F150 Transmission Service?

[Paystar]

So, I'm having a hard time with this decision. I have a 2020 F150 XLT, 5.0, 10 speed. I just hit 65,000 miles. I made an appointment at my Ford dealer to have the transmission serviced, transfer case and diff oils.
But then I go and read so many horror stories from people after they had these 10 speeds serviced?
And then think about ALL of my past dealer experiences where I usually come home with more issues than I went in with.

Should I do it?? My 10 speed has been flawless. Shifts perfect, no issues. Whole truck has been perfect. And I plan on keeping this truck until it turns to dust.

What's everyone think? Do it or leave it alone?

 

[tacticalturnip]

That's really tough, because I'd typically say get it serviced and keep up on it through the years; but that 10 speed seems finnicky.

 

[dadohead]

I'm keeping my truck too. Just had my '17 serviced at 60k (fluid/filter).... it has the 6 speed though. No issues. The shop I use said to service at 50-70k (50k if I tow). IMHO, the manufacturers push the services out to make the cost of ownership numbers look better.

I'd do the service on a 10 sp. I struggled with doing just the fluid/filter vs an entire flush (which gets everything drained including the torque converter).

 

[Paystar]

That is the other thing. I think they just do the quick flush, I don't think they drain the torque converter? Which really, without draining the converter is kinda pointless.
I used to do stuff like this myself, but I'm not touching this new stuff that don't even have a dipstick, LOL

I heard lots of horror stories about dealers not getting the right level put back in and then they slam down to first gear at highway speeds.

 

[dadohead]

I didn't use a dealer. My guy said the fluid looked good coming out and didn't give any indications of a problem. I might have gone full flush if it did... or if I towed a lot.

 

[Cycledude]

I have 2022 f150 2.7 with 10 speed, so far it has been shifting perfectly. I very rarely tow anything. Been taking it to the dealer I bought it from for service. When the time comes for transmission service guess I will let them do whatever is supposed to get done. They do seem to be pretty reliable that’s one of the reasons I bought from them.

 

[dodge man]

My son drives a 5.0 F150 with a 10 speed. He was getting a check engine light and they changed the transmission fluid and it was burnt. His truck has about 75,000 miles on it. They more or less said the transmission is toast, it’s probably a matter of time. Changing the fluid had nothing to do with the problem though.

 

[Paystar]

I've seen lots of horror stories about the 10 speed, but mine has been flawless. It shifts perfect. But I don't do any "city driving" and stop and go.
My truck pretty much does a 4 hour run on the highway weekly and tows 5500 pound and under tractors.

I just want to keep it maintained because there is no way I'm paying today's prices to replace it. It has more than doubled in price to replace it since 2020.

 

[Hay Dude]

Many heavy truck techs will tell you to leave it alone unless its starting to smell burnt, but if theres no dipstick on the Ford, what can you do?

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Ouch. The six-speed that originally had some programming problems (violent downshifting) eventually was resolved through software updates and now mainly messed up because of the torque converters shelling from contamination so I suggest servicing them at 120K and every 60K after. The 10R80 trans is too new for me so make certain you've had every Ford TSB done whether in or out of warranty.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Many heavy truck techs will tell you to leave it alone unless its starting to smell burnt, but if theres no dipstick on the Ford, what can you do?

Nobody has dipsticks anymore. We all have fun, silly-looking tools to fill transmissions with a variety of J-j-hook adaptors.

 

[Paystar]

Nobody has dipsticks anymore. We all have fun, silly-looking tools to fill transmissions with a variety of J-j-hook adaptors.

Ya, they really don't want you working on them any more. They want you to bring it to a dealer.
I guess I'll take the gamble and let my dealer do it. At least I still have two years of extended powertrain warranty if they screw up.

 

[JeepHead]

So my co-worker has a 2020 F150 with the 10 speed. He was having some transmission issues and talked to my brother about it who always services his vehicle for him. My Brother is the director over the motor pool here at the university where he manages 100's of our fleet vehicles, almost all of the craft service vehicles are Ford trucks. He told my coworker that a flush would definitely help his truck so he brought the truck to my brother and he performed that service. The transmission has been operating perfectly now for several months. I spoke to my brother about that truck and he said those 10 speeds need regular flushes to keep performing well. I trust a guy who has a fleet the size that he does of these trucks.

