I got a 2011 F150 3.5L a few months ago as I needed a truck to work on a house remodel. Right now it has 169k miles. It has generally been a reliable truck, even when towing/carrying heavy loads up mountain roads. I only noted a couple of issues, both related to transmission. Generally, the transmission works fine, shifts smoothly, no shudder or weird noises. The exceptions are:
1) A couple of times after sitting in the driveway for about two weeks, I had trouble shifting in reverse. I noticed that the problem occurs only if the truck sits for a while, and then only if I immediately shift to reverse right after starting the engine. It won't go in reverse, and I get the mechanic symbol on the dashboard. Letting the engine run for a few seconds cures the problem. After that, no problem in shifting to reverse.
2) Occasionally, it is rough downshifting from 5th to 4th. This only occurs with the foot off the gas pedal, that is when the downshift is used to reduce/control speed on downgrades. When the downshift occurs because I hit the gas hard in 5th gear it is very smooth. Also, in 4th gear it rides smooth, no shudder.
I pulled the dipstick from the tranny, and the oil does not look too bad. I do not have access to the complete maintenance record, but I think that the color is just to good to be the original oil charge. So I would assume that it has been changed at least once. I have it on my todo list to actually check the oil level with the oil warm. BTW, the dashboard gauge usually oscillate between 190F and 210F top, even when towing in the AZ heat (70 plus days over 110F this summer).
At this point, I am on the fence about replacing the oil. I can pump a little oil out of the dipstick hole and get a better picture of the oil in the tranny. Any suggestions?
1) A couple of times after sitting in the driveway for about two weeks, I had trouble shifting in reverse. I noticed that the problem occurs only if the truck sits for a while, and then only if I immediately shift to reverse right after starting the engine. It won't go in reverse, and I get the mechanic symbol on the dashboard. Letting the engine run for a few seconds cures the problem. After that, no problem in shifting to reverse.
2) Occasionally, it is rough downshifting from 5th to 4th. This only occurs with the foot off the gas pedal, that is when the downshift is used to reduce/control speed on downgrades. When the downshift occurs because I hit the gas hard in 5th gear it is very smooth. Also, in 4th gear it rides smooth, no shudder.
I pulled the dipstick from the tranny, and the oil does not look too bad. I do not have access to the complete maintenance record, but I think that the color is just to good to be the original oil charge. So I would assume that it has been changed at least once. I have it on my todo list to actually check the oil level with the oil warm. BTW, the dashboard gauge usually oscillate between 190F and 210F top, even when towing in the AZ heat (70 plus days over 110F this summer).
At this point, I am on the fence about replacing the oil. I can pump a little oil out of the dipstick hole and get a better picture of the oil in the tranny. Any suggestions?
