MBS Extended Automatic Transmission Dipsticks now available

[Rinn69]

@Fitzmotor any updates for the F-150 version ?

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[Ranger_Rocks]

@Fitzmotor any updates for the F-150 version ?

The price is going up!

 

[Rinn69]

The price is going up!

That's fine by me

 

[Fitzmotor]

@Fitzmotor any updates for the F-150 version ?

That's a tough question, which engine? But yes, I was working on that project today!

 

[Langwilliams]

I asked about the bronco before

 

[5thranger]

That's a tough question, which engine? But yes, I was working on that project today!

I have 2024 F150 now with the 3.5 EcoBoost will take one when you have them ready. Looks like Rinn 69 has a 5.0 in his F150

 

[Rinn69]

That's a tough question, which engine? But yes, I was working on that project today!

5.0
That's great to hear !!!! I'm eagerly waiting for this to come to market, as well as a bunch of other F-150 owners !!!

 

[Fitzmotor]

I had to push the Bronco to the side for now, it is going to be more difficult to make than the Ranger, it will also require a quick disconnect type of coupler at the transmission, as there is no way the average person would be able to thread the hose onto the trans fitting, even a skilled tech would have trouble.

So I am moving onto F150, which has several different engine options, as well as believe it or not, Explorer ST. Every week I get emails about making dipsticks for other models, lately the Explorer has had the most request, then the new Ranger (both engines) then Mustang, after that the Australian PX model.

I need to clone myself, not enough hours in a day, so many dipsticks, so little time

 

[Grumpaw]

From an idea and a few requests to a full blown business.......WAY TO GO !!!!! Ingenuity at it's best !!!!!

 

[got3fords]

I had to push the Bronco to the side for now, it is going to be more difficult to make than the Ranger, it will also require a quick disconnect type of coupler at the transmission, as there is no way the average person would be able to thread the hose onto the trans fitting, even a skilled tech would have trouble.

So I am moving onto F150, which has several different engine options, as well as believe it or not, Explorer ST. Every week I get emails about making dipsticks for other models, lately the Explorer has had the most request, then the new Ranger (both engines) then Mustang, after that the Australian PX model.

I need to clone myself, not enough hours in a day, so many dipsticks, so little time

Thought about hiring help?

 

[TJC]

The service manual sets the oil just under 6 before a test drive. Are you recommending lower than this?

I followed the Ford procedure found in "307-1 Transmission Fluid Drain and Fill" for my initial fill. Part of the procedure is shown below.

Ford states "when the transmission is cold".

Is that ambient temp, or below 140F? Is it IMMEDIATELY after starting the engine or 5-10 minutes after starting the engine?

It matters! A Lot! I defined "Cold" as 75F air temp with truck sitting at least 8 hours on a flat surface with fluid temp measured at 77.4F before starting the engine.

My measurement when cold means after starting and shifting through the gears at 5 second intervals, then immediately raising the hood and checking the fluid. Literally in 1 minute or less. If you fill to 6 under these conditions you will overfill your transmission.

The fluid rapidly expands with heat. I have stressed this point. It is critical. You are on target at 1/8" up the dipstick for the diamond between 4 and 5 with a fluid temp of 215F, and probably safe at 1/4", but pushing it. Wait 5 minutes and you are squarely in the hash area below 6. Wait 15 minutes and you are at 6. And the fluid is still 65F-75F below normal measurement window.... Does Ford consider the fluid still cold? Only Ford can answer that question.

I can only report what I found. I am completely comfortable with the data that provided. There is enough cushion (due to me targeting the middle of the fluid range at 215F) to allow for a +/- 10F temp variance in cold temps.

My goal was to produce a simple definable repeatable process that works without needing to measure fluid temps. I think I found it... but if you want to be absolutely sure simply add the initial fill, power brake to 215F and top off the fluid to between 4 and 5. Then the next day take a cold measurement like I did and compare the results with my findings.

Since I had installed a PPE deep pan which holds an additional 1.75qt, my initial fill was 6.75 qt instead of 5 qt - 1st Bullet. (I still had to add a significant amount of fluid to reach the tip of the dipstick when cold and added more to reach the target fluid level at 215F.)

This allowed the truck to be started. I then started the truck and filled the the transmission to the area below the cross hatch mark - 2nd Bullet (allowing the truck to be driven).

