Mercon LV vs multi-vehicle fluid

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

coolzzy

Joined
Jan 24, 2014
Messages
2
Location
USA
Like the title says, I'm looking for how much difference there is between the two. I recently bought an F150 with 6 speed transmission that recommends Mercon LV fluid. The truck has 64k miles on it, so I am outside the powertrain warranty. It runs, drives, and shifts just fine. The previous owner had the fluid flushed/replaced at 25k miles and again at 35k miles. The swap was done at an independent shop, and they use a full synthetic multi-vehicle fluid. I looked at the specs vs Mercon LV, and to my untrained eye, they look mighty close. Maybe I just don't know how much of a difference constitutes incompatibility with my vehicle. See below for the details:

full synthetic multi-vehicle:

API Gravity 34.8
Sp. Gr. @60 deg. F 0.8468
Flash, COC, deg F 400
Pour PT., deg. F -55
Viscosity, cP @ -40 deg C 12100
Viscosity, cSt @ 40 deg C 32
cSt @ 100 deg. C 6.3
Viscosity Index 152
Color Red

Mercon LV:

http://www.gdmjoe.com/gothf150/transmission/merconlvspec.jpg


Don't get me wrong, I'd love to swap out my fluid for the factory stuff, but its below zero outside so doing it myself would have to wait till spring. Plus, its not an easy transmission to refill, so I'd be at the mercy of a dealer. I was quoted anywhere from $159 to $415 for a fluid exchange at the dealer.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
What the heck does a dealer do for $415 to perform that job?


The transmission fluid isn't cheap (13 QTS at $10), but charging nearly $300 in labor is crazy!
 
Welcome to BITOG!

Do you by any chance know what brand of multi-vehicle ATF they used?

I'm a big fan of Mag 1 Low-Vis ATF. In fact, it is even officially Ford-approved for Mercon LV and GM-approved for Dexron VI.
Here is the spec sheet

Specific Gravity @ 60°F (15.6°C) - 0.8468
Viscosity @ 40°C cSt - 28.56
Viscosity @ 100°C cSt - 5.797
Pour Point °C (°F) - -51°C (-60°F)
Viscosity Index - 151
Color - Red
Gravity, °API - 35.60
Brookfield Viscosity at -40°C, cP - 10,300

Anyway, a lot of the new low-viscosity fluids are similar if not exactly identical. Mercon LV, Dexron VI, Honda DW1, Toyota WS, Hyundai SP4, etc.
 
The specs you posted are only part of the equation. The additive pack and compatibility with the friction materials are also important.

My personal belief, and that's all it is, is that transmissions are expensive, the OEM-recommended fluid is not. Unless it's difficult to obtain, I would use the factory fluid for peace of mind.

The fluid that's in there now may be perfectly acceptable, but do you know that for sure?

*EDIT* I just read tommygunn's post above. If Mag 1 is Ford- approved for Mercon LV, that's great. I didn't know there were any approved aftermarket LV fluids available.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: coolzzy
full synthetic multi-vehicle:

API Gravity 34.8
Sp. Gr. @60 deg. F 0.8468
Flash, COC, deg F 400
Pour PT., deg. F -55
Viscosity, cP @ -40 deg C 12100
Viscosity, cSt @ 40 deg C 32
cSt @ 100 deg. C 6.3
Viscosity Index 152
Color Red



Here's the factory fill:

Mercon LV

Flash, COC, deg F 421
Pour PT., deg. F -54
Viscosity, cP @ -40 deg C 10,200
Viscosity, cSt @ 40 deg C 29.6
cSt @ 100 deg. C 6
Viscosity Index 155

Here's Red Line D6:

Flash, COC, deg F 480
Pour PT., deg. F -76
Viscosity, cP @ -40 deg C ?
Viscosity, cSt @ 40 deg C 30.7
cSt @ 100 deg. C 6.4
Viscosity Index 166

Red Line D6 would be a definite upgrade.
 
The dealer that quoted $415 said the only service that can be done in their system is a pan drop, filter, screen, and then a fluid exchange. Still seemed on the high side to me. Needless to say, I will not be going there. Every ford dealer I called had a vastly different price. Only one dealer (the one that said the service started at $159 and could go up depending on how much fluid it takes) said it was even possible to do an exchange.

