F150 Transmission Service?

[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.