I then power braked the truck until I reached 215F and filled the transmission to the middle of the diamond between 4 and 5. - 3rd and 4th Bullets

I then recorded the levels on the dipstick as the temperature fell from 215F down to 190F. I stopped work and restarted measurements the next day with the truck still in level position and cold (75F air temp 77.4F fluid temp) initial fluid temp measurement with truck key on, but not running.

I then measured and timed the fluid level immediately after the cold start, then beginning at 120F at 10F increments to 180F, noting the fluid level and the time mark.

This chart and document that I posted is the result of that exercise. If you look closely at the MBS dipstick below and extrapolate the last 2 hash marks below the diamond in section 6, you will find my cold measurement very close (but lower) to the Ford statement in the fill procedure. At 215F I am targeting the center of the fluid range (2 hash marks below the 4).

Even at 205F, (1F degree below the temp measurement window), the fluid level is still well above 5 in the normal range. I intentionally set my level slightly on the low side as it is very easy to overfill the transmission. But the level I chose is still well within the normal fluid range.

I think that if you fill to 6 when cold you will be well over 4 when at 215F. The truck will perform normally (at 190F) until you stress it enough for fluid temps to rise to 215F, then foaming will result. I did just that initially and had fluid puking out my transmission.

You don't want to over or under fill the transmission. Ford isn't real clear on the details.

I hope this makes some sense to you.

 

[TJC]

I had to push the Bronco to the side for now, it is going to be more difficult to make than the Ranger, it will also require a quick disconnect type of coupler at the transmission, as there is no way the average person would be able to thread the hose onto the trans fitting, even a skilled tech would have trouble.

So I am moving onto F150, which has several different engine options, as well as believe it or not, Explorer ST. Every week I get emails about making dipsticks for other models, lately the Explorer has had the most request, then the new Ranger (both engines) then Mustang, after that the Australian PX model.

I need to clone myself, not enough hours in a day, so many dipsticks, so little time

Success has its own set of problems ! Congrats!

 

[TJC]

The service manual sets the oil just under 6 before a test drive. Are you recommending lower than this?

I went back and dug through my notes. Found this passage regarding filling to 6.

_______________________________

Ford then states to "fill between the cross hatch and the 6 to allow the truck to be driven." This is not the final fill. I followed this instruction, filling it to the 6, shifting for 5 seconds through range, checking the fluid level until I reached the 6, then drove the truck 10 miles to warm it up, and came home. I set up my xTools D8, noticed the transmission temp was at 195F. I proceeded to power brake the engine, raising the temps to 215F, and checked my fluid level. It was above the diamond between 3 and 4! I pulled out 12 oz of fluid and checked it again. This time the fluid check came back right on target on the diamond between 4 and 5.

 

[Friday yet?]

I followed the Ford procedure found in "307-1 Transmission Fluid Drain and Fill" for my initial fill. Part of the procedure is shown below.

Ford states "when the transmission is cold".

Is that ambient temp, or below 140F? Is it IMMEDIATELY after starting the engine or 5-10 minutes after starting the engine?

It matters! A Lot! I defined "Cold" as 75F air temp with truck sitting at least 8 hours on a flat surface with fluid temp measured at 77.4F before starting the engine.

My measurement when cold means after starting and shifting through the gears at 5 second intervals, then immediately raising the hood and checking the fluid. Literally in 1 minute or less. If you fill to 6 under these conditions you will overfill your transmission.

The fluid rapidly expands with heat. I have stressed this point. It is critical. You are on target at 1/8" up the dipstick for the diamond between 4 and 5 with a fluid temp of 215F, and probably safe at 1/4", but pushing it. Wait 5 minutes and you are squarely in the hash area below 6. Wait 15 minutes and you are at 6. And the fluid is still 65F-75F below normal measurement window.... Does Ford consider the fluid still cold? Only Ford can answer that question.

I can only report what I found. I am completely comfortable with the data that provided. There is enough cushion (due to me targeting the middle of the fluid range at 215F) to allow for a +/- 10F temp variance in cold temps.

My goal was to produce a simple definable repeatable process that works without needing to measure fluid temps. I think I found it... but if you want to be absolutely sure simply add the initial fill, power brake to 215F and top off the fluid to between 4 and 5. Then the next day take a cold measurement like I did and compare the results with my findings.

