Hi, I was wondering if anyone could shed light on what Mercon IV is. I recently flushed my transmission fluid and the mechanic told me he replaced it with Mercon IV. Also, the manual for my 2006 Camry states that I should have actually replaced it with Toyota T-IV fluid. Should I change fluids at this point? I didn't know anything about trans fluids at the time, but if I made a mistake I want to correct it.
Mercon IV Trans Fluid in a 2006 Camry
- Thread starter Albert2132
- Start date
- Status
So such fluid as Mercon IV
I don't really know beans about transmission fluids let alone Mercon IV. Maybe you have the Aisin transmission many of which require the T-IV product. Mobil ATF 3309 is the same product that usually costs less than the Toyota product that is priced as if it contained gold and platinum in the recipe. I bought a case of 3309 but the car it was meant for was totaled out before it was due for service. Having said all this, my understanding is that Aisin transmissions are pretty fussy about having T-IV/3309, so if it were my car, I'd really be climbing a wall until I got it changed out! Compatible or not.
Hopefully, someone will comment that knows something about Mercon IV. For all I know it could be A-OK for your Camry, but from what I can see on Google about Mercon IV it doesn't look like it.
BTW, as late as it is it may be tomorrow sometime before you get responded to. Meanwhile, welcome to the board!
Hopefully, someone will comment that knows something about Mercon IV. For all I know it could be A-OK for your Camry, but from what I can see on Google about Mercon IV it doesn't look like it.
BTW, as late as it is it may be tomorrow sometime before you get responded to. Meanwhile, welcome to the board!
You mean Mercon or Mercon V? There is no MerconIV spec. However there is a dextron VI spec.
Do a little poking around the board and you can probably find your answer. Otherwise a Toyota expert will be along tomorrow.
Do a little poking around the board and you can probably find your answer. Otherwise a Toyota expert will be along tomorrow.
T-IV is cheap, I pay $4.50 qt from the dealer.
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
T-IV is cheap, I pay $4.50 qt from the dealer.
Which dealer? Maybe mine will do a price match if I tell them my brother gets it for $4.50. I think the dealer here wants $7.50.
T-IV is cheap, I pay $4.50 qt from the dealer.
Which dealer? Maybe mine will do a price match if I tell them my brother gets it for $4.50. I think the dealer here wants $7.50.
Originally Posted By: jjcom
There is no Mercon IV fluid. Perhaps he misspoke and meant to say T-IV? I would just give the shop a call and ask what fluid he used.
T-IV is a pretty old spec. If he used Merc V then I wouldn't be concerned and it wont cause any issues. Next time I would see if you can provide the fluid and give him maxlife. Good stuff!
There is no Mercon IV fluid. Perhaps he misspoke and meant to say T-IV? I would just give the shop a call and ask what fluid he used.
T-IV is a pretty old spec. If he used Merc V then I wouldn't be concerned and it wont cause any issues. Next time I would see if you can provide the fluid and give him maxlife. Good stuff!
Quote:
T-IV is a pretty old spec. If he used Merc V then I wouldn't be concerned and it wont cause any issues.
Are you sure? I am not so sure. For example, Lubegard spec's different supplements to convert Dexron-III to T-IV properties (black bottle) than to convert Dex-III to MerconV properties (green bottle).
T-IV is a pretty old spec. If he used Merc V then I wouldn't be concerned and it wont cause any issues.
Are you sure? I am not so sure. For example, Lubegard spec's different supplements to convert Dexron-III to T-IV properties (black bottle) than to convert Dex-III to MerconV properties (green bottle).
Went ahead and looked up the Specs on Maxlife.
Maxlife page found here
I think it will cover whatever you are looking for. I've had good experience in both my 2004 Nissan Xterra, that specs DexIII or whatever Nissan Fluid they were using, and my Fords that require Mercon V.
Maxlife page found here
I think it will cover whatever you are looking for. I've had good experience in both my 2004 Nissan Xterra, that specs DexIII or whatever Nissan Fluid they were using, and my Fords that require Mercon V.
You should have it flushed with the correct fluid which is the Toyota T-IV. I recommend that you stay away from universal one size fits all fluids, the will ruin your transmission.
maxlife
I can think of quite a few transmissions that call for T-IV fluid that are running on Maxlife. None of them have failed yet, some of them have a lot of miles or do some pretty decent towing for the car/truck. If you find it's Maxlife in the transmission, I wouldn't worry about it at all. Thats what I'd use if the car were mine.
Originally Posted By: Ken2
Quote:
T-IV is a pretty old spec. If he used Merc V then I wouldn't be concerned and it wont cause any issues.
Are you sure? I am not so sure. For example, Lubegard spec's different supplements to convert Dexron-III to T-IV properties (black bottle) than to convert Dex-III to MerconV properties (green bottle).
You are speaking of lubeguard black. That is a highly friction modified fluid converter and one I wouldn't recommend. If you are speaking of Lubeguard Red, which is a fluid conditioner, has been shown in numerous postings on BITOG as being a top notch product with excellent results.
Quote:
T-IV is a pretty old spec. If he used Merc V then I wouldn't be concerned and it wont cause any issues.
Are you sure? I am not so sure. For example, Lubegard spec's different supplements to convert Dexron-III to T-IV properties (black bottle) than to convert Dex-III to MerconV properties (green bottle).
