We have had an issue with our Escape, a few times it has revved up in between shifts, then on new years it did it constantly, the o/d light started flashing, and eventually it would not propel the vehicle. We got stuck at a light with no forward gears, the engine would just freewheel. The fluid smelled burnt at this time which is hasn't before.

The Escape has 128000 km on it, we just bought it 5000 km ago (no warranty), and did 1 drain and fill of the trans using Mercon V like the Ford dealer recommended.

Had it towed to a reputable tranny shop, it will be looked at on Tuesday.

 

I have heard of reports that Mercon and Mercon V are not compatible. Your factory fill is Mercon and you refilled 4 quarts with Mercon V. I'm not saying this is your problem but it's a possibility.

 

Impossible. There are no compatibility issues using a partial refill of the current formulation of Merc V into a system that was previously filled with Mercon.

The transmission is toast, it will require a rebuild.

 

This is absolutely true. The OP does state what year Escape he has, so don't know if the trans requires Mercon or Mercon V. You probably could get away with using Mercon V in an older Escape that required Mercon, but you would do a complete drain of the transmission and get all the old Mercon out first. If you don't you could have a compatiblilty issue. If I am not mistaken Mercon V is synthetic, Mercon is not. I have a 2003 Escape and ONLY use Mercon, not Mercon V, which is what is recommended for my year Escape.

The other possiblitly is that the previous owners knew the trans was on its way out and sold it before it got worse. And it did get worse as you can see, if that is the case.

 

The Ford dealer told me that mercon v replaced mercon and is fully compatible and mixable and advised me to use it, they don't even sell mercon anymore is what they told me. Will find out more on Tuesday when the shop starts to pull it apart.

 

I think in 05 all Escapes use Mercon v.I hope your problem is a switch or something easy and cheap.Did you buy it from a dealership because some times they will give you a 30 day warranty.

 

Bought from a dealer but no warranty, it has been about 2 months. I will eat this cost, not trying to blame anyone. I did the drain and fill - maybe should have used regular mercon or did a full flush of mercon or mercon v. Maybe it was just going out.. hard to say. We drove it fine for about 2 months and put 5000 trouble free km on it before it gave any symptoms. It had the mercon v (partial fill) in it for about 3 weeks with no issues. Then one day we get it revving up inbetween shift and the next day it goes out completly.

The fluid was a little dark when I bought it (but did not smell burnt) which is why I decided to do a drain and fill - but was going to do several ones so it is mainly all new fluid. Live and learn. Maybe I should have had the dealer do a flush before I bought it. But they are the ones who said it is compatible and mixes fine with the older fluid and it will not hurt anything. My friend worked at a Ford dealer and said that they only use mercon v on theses transmissions. So I thought that I was good.

Either way, we need this vehicle for my wife to drive around with our new born. So it is getting fixed properly and I am eating the cost. What more can you do? We like the Escape and plan to keep it for quite some time. Hopefully it will have very few issues after this.

 

Look, this issue has been covered before. You were wrong then due to outdated and superseded information and you're still wrong now.

Use whatever you want in your own vehicle, but please stop giving out bad information as if it were factual. Leave it lie or get an expert to support your ideas.

 

same thing that happen to my buddy when he was beatin on it

 

he got it fixed through the dealership

 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

Just a bit of advice. Many CD4E transmission were ruined using Mercon V instead of regular Mercon. When and if Mercn V was changed to be compatible, I have no idea, but my 2003 manual says to use regular Mercon, which is still available. Pennzoil for one makes Mercon and have been using it since Ford stop making Mercon.

The only thing I would say is if you want to chance using Mercon V in a transmission that requires old Mercon, have the transmission completely drained and flushed using the new so called compatible Mercon V to do the flush. Fill the trans up and hope for the best. All those seals that were used to having the natural Mercon in the trans will now have a synthetic fluid, I would definetly be afraid of a leak, compatible or not.
If the transmission was built with Mercon in it a change to another fluid would not be recommended, compatible or not. If you had no choice, that would be different, but Mercon is still available.

 

If it makes any difference the tranny shop said that they use regular Mercon and a product called Lube Guard when they fill the trans.

Is there anything I should ask for when they do the rebuild? So this one will last me a very long time. Cooler? Any extra options?

 

If I were you I would check your manual. I think though 2006 Escapes require Mercon V. The requirement changed in 2005 if I am not mistaken.

I have a 2003 and the requirement is plain Mercon.

 

If that shop was trying to mix-up their own magical concoction to fill MY newly rebuilt tranny, I'd have that thing out of the shop in a heartbeat.

There are plenty of perfectly acceptable fluids right out of the bottle for your transmission. Regular MERCON is not one of them. Even if your vehicle was originally filled with MERCON, put MERCON V in there, extend the service interval out, and don't worry about it.