Check the automatic transmission fluid level Ford F150
1. The automatic transmission fluid level should be carefully maintained. Low fluid level can lead to slipping or loss of drive, while overfilling can cause foaming and loss of fluid. Either condition can cause transmission damage.
2. Since transmission fluid expands as it heats up, the fluid level should be checked when the transmission is warm (at normal operating temperature). If the vehicle has just been driven over 20 miles (32 km), the transmission can be considered warm. Allow the transmission to cool down for about 30 minutes. You can also check the transmission fluid level when the transmission is cold. If the vehicle has not been driven for over five hours and the fluid is about room temperature (70 to 95-degrees F), the transmission is cold. However, the fluid level is normally checked with the transmission warm to ensure accurate results.
Note: If the vehicle has just been driven for a long time at high speed or in city traffic in hot weather, or if it has been pulling a trailer, an accurate fluid level reading cannot be obtained.
3. Immediately after driving the vehicle, park it on a level surface, set the parking brake and start the engine. While the engine is idling, depress the brake pedal and move the selector lever through all the gear ranges, pausing for 5 seconds in between, beginning and ending in Park.
4. Working under the vehicle, remove the engine rear splash shield (see Change the engine oil and oil filter).
Remove the transmission check/fill plug…
… then pull the transmission dipstick (1) out of the plug (2)
5. Remove the transmission check/fill plug from the right side of the transmission, then remove the dipstick from the plug.
6. With the engine still idling, wipe off the dipstick with a clean rag. Push the dipstick all the way into the plug opening until it seats completely, then withdraw it again and note the fluid level.
The transmission dipstick has two areas for checking the fluid level- a crosshatched area (1) and a dotted area (2).
It is recommended to use the dotted area when checking the transmission fluid level, with the engine idling and the transmission at normal operating temperature.
7. If the transmission is cold, the level should be in the «cross-hatched» (1) range on the dipstick. If it’s warm to hot, the fluid level should be in the «dotted» (2) range. If the level is low, add the specified type of automatic transmission fluid through the fill plug opening. A hand pump, squeeze bottle or similar tool will be necessary to accomplish this.
8. Add just enough of the recommended fluid to fill the transmission to the proper level (near the top of the dotted area). It takes about one pint to raise the level from the low mark to the high mark when the fluid is hot, so add the fluid a little at a time and keep checking the level until it’s correct. Also, be sure to shift through all the gears (as mentioned above) between fluid additions and checking the level.
9. Turn the engine off, install the transmission dipstick and plug, then tighten the plug securely.
10. The condition of the fluid should also be checked along with the level. If the fluid is black or a dark reddish-brown color, or if it smells burned, it should be changed (see Change the automatic transmission fluid and filter). If you are in doubt about its condition, purchase some new fluid and compare the two for color and smell.