Fella's I hope I've got the right tranny fluid in my truck! My owners manual says Mercon, it doesn't have MerconV mentioned anywhere in it. Is this unusual? I would think it would be more accurate than this if it took MerconV. I put Mercon in my truck about 350 miles ago, this was the first time I changed it, the other two times the dealership changed it, and I don't know what they put in it, (guess I should've asked).

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'97 Ford SC 4X4 XLT Off Road pkg., 4.6,A/OD, 3:55, premium sound w/CD chg, Black clct,towing pkg., hvy duty elec. pkg., Bridestone dueler AT's, line X, Flowmaster true duals, chip, K&N air filter, smittybilt stainless nerf bars

 

You are correct. The 97 took Mercon. The newer ones are Mercon V but I do not know exactly which year it changed. 1999 I think?

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97 F-150 SC Lariat, Styleside, White over Gold, 4.6L (Windsor), Automatic, 3.55 rear end, electronic 4X4, w/ every option of Lariat and ORP packages except the 17" wheels (I even got the OR decals now!), MOD's so far: K&N air box mod, Gibson Super Truck, clear Bugflector II, Leer TSC 600 hard cover, Bridgestone Dueler OWL ATP 265/75 R-16's, TrailMaster Invader N7 shocks, Smittybilt step bars, Ford moulded mud guards, "White-white" head lamps, Cloud Rider Design's SS Grill and bumper opening "Summer Grill's", Bosch platinum + 4's.

 

Beginning with the '97 model year, Ford started shifting over to Mercon V. Many '97 models still came with Mercon, however. Mercon V can be used in any vehicle that normally uses regular Mercon, but not vice versa due to the fact that Mercon is heavier than Mercon V

 

Fordman,

Are you sure it was that early? My 97 manuals say nothing about a Mercon V option.

 

Yes, I'm sure. The change over began with the '97 model year, but did not include all models at any given date. It was gradual as logistics, etc. permitted.

 

I concur with Ford Man about the compatibilty, you can put MerconV in a Mercon application, just not the other way around. MerconV is semisynthetic.

BTW, if you pull the dipstick out it will have the fluid requirement listed on it also.

Birdman

 

That's based on Ford and fluid manufacturers recommendations, regarding compatibility, not some opinion.