Could the guys that know trans fluid give me their opinoins regarding post #18 here: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...538post5349538

Thanx

 

I ain't no gurus, but I wouldn't use it as Ford doesn't recommend it! They now recommend Mercon V for all older vehicles that previously used Mercon. When I switched to Mercon V, my Lincoln ('97) that used to shudder, stopped! Got 125,000 on it now...still going strong.

 

I know Ford says the Mercon V can be and should be used. This is quite a change from when the Mercon V first came out and Ford said DON'T use it in place of Mercon.

Since my owner's manual says Mercon, I'm comfortable that Mercon V is not needed. Also alot of people claim Ford only changed their recommendation after the trannies speced for Mercon went out of warranty. Conspiracy?

 

I'm no guru either. My suggestion is if you know a good tranny shop ask them. I mean a good shop. If yours doesn't call for Mercon V then your most likely OK. But I would check with the guys that work on them every day. That is what I do & I worked in a tranny shop in the 70s, but stuff changes.

 

""Also alot of people claim Ford only changed their recommendation after the trannies speced for Mercon went out of warranty. Conspiracy?""

I can say that the current multi vechile ATF fluid will meet all the old Mercon specs aswell as the newer mercon 5. I make the fluids and use the Mjore additive suppliers add paks and would use the mercon 5 over the older mercon.
bruce

 

But when I see posts like this from today that I am cut and pasting below, I have to wonder.

<TABLE class=tborder id=post5353198 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=4 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=thead>Today, 01:45 AM
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You Had to be There
</TD><TD style="PADDING-LEFT: 25px" width="100%"> </TD><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Join Date: Dec 2003
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=alt1><TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%">Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by Late For Supper
I am wondering what the concensus is of using Amsoil SP trans fluid in my F-350 5 speed auto?
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Not recommended for a stock Torqueshift. Contrary to Amsoils literature, Mercon SP & Mercon V are completely different specification products with different viscosities and add pack requirements and cannot be interchanged. Mercon SP has lower vicosity requirements (5.5-6.0 KV @100C, cSt ASTM D-445) and more stringent cold-temperature Brookfield viscosity requirements than Mercon or Mercon V

Amsoil however states there transmission fluid is good in all transmissions that require either Mercon SP or Mercon V, however this is not possible do to the difference in requirements of the two fluids. You should only use specific Mercon SP in the stock Torqueshift.


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firemediceric,

Becareful not to take my post out of context to far. There is not 1 universal transmission fluid that can cover Mercon/Mercon V, Mercon SP & Dexron VI as the specs of Mercon SP & Dexron VI are different not only from each other but also Mercon/Mercon V.

Per GM Dexron VI is backwards compatible for transmissions requiring Dexron II/III But, Dexron II/III cannot be used in transmissions requiring Dexron VI.

Per FMC Mercon V could always be used in transmissions that required Mercon, But Mercon could never be used in a transmission that specifiec Mercon V.

Mercon SP is only to be used in transmissions specifying Mercon SP.

Mercon LV is the new fluid FMC is developing for use in some transmissions starting in 2008.

Mercon/Mercon V - Dexron III combination fluids are just fine to use in a transmission requiring Mercon, Mercon V or Dexron III. I personally would not use a transmission fluid that trys to combine Mercon/Mercon V, Dexron III & Dexron VI all in the same bottle as the specifications are just to different and premature friction material wear may occur.

Since you had your transmission rebuilt, ask your transmission mechanic what he recommends as he may have used different friction materials compared to OEM during the rebuild.

As far as synthetic or dino, synthetic fluids tend to have a higer flash & oxidation point than most dino oils, so if you pull a trailer or heavy loads alot, the synthetic fluid will resist high heat longer. That being said, heat is enemy number 1 on transmission components, so a good transmission cooler is always recommended. If you regularly change your dino transmission fluid it will perform just fine, synthetics main benefit is extreme temperatures.

 

Good points. Synthetic fluid will not "save" a severely overheated transmission. Above 300F, even if the fluid is perfectly ok, the "soft parts", such as servo seals and friction clutches are still toast anyway.

Jim

 

So I wonder what has changed in Fords Motorcraft Mercon-V recipe, that now makes it compatable with my 94 Taurus AXODE tranny????

What now suddenly makes it's friction properties compatable with the 94's clutch packs????

I recently chickened out at the last minute & did a tranny pumpout, with my last qts of old Mercon, rather than change the Taurus to Mercon-V.

The Rangers 5R55E has always specified Mercon-V, so I'm comfortable with it's use in the 5R55E & it's held up well in severe service, like towing in hot weather, in the mountains over the years, so I know the Mercon-V recipe is good stuff in the Ranger, just not fully clear why it's now sudenly ok to use it in the 94 Taurus AXODE tranny????

 

Simple. Your 1994 is to old for Ford to care about supporting any longer. Any Ford extended warranties are long expired, so it is your problem now.

Why to the dealer for fluids anyway? There is plenty of Mercon available, just not in a Motorcraft bottle.

Jim

 

This thread also shows why every transmission pan should have a simple drain plug installed. When you can easily drain the fluid, and always have clean, fresh, spec'd ATF fluid, most every transmission becomes nearly indistructible!

I still recommend dropping the pan, and changing the trans filter, at least every 15,000 miles. But when you can easily drain the ATF, then add the same amount of ATF you drained out, it is a 10 minute job added to your simple engine oil and oil filter change that we all do in the comfort of our garage or driveway on a leisurely Saturday morning.

 

Just draining the tranny pan & replacing it's fluid, doesn't get all the old fluid out, as most remains in the torque converter, valve body, cooler & lines & the old filter is still in there also.

IMO dropping the pan to clean it & the magnet & replacing the filter, then refilling the pan & continuing with a full fluid pump out, by removing the tranny return line, is likly a more effective long term maintenance consideration.

However having a tranny pan drain plug handy, to easily drain the tranny pan on a timely basis, to achieve a partal change, for those that are prone to neglect the tranny fluid, is maybe better than not changing it at all, until problems arise & they try to play catch up too quick & break the deposits loose all of a sudden & really clog something important up!!!!

Ford only specified a Mercon fluid change every 120K for normal service & 30K for severe service, on my 94 Taurus AXODE tranny & I can tell you that the tranny fluid neeed to be completely changed at 30K & I'm not hard on my tranny, nor live where temps are extreeme.

They also didn't specify the tranny filter be changed at any of those service call outs.

I can't imagine only partially changing the tranny fluid at 120K & not replacing the filter either.

Seems to me to be a recipe for sure tranny problems, borne out by all of the AXODE tranny problems the Taurus is known for!!!!

So I opt for a drop the pan, change the filter & do a full tranny fluid pump out, to flush the valve body, torque converter, cooler & lines, every 25-30K on ALL my auto trannies & can always feel a positive change in the way the trannies shift.

Full fluid pumpouts, with a filter change & reuseable Felpro pan gaskets, costs about 2-3 hours shade tree time & from about $25-$50, depending on if it's Mercon, or Mercon-V & anyone that can turn a wrench can do this procedure, if they don't mind a little tranny fluid on their hands!!!!!