Ford has just issued a TSB showing the Mercon V is an accross the board replacement for Mercon.
Here's the TSB
http://cerberus.cowgod.org/tsb06-14-04.pdf
Here's the TSB
http://cerberus.cowgod.org/tsb06-14-04.pdf
Mercon V update for Mercon
- Thread starter Big Jim
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I find this VERY interesting...
Since 1997 Ford has insisted that Mercon and Mercon V are not interchangeable and that seal or clutch pack damage could occur using MV in place of plain Mercon. Now, all of a sudden, it's OK? What changed? Is the current license spec for MV different than it was 9 years ago? Or is it that Ford doesn't care if the transaxle in my sister's '96 Taurus or my B-I-L's '99 Contour croaks after I put MV in it? I'll give you one guess as to which answer I think is correct...
Personally, I intend to beef up my stash of DexronIII/Mercon.
Since 1997 Ford has insisted that Mercon and Mercon V are not interchangeable and that seal or clutch pack damage could occur using MV in place of plain Mercon. Now, all of a sudden, it's OK? What changed? Is the current license spec for MV different than it was 9 years ago? Or is it that Ford doesn't care if the transaxle in my sister's '96 Taurus or my B-I-L's '99 Contour croaks after I put MV in it? I'll give you one guess as to which answer I think is correct...
Personally, I intend to beef up my stash of DexronIII/Mercon.
I'm happy about this.
my car is a 97, with the 4R70W, for which Merc-V was not intended originally, and had shudder on the 3-4 shift, and a bit after that around 45mph. There was a TSB issued in 1998 recommending Merc-V for 1994 and up cars with the 4R70w, in order to gete rid of the shudder. However, a lot of service dept's were not aware of this, and I had to show a copy of that TSB to convince serveral service writers to get my trans serviced with Merc-v. As soon as I got the Merc-V, the shudder went away 99% and has remained so to date. However, I still had to carry the TSB...every time. They just wouldn't believe me otherwise
With Merc-V all across the board now, I shouldn't have any trouble getting Merc-V in my 4R70W...hopefully.
my car is a 97, with the 4R70W, for which Merc-V was not intended originally, and had shudder on the 3-4 shift, and a bit after that around 45mph. There was a TSB issued in 1998 recommending Merc-V for 1994 and up cars with the 4R70w, in order to gete rid of the shudder. However, a lot of service dept's were not aware of this, and I had to show a copy of that TSB to convince serveral service writers to get my trans serviced with Merc-v. As soon as I got the Merc-V, the shudder went away 99% and has remained so to date. However, I still had to carry the TSB...every time. They just wouldn't believe me otherwise
With Merc-V all across the board now, I shouldn't have any trouble getting Merc-V in my 4R70W...hopefully.
I'm curious if merconV also works in transmissions spec'd for dexronIII. my mazda calls for dexronIII/mercon, which way do I go? my truck uses merconV it would be nice to only keep 1 fluid on hand.
edit: I just looked at the chart at the end of the TSB and mazdas are now serviced with merconV.
edit: I just looked at the chart at the end of the TSB and mazdas are now serviced with merconV.
OK, and here's the bigger question. Is MercV compatible with Dex3/Mercon? If you do a pan drop on a tranny now filled with Dex3/Mercon to change the filter and you don't drain the converter, can you refill with MercV and end up with a mix? IOW, can MercV and Dex3/Merc be mixed????
Also does this mean you can use MercV in GM transmissions????
Also does this mean you can use MercV in GM transmissions????
Tremo, MV and plain Mercon are compatible. Many folks with older 4R70W-equipped cars (and trucks) found that changing from Mercon to Mercon V solved the TCC shudder issue very nicely, and most of them didn't do a complete flush. I did it in my '94 Thunderbird SC...and drove that car another 100,000 miles with no transmission problems at all.
As to whether MV is acceptable in a Bow Tie product, I wouldn't try it. My best guess is that once the Mercon licenses are expired, Dexron III/Mercon will simply be labelled Dexron III, and will continue to be used in GM products.
As to whether MV is acceptable in a Bow Tie product, I wouldn't try it. My best guess is that once the Mercon licenses are expired, Dexron III/Mercon will simply be labelled Dexron III, and will continue to be used in GM products.
More than likely, yes.
I have. It works fine. I changed the fluid in a 4T40E (Chevrolet Malibu Classic) with 7 quarts of Valvoline Dexron III/Mercon V. It's been 8,000 miles and it shifts perfectly.
As far as Dexron III, that is going away soon to be replaced with Dexron VI.
The one thing that everyone overlooks is that Fords recommendations are JUST FOR FORD'S MOTORCRAFT FLUIDS. This excludes EVERY other brand out there.
I would not use Motorcraft Mercon or Motorcraft Mercon-V in a transmission requiring Dexron II or III.
And, previously, I wouldn't use the Motorcraft Mercon-V in place of Motorcraft Mercon.
