4r70w mercon/merconV what gives?

[lazzirus]

My '97 shows tranny code u on the manufacture plate, which is the 4r70w, right? I have read a lot on here about using only mercon V, but my owners manual and the tranny dipstick say use mercon. What gives?

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[dirtyd0g]

Use the merconV

[casey_1]

The '97 4R70W was factory filled with MERCON. Later Ford determined that MERCON V would be a better fluid for the 4R70W, so they changed the recommendation.

[Ed-eee]

Mercon V has more (or better) additives and is better for your transmission. My Dad (as well as myself) have Ford trucks and he was told the above by an ol' transmission guy who's been working on cars just after they were invented.

[MGDfan]

Hi.

I believe Casey is right. See this link:

http://www.txchange.com/merconv.htm

Now, what to use in a '97 4r70W??? According to Ford - Mercon. BUT, you have the (better) option to use another brand that will confrom to both Mercon/Mercon V standards. See these two links.

http://www.smartsynthetics.com/faqs/...plications.htm

http://www.valvoline.com/pages/produ....asp?product=1

And then I found this:

"Ford TSB # 01-15-7 released August 8, 2001 states that Mercon and Mercon V are not interchangable and also should not be mixed.
Using the wrong fluid may cause damage.

Also, the same TSB states that you should not use dual usage fluid, marked as Mercon and Mercon V in a vehicle calling for Mercon. To do so may cause damage.

Source, Alldatadiy.com "

Which of course, conflicts with this:

http://www.pecuniary.com/faq/ATF-dealers.html

Note this line in that last link:

Answer: At least one oil company’s ATF product with a Mercon V rating does not also meet Mercon performance requirements. This is problematic when recommending using Mercon V in that '97 Mercon-rated tranny.

I only Searched for a few seconds - I did not find anything suggesting it's a good idea to put Mercon V in a Mercon application, UNLESS the fluid is specifically designed to be compatible with both.... but there is LOTS if (dis)information out there too.

Perhaps getting it in writing from a Ford Stealership is an answer

Personally, if the dipstick is the original, and it says Mercon, and your '97 Owner's Manual says Mercon, and Ford says Mercon - use Mercon, or a quality fluid formulated for both ( see above).

I use the Amsoil ATF - have since the truck needed it's first tranny fluid change @ 30,000 miles. (Nope I'm not a saleperson). The TSB doesn't apply here because I have a Mercon V 4r70W. Tranny has had zero problems. An Active tranny cooler is also a really good idea. Tranny fluid is not like stale Coke - if it overheats just once, it's toast. That's a fact. Look it up. Denying it doesn't change the fact that it's true.


Cheers
Vic

[Drdexron]

Ford recommends using Mercon V in all of their vehicles equipped with the older AOD-E and 4r70W transmissions that originally came filled with Mercon.