ATF for Ford CD4E

[1990LTD]

Have a FWD Ford CD4E transmission with a drain plug and I'd like to start doing regular drain/fills on it every few oil changes or something. Anyway, it calls for Mercon V. Any recommendations or preferences to keep my transaxle happy? Also, what are your thoughts on installing an external inline filter on one of my cooler lines? There is no serviceable filter on these transmissions. I could likely even get one for a PH2 filter like my engine takes. Bulk discounts, yo.

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: 1990LTD

I'd like to start doing regular drain/fills on it every few oil changes or something.

Excellent idea.

Originally Posted By: 1990LTD

Anyway, it calls for Mercon V. Any recommendations or preferences to keep my transaxle happy?

I've used Motorcraft, Castrol, Valvoline, and SuperTech. They all worked equally well. One caveat on Valvoline, though...they no longer sell a licensed Mercon V product, although the other three still are.

 

[artificialist]

Installing a Magnafine filter is usually easier and cheaper to install than to install a kit that uses an engine oil filter. Magnafine filters are so light that they can be spliced into the AT cooler hoses, whereas a setup that uses an engine oil filter usually means installing a bracket to the body of the car and doing major re-routing of transmission cooler hoses.

 

[Greasymechtech]

Use a full synth like Mobil1, Amsoil, Redline, or Royalpurple. http://lubricants.petro-canada.ca/en/products/612.aspx

 

[1990LTD]

Originally Posted By: artificialist

Installing a Magnafine filter is usually easier and cheaper to install than to install a kit that uses an engine oil filter. Magnafine filters are so light that they can be spliced into the AT cooler hoses, whereas a setup that uses an engine oil filter usually means installing a bracket to the body of the car and doing major re-routing of transmission cooler hoses.

I would MUCH prefer something that I could just put on a line as opposed to fixing a bracket etc

 

[1990LTD]

Originally Posted By: RF Overlord

Originally Posted By: 1990LTD

I'd like to start doing regular drain/fills on it every few oil changes or something.

Excellent idea.

Originally Posted By: 1990LTD

Anyway, it calls for Mercon V. Any recommendations or preferences to keep my transaxle happy?

I've used Motorcraft, Castrol, Valvoline, and SuperTech. They all worked equally well. One caveat on Valvoline, though...they no longer sell a licensed Mercon V product, although the other three still are.

Thanks! Supertech is the cheapest, didn't know if it was any good. Sounds like I'll be picking up one of those Mangefine filters as well.

 

[wander2039]

Have run Supertech, Advance Auto's Merc V and Mobil 1 synthetic in our CD4E with no issue's. I'd recommend doing a 2-3 3-5k flushes with regular ATF and then switching to Merc V. Typically run 2 oil changes (20k ish) and pull the plug and refill with Merc V and 4 oz of LubeGuard Red. At 136k shifts better than it did when we bought it at 36k.

 

[1990LTD]

Thanks! I drained/filled it today and all went well. LubeGuard Red, you say?