"Trans Fluid"
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Senior User
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"Trans Fluid"
i have a 93 150 5 Speed Manual Transmission and the owners mannual say use mercron oil i went to the store to get some but every place had mercron ATF fluid is that all right to use or not?
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Seneca, SC
DO NOT USE ATF FLUID!!!!!!
Use gear oil, that's what you need. Automatic transmission fluid is made to power hydraulic acutators within the tranny. This is what engages/disengages the clutches that control what gear you're in. Anyway the reason that you have to buy a certian kind is that certain ones will corrode the casing of certain trannies. IF you use it in the manual tranny you have you could destroy the transmission. Probly won't happen, but nontheless it isn't good for it.
The gear oil that you use dosen't have to be anything special. I'd use lucas oil.
Use gear oil, that's what you need. Automatic transmission fluid is made to power hydraulic acutators within the tranny. This is what engages/disengages the clutches that control what gear you're in. Anyway the reason that you have to buy a certian kind is that certain ones will corrode the casing of certain trannies. IF you use it in the manual tranny you have you could destroy the transmission. Probly won't happen, but nontheless it isn't good for it.
The gear oil that you use dosen't have to be anything special. I'd use lucas oil.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Colville, Washington
That used to be the case, but the new 5 speeds are designed for Mercon ATF in all Ford applications. The newer tranny's use a Mercon V which is a synthetic ATF. If you use gear oil it will not circulate properly and cause damage.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Colville, Washington
My Chilton manual as well as the owners manual for my '89 says the 5 speeds ALL USE MERCON ATF. The 4 speeds use gear oil, in 85w-90. If you are still unsure call ANY repair shop or Ford dealer and they will confirm my statements.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Seneca, SC
ok, well I've never heard of that, but I've been wrong b4. Go with the manual, or call up a ford dealership and ask them to make sure. A phonecall costs next to nothing. A tranny costs a bunch.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Saratoga, NY
Mercon ATF is the same as Mercon oil. Ford isn't the only to use ATF in a manual tranny, GM has done it also, as a matter of fact they use it in some of their transfer cases and so does Ford and Chrysler. If your so worried go to a dealer parts dept and they will hand you the same thing at an inflated price.
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Posting Guru
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The Mazda 5 speed uses Mercon ATF becuase it is thinner and has better all around viscosity in all temps. This tranny is designed to lubricate by slinging the fluid all over, with ATF this is easily accomplished, however with gear oil it will most likely starve the upper parts and allow them to eat up your tranny. Use Mercon ATF, standard ATF or something like Amsoil Synthetic will work perfectly.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,851
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From: SW Va
Use EXACTALLY the Motorcraft product called for in your owners manual, or a product that says it meets, or exceeds, Fords reciepe & specification for the specified Motorcraft product!!!!
IMHO, we shouldn't begin mixing things in, or try to re~engineer the lubricant requirements for our tranny, unless we are experts in the field & do this type of work for a living, or are doing it at the behest of a factory TSB!!!
IMHO, we shouldn't begin mixing things in, or try to re~engineer the lubricant requirements for our tranny, unless we are experts in the field & do this type of work for a living, or are doing it at the behest of a factory TSB!!!
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: North Alabama
It's a little off-topic, but I work with a guy that drives a 1995 Mustang. It's 5-speed tranny calls for Mercon, but for some odd reason he decided to use Type F instead. he's been driving it around 100 miles a day for a couple of years with that Type F fluid in it. I know it's crazy, but somehow it works for him......
If I did that, I am 110% sure that my transmission would fall right out of the car at 70+ mph.
If I did that, I am 110% sure that my transmission would fall right out of the car at 70+ mph.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,228
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From: Running Springs CA
Type F has better frictional properties for the syncronizers, Mercon/Dexron/MerconV/+3/+4, etc. mainly differ in frictional properties for different automatic transmission clutch materials. Yes, the newer formulas are semi-synthetic to flow better at sub-zero temperatures, if you live where that is an issue. Any ATF will have the right operating viscosity and additive package for the gears and bearings. I use RedLine MTL in a BMW (Getrag) 5-speed that calls for "ATF OIL" on the fill sticker and it shifts even better.
Jim
Jim
Cargo Master
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From: Lynnwood, WA
Originally Posted by wavinwayne
It's a little off-topic, but I work with a guy that drives a 1995 Mustang. It's 5-speed tranny calls for Mercon, but for some odd reason he decided to use Type F instead. he's been driving it around 100 miles a day for a couple of years with that Type F fluid in it. I know it's crazy, but somehow it works for him......
If I did that, I am 110% sure that my transmission would fall right out of the car at 70+ mph.
If I did that, I am 110% sure that my transmission would fall right out of the car at 70+ mph.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2000
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Inline6RedNeck, your 93 will specify the Mercon/Dexron III ATF. The transmission has some needle bearings in it, that's why it needs ATF. Like WickyMustang says, the ATF "slings" better because it dosen't have the tackifiers that are added to gear oil.