FORD UNVEILS NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID

This is part of a article, "We aren't yet replacing SP, which is used in our conventionally shifted 5 speed and 6 speed transmissions, but there is a significant amount of testing ongoing to replace SP with Mercon LV"

LV stands for low viscosity.

 

Sorry fellas. Just went and picked my buddies new 09 up and it says on the tranny stick Mercon LV only. Figured it could go backwards all the way to the 03 5r110's if a proper heated flush was used to get the old SP out.

 

Here is some info I found on the Mercon LV transmission fluid.

It appears to be designed for cars and light-duty trucks (not Super Duty or the Torqushift transmission).

It is a 150,000 mile fluid and appears to be an improvement for Mercon V?

Here are some links:

MERCON® LV Automatic Transmission Fluid

LUBE REPORT: Ford Unveils New Transmission Fluid

CarTech, Inc.: Browsing Selecting the Proper Automatic Transmisison Fluid


Wow... there is no way I would go 150,000 miles between fluid changes in any vehicle. I am very surprised to hear that Mercon LV is used in an '09 Super Duty per a previous post above???

 

Have never heard or seen this before???

Not every dealer even has or uses a flush machine for transmissions.

I have not seen a copy of an owner's manual nor have I seen any posts in the 6.4L PSD forum about Mercon LV fluid in '09 Super Duties.

Check the owner's manual for your friend's truck and verify the fluid type? I can't seem to find anything about Mercon LV being the factory fill in any model year Super Duty truck.

Is there a resident diesel tech viewing this thread that can assist and can look it up in the Ford Service manual and on-line system?????

Thanks,

 

Reread a few posts above.

FORD UNVEILS NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID.

The purpose of the Mercon LV is to replace Mercon SP. Super Duty is a trade name, F250 F350 are light duty along with the chevy and dodge trucks.

 

I just went out and double checked and it has LV on the tranny dipstick for the 09.

 

Since SP in not a synthetic tranny fluid, is the new LV a synthetic fluid since Ford has doubled the change interval?

DSMMH

 

What I have read is that Mercon SP is a synthetic. Granted, it may be caught up in the debate that rages in the oil sector (ie that companies are now allowed to list their highly refined/hydroprocessed/hydrocracked oils as synthetic). Ford's product data sheet does not state "either way".

What is your reference for it not being a synthetic? I have not been able to find an official source (that I can remember) that states specifically that it is or isn't.

The fluid can withstand some high temps, which leads me to believe the perspective of it being a synthetic. It sure would be informative to confirm this either way!

 

Biz......I agree!. It has been debated at length on this sight with no concrete info from Ford or anyone else to specifically identify SP as a synthetic tranny fluid.

I make my assumption based on the following two knowns.

1. If you read the SP bottle, and I read every word even the fine print, there is no mention of it being a synthetic fluid. I would think since synthetics have become very popular for all drive train components that Ford would say whether SP is synthetic or not. Just my observation.

2. On another post that discussed SP add nosium, in rebuttal to my saying that SP was not synthetic, there was an article posted that used the word synthetic in it when discussing SP but it did not say specifically that SP is synthetic. I believe the article stated that ford may reformulate SP and that a synthetic base MAY be required in the reformulation. I tried SEARCH to find the thread but had no luck.

Again, this is not difinitive but just the info I drew my conclusion from that SP is not a synthetic tranny fluid. FWIW

I put Royal Purple synthetic ATF in my X at 60,000 miles and it now has 78,000 miles on it. The only difference I notice is that it shifts a little firmer. Firmer shifts are not uncharacteristic of synthetic tranny fluids. B&M Trick Shift, which I used before RP ATF, is a prime example of what I'm talking about.

Has anyone read the new LV fluid bottle to see if it is a synthetic fluid?

DSMMH

 

From what I have read about SP is that it starts out with a type III base of oils where as Mercon and Mercon V start with type I and II base oils. What I gather is depending on who makes the SP to Ford specs. can make it from a synthetic base or not. Another source of info says the SP stands for shear proof.