I have an 04 XLT with the 4.6 and to make this story short when I changed my oil the first time at 1000 miles it had the oil level right in the middle of the X's on the dipstick. I am the kind of guy that wants my vehicle on the 3/4 full point or the top X. That got me to thinking about my transmission fluid and i checked it. My transmission dipstick has a cold and a hot section of X's that touch each other and are about an inch and a half long total. I started my truck and waited 5 minutes while I shifted through the gears and then checked it. Nothing! I checked several more times and still nothing. I knew it ran fine so I drove around for about 30 miles and then checked it when it was good and warm. At a running temperature the fluid was at the cold and hot joint on the dipstick. I then went and got a quart of mercon V and put in a little over half a quart and it put it to 3/4 of the way up the hot X's when I got home. I am glad I checked it and call me cautious but I like it to be able to lose a little and still be in the acceptable range. I can't help but wonder if there was an air bubble in the transmission when it was filled at the factory or if they even filled the torque converter or took it into consideration on the capacity rating. You guys that are cautious like me that haven't done so yet might ought to check it.

 

Excellent post. Stuff like this is the essence of why this forum exist.
Headin to the garage.

Mike

 

04 SCab XLT 5.4...mine was the same way, I added some fluid also.