The owners manual calls for Mercon ATF for the power steering and Mercon SP ATF for the transmission. Will Valvoline Maxlife Dex/Merc ATF work for both? It says it is compatable with them or should I go to the dealer and get the specific fluids for each. Have not found a store that sells the specific product they are all blends. Thanks!

 

Use Mercon SP or LV for the tranny and Mercon V syn. for the power steering. Don't play cheap with the P.S. That's also your brakes. Mercon LV is a buck a qt. cheaper at my dealer than the SP. Don't forget to change the external tranny filter.

 

Thanks I will go to the dealer and get it there. Thanks

 

How much are you guys paying for your LV at your local dealers? I guess I just found out mine is super over charging at about $8.50 a quart.

 

Been awhile but I thinks I paid 4 and change per qt.

 

I was wondering the same thing on the Valvoline Maxlife. It is suppose to exceed requirements of vehicles using Mercon, Mercon V, Mercon SP, and Mercon LV. Anyone used this stuff yet? A common fluid for PS and trans would make life a little easier.

 

Been a while since this was asked.... anyone?

 

No matter what any manufacture claims or their marketing department prints... no fluid can truly be "multi-spec'd" and perform 100% as it should.

I personally only use standard Mercon V fluid (single spec) in my power-steering system and only use Mercon SP in the tranny. Yes, Merson SP and Mercon LV are now compatible for the tranny, I just prefer to use Mercon SP as long as it is available so as to only have one type of fluid in my tranny... and since it has worked so far for 211,000 miles, why change now?

Mercon V has replaced Mercon and is 100% compatible, since the Mercon spec was discontinued by Ford... so even if yor manual (like mine) states to use Mercon in the P/S system, Mercon V is just fine (but not SP, LV or any other spec).

I also run a Magnafine in-line P/S filter (it's a tranny and P/S filter) on my truck and believe that it has to help filter my P/S fluid. Just do a search for Magnafine P/S fluid filter install. The filter filters and has a built in magnet. Ford use to mandate their use when installing a rebuilt tranny.