Brand Preference for Mercon V?

[JustinH]

Hello.

I have been checking around the local auto stores and "box" superstores just seeing what different brands of Mercon V were available to me.

The prices seem to be about 2.70-2.99 for a quart, and I will be buying around 30 quarts to service two ford vehicles.

What brand of mercon V do you guys like? I am not willing to spend 5 bucks for Mobil1 or Amsoil, but I do want a good fluid.

So far I have seen Castrol, Havoline, Vavoline, and Aamco brand. I did some research and found out that Aamco brand is made by Exxon/Mobil, so I am sort of leaning towards this brand.

I am a big chevron fan, but I'm having a real tough time finding chevron motor oils up here, let alone their MerconV in the grey bottle.

Thanks,
Justin

 

[02supercrew]

I just did a flush and filter change on my 02 F-150.

I wanted to use the MC Mercon V, but Bumper-to-Bumper only had 13 qts, and I needed 14, but wanted 16. Too bad for me as it was 2.89 a qt.

I ended up purchasing Valvoline Mercon V for 3.69 a qt.

 

[novadude]

I used Pennzoil Merc V for my last fluid change. $2.89 from Pep Boys.

 

[rgl]

quote:

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I am not willing to spend 5 bucks for Mobil1 or Amsoil, but I do want a good fluid.

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Neither of those is specifically Mercon V anyway so I would avoid them for this application. I would stick to fluid that is only Mercon V, every brand I have seen so far says it is semi synthetic.

 

[Not the Autorx Frank]

quote:

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I am not willing to spend 5 bucks for Mobil1 or Amsoil, but I do want a good fluid.
Neither of those is specifically Mercon V anyway so I would avoid them for this application. I would stick to fluid that is only Mercon V, every brand I have seen so far says it is semi synthetic.

---

Amsoil and Redline are fine for Merc V applications. Ask any of the gurus around here. The mobil1 is not. I have 40k miles on my amsoil atf in my f150 and it is still nice and red. Not a hint
of burnt color or smell. I'll sample at 50k to prove it to you(and me lol)

 

[Ray H]

"Mercon V" is a Ford specification, not a product per se. As such, I question just how much variation would be allowed in a given product made to that specification and still be considered within spec. In two white papers issued by Chevron Global Lubricants (this was apparently prior to the "merger" with Texaco), "The Evolution of Base Oil Technology" in 2001, and an earlier paper, "THE SYNTHETIC NATURE OF GROUP III BASE OILS" in 1999, both papers noted that both Daimler-Chrysler ATF+4 as well as Ford Mercon V utilized all-hydroprocessed Group-III base lube stocks, having been "targeted at the same performance levels achieved by traditional synthetic formulations" according to the final paragraph on page 7 of the latter study.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

I use AAMCO synthetic blend MerconV from Autozone @ $2.99 a quart.Very good fluid!

 

[Ray H]

Who makes AAMCO ATFs - ExxonMobil?

 

[rgl]

That would be great because when my F150 is out of warranty I would like to go to a full synth and cannot find a Mercon V only as per the manual that is full synth. If you can take a look at your magnet too and see how that is doing that would also be helpful. I am assuming you have no shudder issues either since you seem ok with it. I can get Amsoil here over the counter for about the same price as Mobil 1 ATF.

 

[02supercrew]

The Valvoline Merc V is just that, not dual rated.

The Ford owners manual says specfically not to use a dual rated ATF, and only to use a single rated Merc V fluid in 4r70w transmissions. My wifes Taurus also says the exact same thing for its transmission.

I picked my valvoline up at Checkers auto parts.

 

[Whimsey]

quote:

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Originally posted by 02supercrew:
The Valvoline Merc V is just that, not dual rated.

The Ford owners manual says specfically not to use a dual rated ATF, and only to use a single rated Merc V fluid in 4r70w transmissions. My wifes Taurus also says the exact same thing for its transmission.

I picked my valvoline up at Checkers auto parts.

---

Check your owner's manual again. It's ok to use dual rated ATF in a Mercon V rated transmission. But DO NOT use a duel rated ATF in a Mercon rated transmission. I have a 2002 F-150 and that's on page 301 of the owner's manual. It gets "confusin"

.

Whimsey

 

[crashz]

After a stint with Castrol's Mercon V, I switched back to Motorcraft. Beleive it or not it was the best price and gives good performance.

 

[rgl]

quote:

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Who makes AAMCO ATFs - ExxonMobil?

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Yup. It's in really small print on the bottom back of the bottle.

 

[JustinH]

quote:

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Originally posted by rgl:
That would be great because when my F150 is out of warranty I would like to go to a full synth and cannot find a Mercon V only as per the manual that is full synth. If you can take a look at your magnet too and see how that is doing that would also be helpful. I am assuming you have no shudder issues either since you seem ok with it. I can get Amsoil here over the counter for about the same price as Mobil 1 ATF.

