ATF for 08 Mercury Milan Aisian Warner 6spd auto

[DSteven]

I researched on the forums the proper ATF for the trans. It is Ford Premium ATF, which was advised to be the same as Toyota T-IV. I followed proper instruction and purchased 7qts from the dealer.. For $7.85/qt! While at Walmart, I checked out the SuperTech Mercon V and Multi-vehicle ATF. The Mercon V states it is recommended for use in Toyota T-IV applications. There is a $5.00/qt price difference between the SuperTech Mercon V and the Ford Premium ATF. Would anyone know if the properties are similar between these two ATFs, or if using the Mercon V in an Aisian Warner 6spd will be safe?

Thank you for advice and input.

 

[meangreen01]

I've got an AW 6speed and got Toyota T-IV from the dealer for less than $5. Call the dealers in your area and I'd bet you'll find the same.

I'm not sure if Mercon V is compatible w/ T-IV.

 

[Eddie]

Castrol Import vehicle is the only ATF that states recommended as a substitute for T-IV. Most aftermarket say suitable, which will be OK but, not tailored for a specific AT. I would get T-IV. My Toyota dealer charged $5.XX per quart 9 months ago.

 

[gomes512]

I believe that Mercon V will fit into the universal category as it is a suitable replacement. However, if you want piece of mind then get the T-IV. Meangreen01 is right T-IV can be had for much cheaper than what you payed.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: meangreen01
I've got an AW 6speed and got Toyota T-IV from the dealer for less than $5. Call the dealers in your area and I'd bet you'll find the same.

That's a good price. I'll have to check out the Toyota dealer again at 120,000 miles

In '06 the Ford dealer didn't stock T-IV yet and the Mazda parts counter tried to sell me MV so I had to go to Toyota. They got $6.99 a qt out of me.

The next change was Castrol IMV. It worked fine for 30,000 miles

 

[unDummy]

Recommended and suitable means the same.

I would only use the Mercon-V as a top off or in an emergency. Some Merc-V are blended as leaning toward universal or multivehicle ATFs. But, I'd look for something better for flushes or drain/refills.

Valvoline Maxlife ATF is $4-5/qt at wallyworld and autopart stores.
Amalie synthetic ATF is about $5/qt delivered to your doorstep.

Other $ options are Redline D4, Amsoil ATF, and Royalpurple MaxATF.

If you stick with Toyota T-IV or Motorcraft, toss in a bottle of Lubegard. I'm underwhelmed by the capability of T-IV.

 

[DSteven]

Thank you for the help! That is very informative. Maybe the SuperTech Mercon V for a flush then the proper fluid. I have used Lubeguard in the past and liked the results, so will get some for this trans too.

 

[Dan55]

Mercon V is not safe don,t use it.

 

[Oregoonian]

Originally Posted By: Dan55
Mercon V is not safe don,t use it.


and what proof do you have that Mercon V is not safe....explain!

hundreds of thousand of Ford trannies have Mercon V in them (including mine)...and are running flawlessly.
________________________________________
2003 Ford Focus (2.3) / 93K
Mobil 1 5w20EP / OCI: 1 Yr. or 10K +/-
Filter: Mobil EP / FSC: RedLine Sl-1

 

[Dan55]

This transmission is not spec'd for Mercon V fluid and still under warranty.

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: Oregoonian

and what proof do you have that Mercon V is not safe....explain!


That's really not how logic works. If you're using a non-spec'd fluid, the burden of proof is really to show that it IS safe, not that it's not safe.

Originally Posted By: Oregoonian
hundreds of thousand of Ford trannies have Mercon V in them (including mine)...and are running flawlessly.
________________________________________


Sure, and thousands of Fords were spec'd for Merc or MercV. This is a totally different transmission, made by a different manufacturer. I don't see the relevance? Based on that logic, should I put MercV in my Ford CVT, too?

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: Oregoonian
Originally Posted By: Dan55
Mercon V is not safe don,t use it.


and what proof do you have that Mercon V is not safe....explain!

hundreds of thousand of Ford trannies have Mercon V in them (including mine)...and are running flawlessly.
________________________________________
2003 Ford Focus (2.3) / 93K
Mobil 1 5w20EP / OCI: 1 Yr. or 10K +/-
Filter: Mobil EP / FSC: RedLine Sl-1


But the Fusion/Milan/Zephyr/Mazda6 from that time did not have a Ford transmission.

The 6-speed on the 1st gen Fusion is an Aisin.

In fact the 4 cylinder/5speed automatic models spec MazdaV which allegedly has a different viscosity than Mercon V. I have read here that using Mercon V will damage a MV spec'd transmission.

