mercon v dilema

[chad8]

I have an 03 taurus with 26000 miles that calls for mercon v. I want my local oil change place do the flush (exchange)at 30000 miles because it takes 13-15 quarts and the place can do it for $59 out the door. He uses bulk valvoline mercon III and mighty products transmission fluid converter that is supposed to make mercon III act like mercon V . I have also seen lubeguard products that claim the same thing. The owner says that he has done this thousands of times with almost no problems.Here is mighty's claims:

http://www.mightyautoparts.com/products/products_vs7_trans.html#atfconverter-mercon

# ATF Converter - Mercon V®
Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid M-V Supplement
A unique, blended product speifically designed to convert and enhance Dexron III®/Mercon® fluid into a Mercon V® type fluid. Mighty VS7 ATF Converter - Mercon V® will extend the life of the fluid and prevent torque converter lock-up and shudder.

Features:
# Contains lubrication enhancers
# Keeps components functioning freely
# Prevents torque converter lock-up and shudder
# Extends fluid life

Benefits: Mighty VS7 ATF Converter - Mercon V® saves you money! This product eliminates the need to stock Mercon V® fluid. This formula improves low temperature shifting, prevents overheating and oxidation and extends the life of the fluid. Dexron III®/Mercon V® fluid treated with Mighty VS7 ATF Converter - Mercon V® meets the requirements for vehicles requiring Mercon V® type fluid.
MSDS Sheet

Would you do this on your cars?

 

[Johnny]

No, I absolutely would not. Valvoline makes a Mercon V fluid, ask him to get some and use it.

Contact Valvoline and ask them if it will work. I bet you my social security check that they will tell you not to do it also.

 

[bdcardinal]

i would use the correct fluid personally.

 

[zrxkawboy]

ditto what the first two posters said

 

[Billy_D]

You need to use Mercon V.

 

[Bluestream]

You can use Mercon III, but Mercon V is a better fluid and I would use it.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
No, I absolutely would not. Valvoline makes a Mercon V fluid, ask him to get some and use it.



+1

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: chad8
The owner says that he has done this thousands of times with almost no problems.Here is mighty's claims:



I would NOT believe anything that comes out of his mouth.

BTW what does almost no problems mean?....What were the problems?

 

[DieselTech]

I would purchase the Mercon V and have them do the flush and install it for you. Thios way you have the correct product and you know the quality. Mercon V is a very specific product. Anything that takes mercon V should not use anything that is multi rated or an additive.

 

[JustinH]

Ford updated the spec on many old 90's vehicles to Mercon V, these were previous Mercon applications. It is a better fluid by far.

I had good luck buying Mercon V by the case from the ford dealer, call them and price it out. 12 quarts in a case, and buy a couple extra quarts to top it off. You won't use all of it.

Buy a filter from the dealer also (if this model uses a pan filter, I do not know).

So technically Mercon and MerconV are compatible, it would work with that junk that he pours in there, but I still would use the recommended fluid.

Between the fluid and the filter, you are probably looking at $45 in parts alone, so if this guy is charging $59 for the whole service, he isn't doing it right.

Ford has a Rotunda machine for this, and they will use the right fluid in the transmission. Their service is probably $129. I don't usually flush my vehicles, but if you aren't doing the work yourself, I think that Ford flushes.

 

[97tbird]

My local indep. Ford repair place tells me they have a product that officially meets Merc-V spec's and is even superior ...
will such a Merc-V certified product be ok to use?

 

[zrxkawboy]

Originally Posted By: 97tbird
My local indep. Ford repair place tells me they have a product that officially meets Merc-V spec's and is even superior ...
will such a Merc-V certified product be ok to use?


Please find out exactly which fluid they use. Then we can give an opinion.

 

[97tbird]

Will do asap.

 

[Bluestream]

Originally Posted By: 97tbird
My local indep. Ford repair place tells me they have a product that officially meets Merc-V spec's and is even superior ...
will such a Merc-V certified product be ok to use?


It's easy to make claims like that. I would ask for some proof, and if that satifies you, then go ahead and use it. If they say we buy in in bulk and it's formula is exclusive, I would be weary...

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: 97tbird
Will do asap.


97, are you saying your place uses a Mercon V fluid that they say is the best, or that they are using some kind of additive like listed in the original post to make it the best?

 

[97tbird]

I asked that, too:
they said they don't add anything; the fluid comes already Merc-V spec certified and ready to use - idk why it's "superior" to M-V though...perhaps because it "exceeds" Merc-V spec's.

will talk to the guy again and ask what the fluid exactly is...

 

[mechtech2]

'Converter' additives have been around for a while.
I was not aware that any were made to convert fluids to MerconV specs.

Get the real fluid. Pay $50 more for the flush somewhere else, if you have to.
In fact, I'd quietly go somewhere else for sure.

 

[97tbird]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
'Converter' additives have been around for a while.
I was not aware that any were made to convert fluids to MerconV specs.

Get the real fluid. Pay $50 more for the flush somewhere else, if you have to.
In fact, I'd quietly go somewhere else for sure.


even if they don't add any "converters" but use a straight ATF that is already cert'd for Merc V spec?

 

[Ken2]

Originally Posted By: Bluestream
You can use Mercon III,
No such fluid as Mercon III. You probably mean Mercon, the fluid that has been discontinued by Ford but is still made without licensing by many makers.

Lubegard Green has been around for many years to convert ordinary Dexron-III/Mercon fluid to Mercon V...says Lubegard.

Among the fluids, there are real Mercon V fluids with the license from Ford, and all these are equal, and there are the near-universal fluids that aren't licensed and don't exactly meet spec but probably do a very good job.

 

[unDummy]

Since Mercon-V is a very popular ATF, there is no reason not to use it.

Use either MerconV, any fullsynthetic, or blended ATF that mentions that spec.

Pay more and get a better ATF to begin with.

I have nothing against the fluid converters when availability is nil or cost is excessive. Mercon-V is available everywhere and at a reasonable price.