The report says Aisin as the transmission manufacturer but that is incorrect. I do a drain and fill of 4 quarts at 15k OCIs.
Motorcraft Mercon LV, 15k, 15' Ford Fusion 6F35
- Thread starter ssamaroo01
- Start date
- Status
My 2017 Fusion has 61K and I have done two 30K ATF changes. The first at 30K with MCLV, the second with Valvoline Max Life synthetic LV. I am not impressed with MC ATF as it seems to turn quite dark for ATF compared to M1 ATF that I have used for the last 25 years or so. Even though M1 ATF doesn't meet the spec I might start using it the next change at 30K as I have done with the 2007 Fusion that calls for FNR-7, and M1 doesn't show that spec.
Do you notice a difference in the way that the transmission shifts between the two fluids on the 17 Fusion? Changing the fluid at my current interval has smoothed out most of the rough 1-2 and 3-4 shifts.
Numbers look about like I'd expect for MC LV after only 15k miles. You're underusing that fluid... 25k - 30k intervals will be just fine.
I've used both Motorcraft Merc LV and Valvoline MaxLife, and I have not noticed any real difference in shift quality. It's having CLEAN fluid with good additives that makes the difference, IMHO.
See here and here for my UOAs with MaxLife.
Also, to tig's point, Mercon LV will definitely darken early in the 6F35, but that's normal and doesn't really seem to affect quality. In my experience, the Valvoline stuff will darken early as well in the 6F35. It just seems to be a quirk of the 6F35 with the LV fluids.
My current fill has been in for about 22,000 miles. I have an oil change planned for next weekend (12/29) when the car hits approximately 267,500 miles (~22,500 miles on the LV) but I will most likely wait until the following change to do the trans D&F (30,000 miles on the LV).
I've used both Motorcraft Merc LV and Valvoline MaxLife, and I have not noticed any real difference in shift quality. It's having CLEAN fluid with good additives that makes the difference, IMHO.
See here and here for my UOAs with MaxLife.
Also, to tig's point, Mercon LV will definitely darken early in the 6F35, but that's normal and doesn't really seem to affect quality. In my experience, the Valvoline stuff will darken early as well in the 6F35. It just seems to be a quirk of the 6F35 with the LV fluids.
My current fill has been in for about 22,000 miles. I have an oil change planned for next weekend (12/29) when the car hits approximately 267,500 miles (~22,500 miles on the LV) but I will most likely wait until the following change to do the trans D&F (30,000 miles on the LV).
Originally Posted by SirTanon
Numbers look about like I'd expect for MC LV after only 15k miles. You're underusing that fluid... 25k - 30k intervals will be just fine.
I've used both Motorcraft Merc LV and Valvoline MaxLife, and I have not noticed any real difference in shift quality. It's having CLEAN fluid with good additives that makes the difference, IMHO.
See here and here for my UOAs with MaxLife.
Also, to tig's point, Mercon LV will definitely darken early in the 6F35, but that's normal and doesn't really seem to affect quality. In my experience, the Valvoline stuff will darken early as well in the 6F35. It just seems to be a quirk of the 6F35 with the LV fluids.
My current fill has been in for about 22,000 miles. I have an oil change planned for next weekend (12/29) when the car hits approximately 267,500 miles (~22,500 miles on the LV) but I will most likely wait until the following change to do the trans D&F (30,000 miles on the LV).
As I posted previously I did an initial ATF drain & fill on our 2017 Explorer 2.3 EB at 12,000 mi, using Mercon LV. The factory fill was black. I did another drain & fill 10,000 miles later and it was dark grey. I did a 3rd drain & fill again 10,000 miles later. This one was a REAL DARK red, with a hint of grey. It was a more "normal" looking ATF. For all my drain & fills I used Mercon LV. There has been no issues with shifting, it's been like when new. I'm a bit concerned that Ford put a car transmission in a fairly heavy and powerful SUV. Since we keep our vehicle for a long time and transmissions are expensive I'm going to keep doing "cold" drain & fills every other oil change, around 15,000 miles. They are so easy to do on this Explorer "cold", 4 quarts out, 4 quarts in. So far that's worked perfect. I buy a 12 quart case from Rock Auto for ~$60 delivered or $5/quart, cheap!
Whimsey
Numbers look about like I'd expect for MC LV after only 15k miles. You're underusing that fluid... 25k - 30k intervals will be just fine.
I've used both Motorcraft Merc LV and Valvoline MaxLife, and I have not noticed any real difference in shift quality. It's having CLEAN fluid with good additives that makes the difference, IMHO.
See here and here for my UOAs with MaxLife.
Also, to tig's point, Mercon LV will definitely darken early in the 6F35, but that's normal and doesn't really seem to affect quality. In my experience, the Valvoline stuff will darken early as well in the 6F35. It just seems to be a quirk of the 6F35 with the LV fluids.
My current fill has been in for about 22,000 miles. I have an oil change planned for next weekend (12/29) when the car hits approximately 267,500 miles (~22,500 miles on the LV) but I will most likely wait until the following change to do the trans D&F (30,000 miles on the LV).
As I posted previously I did an initial ATF drain & fill on our 2017 Explorer 2.3 EB at 12,000 mi, using Mercon LV. The factory fill was black. I did another drain & fill 10,000 miles later and it was dark grey. I did a 3rd drain & fill again 10,000 miles later. This one was a REAL DARK red, with a hint of grey. It was a more "normal" looking ATF. For all my drain & fills I used Mercon LV. There has been no issues with shifting, it's been like when new. I'm a bit concerned that Ford put a car transmission in a fairly heavy and powerful SUV. Since we keep our vehicle for a long time and transmissions are expensive I'm going to keep doing "cold" drain & fills every other oil change, around 15,000 miles. They are so easy to do on this Explorer "cold", 4 quarts out, 4 quarts in. So far that's worked perfect. I buy a 12 quart case from Rock Auto for ~$60 delivered or $5/quart, cheap!
Whimsey
Last edited:
My experience with Motorcraft Mercon LV darkening prematurely in the 6F35 is the same. Valvoline Maxlife ATF did a little better. We'll see how the AMSOIL I recently installed holds up. Shift quality between the Maxlife and AMSOIL Signature Series Fuel-Efficient ATF is the same. Better than the Motorcraft fluid for sure, but honestly if I didn't use my car for Uber and beat the snot out of it every day I'd stick to Maxlife.
Last edited:
- Status