'21 10r80 underfilled from factory?

[FaaWrenchBndr]

All you need is a welding glove.

yeah, that’s possible but for me I can’t work in them damn bulky sons of bitches. And I’ve welded on an offer for 40 years so I have a couple different pair of these Kevlar sleeves.

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[FaaWrenchBndr]

Here's what I don't get: If the transmission has been properly filled, run thru all of the gears and otherwise ensured the bubbles have been chased out, why the specific, onerous procedure? We know the thermal expansion coefficient of the Ford ULV fluid. If the transmission has been properly vented, we know what a cold or hot level reading will be. Not an issue that it has to be running when checked. So why the big deal?

Dunno…..ask the engineers that wrote the service manual

 

[Gros Ventre]

all I’m saying is people need to read the damn service manual. That just a tiny amount of common sense can get the job done fairly easily.

Hey there are those of us like you that are used to following specific procedures for maintenance. In my case it was the world of nuclear submarines, in your case the FAA Maintenance requirements. But there are those out there who didn't grow up that way, God bless them and keep them safe.

 

[Gros Ventre]

Dunno…..ask the engineers that wrote the service manual

Sometimes such procedures are written more to ensure work is done by dealers than by the rest of the world. The central issue is if the transmission has been properly vented, all passages filled, and the proper volume of fluid was installed, we can tell the level accurately regardless of oil temperature. If perhaps the engine running makes a difference, which it can, then specify that. Having the engine running would ensure that any passages above the fill & level port that might drain out if the engine were off. But then a long level dipstick tube, as the old world transmissions had, could ensure such drain-back could be corralled. My take? They are trying to ensure that the owner-driver is as ignorant of the hidden mechanisms of their great sidereal machine... Just drive it, if you get a light, take it in to your dealer... And don't mess with us Ford guys by knowing too much about your truck.

 

[Snakebitten]

Porsche removed the dipstick for the oil sump on their flat-6 about 20 years ago. I learned quickly, from a forum, NOT to add oil if the digital dipstick on the instrument panel showed the oil level down a notch or two. Especially if the car hadn't sat overnight when you get the reading.

Basically you need to turn the key to accessory position and wait a few seconds for the reading. If the car hadn't ran for a few hours, then you could consider the reading legitimate. If the car was warm and had been driven, there would be less oil in the sump and the reading wasn't trustworthy.

So..... The 10r80 fluid check procedure.

I'm sure Ford could explain that there are reasons that the fluid level check isn't accurate or consistent unless the engine is running and the transmission fluid has reached a specific temperature range. As far it needing to be level, that's not confusing, is it?

I suspect that there would be an inconsistent level reading in the fluid sump if the thermostat wasn't yet open and all coolant passages haven't been put into a predetermined state.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Sometimes such procedures are written more to ensure work is done by dealers than by the rest of the world. The central issue is if the transmission has been properly vented, all passages filled, and the proper volume of fluid was installed, we can tell the level accurately regardless of oil temperature. If perhaps the engine running makes a difference, which it can, then specify that. Having the engine running would ensure that any passages above the fill & level port that might drain out if the engine were off. But then a long level dipstick tube, as the old world transmissions had, could ensure such drain-back could be corralled. My take? They are trying to ensure that the owner-driver is as ignorant of the hidden mechanisms of their great sidereal machine... Just drive it, if you get a light, take it in to your dealer... And don't mess with us Ford guys by knowing too much about your truck.

sure, I’ll agree with that yeah. The dealership is trying to make it harder for the average guy to do what should be a minor service.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Porsche removed the dipstick for the oil sump on their flat-6 about 20 years ago. I learned quickly, from a forum, NOT to add oil if the digital dipstick on the instrument panel showed the oil level down a notch or two. Especially if the car hadn't sat overnight when you get the reading.

Basically you need to turn the key to accessory position and wait a few seconds for the reading. If the car hadn't ran for a few hours, then you could consider the reading legitimate. If the car was warm and had been driven, there would be less oil in the sump and the reading wasn't trustworthy.

So..... The 10r80 fluid check procedure.

I'm sure Ford could explain that there are reasons that the fluid level check isn't accurate or consistent unless the engine is running and the transmission fluid has reached a specific temperature range. As far it needing to be level, that's not confusing, is it?

I suspect that there would be an inconsistent level reading in the fluid sump if the thermostat wasn't yet open and all coolant passages haven't been put into a predetermined state.

you make a lot of sense.

And it’s really not as hard as some people make it out to be

 

[Gros Ventre]

Porsche removed the dipstick for the oil sump on their flat-6 about 20 years ago. I learned quickly, from a forum, NOT to add oil if the digital dipstick on the instrument panel showed the oil level down a notch or two. Especially if the car hadn't sat overnight when you get the reading.

