How To Check Engine Fluids 1997-2004 Ford F150
Created on: 2017-03-30
How to check the engine oil on the 98 Ford F150
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step 1 :Checking the Brake Fluid
- Twist off the brake fluid cap
- Check the level and condition of the fluid with a flashlight
- The fluid should be clear
- The fluid should be between the minimum and maximum fill lines
- Twist on the brake fluid cap
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step 2 :Checking the Coolant
- Wait until the engine is cool
- Twist off the coolant cap
- Check the level and condition of the fluid with a flashlight
- Add coolant as necessary
- Twist on the coolant camp
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step 3 :Checking the Power Steering Fluid
- Check the steering fluid level through the reservoir window
- To add fluid, twist off the steering fluid cap
- Add fluid as necessary
- Twist on the steering fluid cap
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step 4 :Checking the Oil
- Pull out the oil dipstick
- Wipe off the dipstick
- Install the dipstick
- Pull out the dipstick
- Check the oil level
- Install the dipstick
- To add oil, twist off the oil cap
- Add oil as necessary
- Recheck the oil level
- Add oil as necessary
- Twist on the oil cap
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step 5 :Checking the Washer Fluid
- Open the washer fluid reservoir
- Fill the washer fluid to capacity
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step 6 :Checking the Transmission Fluid
- Bring the engine to operating temperature
- Hold the brake firmly
- Shift the transmission through all its gears, and back to park, holding each gear for several seconds
- Keep the engine running
- Pull out the transmission fluid dipstick
- Wipe off the dipstick
- Install the dipstick
- Pull out the dipstick
- Check the level and condition of the fluid
- Install the dipstick
Tools needed
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Paper Towels
Flashlight
Hi, I'm Mike from 1A Auto. We've been selling auto parts for over 30 years. We're dedicated to delivering quality auto parts, expert customer service, fast and free shipping, all backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. Visit us at 1AAuto.com, your trusted source for quality auto parts.
In this video we're going to be working with our 1998 Ford F150 4.6L V8 automatic. We're going to show you how to inspect the levels and conditions of all your vital under hood fluids. These fluids are a critical component of the systems they're using to make sure that they stay functioning properly and in good condition. If you like this video please click subscribe, we have a ton more information on this and many other vehicles and if you ever need parts for your car you can follow the link down in the description over to 1AAuto.com. The only items you'll need for this procedure are a flashlight and a clean paper towel.
Your brake fluid reservoir is located against the driver's side of the firewall here. We'll remove the cap and it's best to use a flashlight in there to check the level and condition of your fluid. Ours looks pretty clear. This is actually just about the color you want your fluid to be and it's right between the minimum and the maximum lines, which is fine because this truck is equipped with disc brakes and has the disc brake wears the piston in the caliper sits farther and farther out using up a little bit of fluid to fill that void behind it so the only time you would want to top the fluid off on a vehicle especially with disc brakes is after it's had all four calipers compressed. Ours looks good so we'll simply reinstall the cap.
Now this truck has a sealed radiator which means that your radiator cap is actually this on the fluid reservoir and the reason that's important is because this is going to be pressurized if you've just run the vehicle and it's hot. If that's the case you should always open this cold but if you need to open it while it's hot do so very slowly to release the pressure like you just heard there and then remove it fully. We can throw a light in there and on the side here you have your minimum full hot and full cold lines, which you can see the coolant level down there. We are just a little bit low so you'd want to top it off right here with some of the appropriate coolant and then reinstall your cap.
Now the power steering reservoir here you don't even need to open to check. You have your minimum and maximum lines right here on the side. The tab is over here in a nice little clear window where you can see we're right up at the full line. If we weren't you can simply unscrew the cap and fill it with the appropriate power steering fluid and reinstall.
Your oil dipstick is located just below the power steering reservoir here on the driver's side. Remove that and wipe it off completely. Reinstall it fully and remove it again to check the level. Our dipstick is bone dry which means we are more than a quart low on fluid so we will want to fill the oil one quart and then recheck our dipstick. Anything below the minimum and maximum line here indicates one quart. Since we have nothing on there we know we're at least a full quart low and we'll keep adding until we get something on the dipstick and then we'll know how much of a quart we need to fill it completely. When we do fill our oil we'll do so from the front of the passenger side valve cover right here. Your washer fluid is located in front of the battery in the passenger fender well. Simply open it up and fill that to capacity.
When checking your transmission fluid be sure to bring the vehicle up to operating temperature. Put your foot firmly on the brake and cycle it through each gear and hold it there for a few seconds all the way down and all the way back up in to park. Keep the vehicle running and just like you would with your oil dipstick, remove the transmission dipstick which is located on the passenger side of the engine at the back here, wipe it off, reinstall it fully, remove it, and check the level of your fluid. Now ours is a nice clear red color and it's also right to the top of the hash marks so our fluid level is right where we want it to be.
Thanks for watching. Visit us at 1AAuto.com for quality auto parts, fast and free shipping, and the best customer service in the industry.