Ford even had problems with Motorcraft Mercon-V in Mercon-V applications and had to reblend the Mercon-V. The Motorcraft bottle color changed from black to red!
So, they now FINALLY have tested their Mercon-V against their own Mercon specs. Makes me wonder if they required another reblend to meet the requirements of both specs.
But, for every other brand out there, if it says can be used with the spec you require, go for it!
I would not use Motorcraft Mercon or Motorcraft Mercon-V in a transmission requiring Dexron II or III.
And, previously, I wouldn't use the Motorcraft Mercon-V in place of Motorcraft Mercon.
Ford even had problems with Motorcraft Mercon-V in Mercon-V applications and had to reblend the Mercon-V. The Motorcraft bottle color changed from black to red!
So, they now FINALLY have tested their Mercon-V against their own Mercon specs. Makes me wonder if they required another reblend to meet the requirements of both specs.
But, for every other brand out there, if it says can be used with the spec you require, go for it!
unDummy, can you give me a little more info about this? Specifically, when it happened? I just bought 5 quarts of Motorcraft MV a few months ago and got black bottles...
That's what Valvoline's product support person told me when I asked about that Ford TSB. He said it only applies to Ford's own Mercon V and does not apply to Valvoline's products.
Jeez, this is getting confusing. Motorcraft Mercon and MercV versus Valvoline Mercon, Pennz Mercon, Castrol...etc....
OK, here is my particular situation. I have a 97 Taurus with the AX4S transaxle, and 92k on the clock. I'm planning to do a pan drop to change the filter. Looking at the oil on the tranny dipstick on a white paper towel, it looks to still be in good condition. It's not dark or dirty looking and doesn't smell burned. I have no idea how long it's been in there or exactly what it is. When I replace the fluid I lose with the pan drop, I have here at the crib a few bottles of MaxLife Dex3/Mercon, and a couple bottles of Valvoline MerconV. I was planning to just dump them in until it reads full again. Resulting in a mix of whatever is in the converter now, with Valvoline's Maxlife Dex3/Merc and Valvoline MercV. From what I read, I assume that will be OK.
I also have a bottle of MaxLife ATF with stopleak, and a couple bottles of older Mobil1 synthetic ATF. I was not planning on using them unless I didn't have enough of the other stuff. But any problems if I should add some of this?
Thanks guys.
OK, here is my particular situation. I have a 97 Taurus with the AX4S transaxle, and 92k on the clock. I'm planning to do a pan drop to change the filter. Looking at the oil on the tranny dipstick on a white paper towel, it looks to still be in good condition. It's not dark or dirty looking and doesn't smell burned. I have no idea how long it's been in there or exactly what it is. When I replace the fluid I lose with the pan drop, I have here at the crib a few bottles of MaxLife Dex3/Mercon, and a couple bottles of Valvoline MerconV. I was planning to just dump them in until it reads full again. Resulting in a mix of whatever is in the converter now, with Valvoline's Maxlife Dex3/Merc and Valvoline MercV. From what I read, I assume that will be OK.
I also have a bottle of MaxLife ATF with stopleak, and a couple bottles of older Mobil1 synthetic ATF. I was not planning on using them unless I didn't have enough of the other stuff. But any problems if I should add some of this?
Thanks guys.
You should be fine, just pour in your "mix" of ATFs.
With all due respect to The Critic, I wouldn't use any ATF with "stop leak" in a normally functioning transaxle. Miracle formulae like this are bandaids at best (better to actually fix the problem), and at worst can cause undesired side-effects. All the other product you mentioned should be fine, however. The AX4S will take about 7 quarts if you change the filter.
I wouldn't worry to much when using just 1 quart of ATF with stopleak. But, I would probably not use it in a 14 quart flush. I have no issues with high mileage ATFs either.
Tremo, go for it. But, I'd use the best ATF 1st, like your Mobil1 and MerconV, then use the lesser fluids, and save the stopleak for last!
Tremo, go for it. But, I'd use the best ATF 1st, like your Mobil1 and MerconV, then use the lesser fluids, and save the stopleak for last!
UnDum, that was what I had in mind. I was considering adding about 1/2 quart of the MaxLife stop-leak fluid, both quarts of the MercV, and all the normal Dex3/Merc MaxLife. If it still needs more, then I'd start using the M1. I also found a quart of Castrol Dex3/Merc stashed in the back of a cabinet so that is available also if needed. I want to use up what I have here if possible, I don't want to spend any more money needlessly. As a side note, I also found a quart of Type F, but I don't think I want to use that.
Now, my car uses REGULAR Mercon ATF in the p-steering unit as Ps-fluid. When there's only Mercon-V, can that be used in the PS unit, I wonder...
I think you will be fine using the Merc. V in a PS pump. The pump doesn't much care what fluid is in it as long as it's close to cst 7.5. I have slowly started replacing all my PS fills with hyrdaulic oil I have, better protection for the pump.
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