Basically you need to turn the key to accessory position and wait a few seconds for the reading. If the car hadn't ran for a few hours, then you could consider the reading legitimate. If the car was warm and had been driven, there would be less oil in the sump and the reading wasn't trustworthy.

So..... The 10r80 fluid check procedure.

I'm sure Ford could explain that there are reasons that the fluid level check isn't accurate or consistent unless the engine is running and the transmission fluid has reached a specific temperature range. As far it needing to be level, that's not confusing, is it?

I suspect that there would be an inconsistent level reading in the fluid sump if the thermostat wasn't yet open and all coolant passages haven't been put into a predetermined state.

By golly... I'm glad there's such a knowledgeable kind of guy around to illuminate things for us serfs.

 

[Snakebitten]

I never intended to even imply such a thing.

Edit: ?
It's all good. ?

 

[Sojourner]

And it’s really not as hard as some people make it out to be

Unless, of course, you're an old and very beat guy like me who still loves working on his vehicles but has difficulty dealing with stupid design choices like this knob trans dip stick.

("Dip stick" and "knob" being what I call Ford (and other manufacturers) who do this to us.)

 

[Gros Ventre]

Unless, of course, you're an old and very beat guy like me who still loves working on his vehicles but has difficulty dealing with stupid design choices like this knob trans dip stick.

("Dip stick" and "knob" being what I call Ford (and other manufacturers) who do this to us.)

It has been said by a few historians, that one reason we won WW II was that joe average shade-tree mechanic could make their jeep, 6x6 truck or tank run way out in the field. In contrast in the German army they didn't have that kind of knowledge and had to send non-running vehicles back to the shop. I began doing nearly all maintenance on my vehicles in the 60s. I made a 92 family Suburban go 30 years. I kinda like understanding things about my truck. ...And you know, a minor shaft seal leak can blossom into a transmission lunching itself if you cannot catch it early. Let's see now... one drop per mile across 150,000 miles means you've lost how much transmission fluid? By my rough calculation that would be about 2 gallons of transmission fluid lost by the time you brought it in for a scheduled transmission service. So would a Ford dealer actually check transmission fluid level before that specified service? W-e-l-l, maybe...

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Unless, of course, you're an old and very beat guy like me who still loves working on his vehicles but has difficulty dealing with stupid design choices like this knob trans dip stick.

("Dip stick" and "knob" being what I call Ford (and other manufacturers) who do this to us.)

Oh, I feel your pain.
Neck, fusion, back fusion, as well as some other degenerative disc disease & arthritis getting old ain’t for pussies

 

[Sojourner]

Oh, I feel your pain.
Neck, fusion, back fusion, as well as some other degenerative disc disease & arthritis getting old ain’t for pussies

I see you read my medical records.... You forgot to include my knees, though!

 

[d0nkey]

Porsche removed the dipstick for the oil sump on their flat-6 about 20 years ago. I learned quickly, from a forum, NOT to add oil if the digital dipstick on the instrument panel showed the oil level down a notch or two. Especially if the car hadn't sat overnight when you get the reading.

Basically you need to turn the key to accessory position and wait a few seconds for the reading. If the car hadn't ran for a few hours, then you could consider the reading legitimate. If the car was warm and had been driven, there would be less oil in the sump and the reading wasn't trustworthy.

So..... The 10r80 fluid check procedure.

I'm sure Ford could explain that there are reasons that the fluid level check isn't accurate or consistent unless the engine is running and the transmission fluid has reached a specific temperature range. As far it needing to be level, that's not confusing, is it?

I suspect that there would be an inconsistent level reading in the fluid sump if the thermostat wasn't yet open and all coolant passages haven't been put into a predetermined state.

Speaking of Porsche. I was just discussing with my buddies it was a little easier in filling and measuring in my 971 4s. But that being said, the F150 wasn't really difficult at all either, just was surprised how low the fluid was at operating temp.

The only annoying part was sticking my hand in the devils anus to do a couple of readings on the dipstick to make sure I was getting consistent results. My next plan is in 30k miles and will just do a drain and refill this time around. Perhaps a cold method will work this time, I checked the dipstick the next day when it was room temp and the fluid was between 3-4. So I imagine that will bring the 10r80 to 5-6 when at full operating temp.

 

[JohnTrigger]

For those who don’t want to use bulky welding glove, these below work great. Tip: loosen then finger tighten the dipstick cover bolt (aka fluid add hole, or the suck some of the fluid out hole since they didn’t put a drain plug in the pan) before getting the vehicle hot. Checking fluid is not that hard, but yes it is harder than it should be.

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