Best ATF (Mercon) for use in very cold weather??

[remiskeet]

Have been using Canadian Tire's "Motomaster" house brand Mercon/DexIII ATF in my '96 Taurus for about a year now. Last winter , if I left the car outside overnight , when temps dropped to the -20c -25c range , the trans would "weep" small amounts of fluid from T/C input seal area. I tested line pressure from tap on top of AX4N and saw pressures as high as 205psi for a few minutes right after cold(very cold) start. Pressure at startup if the car was at "garage" temperature (+10c) was typically 80-90 psi.
Any one know of purpose blended Mercon ATF for extreme cold??? or is synthetic like Mobil1 the best choice? Thanks for any insights you can offer.

 

[unDummy]

Use a synthetic or minimal a blend like a MerconV or multivehicle ATF.

 

[PFP]

Mobil 1 works great in the 96-97 AX4N. It is worth the extra cost. I used it in Calgary for years in my 96 Taurus, in very cold weather. There was a vast improvement in cold driveability when I switched it for the Castrol Mercon that was in the transmission bbefore. You can buy it slightly cheaper at Walmart than Canadian Tire. If you do a pan drop, you'll need 7 litres and will replace about 60% of the fluid. Pan gasket is reuseable.

 

[FazerZ]

That's completely normal for an AX4N. The computer commands > 90 psi of EPC pressure, which results in >180 psi of line pressure. This is normal when cold and in park or neutral. You'll notice when you place the transaxle in gear (OD range), line comes down to normal. It's the PCM's cold start strategy.

These transaxles work and survive longer with a good synthetic like Mobil One or Amsoil. I would find an Amsoil dealer and put their oil in. It will help.

DH

 

[remiskeet]

Thanks Guys (and or gals) for your input. I'll switch to the syth Mercon before things get too cold around here.

 

[oilboy123]

Amsoil or Mobil 1 will work very well. I use Amsoil which has a Mercon V requirement for the 98 on Ford Taurus like mine.

Not all the Ford Taurus AX4N have the reusable gaskets. My 98 AX4N has one but my daughters 96 AX4N does not.
I have had the Amsoil transmission fluid in for about 4 yrs 25,000 miles. I am going to change it out soon.

 

[Ken2]

quote:

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I have had the Amsoil transmission fluid in for about 4 yrs 25,000 miles. I am going to change it out soon.

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You might consider an anlysis of the ATF if it still looks and smells good. You'll likelys save some money if the ATF is still good, and I think the Amsoil will be OK after only 25k.

If you do flush, I like the results of cleaning the transmission with Auto-Rx before the flush.


Ken

 

[oilboy123]

Yah forgot to mention I have Auto-rx in it still.
So I will flush it out for the **** of it. I think I have 1500-2000 miles with it in. Thanks