I'm sure this will ruffle some feathers and get a lot of disagreement and discussion, HOWEVER, I received a response back from an email that I sent to Greg Evans regarding what type of fluid should be used in the 4R100.

For those of you who don't know who Greg Evans is, he is an ex-Ford transmission engineer and is currently the designer of the Factory Tech Monster Box for the 4R100 as well as other transmissions like the Torque Monster for the 5R100.

Anyway, his reply was short and sweet, "Use only MERCON III/DEXRON, never use MERCON V in a 4R100".

There you have it, take it for what it's worth but I'll take the advice/direction from someone who designs and builds transmissions for a living over that of a transmission shop that doesn't have a clue or a backyard mechanic any day of the week.

 

I DO know Gregg Evans. He's a good guy, and he does know a lot about the 4R100. However, he was NOT a Ford trans engineer. He was (still is?) a trans repairman at a Ford transmission plant.

With all due respect to trans repairmen, and I've known several, they are not familiar with the testing that goes into certifying a fluid for use in a transmission. Gregg is quoting old information.

MERCON V has changed from the old formulation. It is now the right fluid to use in a 4R100. I was one that OFTEN stated not to use MERCON V in a 4R100 (see my article on changing ATF in the 4R100), but things have changed.

 

This will go on for a while I guess. Mark knows what he is talking about. He helps us in the 7.3 forum all the time.

Mark is the trans man.

 

Use whatever fluid you want, it's your transmission, it's your money.

 

i agree with redford. try to find anything but mercon v at a dealership these days. i've got almost 45k on my reformulated mercon in my 03 with 105k on my 4r100. and no issues yet with the new mercon compared to the old mercon/dextron. just my two cents.

 

1. My mistake, but regardless the man knows his sh|t.

2. So how is someone to know if a shop is using the old formula that they've had stock piled or the new formula.

 

Change your own fluid. I would think a rebuild shop would know about the fluid. At least now you know to ask.

 

It is just a matter of reading the label on the container. The new version of Mercon V states on the label that it is for use in transmissions that use Dexron III (Mercon III) fluid.

 

Who to trust? The repairman....or the engineer? I've got Mercon V in mine!

 

And worse, unless YOU made the typo...

You know there's no such thing as MERCON III, right?

It's MERCON/DEXRON III

There's MERCON and MERCON V. Nothing else

 

04-25-2008, 10:50 PM
aldridgec
Posting Guru Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Baltimore USA
Posts: 1,727


Quote:
Originally Posted by kenneBF250V10
Here is a paragraph taken directly from TSB 06-14-4:

ACTION:
Beginning immediately all automatic transmission / transaxle applications requiring MERCON® can now be serviced using MERCON® V or MERCON® Automatic Transmission Fluid or dual usage fluids labeled MERCON® / MERCON® V. After July 1, 2007, MERCON® Automatic Transmission Fluid will no longer be manufactured, therefore, availability of this fluid will only continue for however long it takes to deplete what remains in inventory.


So according to this TSB, MERCON V is ok to use in the 4R100. If that's the case then why did a shop foreman at a Ford dealer tell me that MERCON V in a 4R100 is a big no-no.

If MERCON was supposed to be no longer manufactured after July 1, 2007 then why can you still get it from Ford? You mean to tell me that they had that much stockpiled.

Yep that is the TSB I looked up. And we now have updated info from Mark as to the info in the writeup. Case closed it looks like.

Looks like the OP lucked out in getting and upgraded warranty, score one for the dealer stepping up and getting it done, and switching to a different fluid like he wanted.

However, looks like they were doing the right thing afterall.

__________________
ASE Certified Master Automotive Technician

Current Vehicles:
2002 F-250 7.3L PSD 4x4 XLT
2002 Sunset Orange Mettalic WS6 Trans Am Convertible

"Maybe is for those who lack skill"



Not sure how to insert a quote so I cut and pasted, but you get the idea. Remember this one Marc?

 

"And worse, unless YOU made the typo...

You know there's no such thing as MERCON III, right?

It's MERCON/DEXRON III

There's MERCON and MERCON V. Nothing else"

Seems like you missed a chapter or two in this process. First there was "type A", then Ford type F came into being. The next thing that happened is that type A became known as /was replaced by Mercon, then Mercon II, then Mercon III. GM used the name Dexron for Mercon. Then Mercon/Mercon III was replaced by Dexron III. Mercon V was orginally a synthetic fluid and was NOT for use in Dexron/Mercon transmissions. Then Mercon V was reformulated and rated for replacement of the Dexron/Mercon brands. I still have a few quarts labeled "Mercon III" in my garage. If you go to AutoZone, you can purchase fluid with a label that states for use in transmissions requiring " Mercon III". I have been rebuilding transmissions for more than 25 years and may be a little more familiar with this than some.

 

You may be more familiar, but you're not right.

There NEVER was a MERCON II, MERCON III, or MERCON IV. There has been MERCON, MERCON V, and MERCON SP.

MERCON and DEXRON III were almost identical fluids, so any fluid that met one of those specs met the other. They were all labeled MERCON/DEXRON III.

The factory fill MERCON V was NEVER a synthetic. It is a synthetic blend. There are dino MERCON Vs, blends, and full synthetics available.

 

I just can't believe how some of this stuff perpetuates forever.

 

Engineers just can't handle being told they're wrong, whether they are or aren't.