MaxLife: Cali vs rest of the world

[akela]

Looking at the MaxLife data sheet
http://content.valvoline.com/pdf/maxlife_atf.pdf

The document consists of two almost identical sections: for California only, and for the rest of the Universe.

For non-Cali, it says
Suitable for use in:
Ford MERCON®, MERCON®V, MERCON®SP and MERCON®LV applications

For Cali:
Suitable for use in:
Ford MERCON®LV applications

Now I'm puzzled. Whether this fluid is "suitable" for my Ford Freestar, depends on my geographical location. Is it fluid or transmission who suddenly changes its properties if moved across the state border?

 

[slacktide_bitog]

It's the transmission. Most of Ford's automatic transmissions are garbage, so as soon as the car crosses the border, it freaks out and starts jerking.

 

[John_K]

Better fuel economy for the greenies?

 

[Padawan]

Found this in a footnote from another Valvoline document regarding MaxLife:

*Please note that legislation in California prohibits Valvoline from recommending MaxLife ATF in certain
applications where the viscometrics of MaxLife ATF do not match those of the official OEM specification.
Valvoline therefore does not recommend the use of MaxLife ATF in these applications in California.

So I suspect that John K is correct - it's fuel economy related.

 

[jmaster]

i wondered why it said not for use in california on the back of the bottle. but then i remembered its california and they usually state the obvious like "causes cancer and birth defects if you ingest while breathing los angeles smog". so that 1/10 mpg makes a big difference?

 

[fdcg27]

If Valvoline says it's okay then it is, even in California.
Why the state legislature, or more likely CARB, thought it should weigh in on this I cannot imagine.
Cali has a lot of problems.
ATF can't be that high up the list.
I wouldn't worry about some California weirdness.

 

[akela]

Well, MaxLife has lower viscosity at 100C, compared to Mercon V (5.9 vs 7.2). I am not sure that it actually worsens the fuel economy. Less viscosity supposed to reduce the pumping losses, and reduce hydrodynamic losses as well.

 

[selfmechanik]

Glad I saw this thread! And what timing. I put four quarts of "California" Valvoline MaxLife LV in my 2003 Ford Escape that I now learn is only supposed to have Mercon V and not Mercon LV.
I thought I was safe because Maxlife is suppose to replace all the Mercons, but then I found out mine was the "California" version (I live in Cali and bought it here).
But is it the exact same fluid, only they can't label it for all Mercon replacements because of California?
I'm freaking out that I put the wrong bad stuff in my transmission because of my California politicians, but is it the exact same fluid as all the other states have, and am I ok?
PS. I started another thread before I saw this one.
Thanks.

 

[MolaKule]

Quote:
But is it the exact same fluid, only they can't label it for all Mercon replacements because of California?


Exact fluid, and it is downright ridiculous.

 

[bdcardinal]

Its kinda like how a whole bunch of things will cause cancer only in California thanks to Proposition 65.