Transmission Oil Change Tech Manual Error

[Gros Ventre]

I have gone around the block with Ford over a noise occuring when the ambient temperature gets low. Specifically a noise would occur on start up until the transmission had warmed enough, something like 4-10 minutes. I believe the cause has now been found. Turns out that when changing transmission oil & filter, oil also empties the lines to the oil cooler in the front of the engine compartment. Effectively draining 6 1/2 quarts of transmission oil instead of just the expected 5 quarts in the pan. Thus when refilling the transmission after a drain & filter change, 6 1/2 quarts of ULV is needed, not 5 quarts as specified in the Ford Tech Manual Procedure. It is notable that this only shows up as the noise of an oil starved bearing or pump when oil is cold soaked. Initially this happened to me around 15ºF and this morning at around 35ºF after another oil & filter change. I've had the oil & filter changed twice now and in each case the fix was to add about 1 1/2 quarts of transmission (ULV) oil subsequent to the 5 quarts called for in the Ford Shop Manual. For you Ford folks that monitor this site: You have an error in your tech manual procedures. It appears that it is unique to the PowerBoost F-150. This error should be immediately changed.

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[Gros Ventre]

I am surprised that the Ford folks who monitor this site haven't contacted me...

 

[Snakebitten]

You have been changing your transmission fluid already? And multiple times?

And what cooler is mounted in the front of the engine compartment? I'm used to the 3.5 Ecoboost layout of the motor and 10r80 transmission. Wasn't aware of a front mounted cooler

 

[Gros Ventre]

Yes, The tech pulled up the parts diagram... There's a cooler up front with a supply & return line from the transmission.

 

[Snakebitten]

I'm just surprised because the transmission cooler on the 10r80 was mounted right under and in front of the bell housing and the lines from the cooler that went to the front of the truck was engine coolant lines.

The 10r80 MHT (Powerboost version) has the transmission cooler mounted directly on the side of the transmission. So I assumed the lines going from there to the front of the truck were engine coolant to<>radiator.

 

[Snakebitten]

I still believe that Ford describes those lines as coolant lines for the 10r80 MHT, similar to the regular 10r80.

 

[Gros Ventre]

The heat exchanger mounted on the transmission is an exhaust type used to rapidly warm the transmission oil as this transmission appears very sensitive to viscosity. The lines shown me in the dealership were cooler lines with a temperature actived bypass valve and carrying transmission oil. The issue I've now faced twice was, if the tech followed the procedure and added 5 quarts, how did it end up a quart and half low? No evidence of leakage or other oil loss. So-o-o the cooler lines draining provides a good explanation... We'll see if those Ford guys reading this site respond... They should be quite interested in this.

 

[Snakebitten]

I agree that if the coolant lines have transmission fluid in them rather than engine coolant that there could be a discrepancy in the called for quantity of transmission fluid when draining and refilling. But if that's true, that those lines are transmission coolant instead of engine coolant, then there's even more serious discrepancies in the service documents.

Having said all that, I still think that a professional technician would check the transmission fluid to make sure it is at the proper level, regardless of how much was called for. Even when you change engine oil, a professional doesn't just assume, but rather checks the dipstick. Admittedly the 10r80 dipstick isn't any fun to get to for the average truck owner, but that's what the technician does for a living.
In his defense it takes a long time to get the 10r80 MHT up to normal operating temperature so that he can get an accurate reading on the dipstick. Can take more than 10 miles of driving the truck if it is a coldstart.

 

[Snakebitten]

The heat exchanger mounted on the transmission is an exhaust type used to rapidly warm the transmission oil.....

I apologize for not understanding what this is? Exhaust type heat exchanger?
The Powerboost does indeed have an exhaust heat exchanger, exclusively, but that's for cabin heat in coldstart conditions.

 

[Gros Ventre]

The tech did check level and by the procedure... but if that line was empty, it could take a bit to refill. At one point I was distant and had another dealer service it. The service manager described an extensive procedure, on top of the normal one, to ensure the level was correct. His tech had added 1 & a half quarts... EG there was a bubble somewhere that he refilled...

 

[Snakebitten]

It's true that the procedure for checking the transmission fluid level on the Powerboost is tedious. Fluid is supposed to be between 205-215F. You would have to drive the truck to get it to that temp. Especially a Powerboost because it doesn't exactly idle.

Then you have to put the truck into "maintenance mode" so the internal combustion engine will NOT stop running while in park.

Then you pull the dipstick out and Ford calls for the fluid to be at a very narrow range on the stick. Easily can be overfilled/underfilled. And there's some evidence from threads on the forum that there are trucks having shifting/noise complaints and the dealership is discovering them underfilled from the factory.

The Powerboost is such an amazing truck package. I really really enjoy mine. But the complexity and technology involved is a bit intimidating.

 

[Snakebitten]

I just read the procedure for draining the pan and filter and the official Ford documentation does not say that 5qts is all that is necessary. It DOES say the initial refill is 5 quarts and that allows the motor to be started.
Then check the dipstick to verify it is at least to a certain mark that then allows the truck to be driven.
Drive the truck until the fluid reaches 205F.

Then use the dipstick to bring the level up to recommended level.

I do not believe those lines from the transmission to the radiator have transmission fluid in them. They are engine coolant.
I do not believe they are drained when the transmission is drained.
I DO believe that more than 5quarts of transmission fluid is drained from the transmission during a drain and filter exchange.
And the air purge is mentioned in the procedure, as well as the need for additional fluid. And I bet you are right about it being ~1.5 additional quarts.

 

[Gros Ventre]

You have not yet explained how, having driven the truck , brought it up to temp, and then checking the fluid level, that the next morning the transmission is one & a half quarts low. This is not fine tuning a close level, it is a gross error somewhere... that represents an error in the Ford Procedure. Your assertion of engine coolant versus oil is just wrong. Don't know what you're looking at, but it does not match the diagrams shown to me.

 

[Snakebitten]

I posted above what Ford published in the Service Manual. It states it is a coolant line.

I'm not a technician. I'm just an old man with too much time on his hands sometimes at night and thought I'd reply with what I found.

Didn't mean to draw any ire.
Sorry

 

[RossRR]

I posted above what Ford published in the Service Manual. It states it is a coolant line.

I'm not a technician. I'm just an old man with too much time on his hands sometimes at night and thought I'd reply with what I found.

Didn't mean to draw any ire.
Sorry

I wonder if tech at local Ford have been trained in this procedure...it is indeed a quite complex and time consuming procedure. Thanks for posting the refill procedure here, I've captured it for future reference.

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