I recently inherited a 2000 Ranger xlt 4wd. It has not been driven in several years, although it does start and run. As part of getting it going again I intend to replace all the fluids.My question is about the transfer case fluid. The owner's manual specifies Mercon. The Motorcraft website shows mercon V as compatible with mercon, but further states not for use in transfer cases. Is the Motorcraft transfer case fluid, as called for in my 09 F250, Ok to substitute?

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

I see you don't have any replies yet, so I'll see if I can get things started.
Mercon has been replaced with Mercon V which is a friction modified semi-syn recipe. (EDIT For The Record: & as noted in its PDS. I too finally see a specifically posted restriction that says it should Not be used for Transfer Case use, where the former "Mercon" fluid was specified !!!!
So, according to the current Motorcraft Mercon-V PDS, it Should Not be used where the former "Mercon" fluid, (which is no longer in production), was called out for use in your 2000 Ranger 4X4 transfer case. https://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubrican...ission%20Fluid

There seems to be considerable confusion amongst Dealers, Lube Centers, Owners & around the "Net" in general, about what to use.
Ford has a Transfer Case Fluid, Motorcraft XL-12, that's formulated just for transfer cases as noted in its PDS here https://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubrican...ission%20Fluid

EDIT: For the record, XL-12 is ok to use in transfer cases made through 2011. If the transfer case was made After 2011, only use Mercon LV.

So According to the Motorcraft PDS's as of his date, those with transfer cases made 2011 or earlier have Two choices of transfer case lube, XL-12, or Mercon LV.
Those with transfer cases made 2012 or later/to this date, currently have One choice of transfer case lube, Mercon LV.

So your hunch & Marks post below woke me up to try & see if I could unravel things a little & maybe get a better understanding of what happened back in the mid 2000's & later, when Ford replaced "Mercon" with Multi-Vehicle Mercon-V & later developed a special lube just for transfer cases, Motorcraft XL-12.

Seems for a while back in the mid 2000's there were Two different recipes of fluid that carried the Mercon-V nomenclature. (I still have containers of both) The original recipe Mercon-V in the "Red" bottle & later a Multi-Vehicle Mercon-V recipe in a "Black" bottle, that was supposedly ok to use in a transfer case, transaxle & tranny, previously specified to use Mercon. BUT it seems there were still some problems with using Multi-Vehicle Mercon-V recipe in some transfer cases & transmissions, apparently some additive in the origional Mercon-V, or later Mercon-V multiple vehicle recipes would over time, get after some clutch friction materials bonding agent & cause it to come unraveled & cause considerable mischief!!!!

SO, now we have a special "Transfer Case Fluid", Motorcraft XL-12 to use in 2011 & Earlier transfer cases as it says so in Writing & thus is likely to be safe to use in older Transfer Cases made through 2011!!!
For transfer cases made in 2012 & later use Only Mercon LV.

The current Mercon LV PDS says it can be used in All transfer cases, so folks with a transfer case made 2011 or earlier now have Two choices of transfer case fluid, Mercon LV, or XL-12:End EDIT)

 

Yes, the transfer case fluid is the right fluid for your transfer case. Don't use MERCON V in it.

 

Well I finally found this data sheet for Transfer Case Fluid / Motorcraft # XL-12 https://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubrican...ission%20Fluid. Its Only for transfer cases made prior to 2012.
If you can't find XL-12, you can also use Mercon LV, as its rated for All transfer cases.

EDIT: For transfer cases made 2012 & later, Don't use XL-12, Only use Mercon LV. https://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubrican...ission%20Fluid

Thanks deposy for starting this thread & to Mark for waking me up & setting me straight on using the Transfer Case Fluid Motorcraft XL-12.

 

The original Mercon V was specifically formulated for Ford by Valvoline and it was semi synthetic. The on-the-shelf version of Mercon V at nearly all auto parts houses today, its no longer semi synthetic, it's dino. However, for extra money you can find and buy (as of a couple years ago) the semi synthetic blend, and IIRC it says Motorcraft on the 1 qt bottle. Also and as of a few years back, the current Castrol version of Mercon V is approved by Ford; the Valvoline, not so. As for what to run in your transfer case, use what the manual says.

 

You can also buy full synthetic MERCON V. Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF is one example.

 

If you have trouble finding XL-12 or choke on its price, from the Motorcraft PDS here https://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubrican...ission%20Fluid, looks like for your 2000 Ranger transfer case you can also use Mercon LV tranny fluid. Note the 3rd Red dot down "For use in all transfer cases".

Wonder who at Ford is driving this train, as they sure seem to know how to overly complicate important things.

 

Thanks to everyone for their input on this. I have since found other posts on this subject that show some frightening results from using the wrong fluid. I found two bottles(all they had) of the XL-12 at the nearest Ford dealer to me. The parts manager heard me talking to the counter man. After a long discussion he admitted that Mercon V should not be used in my transfer case. He also said he could not get any more XL-12.

 

The supertech mercon rated atf from Walmart works just fine, I have use it in several transfer cases without issue.

 

Nobody, including SuperTech, has made MERCON since 2006. You are referring to a fluid that is recommended for transmissions that require MERCON. Neither of us knows what, if any specification that it meets.

MERCON V is the correct fluid now. SuperTech has one of those available. I've used it, it's a good fluid.

 

Regardless of what specs it actually meets, I can tell you from experience that it has worked fine for me. I have it in all three of my transfer cases now and have used it in several others with no problems. I have used it in my NV271 for nearly 60,000 miles so if it was going to cause problems I think something would have happened by now.