Good Evening All

I am low on my power steering fluid on my 2005 Ford 6.0L diesel truck. The owner's manual says to use Motorcraft Mercon ATF.

I have:
- Mercon LV ATF
- Prestone Power Steering Fluid

I purchased several bottles of the Mercon LV ATF fluid for a future flush of the automatic transmission fluid. Should I use the Mercon LV ATF to top off my low power steering fluid? I just wanted to check to make sure I am reading the owner's manual right, the same oil for the automatic transmission and power steering fluid.

 

It is a little confusing.
The straight Mercon fluid is very similar to Dextron III and is what you want to use for the power steering hydro boost system, but not in the transmission.

The Mercon SP and LV are very similar and compatable with each other (along with Maxlife ATF) and either is suitable for the transmission but not the power steering system.

To be clear as mud Mercon is different from Mercon SP and LV fluids.

 

Get yourself a bottle of Mercon V to use to top up your power steering fluid.

 

Might as well get a gallon or so and do a flush, I've heard it helps both the steering and brakes.

 

Mercon V for the p/s.

Do a good flush, it'll make a difference in feel and noise.

Josh

 

Confirmed!!!
Do yourself a favor and add a magnefine filter to aid in keeping it clean. HUGE improvement in brake feel.

 

Interested in doing this, but on which line?

 

When installed in the hydroboost return line it only cleans the fluid exhausted during a brake release. Putting in the steering box return line filters all the time. BUT if it gets clogged there is the danger of the unit rupturing. While Ford did in a TSB talk about putting one in the box return line to remove debris, they also stated to remove it afterwards. There were some of us with the 7.3L that put them in for a long time without issue.

 

I saw this post a few weeks ago and I didn't want to hijack the OP's thread. However, it appears that I may have messed up. I flushed my P/S with Mercon LV about 10,000 miles ago. If I read this correctly it should have been Mercon V. What sort of trouble have I made for myself and how should I correct it?

 

I doubt you have caused any issues. And you certainly would have heard the p/s pump start whining by that time. Mercon SP is likely too thin for the steering and booster, but LV isn't that much thinner than Mercon V.

I wouldn't lose sleep over it myself. Maybe flush it all out at the 30K mark with Mercon V.

Josh

 

Good news. Thank you sir!