Many car owners often wonder whether you can add the transmission fluid where the dipstick is located on the F150 or not.
You do add transmission fluid where the dipstick is. If your F150 car has it, you just need to remove the dipstick and fill the fluid on the tube. But for those cars with no dipstick, just add it by locating the check fill plug that hides the tube of transmission fluid.
In this guide, I’ll share the proper details so you can understand if you add transmission fluid on the spot where the dipstick is or not. Let’s Get into It!
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You Do Add Transmission Fluid Where the Dipstick Is on Some F150s But Not All!
When you are changing your transmission on the Ford F150, you’ll probably need to end it by adding the fluid. But, it’s relatively hard to acknowledge where to add the transmission fluid on the F150. Let me share if you added the fluid on the dipstick location or not below:
1. In Older Vehicles with a Dipstick
The older F150 cars (made from 1997 – 2005 or prior) have automatic transmissions that come with a dipstick. In those cars, you can add transmission fluid through the dipstick hole.
To be clear, it’s the dipstick tube where you must fill the transmission fluid to juice up the parts. And, the location of the tube is where the dipstick is.
If you are new to it, the spot is under the hood near the engine bay housing. You can locate it as the dipstick is yellow in shade and contains a loop or ring on it.
Once you read the spot, remove the dipstick and voilà the spot where you can fill the tank easily.
Pro Tip: Ensure to use a transmission fluid funnel when you are planning to add transmission fluid to avoid mess or leakage.
2. In Newer Vehicles with a Dipstick
Most newer F150 cars and trucks made between 2010 and 2020 don’t have a regular dipstick to check their transmission fluid. And, this change can make it difficult for owners to see how much fluid is in there or add more if needed.
But, the dipstick is still there, even if it’s a bit hidden under the car near the transmission housing. You can check transmission fluid in this hidden spot after taking out the dipstick.
To do that, you just need a 19mm socket wrench to remove the dipstick, which looks like a big bolt. Then, this will give you access to the spot (transmission fluid tube) where you can pour in more fluid.
If you can’t find it, it would be best if you just take your F150 vehicle to a professional garage for transmission service.
Note: If you are clueless about how much transmission fluid to add if the tank is empty, read here now.
3. In Sealed-for-Life Transmissions with No Dipstick
Some of the latest F150 cars come with lifelong sealed transmissions, meaning they don’t have a dipstick and the transmission fluid should last for a long period.
However, in some cases, you may need to check or refill the transmission fluid via the manufacturer or take your car to the Ford service center according to the WikiHow team.
Breaking this seal to add fluid often requires you to purchase a special dipstick made for this purpose. If you don’t have a dipstick, adding fluid through that dipstick won’t be an option.
In that case, you might need to consider finding the hidden check fill plug under the hood which is mostly on the ground (behind the air intake filter housing). This is a more involved process but allows you to replace a larger portion of the fluid through the fill plug.
Pro Tip: If your car has a sealed-for-life transmission, then learn here exactly how to add transmission fluid without a dipstick.
Ending Notes
You do add transmission fluid where the dipstick is as the tube itself is located under it. However, this may not be for all F150 cars as some don’t have a dipstick to begin with.
In that case, the ideal thing to follow is the advice of the maker and reach out to the service center to get it checked or refilled if needed.
And, I hope you find this guide beneficial and can find the needed details. Have A Wonderful Day Ahead!
Want to know whether you should keep the car running when adding transmission fluid or not? Find out the basics by starting to read here!
