Advice needed 2001 Taurus AX4N - Merc V equiv?

[DirtyApe]

2001 Ford Taurus, 108k, AX4N transmission. Filter and fluid flush via cooler line at 58k (first service), now 108, going to do filter and fluid again.

No shifting problems, everything seems like it did at 58k.

Around here the only actual 'Mercon V' I can find is a few clearance bottles of M1 at almost $6/qt or house brand AAP Mercon V at 3.40/qt, and they have no idea who bottled it.

I see the Maxlife Dex/Merc 3.38/qt, which states that it is recommended for Merc V, is this a good alternative to the actual 'merc v' only fluids which are few and far between here?

thanks!

 

[unDummy]

Maxlife doesn't meet the cold pumpability flow required by MerconV.

Visit more stores. MerconV is a common enough ATF. Seems that every autopart and department store has a different brand of it around here.

If AAP MerconV is all you can get, then use it. Castrol Import ATF and Pennzoil Multivehicle should also be easy enough to find and work well there too. M1 is a good choice if in your budget.

 

[Slick 55]

Mobil 1 ATF works excellent for Mercon V applications.

 

[K-Man]

Also look at Amsoil ATF, which is recommended for Mercon V applications. I have a '98 Taurus with the AX4N; the previous owner maintained the car well and had the transaxle fluid changed. I switched to Amsoil 15,000 miles ago and am highly pleased. Dropped the pan to install a drain plug about six weeks ago and topped the trans with 6 quarts of fresh Amsoil, so I should be set for quite a while.

Tip: Become an Amsoil preferred customer for $10/6 months and you will save more than that cost on the amount of ATF you will need. For the original installation back in the spring, I furnished it to the garage that changed the fluid with the machine that uses the trans lines to the radiator.

 

[XPR]

Amsoil ATF

 

[ewetho]

Originally Posted By: mh2800

I see the Maxlife Dex/Merc 3.38/qt, which states that it is recommended for Merc V, is this a good alternative to the actual 'merc v' only fluids which are few and far between here?

thanks!


Well I have NEVER seens a MERCON V Only fluid. Heck Motorcraft is Merc V/Dex III H Spec. Most universals should be good today and any that list Merc V should be just fine.

 

[DirtyApe]

I did find a Castrol as well as the AAP and clearly says 'Mercon V' on the label. Castrol was 4.xx a qt.

 

[DirtyApe]

Originally Posted By: unDummy
Maxlife doesn't meet the cold pumpability flow required by MerconV.

Visit more stores. MerconV is a common enough ATF. Seems that every autopart and department store has a different brand of it around here.

If AAP MerconV is all you can get, then use it. Castrol Import ATF and Pennzoil Multivehicle should also be easy enough to find and work well there too. M1 is a good choice if in your budget.


I found some Castrol Mercon V for 4.xx /qt, and are you speaking of the gray bottle pennzoil with the red cap? I can find that locally lots of places (probably so since it is the multivehicle formula.)

Odd that maxlife would say they are recommended and not pass a test needed to certify.

[censored] confusing.

 

[1sttruck]

Motorcraft Mercon V was around $3 a qt from the dealer.