DexIII/ Mercon
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Central Texas
DexIII/ Mercon
Girlfriend just got a 2001 Tribute and I need to start with a trans fluid exchange program. I know I need to use Mercon, not MerconV, fluid. The autoparts store only has something labeled DexIII/ Mercon. Is this what I should be using? What brand do y'all recommend? I usually use only syn fluids but read one TSB that said to use only regular Mercon, not syn. Any suggestions?
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From: London , On
try the dealer fluid , it works decent enough. Not sure what aftermarket fluid would be better, there could be better ones out there but few people really know what works best. Rather than gamble I'd go with Ford fluid. Ford has stopped producing this fluid a while back though, but dealers may still have supplies of it on hand. Ford is replacing it and recommending Mercon V, the new Mercon V is supposed to be backward compatible from what I've been told. The older versions of Ford Mercon V were not compatible but they are saying the current Mercon V is. The Mercon V is reported to be a better fluid from what I've read. Check with your local dealer first and see what they recommend. My next fluid change will likely be with Ford Mercon V.
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Kansas City, KS
I use Mercon V through-out our 04. Just make sure you do a full swap or at least have really clean Mercon in there. I put Lubeguard red in ours at the same time.
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From: London , On
yeah I recommend a dealer change if you can, the pump system they use gets pretty much all of the old fluid out of the system, whereas a simple plug drain only gets a few quarts out of it. This way you get a more consistent fluid in there if you have to change to mercon v.
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: NJ
DexcronIII/Mercon is ok. Like everyone suggested if you switch to mercon V have it completely flushed. I think its some sort of conspiracy all the fluid types. ATF+3, +4, etc, yet you can go to the store and buy universal trans. fluid. go figure...
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From: Montana
Mercon V=Mercon=Dexron III/Mercon
Dealerships generally don't use anything labeled Dexron whatever...it's just called Mercon.
However, don't think you can mix the above with Mercon SP, Mercon I, II, or III. I don't even know if there's a IV or not. I would imagine there is. V is supposed to be applicable to all four.
Dealerships generally don't use anything labeled Dexron whatever...it's just called Mercon.
However, don't think you can mix the above with Mercon SP, Mercon I, II, or III. I don't even know if there's a IV or not. I would imagine there is. V is supposed to be applicable to all four.
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From: NJ
Originally Posted by condolan
Mercon V=Mercon=Dexron III/Mercon
So why would Ford make different dipsticks one saying use only Mercon and one saying use Mercon V trans fluid?
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From: Montana
Although I haven't read anything on the subject, I think people are trying to phase out Mercon and replace it with Mercon V. That's what's happening here in town...I'm seeing less Mercon at the store and at the dealership and more Mercon V.
It's important to use the right oil, but Mercon V is apparently a miracle mix of the previous Mercon's.
It's important to use the right oil, but Mercon V is apparently a miracle mix of the previous Mercon's.
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From: Montana
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: NJ
Originally Posted by 1978Crew
All this just leaves me in the dark about what I should do.