2018 fusion trans Question

[Saltydog]

Just purchased a new 2018 fusion Se 2.5 with a automatic trans. Have a quick question. Have been studying the book and from what I understand this unit is not supposed to have a trans dip stick. But it does. Little yellow cap stating check with engine at idle and hot. Another problem is the cap is located under a pipe making it near impossible to remove. What's up …...new to Ford products and want to learn as much as possible especially the automatic trans. The sole resign for purchasing the Engine and trans combination was I One..... did not want a direct injected engine. Two...… no turbos and Three...… a transmission that was not a CVT .  WE just had a night mare experience with a 2018 Subaru Forester XT which had all three. Engine suffered with carbon build up and the sealed CVT was not serviceable and is gaining a reputation for failing with a 7000$ price tag.  .Again thanks for any advice you can offer.       

[bangster]

Unless you have the 2.7, there is no dipstick to check fluid level, that cap at least allows you to fill it. The 2.5/6F35 has been around since 2010 in quite a few chassis and has some improvements over the years and is a solid combination.

 

I only have 30,000 miles on my 2017 Escape with the 1.5 GTDI engine and I am contemplating doing the transmission fluid. My 2015 Fusion with the 2.5 has a little over 55,000 miles and should do the same. Only time will tell how carboned up it gets, as I keep cars for 20 years, I will be able to tell you I am sure, eventually.

 

There is a fill level hole that you can use if you can do this with the car level (and not the front end only raised, either jacked up or on ramps), but if you measure how much comes out and refill with that amount you should be good. I use ramps when I do services so I would just measure it (even on my cars equipped with a dipstick this is what I do, but I check it later with dipstick).

 

There are posts here that have diagrams of where this fill level hole is.

[Saltydog]

Thanks for the info...….just glad to have a trans that is serviceable. One other question … what fluid would you recommend. The Ford factory fill I am sure is a sound choice but with all the trick synthetics out there you my have a better recommendation. 

[bbf2530]

39 minutes ago, Saltydog said:

Thanks for the info...….just glad to have a trans that is serviceable. One other question … what fluid would you recommend. The Ford factory fill I am sure is a sound choice but with all the trick synthetics out there you my have a better recommendation. 

 

Hi Saltydog.  My educated opinion: The best fluid to use would be the factory fill, which is listed in your Owners Manual in the "Capacities and Specifications" section.  If you decide to go with something else, make sure you use a fluid that specifically staets it "meets and/or exceeds" the specific Ford requirement, for your transmission, as listed in your Owners Manual.

 

Good luck.

[drolds1]

4 hours ago, Saltydog said:

Thanks for the info...….just glad to have a trans that is serviceable. One other question … what fluid would you recommend. The Ford factory fill I am sure is a sound choice but with all the trick synthetics out there you my have a better recommendation. 

 The Mercon LV that's in your trans is a synthetic.  Why look anywhere else, especially if you're planning to change it before your powertrain warranty expires.   And if you decide on something else, as per bbf2530, make 100% certain that it meets Ford spec.  WSS-M2C938-A  and so states that on the container.  Not some vague "meets or exceeds new car warranty requirements" type of thing.  Save receipts.

[sirtanon]

You definitely can't go wrong with the genuine stuff - Motorcraft Mercon LV - but another alternative that works well is Valvoline MaxLife trans fluid (in the red bottle).  I've been using it for years without issue.

 

Valvoline is definitely cheaper ($18 or so for a gallon jug at WalMart, etc.. ) vs. roughly $5-7 a quart for Mercon LV ($20 - 28 a gallon), but the difference is negligible, so if you can get the Motorcraft stuff, it's not a bad idea to stick with it since you're under warranty.