Dex/Merc III Mixed with Dex/Merc V mixed with ????

[SwampSurvivor]

I bought a Cherokee with the AW4 transmission 3 months ago.

I have no idea what transmission fluid was in it when I got it, but it was definitely changed in its lifetime (good).

Flushed out 3 quarts of whatever was in there for Advance Auto brand MerconV/Dex V fluid that I had left over for my 2001 Taurus.

My questions:
- Is Walmart Supertech Trans Fluid good?
- Can I mix this Merc III / Dex III comptabile with whatever is in there right now and the Merc V?
- Any cheaper places to get a gallon of transmisssion fluid?

 

[Kaboomba]

What year Cherokee?

Plenty of folks use Dex/Merc, or even ATF+4 (back-spec'd by Chrysler). Which leads me to think that it would be hard to really mess it up.

I would be tempted to use a Multi-Vehicle that meets Dex VI, or ATF+4.

 

[Kaboomba]

DexIII/Merc has a very different lockup/torque charactoristic than ATF+4, ATF+3, according to LubeGard:

http://www.lubegard.com/images/MV_Legend_Expanded.jpg

http://www.lubegard.com/images/HFM_Legend_Expanded.gif

 

[unDummy]

Originally Posted By: Miller88

My questions:
- Is Walmart Supertech Trans Fluid good?
- Can I mix this Merc III / Dex III comptabile with whatever is in there right now and the Merc V?
- Any cheaper places to get a gallon of transmisssion fluid?


I wouldn't call 3 quarts a flush-out!

Walmart fluid is acceptable. But you get what you pay for. I will always recommend to stick with the reputation of a name brand.

You can miss fluids as long as they all meet the required spec.

You can shop online, on ebay, amazon.... to see you there are any places cheaper than what your paying. Visit the stores in your area for price comparisons.

What you should do is find out what the required spec is for your vehicle;s year/transmission and use the best ATF that meets the spec. Quality ATF is cheaper than replacing a transmission.

 

[caravanmike]

i use mec/dex in my aw4. valvoline blue bottle to be specific.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Well it has a drain plug. I'm too lazy to actually do a real flush.

It's a 2000 Cherokee. A-W specifies to use Dex/Merc but then Chrysler changed it to ATF+4.

General concensus is ATF+4 doesn't do so well in the transmission. I'm more of a believer that lack of maintenance kills a transmission rather than fluid ... just trying to figure out what to put in it. I really like the Merc fluids ... they seem to be the only thing that can keep a Ford transmission together.

Wasnt' too much of a problem when my last vehicle said Mercon V, Mercon V is still in production and they never changed it.

I will probably spend the few extra $$ to get the Merxon V fluid from Autozone or something.

 

[unDummy]

If Dex/Merc is what was required, Mercon-V is an upgrade. ATF+4 would also be an upgrade. Use whatever you can afford. Valvoline,Castrol,Pennzoil,Mobil,Motorcraft... make excellent Mercon-V.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Castrol Mercon V it is! If it could keep the AX4S in my Taurus together, it should work well in this AW4.

The transmission on this still shifts great and pulls great ... I want to keep it like that. Transmission cooler coming in the spring