How do I indentify my transmission?

[coopns]

I was in to a local shop today and asked what kind of transmission fluid I should get for the 95 Taurus V6 3.0 with 160K. He said Mercron, not Mercron V. Ok, then he asked what kind of transmission, he said I have two choices, 17 bolt and 19 bolt. I don't even know where the transmission is, so is there another way to tell? I did (I know...I am crazy) check the Tran fluid color. Is was red/brown..more red then brown.

Please keep it simiple, really don't know much.

 

[The_Jeff]

Does it say anything on the dipstick?

 

[coopns]

Didn't check/didn't know. To confirm, it is near the back end is it?

 

[unDummy]

Use a Mercon-V fluid thats backwards compatible with Mercon. Pretty simple

 

[RF Overlord]

coop:

Check out this link...I know it's for a different year than your car, but it's the only one they had with pix...your '95 is the same.

Also, DO NOT use Mercon V in a Taurus transaxle older than 1998...this is not just my opinion, but the recommendation of one of Ford's transmission design engineers whom I have met and talked to directly. He states that only the AOD/AODE/4R70W family of RWD transmissions is back-spec'd for Mercon V and mentioned the Taurus specifically as a no-no.