Since I had installed a PPE deep pan which holds an additional 1.75qt, my initial fill was 6.75 qt instead of 5 qt - 1st Bullet. (I still had to add a significant amount of fluid to reach the tip of the dipstick when cold and added more to reach the target fluid level at 215F.)

This allowed the truck to be started. I then started the truck and filled the the transmission to the area below the cross hatch mark - 2nd Bullet (allowing the truck to be driven).

I then power braked the truck until I reached 215F and filled the transmission to the middle of the diamond between 4 and 5. - 3rd and 4th Bullets

I then recorded the levels on the dipstick as the temperature fell from 215F down to 190F. I stopped work and restarted measurements the next day with the truck still in level position and cold (75F air temp 77.4F fluid temp) initial fluid temp measurement with truck key on, but not running.

I then measured and timed the fluid level immediately after the cold start, then beginning at 120F at 10F increments to 180F, noting the fluid level and the time mark.

This chart and document that I posted is the result of that exercise. If you look closely at the MBS dipstick below and extrapolate the last 2 hash marks below the diamond in section 6, you will find my cold measurement very close (but lower) to the Ford statement in the fill procedure. At 215F I am targeting the center of the fluid range (2 hash marks below the 4).

Even at 205F, (1F degree below the temp measurement window), the fluid level is still well above 5 in the normal range. I intentionally set my level slightly on the low side as it is very easy to overfill the transmission. But the level I chose is still well within the normal fluid range.

I think that if you fill to 6 when cold you will be well over 4 when at 215F. The truck will perform normally (at 190F) until you stress it enough for fluid temps to rise to 215F, then foaming will result. I did just that initially and had fluid puking out my transmission.

You don't want to over or under fill the transmission. Ford isn't real clear on the details.

I hope this makes some sense to you.

This is why I hardly ever use my Fitzstick and have yet to do anything with transmission fluid. Wow.

remember when checking trans fluid use to be easy?!?! Never needed to get out your slide rule, abacus, nor rubber chicken.

Dang Ford come on.

 

[TJC]

This is why I hardly ever use my Fitzstick and have yet to do anything with transmission fluid. Wow.

remember when checking trans fluid use to be easy?!?! Never needed to get out your slide rule, abacus, nor rubber chicken.

Dang Ford come on.

I think I found a way to make it very easy. And I'll repeat the process one more time.

If you are changing your fluid for the first time park your truck on level ground. Let it sit overnight, 2 nights is even better as you'll get far more fluid out. You want to pull the fluid out cold.

Capture what you take out with 1 gallon jugs marked at quart increments with a sharpie. Use a $15 dollar transfer pump from Amazon. Put the inlet hose down the Fitzstick tube, and the outlet hose in the jug. Start the pump and stop it when you get 4 quarts. It will take a few minutes, be patient. Replace the full jug with a 2nd marked jug, and repeat. If you wait one night you'll get ~5 quarts, if you wait 2 nights you'll get ~7.5 quarts.

Fill with the amount you took out (Add LubeGard Platinum).

The easiest way to insure your fluid level is correct it to simply park your truck overnight on a flat level surface, start it the next morning, shift it through the gears - Park to sport and back to Park at 5 second intervals, then immediately hop out and check the level. It should just be showing on the tip of the dipstick, up to 1/8". If you are not seeing it you are under filled. Add a little at a time until you see the fluid on the tip of the dipstick. Don't take too long as the fluid will quickly expand.

You are done. Very easy to do.

When the fluid level reads 1/8" up the dipstick when following this procedure it will be on the diamond between 4 and 5 at 215F.

Tips

1. Install a Fitzstick and use his funnel.
2. Purchase this $15.99 transfer pump from Amazon
3. The inlet hose is the smaller diameter hose. Use the hose clamps to secure the hose to the pump ports.
4. Add a brass fitting from your local hardware store to the end of the outlet hose to add weight insuring it stays in the jug.
5. Make sure you fully insert the inlet hose to the bottom of the pan. It may hang on the fitting at the transmission when inserting it. I cut the end at a 45 degree angle to aid in insertion.
6. I sit the pump on the engine cover ~1' from the dipstick tube.

I have followed the above procedure multiple times (4 times) with great success. It has proven to be accurate. I never spill a drop of the old or new fluid. Takes between 30 and 45 minutes to complete the job.

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