 

[JOD]

It's definitely worth shopping around for that fluid. My local Ford dealer sells it for $5.50/qt. I also think that Toyota T-IV for around $5.00/qt.

 

[DSteven]

UPDATE:

Thank you for the valuable information. This transmission has a drain plug and no filter. About 5qts come out each drain. The fluid was very dirty, so I did one flush with the Ford Premium ATF, then 3 more drain/fill (15qts) of MaxLife ATF. The fluid is still dirty. I agree with previous reading that this trans must be brutal on ATF.

However, the up and down shifting is very smooth, more so than prior to servicing. There aren't any noticable ill-effects, but quite positive improvements. I will keep doing a drain/fill with each oil change until the ATF stays pink.

The trans now operates more refined. It was ok before; the downshifts seemed more harsh with the OEM fluid. Again, thank you for the valuable help!

 

[meep]

not sure how it compares, if it's relevant in this trans... I know the A/W AT in my S60 required that 3309/T-IV fluid. From the reading I did, it seems that the clutches used in that era of A/W trannies were a paper-fiber based material, and the 3309/T-IV fluid was designed to "play nice" with those materials.

I don't know what other materials might be used in other AT's, and how much of a difference the chemistry makes. It's one of those things that, if less-than-optimal, prolly won't yield an immediate failure, just faster degeneration of clutches, if there is any negative effects to be had.

Only other potential pitfall is that if a TCU controls shift quality, and the ATF has a different friction property, then the TCU may pulse the clutches differently, maybe not perceptably, causing more wear (aka, like chrysler minivans using dex 3 in the 90's).

Then again, there are other A/W trannies (Jeep) that used Dex or ATF+4 with no problems, but they were not electronically clutched.

.

M

 

[unDummy]

Stating paper-fiber based friction material will lead to bogus internet hearsay and scare tactics. Its a friction material like a clutch, brake pad, brake shoe.... Don't buy XYZ brake pads because they're paper based.

See, its just silly to even talk like that.

Actually, with the newer better fluids, all I've seen are the increase in life of those transmissions, hence the degeneration of the clutches must be slower. So, you have POSITIVE effects when using a superir non-OE fluid when compared to decades old should be obsoleted T-IV.

TCUs have a decent range of adaption. Blame the Dodge boys so-called engineers with purposely leaving out the 'range' that Dexron was in. They just couldn't foresee that someone might use the wrong fluid wrongfully causing rapid death. But, if you require ATF+4, you should use it or something better or equivalent. No way was using a generic Dexron better than ATF+4 almost ANYWHERE. Nothing new here. This is why ATF+4 was backspec'd to Dex-Jeeps. And, we shouldn't use other brand scare tactics to confuse owners looking for other options. This isn't a ATF+4 thread. No point in bringing it up here.

Anyone requiring one of the T-IV fluids should definitely look toward a full synthetic as an upgrade. Maxlife is an excellent choice.

 

[weebl]

I have an Aisin tranny in my Toyota, spec'd for T-IV. T-IV is most likely available at any dealership of a make that has used an Aisin automatic in any of their models:

- Toyota/Lexus/Scion
- GM
- Ford
- Mazda
- VW

I believe Volvo probably as well as many others. If not a Toyota brand, they will be marked as JWS-3309 or 3309. Mobil is the sole manufacturer of this fluid, regardless of the bottle it's in or label on the bottle. You could even find Mobil 3309 at some auto parts stores - Canadian Tire stocks them, likely others too (but probably not Walmart). I picked up a jug of that, not for price, but because the Canadian Tire is 5 minutes away from me versus 20 minutes to the nearest Toyota dealer, and the local GM dealer was too confused over the phone as to what I was looking for.

As for going off spec to a synthetic, do your homework first, and then see if you feel comfortable doing it for your application. The alternate fluids may state they are "suitable" or "meet" T-IV/JWS-3309, but they are not actually certified as T-IV/JWS-3309.

 

[unDummy]

Mobil is not the sole supplier of T-IV/3309 fluids. It might be the only one on the store shelf.

 

[weebl]

Sorry, but all I've ever seen suggests that XOM is the only manufacturer of fluid that is actually certified to be T-IV/3309. If I'm wrong, kindly provide links to other manufacturers. I'd personally like to know if there are alternatives and if they are better. Google searches suggest that it is XOM who makes this.

 

[unDummy]

Idemitsu, Sk, Eneos, ChinaOil... make certified T-IV.
Its market dependent. Mobil doesn't have a monopoly on T-IV.