Ford Unveils Mercon LV

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"Ford Motor Co. last week gave the lubricants industry its first look at a new automatic transmission fluid specification. Mercon LV is intended to be a fill-for-life fluid for the automaker's emerging transmission technologies, explained Ford Mercon Committee Chairman Chintan Ved. The automaker also has streamlined its Mercon V licensing program in ways that will greatly cut costs for transmission fluid branders and re-branders.

Ved unveiled the new trademarked fluid and described the licensing program changes during the SAE World Congress in Detroit, at the April 17 meeting of SAE Technical Committee 3 on Transmission Fluids and Gear Oils. He reminded listeners that Ford's older Mercon spec has been replaced with Mercon V, and any remaining Mercon licenses will expire by June 30. Current and older models that recommend Mercon should be serviced with licensed Mercon V products now.

Mercon LV is something else -- a forward-looking fluid designed to deliver key performance benefits for 2008 models and beyond, he said. It is intended to coexist with Mercon V going forward, and the two are not interchangeable.

Mercon LV, Ved explained last week in an interview with Lube Report, offers stable frictional performance, potential fuel economy benefits, improved anti-shudder performance and anti-foaming/aeration performance, and greater oxidation stability in step-type transmissions.

Licensing for Mercon LV -- the LV stands for "low viscosity," not 55 -- begins July 1, and the fluid will be used as factory fill for 2008 models such as the Ford Focus when they roll off the assembly line this year. Ford wants it ready for the service-fill market at the same time.

"Drain intervals across the board with the new fluid will be 150,000 miles for passenger cars and trucks, in normal service," Ved said. Ford says Mercon LV has strong potential for increasing the severe-duty service change intervals, as well, which it will announce at a later date.

Only one additive package, made by Afton Chemical, has been approved for Mercon LV, Ved pointed out. It took some three years to validate the additive package for Ford's factory fill, and only then was it considered for service fill as well. The Afton package includes a detergent-inhibitor package and a shear-stable viscosity index improver package. Depending on the base stock used, treat levels are expected to be in the range of 11 to 14 percent.

To meet the performance demanded by Mercon LV, most products will need to be formulated with Group III oils, Ved added. "Based on Mercon LV's viscosity, shear stability and antioxidancy requirements, use of higher-end Group IIs, Group III and PAOs will be the best scenario." He said there seems to be adequate supply of Group IIIs to meet the volume needs, as the LV market develops; also, there will be less turnover of the fluid, since the transmission fill intervals will be so much longer.

Mercon LV joins Mercon V and Mercon SP as the only current Mercon products for conventionally shifted automatic transmissions. (There is also Mercon C, designed for CVTs).

"The goal with LV was to create a more robust fluid, even beyond that of Mercon V," Ved said. "We aren't yet replacing SP, which is used in our conventionally shifted five-speed and six-speed transmissions, but there is a significant amount of testing ongoing to replace SP with Mercon LV."

Due to viscosity differences, LV is not intended as a substitute for Mercon V. "Newer transmission technologies are being developed with low-viscosity fluid," he added. "It's fill-for-life, and has more stable friction properties, and will maintain the shift feel throughout the fluid's life. It also will maintain its viscosity with less than 5 percent viscosity change over the life of the fluid."

The major additive companies all hope to gain the automakers' factory-fill business, and Laurie Strasser, marketing manager at Afton Chemical in Richmond, Va., said her company was gratified that its package got the nod from Ford. "We're blessed with an excellent research team, who put forth solid technology, considerable persistence and hard work," she said.

The key, as with all emerging technologies, was to provide measurable improvements in multiple areas. "Every OEM is looking to boost fuel economy by optimizing the transfer of power along the complete drivetrain," she said. "Another key demand is for greater friction stability. We've seen this emphasized with General Motors' Dexron VI fluid, with the JASO specification in Japan, and now Ford's Mercon LV. The OEMs want consistent friction performance -- shift feel -- throughout the life of the product, and for the product to have a longer life as well."

