, Like checking the transmission fluid level. Just my $0.02.

 

[Dgc333]

Based on this mine would not have even shown on the dipstick when it was cold. I remember they said it was just below 6 when hot and took almost 2 qts (1.75-1.8) to bring it up to 4.

That is interesting. Mine wasn't showing on the dip stick cold and it only took 1/3 of a qt to bring it up to just below 5.

 

[MikeyB]

I'm interested in this topic because I plan on checking my fluid level soon. I only have under 2k miles on mine but when the truck is cold the trans shifts slow, and feels like its slipping.
I'm trying to avoid going to the Stealer and checking the level myself.
Question, if anyone can advise, when/if I'm able to get the dipstick nub out to read the level, should I fully screw down into the trans then unscrew to read the level?
Thanks

 

[BrassSlinger]

Looks like this is the first thing I am doing when I get my vehicle. Warranty or not, I'd rather not deal with going through the warranty process and take care of it before issues happen. It's pretty sad that this is an issue... They did design the damn thing.

Me too. Pretty sure i am going to have them check it before i sign the paperwork so i know its good and i have piece of mind on day 1

 

[Dgc333]

I'm interested in this topic because I plan on checking my fluid level soon. I only have under 2k miles on mine but when the truck is cold the trans shifts slow, and feels like its slipping.
I'm trying to avoid going to the Stealer and checking the level myself.
Question, if anyone can advise, when/if I'm able to get the dipstick nub out to read the level, should I fully screw down into the trans then unscrew to read the level?
Thanks

The dip stick is a separate piece from the cap. The factory service manual tells you to remove it from the cap when checking the fluid level.

The best way to get the cap loose is to use about a 30" to 36" extension with a universal on the end with the 19mm socket. Then go down from the engine compartment. Mine was tighter than the manual specified 50 ft-bs.

 

[yamahaSHO]

Me too. Pretty sure i am going to have them check it before i sign the paperwork so i know its good and i have piece of mind on day 1

I'd have them check it as well, if I trusted that I could trust they'd be on point with it.

 

[Big Blue]

Been kind of following this from the sidelines. My transmission shift fine, yes maybe a rough shift or two first thing on a cold morning. Normally you don't even feel it shift. It doesn't go above 7th in town unless I'm going over 45 mph, nothing I'd call lugging. I've driven standards most of my life, I know what lugging sounds and feels like. Maybe I just got lucky?

I do agree the dipstick location is terrible, for something you need to measure hot with the motor running. I'm probably going to do the dipstick mod. Still thinking on the pan change. I do tow a 4200 lb TT with mine. I am not tuned and don't race it. I do monitor the transmission temp while towing. Last spring pulled it across Arizona in 100+ temps and never saw the temp over 225F even climbing.

What I do see as a big issue is the apparent inability of Ford to reliably fill the transmission to the correct level at the factory, and it not being properly checked at the factory or dealer before delivery. This may be a lot of the reason why people complain about the 10 speed transmission. The fact that it requires a very specific set of conditions to do this check doesn't help. Let's face it it takes a fair amount of driving to get the transmission up to 200 degrees, more than a trip around the block.

One final comment. The 10 speed is like no other transmission you have probably ever driven. It uses a fluid that is not like the old ATF. It likes to operate at higher temperatures than automatics of old. And oh yes it has 10 speeds, so it shifts more. Yes Ford programmed it for fuel economy, not what some people wanted, that's what a tune is for.

 

[Langwilliams]

I'm interested in this topic because I plan on checking my fluid level soon. I only have under 2k miles on mine but when the truck is cold the trans shifts slow, and feels like its slipping.
I'm trying to avoid going to the Stealer and checking the level myself.
Question, if anyone can advise, when/if I'm able to get the dipstick nub out to read the level, should I fully screw down into the trans then unscrew to read the level?
Thanks

If you want to check it "hot" to get the accurate correct reading break the cap lose an pull the dipstick once just to loosen it up before trying to do it hot. Put the dipstick back in an lightly snug the cap then drive it to get the temp up. This should make it easier to check. It's right by the exhaust cat so it will be warm

 

[Porpoise Hork]

My son in law had a late 90's early 00's T-Bird. No dip stick for trans anywhere. The only way to check it was to remove two plugs form beneath. Then pump fluid in the first until it came out the second hole.

Oh I remember those... Beautiful cars a blast to drive, but what a pain in the butt they were to work on.

 

[Yinzcity]

Based on this mine would not have even shown on the dipstick when it was cold. I remember they said it was just below 6 when hot and took almost 2 qts (1.75-1.8) to bring it up to 4.

That is interesting. Mine wasn't showing on the dip stick cold and it only took 1/3 of a qt to bring it up to just below 5.

Checked mine at 20,000 miles, also not showing on the dipstick when cold. Took 3/4 of a quart to be correct by the Ford procedure. Hard to tell if it made the transmission perform better, I feel like it did, but that's probably mostly placebo effect. It still has days where it just can't find the right gears at the right time.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Checked mine at 20,000 miles, also not showing on the dipstick when cold. Took 3/4 of a quart to be correct by the Ford procedure. Hard to tell if it made the transmission perform better, I feel like it did, but that's probably mostly placebo effect. It still has days where it just can't find the right gears at the right time.

You can try resetting the transmission tables with Forscan and see if it settles down after about 200-250 miles when it has completed the learn adaptation.

 

[Yinzcity]

You can try resetting the transmission tables with Forscan and see if it settles down after about 200-250 miles when it has completed the learn adaptation.

I did actually do this after I verified it was up to the correct level. Generally I think it is better, I'd say 80% of days are fine, 10% it shifts fantastic, and 10% it just can't get any gear right.

I think a performance tune would go a long way to taking care of the last bit, keeping it out of too high a gear...

 

[Chattownranger]

Dgc333,

Did topping off the trans seem to have any benefit now that you’ve hopefully had a chance to drive a bit?

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