Installing a dipstick on a Ford 5R55S

[Falcon_LS]

With almost 21,000 miles on my '10 Explorer, I plan on changing the ATF and PSF soon. It's a bit earlier than scheduled in the maintenance booklet, but it's a "I sleep better at night" thing.

Now I don't have a transmission dipstick, and I'm not too impressed with this "filled for life" stuff. A transmission fluid change is listed in the booklet at 30,000 miles, but there's no bloody dipstick and it will get messy.

I'm just wondering if the dipstick hole on the unit is sealed with a rubber covering that I can remove and install a dipstick from a previous model year. I haven't checked yet, but was wondering if anyone had done this before? Thanks!

 

[bdcardinal]

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/item...an-Dipstick-Kit

Looks like they make a kit for Mustangs.

 

[TallPaul]

Nice setup with the new pan, but costly. I wonder did Ford eliminate the dip stick to save money?

What is needed now is a spin on filter/screen and a quick flush valve in the line for the do-it-yourselfer.

 

[threeputtpar]

Your best bet is to use one of the cooler lines to pump the fluid out of the trans and use a fluid transfer pump with a 1/4" NPT fitting in the end of the clear tubing to thread into the center of the fill/check tube. The pump will stop fluid from coming back out of the check plug, so you can pump a bunch up into the trans each time. This is what I did for the Mountaineer, and I used gallon jugs of MaxLife. Don't know if you have MaxLife avaliable to you, but the gallon jugs made it easier than single quarts.

I think it would pump out 3-4 quarts each time, depending on how much I pumped into the pan. I'd refill and do it again a total of three times, since the capacity was just under 12 quarts.

 

[Black_Thunder]

is there actually a plug that can be removed to fill it?

my parents have an 05 Explorer and i need to do a filter change etc on it soon.

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: TallPaul
I wonder did Ford eliminate the dip stick to save money?
Manufacturers will redesign a part to save 6 cents, so I would guess eliminating a dipstick and tube would save money. It also drives the sheep to the dealer to increase their revenue.