Automakers around the globe have launched low-viscosity fluids, Strasser stated, but each is unique, and not always interchangeable the way Ford's Mercon and GM's Dexron III were. "GM's Dexron VI and Toyota's low-viscosity WS and Ford's Mercon LV are not currently compatible, because the design criteria and frictional requirements are different. The arena of transmission fluids is not converging," she told Lube Report. "These are different fluids with different design characteristics.

"We in North America have been used to having 60 percent of the market satisfied with a single transmission fluid, Dexron/Mercon. That isn't so any more. Now there's a new paradigm, with each of the OEMs having unique, stand-along fluids."

Strasser noted that the base stock needed for the new LV specification is mostly going to be a Group III, with its better thermal and oxidative properties. Most Group III base stock suppliers will be able to meet the specification, she added. "Ford is a global company and will want to be assured of supply for its factories and dealers worldwide."

Even as it adds this new specification, Ford is trying to wean users away from using its old Mercon product, and Ved reiterated that Mercon V is the proper fluid now for all 2007 and earlier models. No new Mercon licenses have been issued since last July, and Ford hopes to see the product fade from the marketplace. That includes issuing service bulletins to all dealers reminding them to use Mercon V only.

"We're tightening the specs and are taking steps -- such as field monitoring -- to make sure that what fluid goes into the box is identical or as nearly identical as possible to what we use as factory fill, mostly Mercon V," Ved said. "Transmission fluid is the blood of the transmission. New systems always are developed with the fluid in mind, with how they'll interact. ATF compatibility with various components, like elastomers, composites, friction materials, gears, bearings, etc., is very critical to transmission performance, and hence we don't want the wrong fluid going in Ford transmissions."

In speaking to the SAE Technical Committee 3 meeting, Ved also had good news for lubricant marketers regarding Mercon V. Three additive packages -- one each from Afton Chemical, Infineum and Lubrizol -- have been approved for Mercon V.

The test requirement for Mercon V licensing and renewals also has been optimized, resulting in program costs being reduced for the applicants. Mu-V characterization (anti-shudder) and the GM cycling test (oxidation) have been dropped, as Ford believes those performance parameters are adequately demonstrated in other tests.

New licensees also can avoid performing two friction-durability tests for Mercon V when they begin initial production, and those who renew will not have to repeat certain annual tests for antifoam, elastomer compatibility, wear and oxidation properties.

A few new bench test parameters, most of them already part of the aluminum beaker oxidation test, have been added to the Mercon V regime, but overall these changes mean that original formulator costs have been reduced by $40,000, and reblend test programs will also avoid some $20,000 in cost.

Ved's Mercon Committee has approval authority for all its fluids; licensing paperwork and administration are handled through its program coordinator, Southwest Research Institute. For information, e-mail [email protected]."

From: http://www.imakenews.com/lng/e_article000801818.cfm?x=b11,0,w
 
Thanks.

Quote:
The OEMs want consistent friction performance
 
Quote:
The Afton package includes a detergent-inhibitor package and a shear-stable viscosity index improver package. Depending on the base stock used, treat levels are expected to be in the range of 11 to 14 percent.


I like the upfront honesty. With better basestock you need less additives. Imagine that.
 
So do all of the people that sell unlicensed products. However, licensing does attempt to protect the consumer since to be licenced the formulations have to be disclosed and can be checked. When a consumer purchases an unlicensed product they really don't know what they bought and no one is checking.
 
Standards are a way of protecting the consumer too. Licensing generates income. That's it's entire purpose.

That's another reason I was hoping HD-DVD would win over BluRay. I'm tired of Sony and their proprietary stuff. It's all about licensing to generate income.
 
Originally Posted By: cosynthetics
Standards are a way of protecting the consumer too. Licensing generates income. That's it's entire purpose.

That isn't true, the licensing is done to protect the consumer to ensure that the service fill is at least of equal quality to the factory fill.

