Transmission question
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 819
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From: Northern Maine
Transmission question
I have a 2005 Escape (3.0). I have noticed when shifting into drive, it is not as smooth as it is when going into reverse. It shifts through all of the gears, both up shifting and down, very smooth. It only seems to bother going into drive. It has 61,000 miles. It had 46,000 when I bought it and I have changed the ATF twice. (drained out and replaced 4 quarts) It has no owner serviceable transmission filter. I have used Motorcraft Mercon V as directed on the dipstick and the manual. I had a 2004 Explorer issued to me by my work that did the same thing. Then I got a recall notice in regards to harsh shifting. I brought it to the dealer and they put in about 8 ounces of some kind of additive. I put the additive in every time that the transmission was serviced after that. The vehicle is still on the road with about 145,000 miles on it. I was wondering if anyone else has noticed this problem in the Escape and if the same additive would work.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 819
Likes: 2
From: Northern Maine
I already see a problem. My owners manual doesn't say Mercon 5, it says Mercon R. When I purchased the vehicle, I had the used car dealer change the AFT for me. He gave me one quart of ATF that he had left over. It was Motorcraft Mercon 5 so that is what I used when I did it again about 10,000 miles later. I have spoken to several mechanics and have been told that Mercon 5 can be used in place of Mercon, but not vice versa. Maybe having a mixture of Mercon 5 and Mercon in the transmission is causing the problem. I'll check with the local Ford Dealer and see what they say.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 819
Likes: 2
From: Northern Maine
I may have solved the problem, and, just in the nick of time. I had a complete transmission flush done (they ran 20 quarts through it) and all of the ATF was replaced with the correct grade. It seems to have improved very noticeably. I spoke to a technician at a not so local Ford dealer. (The local dealer was the one who sold me the Mercon V fluid, knowing that it was going into an Escape) I was told that Mercon V is a synthetic blend fluid and regular Mercon is not, thus there was a serious problem with mixing the two. I was told that the Mercon V fluid would stick to the clutches in the torque converter, especially when it was cold. I was also told that because the vehicle was not exhibiting any other problems, it will probably be OK.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
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As far as the explorer goes.. well let me first explain that there were two different formulations of Mercon V fluid.
The 'old' formulation was causing problems with the new solenoids. Apparently there is a brass bushing that was 'swelling up' due to the fluid and making it stick. The additive was to prevent this from happening. I think this was causing some problems with the Escapes as well.
They have long since reformulated the Mercon V fluid (at least the Motorcraft brand... I can't speak for other brands) so the additive is no longer needed (unless an old stock of the old formula is used).
I have a feeling they flushed it out either with Regular Mercon, or with the new formula of Mercon V.. in either case, it sounds like you got it done in the nick of time!
The 'old' formulation was causing problems with the new solenoids. Apparently there is a brass bushing that was 'swelling up' due to the fluid and making it stick. The additive was to prevent this from happening. I think this was causing some problems with the Escapes as well.
They have long since reformulated the Mercon V fluid (at least the Motorcraft brand... I can't speak for other brands) so the additive is no longer needed (unless an old stock of the old formula is used).
I have a feeling they flushed it out either with Regular Mercon, or with the new formula of Mercon V.. in either case, it sounds like you got it done in the nick of time!
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 819
Likes: 2
From: Northern Maine
It was flushed with regular Mercon. The problems was that the two fluids (Mercon V and Mercon) should not have been mixed together, which was what happened when Mercon V was used when the fluid was drained by just removing the drain plug. Perhaps if I would have had it flushed out and all of the fluid changed in the first place, using the new Mercon V would not have been a problem. The Technitian told me not to use Mercon V in it so I will be using regular Mercon in it from now on.