You are speaking of lubeguard black. That is a highly friction modified fluid converter and one I wouldn't recommend. If you are speaking of Lubeguard Red, which is a fluid conditioner, has been shown in numerous postings on BITOG as being a top notch product with excellent results.
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2011
- Messages
- 5,457
Originally Posted By: crazy8
You should have it flushed with the correct fluid which is the Toyota T-IV. I recommend that you stay away from universal one size fits all fluids, the will ruin your transmission.
Are you for real? Ruin your transmisison? What do you base this statement on? I can see saying you feel its best to stick to manufacturer recommendations...ruin your transmisison sure appears extreme!
You should have it flushed with the correct fluid which is the Toyota T-IV. I recommend that you stay away from universal one size fits all fluids, the will ruin your transmission.
Are you for real? Ruin your transmisison? What do you base this statement on? I can see saying you feel its best to stick to manufacturer recommendations...ruin your transmisison sure appears extreme!
Originally Posted By: BISCUT
Originally Posted By: crazy8
You should have it flushed with the correct fluid which is the Toyota T-IV. I recommend that you stay away from universal one size fits all fluids, the will ruin your transmission.
Are you for real? Ruin your transmisison? What do you base this statement on? I can see saying you feel its best to stick to manufacturer recommendations...ruin your transmisison sure appears extreme!
He posted the same comment on my thread about using Maxlife as a substitute for Toyota WS (which is working wonderfully, by the way). It seems that he's just posting an alarmist response to use only OEM fluid rather than trying to educate himself about less-costly and superior alternatives.
I'm using Castrol Transmax Import in a T-IV/Mobil 3309 application with good success. It's the Aisin in my girlfriend's Fusion, but calls for the same spec. Her Ford actually has T-IV spammed on the transmission dipstick.
So, that's my recommendation.
Originally Posted By: crazy8
You should have it flushed with the correct fluid which is the Toyota T-IV. I recommend that you stay away from universal one size fits all fluids, the will ruin your transmission.
Are you for real? Ruin your transmisison? What do you base this statement on? I can see saying you feel its best to stick to manufacturer recommendations...ruin your transmisison sure appears extreme!
He posted the same comment on my thread about using Maxlife as a substitute for Toyota WS (which is working wonderfully, by the way). It seems that he's just posting an alarmist response to use only OEM fluid rather than trying to educate himself about less-costly and superior alternatives.
I'm using Castrol Transmax Import in a T-IV/Mobil 3309 application with good success. It's the Aisin in my girlfriend's Fusion, but calls for the same spec. Her Ford actually has T-IV spammed on the transmission dipstick.
So, that's my recommendation.
I try to add to this board based on my 45 years of work and 35 years as a repair shop owner, that being said I realize that there are many coolants, oil, fluids and additives that are far better that OE. I recommend OE while the vehicle is under warranty and usually continue with the same recommendation even after warranty is over, the OE's for better or worse have spent millions developing specific fluids for better service life. I know that GM was tired of paying warranty claims due to fluid failures that claimed to meet GM's specs but in reality did not, that is what brought us Dexos. I now have been told that GM is developing a GM certified oil filter as they are again paying out claims on runied engines due to a orange plastic/rubber compound that is stuck in the screens on VVT engines, it appears the some of the low cost oil filters are causing this problem. I lost a court case on a ruined engine due to not using the OE's recommeded oil, I was using a major brand that claimed to meet the OE's specs but it did not, the judge stated the I was the professional and should have known better, the oil company in question held firm in their claim the their oil was ok to use, but refused to support me on an appeal. I also have another shop owner who used a universal asian transmission fluid from a different major oil company on a drain and refill, the transmission died, the car was under warranty, the fluid was tested and again, warranty denied, oil company stood by their claims and as in my case our insurance company would not pay the claims because we used the "wrong oil". I am just trying to add what the professional shops must go through, we have to walk a very tight rope to stay ahead, usually the judges are clueless and the oil companies will make certain claims that they will refuse to back up when help is needed. I went to a class on oils put on by a indpendent instructor not related to any oil company and the biggest thing I took away was that if the statement on the bottle states the word "meets" it usually means that it met the specs before testing, but failed the test, on the other hand if it uses the word 'exceeds" it passed the OE's required testing specs. I counted the oil and transmission fluids that we stock the other day and found that we now carry 37 different types, amazing! I hope this sheds some light on my positions and why I say what I say.
Adding to crazy8's posting, if the bottle or data sheet says, "recommended for...." then it clearly does not meet the spec but the oil maker thinks it'll be close enough most of the time. Some oil makers will stand behind their product and some will not, as crazy8 describes.
About lubegard stuff---the black bottle and the green bottle both "improve" the fluid (according to the maker) and change the friction characteristics to make a Dex-III fluid come close to the requirements of that particular transmission. I'm not hyping the lubegard products, but use them as an indicator that the change in the friction characteristic is needed.
About lubegard stuff---the black bottle and the green bottle both "improve" the fluid (according to the maker) and change the friction characteristics to make a Dex-III fluid come close to the requirements of that particular transmission. I'm not hyping the lubegard products, but use them as an indicator that the change in the friction characteristic is needed.
- Status
Similar threads
