Need a little help...
I had my tranny fluid replaced, and the shop put in Mercon V. I took the truck home, and it started to slip in Rev. and 1st.
Started calling around, and the dealer is telling me that the shop should have installed standard Mercon, not Mercon V.
However, everything I read outside of a Ford publication says that Mercon V is quite suitable for use as a replacement for standard Mercon.

Took it back to the shop, and the tech told me that I was two quarts low. He added it back in, and it seems as though the slipping has stopped. I guess I'll find out in the morning when it's cold. (that is when it's most noticeable)

If it makes a diff....
2001 / F-250 / 4x4 / 7.3 / Auto Tranny.

Has anyone ever had this problem? And what's the big deal between Mercon and Mercon V????

 

The transmission dip stick tell which one to use. My ''F250 uses Mercon also known as Mercon III or Dexron III. My Crown Vic stick says to use Mercon V which is synthetic. It's my understanding that you should follow the Dip stick and or owner's manual. It's also my understanding that they should not be mixed. Your slipping was probably due to the short fill. Old Shade Tree Guy...speaking here.

 

The first time I changed the oil in a trans and drained the convertor I filled it to the mark let it idle and all looked good. Then I drove for a while and the tranny was slipping bad, I thought I messed something up. I went home and checked the oil and was almost 2 quarts low, when I added the oil it was fine. I tell this only to put you at ease some, the converter just took a while to fill and so your slipping should not be a problem again.

As for the oil, check with the dealer and see what he says.

 

The big deal between MERCON and MERCON V is that they are different fluids. Many people outside Ford say that you can use either. Will they pay to rebuild your transmission if the wrong fluid causes it to fail? Do they know the transmission better than Ford?

Ford requires the use of MERCON in the 4R100 transmission. They warn in several places to not use MERCON V or a fluid with both MERCON and MERCON V ratings.

Of course it's your transmission, so you can run whatever you like in it. Just don't be too surprised if the life of the transmission is shorter than you expected if you run a fluid that Ford says is not for use in that transmission.

 

What is Ford MERCON®V and how is it different from MERCON®?
Ford introduced a new ATF specification for service fill called MERCON®V. MERCON®V ATF addresses anti-wear and anti-shudder protection above the existing MERCON® fluid specification. MERCON®V is designed for optimum performance in Ford’s newer automatic transmissions with electronically controlled and modulated torque converter clutches. The first transmission models to convert are found in some 1997 Ford trucks. The 1998 model year has seen the conversion of many more transmission models. Refer to the Pennzoil Lubricant Recommendations and Capacities Guide or the owner’s manual for exact applications. Not all MERCON®V and MERCON® ATF’s are interchangeable. These are two separate specifications licensed by Ford. Pennzoil® MERCON® V ATF does meet both specifications and is licensed as such. There are currently fluids on the market that meet one specification but not the other.

Problem: AMSOIL INC. has been informed that some AMSOIL Dealers and their customers have experienced problems with their local Ford Dealership service department when bringing in the new AMSOIL Universal ATF for installation in their Ford vehicle transmission. They have been told that: A) You cannot put a Mercon V labeled transmission fluid in a Mercon application. B) That you cannot put a Mercon labeled transmission fluid in a Mercon V application (this is true). C) That you cannot put a dual usage labeled ATF product in the Mercon application or the Mercon V application. Since the new AMSOIL Universal Transmission Fluid is labeled dual usage, recommended for both Mercon and Mercon V applications, some Ford Dealership service managers are telling their customers that if they put the AMSOIL Universal ATF product in their transmission it will void their transmission warranty.
Answer: At least one oil company’s ATF product with a Mercon V rating does not also meet Mercon performance requirements. This has apparently caused a great deal of confusion about allowing Mercon V ATF to be back serviceable in Mercon applications. The AMSOIL Universal ATF has been formulated to meet or exceed both the Mercon and Mercon V specification, as well as G.M. Dexron III and Chrysler ATF+4. It is fully supported through documented testing. It is recommended for and can be used in ALL of the applications listed on the label. PERIOD.

I found the same thing listed on many sites, there are some fluids that meet both specs, these can be interchanged w/ no problems, there are some that do not meet both specs and these can not be interchanged.

 

daimon, Mark, and tigerman,

Thank you all for your replies. The more information I can get on this, the better off I'll be.

Low and behold, I tried it while it was cold, and the darn thing is perfect. Who knows, maybe it was just that the fluid was low. Nonetheless, it's certainly running a hell of a-lot better now.

Real quick.... daimon,,, YOU-Da-Man!
It's rare that someone take the time to explain things like that.

THANK YOU ALL!

 

daimon1054,

Your not a Amsoil dealer, are you?
________________

Gentlemen, when you see a post about the transmission in our trucks that is authored by Mark Kovalsky, take it to the letter. YOU WILL NOT FIND A MORE AUTHORITATIVE SOURCE ON THE WEB about our transmissions. PERIOD.

From an old post of his:

"As for my background and expertise, I am an automatic transmission engineer at Ford Motor Company. I've been doing this since 1988. Before this I was an engine engineer at a smaller company called Roush Industries. You may have heard of them. Before that I was an automatic transmission engineer on the M1 Abrams main battle tank.

I also have a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and a Master of Automotive Engineering, both from Lawrence Technological University.

That should about cover it!

Mark "

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 31-Oct-02 AT 11:15 AM (EST)]NO their site and the quote from the penzoil site just splained it da best.

Just b/c I tried to give an unbiased opppinion you put a little dude pukin' on me? What's up there?
Amsoil, Pensoil, Exxon, Texaco, Mobil1 may not know transmission better than Ford but I will bet a million to 1 they know oil better.

 

>Just b/c I tried to give an unbiased opinion you put a little dude pukin' on me? What's up there?

Relax. :-) It was directed at the thought that you could be one of those "Gimme Amsoil or gimme death" kinda folks, not to you directly. That is not my style.

Also, direct quoting from a manufacturer's website isn't really an "unbiased opinion" is it?

>Amsoil, Pensoil, Exxon, Texaco, Mobil1 may not know transmission better than Ford but I will bet a million to 1 they know oil better.

Does it really matter? Ford specifies a particular fluid. Ford knows what is the best fluid for THEIR transmission.