---

No problems with the truck at all. It just turned 45k miles the other day, and has already had the fluid changed once in its life, and a huge transmission cooler installed.

The fluid in these trucks needs to be changed every 20k, if you follow this simple rule, you may never have to rebuild it.

I am also installing a magnefine inline filter on the cooler line.

I'm going to call the dealer, and see what kind of a price they can get me on quarts, and also motorcraft has a gallon container of merconV, I will see what is cheaper, the aamco, or the motorcraft and go with that.

Thanks,
Justin

 

[Schmoe]

Screw that dual rated stuff. I'd go with the Havoline. Change out at 20K? I've been reading about 30K changes, with torque converter change out. The 4R70W likes clean fluid without a doubt.

 

[97flairside]

How do I know if my transmission is mercon V rated or dual rated?

I think i'll just stick with the motorcarft atf. Its what came with the truck so why not just keep using it.

are there any better transmission filters out there?

 

[MNgopher]

I've asked the same question about dual rated fluids. The owners manual for my '99 F150 offers no recommendations NOT to use a dual rated fluid. It only advises to use a fluid rated for the specification of the Dipstick, Mercon V for the 4R70W, Mercon if the 4R100.

I've logged almost 275,000 miles now using dual rated Mercon/Mercon V Valvoline Durablend ATF in two 4R70W's with no issues.

97Flairside, as for what fluid your tanny would use, you will be fine using a Mercon fluid. Ford did not begin specifying Mercon V in the 4R70W until sometime during the '98 model year. However, the 4R70W, if you have one, is fine for upgrading to Mercon V, and I did so with no problems in my '97 F150 with the 4R70W.

 

[02supercrew]

quote:

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Originally posted by Schmoe:
Screw that dual rated stuff. I'd go with the Havoline. Change out at 20K? I've been reading about 30K changes, with torque converter change out. The 4R70W likes clean fluid without a doubt.

---

Amen!

I had my F150's transmission flushed last October by a shop that swore up and down that they had the proper fluid, so I let them because I did not have the capacity to do it my self at the time.


I was assured at the time that they indeed used a Merc V in the transmission flush that they did for me. Charged me $70 and I was happy, or so I thought.

Fast forward to now (20K mi later, 92K mi total), and I call the same shop up for my wifes Taurus (Merc V as well), and the guy tells me that they have never ever carried Merc V!!

I call a bunch of other shops and a Merc V flush with a filter was pushing $250!!

So I flushed out the wrong fluid and replaced the transmission filter, and cleaned up the pan.

That regular ATF fluid was toast, black as motor oil! I cleaned the pan up and now I"m back in buisness!

All said and done I spent $70 (including filter).

I will never ever go back to that shop again.

It's amazing the difference in "feel" between the 2 different transmission fluids in my particlar transmission (4r70w).

[ July 02, 2004, 11:01 AM: Message edited by: 02supercrew ]

 

[Ken2]

quote:

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Originally posted by 97flairside:
How do I know if my transmission is mercon V rated or dual rated? are there any better transmission filters out there?

---

It's not the transmission with multiple ratings, it's the fluid.

Magnefine transmission filters work well, as do Filtran. They are small canisters that you put into the hose to the transmission cooler. Magnefine is a sponser here (somebody has to pay the internet hosting bills).


Ken

 

[JustinH]

quote:

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Originally posted by 02supercrew:

quote:

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Originally posted by Schmoe:
Screw that dual rated stuff. I'd go with the Havoline. Change out at 20K? I've been reading about 30K changes, with torque converter change out. The 4R70W likes clean fluid without a doubt.

---

Amen!

I had my F150's transmission flushed last October by a shop that swore up and down that they had the proper fluid, so I let them because I did not have the capacity to do it my self at the time.


I was assured at the time that they indeed used a Merc V in the transmission flush that they did for me. Charged me $70 and I was happy, or so I thought.

Fast forward to now (20K mi later, 92K mi total), and I call the same shop up for my wifes Taurus (Merc V as well), and the guy tells me that they have never ever carried Merc V!!

I call a bunch of other shops and a Merc V flush with a filter was pushing $250!!

So I flushed out the wrong fluid and replaced the transmission filter, and cleaned up the pan.

That regular ATF fluid was toast, black as motor oil! I cleaned the pan up and now I"m back in buisness!

All said and done I spent $70 (including filter).

I will never ever go back to that shop again.

It's amazing the difference in "feel" between the 2 different transmission fluids in my particlar transmission (4r70w).

---

If you have the means, then do the work yourself. There is a good article on tccoa.com how to flush a 4r70w properly. Its really under an hour job, and the fluid is about 35 bucks, and the filter is about 15, you could even install a cooler and a magnefine and still be way ahead of the shops price.

250 is too much, I don't even think the dealer around here charges that much.

JH