ok my service mgr pulled up on his comp from Ford the amount of problems between the 4.6 and 5.4 the 5.4 had an average of 54% return rate for problems mostly oil leaks and injector problems compared to only 13% on the 4.6.
He also told me that for 2002 F150's they will no lnger have a tranny dipstick you will have to take it to a dealer who will put a thermometer into the check hole and wait till it gets to 100 deg then check with a special stick. Why do they have to screw with a good thing ???

 

For the 2002 model year they will be using a new trans and a synthetic trans fluid. The fluid only needs to be serviced once in 150,000 miles according to ford. No dipstick means no place to loose fluid thru evaporation.

 

Stupid Idea... I saw a Lincoln LS with no dipstick. OK, fine it a car. But you tow and offroad with a truck What happens when you get the fluid real good and hot but can't change it? I think they are trying to save themselves 50 cents on a dipstick.

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2001 Ford F150 Supercab 4.6L
Airlift Rear Suspention with onboard compressor

 

The removal of a dipstick may also have something to do with people who don't know the proper way to check your tranny fluid level. It doesn't take too much extra fluid to torch a tranny. Think along the lines of Ford installing an idiot light style oil pressure gauge in their vehicles so they didn't have to explain over and over that the gauge fluctuating a bit was normal. Just a thought...

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1997 F150 XLT, Flareside , Moonlight Blue, 4x2, SC, Auto, 4.6L, 3:08's, Cargo Cover by Century, Penda bed liner, Blue Oval reciever hitch plug, Driver Design bug deflector, Monroe Reflex Shocks, 235/70/16 Firestone Wilderness AT's, sliding rear window, captain's chairs, Valvoline Durablend Oil, Purolator Pure One Oil Filter, 280 lbs. of traction sand (ahh, winter in the great white north! ), and 119,000 miles and counting!

[This message has been edited by gopher (edited 05-08-2001).]

 

Mercon V they're using now is a synthetic fluid.Transmissions still have to be ventilated, if not, your going to blow the seals. I think what they're trying to do is make them "maintence free" Which is never going to happen-- only to make it a B**ch to service later!! Just my oppinion.
JJ

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2000 F150 XLT,Reg.Cab,LB,4.6,4R70W,3.55 F/D,Island Blue/Silver,Med.Graphite Int.,Keyless Entry,SRW,O/H console,All Pwr,CC,Ford soft Bed Cover,Sport Steps,Tow Pkg.,CD player,Prem.Cast Wheels

 

Oh come on guys! It's not that big of a deal. Ever looked at a manual tranny? No dipstick. Just a couple of drain and fill holes.

54% of 5.4's come in with either oil leaks or injector problems? I find that hard to believe. What time frame are we talking about? 3/36?

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2000 F150 XLT 4x4 Short Bed. Amazon Green, 5.4L, SuperCab, ORP, Tow Package, Sliding Rear Window, Electronic Shift, Keyless Entry, LT265-70-17 Tires, Clarion Pro Audio, Herculiner Bedliner, Air Silencer Removed.

1994 SVT Mustang Cobra. #1032 of 6009. Black coupe with black leather int., 3.73 rear, Bassani Exhaust, Aluminum D/S, Bridgestone RE-71 255-45-ZR17

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