Have you guys used anything aside from merc v in your 4R100?
Recently a line & my dipstick tube started blew from rust, when swapping in new lines, I drained the pan looked like I had a couple quarts in there if I was lucky.

Given the drastic price difference, the unknown mileage (clock says 165k but I think it's a yard pull tranny) & local availability, I've been looking at using high mileage valvoline maxlife full synthetic. It doesn't list it as a merc v replacement on the bottle, but on the product info site it does.
Have any of you had success with it?

My biggest worry is if something I missed decides to leak or just low quality parts burst, being on a fixed income having over $120 worth of fluid dump out would really be a kick to the plums.

Here's the spec page:
https://sharena21.springcm.com/Public/Document/18452/9e447451-fe75-e711-9c10-ac162d889bd3/5ca3517a-e29c-e711-9c10-ac162d889bd3.

 

I use wolfs head synthetic....works great.

 

What does that usually go for a quart/gallon? Any particular part number they use or just search merc v?

 

Universal Synthetic ATF Qt


Thats what I use in my 99...been good for years.
Doesnt say for ford... used to... better check it...

 

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/th...ic-atf.335289/

 

Back in the day it was ok to use.. Now with the merc V who the hell knows...I use it in the trans and transfer case and in my 2001 subaru...

 

Actually ran across that earlier, funny thing is the Ford techs (as with any other company) are jumping up & down about either strictly motorcraft EVERYTHING or fomoco licensed merc v variants only. Fordtechmakeuloco seems borderline on that but he hasn't given out bad advice in a video yet as far as I can tell. I attempted to get ahold of him about the fluid but I don't think he replies to Youtube comments unfortunately.
One thing I did catch is don't use merc lv in anything because it's really hard to tell when it's actually bad as it goes black in under a few thousand miles.

Money could very well be the reason it is no longer listed as "ok", Amalie/Wolf's head didn't want to pay licensing fees so Ford said you can't use our name on anything. I mean if it met the spec one day & not the next, one has to be curious about which side caused that. Standards to tend to remain stable in the fluid arena.
If I knew more about trans fluid certs (like motor oil ones) that would be the answer.

From what I read on Valvolines P.I. sheet, it lists v-compatible but also has the disclaimer "works for all listed unless manufacturer states otherwise", maybe that keeps Ford off their back. It's really odd saying it's fine while simultaneously saying "nope, can't use it" because Ford says mercon v only. I've seen a few licensed variants but they're either jacked up in price or just hard to get. Also odd that there's not a synthetic motorcraft variant, only conventional.

I unwittingly used the same valvoline high mileage in the power steering pump on my 99 F150 I'm trying to unload that calls for merc v, nothing happened, no leaks or failures. But the nervous "should I" pops up with the trans because that's a much bigger job to replace, esp relative to a p.s. pump. Rewiring the dash was a cakewalk in comparison atleast in my eyes.

 

I use Amsoil products all of em. Go to the website & start reading. They make everything Y;all will need for the whole truck. They compare ALL thier products to any other oil products. They make a Microfiber engine oil filer also

 

Just one quick comment about the Mercon V. Its supposedly not compatible with Mercon LV. I believe, double check me on it. i.e. if you were running Mercon V in the transmission be careful using anything rated for LV. That being said, I have no idea what the incompatibility is, but you should double check it regarding what you intend to use to be sure. I have included a link below that gives a description about half way down the page of the Mercon V and the Mercon LV and specifically says the LV should not be mixed with the V.

https://www.cartechbooks.com/blogs/t...autotransfluid

 

Go to the Amsoil website type in year & model & it will give Y'all every product they make that is for that truck, Engine,Trans,Diff,brakes, Coolant Anything just start reading.

 

I'd go with them but it's way out of my price range, basically my max is around $20/gallon.

 

cheapest I could find was o Reilly brand mercon V at 5.99/qt but only used a pint as a top off. If you find anything for 20/gal please let us know

 

You are correct on not mixing, I don't know if you'd call it fortunate or unfortunate but my trans is bone dry (I only have to drain the converter still, but aside from that).
The day my lines went I never had the chance to research on what to use & the shelves were quite literally empty aside from type f and that valvoline type so I grabbed the last few bottles of the latter to make it the mile home. The usual reference books chained to the shelf have all been removed for whatever reason, the computer ones don't have any trans info.
Not sure what was in there before but whatever it was, it got mixed for that short while & it was slipping to the point that 2k-3k rpms were what it took to get moving.

 

For some reason it's cheaper by the quart, which is opposite of how everything else works (bulk normally being cheaper).
Conventional valvoline merc v is 21.88/gallon if you buy by the quart($5.47), around $40 if you buy a gallon jug.

 

The "C" word trucks (I try not to use foul language like Chevy) are Cheap ! Y'ALL PAY FOR WHAT Y'ALL GET. A longer drain interval and a Superior product that will PROTECT Your investment !