There is no easily accessible check/fill port on the 6r80, so it would be much easier to just hook into the transmission cooler line and exchange 12 or 13 quarts of fluid. The fluid isn't that expensive, the dealer said 6.50/quart and its $6 at O'Reileys up the road. I remember reading somewhere that there were no additive packs in Mercon LV, and the specs seem awefully close.

The fluid in the truck now is made by Global. Here is the spec sheet from their website:

http://www.service-pro.com/documents/WarrenSpecs/WA-GlobalFullSynMulti-VehicleATF.pdf
 
Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
I didn't know there were any approved aftermarket LV fluids available.

You don't need approval to meet & exceed the specs and performance requirements. MaxLife Dex/Merc is definitely a go-to fluid for this application.

http://www.valvoline.com/pdf/maxlife_atf.pdf
"Suitable for use in:
Ford MERCON®, MERCON®V, MERCON®SP and MERCON®LV applications"
 
No, you don't NEED approval...but in a vehicle with an expensive automatic transmission that's under warranty, it's sure NICE to have approval so the manufacturer doesn't hang you out to dry when something fails.
 
Originally Posted by RF Overlord


"Note: This product is not for sale or use in the State of California."

What's up with THAT?


California law says that if your ATF does not meet spec, you cannot represent it as such. In California, it is illegal to recommend the ATF formulation for an ATF grade, if your formulation does not meet the spec of that grade.



Valvoline Maxlife Multi=Vehicle ATF, as an example, does not meet Mercon V spec, so Valvoline cannot claim "recommended for" on their label.

In 49 other states, and the District of Columbia, the law of the land is "caveat emptor". Let the buyer beware. If I bottle water, and label it as "recommended for", and you pour it into your transmission; it's your fault. You should have checked. You should have known better.

California is a "Nanny State". There is a tax on soda, so fat people don't get fatter. There are restrictions on McDonald's Happy Meals. California has the strictest consumer protection laws in the land, because citizens of California don't have enough common sense to open their eyes and see for themselves.
 
My 2011 F150 6r80 is well maintained. Pan drop at 40k. Full fluid exchange at 80k. All with Mercon LV. At 100k I did a pan drop and topped with MaxLife. Shifts improved. 1-2 shift slams less frequently. Not a huge difference but noticeable. I will be doing another pan drop and MaxLife refill this summer as I feel its working better than the LV.

I am becoming quite the fan of MaxLife. It has worked well in every application I've tried it in... From CHevy to Toyo to Ford. YMMV.
 
Originally Posted by buck91
My 2011 F150 6r80 is well maintained. Pan drop at 40k. Full fluid exchange at 80k. All with Mercon LV. At 100k I did a pan drop and topped with MaxLife. Shifts improved. 1-2 shift slams less frequently. Not a huge difference but noticeable. I will be doing another pan drop and MaxLife refill this summer as I feel its working better than the LV.

I am becoming quite the fan of MaxLife. It has worked well in every application I've tried it in... From CHevy to Toyo to Ford. YMMV.



I have had the same experience with Maxlife ATF so I have no qualms using it in a application where Valvoline recommends it.
 
An aftermarket drain pan can hold a few extra quarts, and allow you to do future drain & fills from the drain plug.
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
 
Originally Posted by dnewton3
BTW ... did we really need to dig up a 5 year old thread?

You responded to it as well.

Don't people always preach "search" vs creating a new thread ?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
Motorcraft MERCON LV vs Valvoline MaxLife Multi-Vehicle ATF
Replies
13
Views
41K
dave1251
S
  • Locked
Mercon LV alternatives
2 3
Replies
44
Views
80K
Fifty150
bdcardinal
  • Locked
Ford Torqshift 5w110 takes Mercon LV now
Replies
3
Views
7K
unDummy
B
  • Locked
Ford Fusion Hybrid/Mercon LV ATF Questions
Replies
9
Views
17K
The Critic
D
  • Locked
Full Synthetic DEXRON VI/MERCON LV
Replies
10
Views
9K
buck91
Back
Top Bottom