If you have been paying attention to the industry lately, GM has abolished the license fee with Dexron-VI. Now, there's no reason to shy away away from licensing.
 
Originally Posted By: onion
I'm sure that Amsoil has already met and surpassed this spec.

I still don't believe that Amsoil's ATF can truly meet the OEM requirements for frictional performance with their Universal product.

In a quote from my original post: ""GM's Dexron VI and Toyota's low-viscosity WS and Ford's Mercon LV are not currently compatible, because the design criteria and frictional requirements are different. The arena of transmission fluids is not converging," she told Lube Report. "These are different fluids with different design characteristics."

The frictional properties of these various fluids are different. The paper published by the SAE on Universal ATFs proves this. Amsoil doesn't seem to agree with that, and covers just about every fluid on the market with their universal product.
 
Good post.
It shows that you really read what was said in contrast to some people who, when they read, only see what they want to see.
 
When you guys are done, I'd like you to show me where Amsoil claims to meet WS or LV.

And while you are at it, show me the pile of dead transmissions from Amsoil ATF.

I'm not sure why this thread turned into an Amsoil ATF discussion but I want the record to show that I did NOT bring it up. I merely pointed out that Ford actually states the base oil type does have a bearing on the finished product.
 
Originally Posted By: onion
I'm sure that Amsoil has already met and surpassed this spec.


First thing that came to my mind, but I didn't want to be wise
grin2.gif


WHEN ... and it will only be a matter of time, Amsoil does claim it their ATF will meet and surpass this spec, it will be interesting .... I'm sure this post thread will be referenced over and over again.
 
Originally Posted By: Pablo
When you guys are done, I'd like you to show me where Amsoil claims to meet WS or LV.

I never say that did. However, knowing Amsoil, I'm sure they'll find a way to "make" their universal product meet this spec eventually.

Originally Posted By: Pablo
And while you are at it, show me the pile of dead transmissions from Amsoil ATF.

Do you really think most transmission rebuilders have the ability to spot a fluid related failure?
 
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Pablo
When you guys are done, I'd like you to show me where Amsoil claims to meet WS or LV.

I never say that did. However, knowing Amsoil, I'm sure they'll find a way to "make" their universal product meet this spec eventually.

Originally Posted By: Pablo
And while you are at it, show me the pile of dead transmissions from Amsoil ATF.

Do you really think most transmission rebuilders have the ability to spot a fluid related failure?


But you did say "I still don't believe that Amsoil's ATF can truly meet the OEM requirements for frictional performance..." And you quoted "GM's Dexron VI and Toyota's low-viscosity WS and Ford's Mercon LV are not currently compatible...."

Well Amsoil did alter the ATF to meet Dex VI. Seems to work great. But Amsoil doesn't seem to want to or are not able to make it for WS, and I doubt for this new LV either. The bottom line there is: Frictionally just how different is Dex VI from Dex III? GM says Dex VI backward compatible. Can't be THAT different in frictional properties. Amsoil ATF simply has no issues meeting the frictional properties of Dexron. You don't have to believe it. The white paper showed us that there are differences in OEM fluids, it did NOT demonstrate a universal fluid could not be designed to meet the specifications listed by Amsoil. Since you say it CAN'T be possible, please provide proof.

I don't agree that easily "transmission rebuilders (don't) have the ability to spot a fluid related failure"....maybe it would tough to spot in the various piles, but some screening must take place. The biggest pile will be "design defects" if you are talking about Honda, maybe with GM it's "owner neglect" - but the point is that GM or any other trannies last just fine on Amsoil ATF, despite your thoughts.

Anyway back on this topic, why the struggle with the fact that the base fluid really does effect functionality of a fluid? It's easy to know it does in temperature/viscosity behavior as well as oxidation resistance - so why not the frictional properties as well?
 
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Seems to work great.


thumbsup2.gif
That's good enough for me! A salesman says his 'universal ATF' "seems to work great"!

Why bother with rigorous testing and verification, along with application-specific formulation?
 
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