 

[Gem99ultra]

So, I'm having a hard time with this decision. I have a 2020 F150 XLT, 5.0, 10 speed. I just hit 65,000 miles. I made an appointment at my Ford dealer to have the transmission serviced, transfer case and diff oils.
But then I go and read so many horror stories from people after they had these 10 speeds serviced?
And then think about ALL of my past dealer experiences where I usually come home with more issues than I went in with.

Should I do it?? My 10 speed has been flawless. Shifts perfect, no issues. Whole truck has been perfect. And I plan on keeping this truck until it turns to dust.

What's everyone think? Do it or leave it alone?

The Ford F150 2019-2020's are notorious for having a sizable number of transmission failures. My son went through exatly that with his 2019 right from the start. After 7 trips to the dealer for 're-programming', fluid changes, etc. he finally traded in on a 2023, passing the consistent problem on. My simple advice for that model of truck - If it ain't broke, don't mess with it. You likely have one of the 'good ones'.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

I have been contemplating getting a 5.L >22 F150. My non turbo 3.5 grunts too much towing my 2000# boat. I'm undecided though. I am not a devout Ford, Chevrolet or whomever fan but I look at recent issues and how the dealer handles them. That knocks out Chevy for me. I know every manufacturer has their issues. However I cannot bring myself to choose one that doesn't have integrity to own their issues and make it right by the customer.

I had heard years ago if you haven't changed the filters/flushed the tranny out after 100-120K miles your better off not doing it. Meaning do it early. Not sure what the manual suggests on these but I'd go with that.

 

[duffer]

I have 2020 F150. 44k miles. I did a tranny fluid change and diff oil change a month or so ago myself.
Contrary to popular opinion, there IS a dipstick for the 10 speed. It's in the fill port. But you have to get under the truck to access it.

I didn't do a full "flush" but replaced the tranny fluid with about a ½ quart more than what drained out without it running. Drained fluid didn't look horrible, but glad I changed it.

I can tell a slight difference (for the better) in shifting. Have had no problems before or after the fluid change. If you do your own (it's easy), be sure to use the Mercon ULV (not just LV) fluid. Rock Auto has the best price. There are also a few YT videos on how to do it yourself.

The rear diff doesn't hold much gear oil. Only about ¾ of a quart. So I will be changing that every 20k miles from now on. Also a piece of cake to do.

 

[Paystar]

Well here's a summary of my dealers in sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Called Highland Ford first thing this morning, the one I have appointment made with for tomorrow. Woman at front desk said service manager was busy so she took my number. No call back at all.

So I called Maitland Ford because I was going to ask what all they do for the trans service. The service manager took my name and number and as she was talking the phone line disconnected and she hung up on me. Figuring she just took my number, I'd let her call back instead of me going through the front desk and trying to ask who I was just talking to.
No call back.
So guess I won't go to either one of them. Welcome to the Sault. Every dealer from auto's, class 8 trucks, atv's and tractors gives the same great service. No wonder I usually drive 4 hours away to Sudbury for everything.

 

[Snobdds]

Don't flush it. Just have them drop the pan, put in a new filter, and refill.

It's the flush that kills the tranny, not the fluid replacement.

 

[Hay Dude]

Don't flush it. Just have them drop the pan, put in a new filter, and refill.

It's the flush that kills the tranny, not the fluid replacement.

I tend to agree. Whatever small amount of contaminants remain from not doing flush are greatly diluted with new fluid and the new filter will catch them.
As I have said in other threads, there’s a guy who gets his heavy truck repaired at the same place I do.
He has a heavy truck with an allison auto with 900,000 miles on it with the original fluid.
And you guys are worried about flush & refill with 50,000 miles? I wouldn’t suggest going past what your manual says, but don’t worry so much.
Its a way for Ford to sell you more service and fluids. There’s a lot of money for them to make in service after the sale.

 

[RustyA]

On my 2022 powerboost F-150 the exhaust/heat exchanger is routed under the transmission pan in such a way pan won't come down without exhaust removal. So fluid change options are flush or extract pan fluid through fill port/mini dipstick on passenger side. Two independent repair facilities said they don't have correct cooling line connectors to hook up flush machine. I'll be reaching out to local Ford dealer and if not extracting fluid through fill port for my 60k service. My 9.75 rear diff holds 2.75 qt according to manual by the way.