i have a 97 f150 4x4 with the 4r70w and it just uses regular mercon fluid not the mercon v. make sure you know exactly which fluid you need to use. i think if it did need mercon v it would say that on the dipstick.

 

Yes, the dipstick cap will say what type of fluid to use.

Drain the torque converter and trans pan, change the filter too ASAP. Look to replace around 14 qts.
The only fluid you won't be able to get to is what's left in the cooler and lines. Fill it with fresh fluid and drive it. If you don't have problems, change it completely again in 5-10k miles. If it's still good you should be set for another 30k before it needs to be changed again.

 

My 97 4.6 had about 160,000 on it when the trans started acting funny. Holding in 3rd, not wanting to go into OD.....slipping between hard shifts.....not shifting unless you lifted and so on.

I was told the only way to fix it was with a new trans. I had heard all the stories about not getting the trans flush but decided I had nothing to lose.

I will turn 200,000 miles on my way home from work today. The trans works as well as it did the day I bought the truck and I have put 40,000 on it since the flush.

Maybe I got lucky, your experience may be different....but it was a gamble that payed off in the end.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

David

 

Find a good tranny shop and have them flush it and/or change it and road test it. You should be OK. Don't wait any longer though!

 

My 97 i got 256k miles on original fluid

 

1. Change Fluid
2. Drain TC
3. Change Filter
4. Use Amsoil Trans. Fluid

 

at work the other day, i serviced a tranny on a ford van...(filter change), that had 160k miles on it

the owner told me he had changed the filter once before, at 100k

i have heard the stories of washing the gunk, trash, varnish through your lines, off the clutches and jsut screwing up a tranny by changing fluid and or filter.

he left the shop, 5 miles later transmission stopped pulling.

my philosophy...tranny was screwed up already.....lack of maintenance

if it is gonna burn, it is gonna burn.

buy the cheap stuff, change the filter, give it 5000 miles or so, to see if it is still good, then change it again

 

My buddy's Dodge went 180K wiithout a fluid change. He finally started to have probs. Sure enough a full fluid change solved the problem.

I can think of no reason old fluid would perform better than new.

Chris