Hi,

I have a 1997 E4OD that I had rebuilt by an independent shop about 5 years ago, at about 100k on the odo. The torque converter failed, blew metal bits all through it and ruined the unit. So it was a total rebuild, new clutches and steels, new converter, solenoid pack, valve body, and some other stuff.

Now before the rebuild, I changed the fluid every 15-30k like the manual says, and every time, it was dirty and burnt smelling. Always used Mercon, like it says on the dipstick.

After the rebuild, the trans has run perfectly, AND the fluid hasn't gotten dirty or burnt yet. I now have 60k on the rebuild. My driving habits have not changed. At the time the work was done I asked the shop what fluid should I put in it, Mercon or Mercon V? Their response was quote "Yeah, you can put Mercon V in it." I should have pinned them down about this vague answer, but at the time I didn't know about the whole evolution of Mercon products. And they are out of business now, so I can't ask them.

So my question is, do I have a Mercon V transmission now? Is is common practice to rebuild E4OD's with Mercon V compatible parts, and "upgrade" them? My father has a '98 E4OD, says "Mercon V" on the stick and the fluid in it has never been changed, now has 95k on it, and looks like the day it was put in.

I'm thinking about changing the fluid now, but should I bother? And if I do what do I put in it? I know up to some point (2005?) Mercon and Mercon V were incompatable. So I think the only safe choice is the latest spec Mercon V that IS ok to put in Mercon units.

I realize there's a lot of speculation here, but what do you think?

 

Well, what would you say if I told you that Ford changed the reccomendation to Mercon V, .....because.... Mercon is no longer made now for a number of years.
Look at the labels on the bottles to get further info.
To get down to specifics, it depends on what make clutch and band lining was used in the rebuild.
If rebuilt to factory specs then Mercon V is the fluid, if a custom HP job was done then the shops reccomendation is followed since they know what lining was used.
For example, my custom rebuild to very high performane specs used RAYBESTO lining of which there are at least three grades last I new, as I have the middle grade that uses either Mercon V or GM fluid DEXTRON.
Dextron in a FORD, yeeks but true in this case.
My build was done at about 50k from a blown converter pulling very heavy loads.
The trans now has 173k and is perfect.
BTW, your discription of your failure was a converter that 'balloned' and broke up the flat torrington bearings behind the converter. The pieces will go through the trans and require a through and complete flush and cleaning to be sure nothing is left to wreck the new job, so they did a good job.. The particles have no other place to go or get out. Usually the magnet in the pan collects a lot of it when it gets back to the pan.
A close look at the mess with a mag glass will show pieces that can be recognized if you know what your looking for..
Good luck.

 

The only non-OEM item I had them do was make the 2-3 shift a bit tighter. Otherwise it should be completely stock.

I'm going to have an oil analysis done first, before I do anything.

 

The shift improvement won't have an effect on the fluid used.
That change can be a simple spring pressure alteration and or an orface size change.
That change only makes the application of a clutch or servo a bit faster at shift time when the PCM operates the shift solenoid to gate fluid to the channel..
Good luck.