Mercron/Mercron-V fluid change

[02Escape]

I have a 2002 Ford Escape with an automatic cd4e trans. I have read that you should use Mercron only, which is no longer licensed. I also read that you can now use Mercron-v as it was made backward compatible. I just bought this truck with 70k on it, and the fluid has been changed once around 50k. I have no clue what is in there at this time. My questions are this. Can I use mercron-v? Also, can the 2 be mixed at all? I dont want this trans to fail, and I appreciate your help.

Thanks!

 

[unDummy]

Yes and yes

 

[02Escape]

So it would be fine if I just did a pan drop, then again next time I changed the oil, not knowing what is in there now?

 

[Hermann]

The transmission also has a drain plug. On the GF's equivalent Mercury Mariner(05) I did a drain and fill at 30K with Valvoline Maxlife Dexron/Mercon. The plan is to do a D&F every 20K from now on. I am not a fan of mixing grades of ATF's. The shift quality on her tranny is superb. It upshifts & downshifts smoothly and positivly now at 46K. Myself I prefer to follow the recommendation on the dipstick. Just my opinion of the subject. The base fluid of the Maxlife is synthetic BTW.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: 02Escape
So it would be fine if I just did a pan drop, then again next time I changed the oil, not knowing what is in there now?


I don't believe the CD4E has a pan to drop.

 

[caravanmike]

Originally Posted By: 02Escape
I have read that you should use Mercron only, which is no longer licensed.

true straight mecon is no longer licensed but... their are merc/dex clones of the old fluid that are labeled "suitable for" or "Recommended for" which work just fine in place of the old licensed mercon/dextron III. they are labeled (right on the front of the bottle) "for vehicles previously servicable by mercon/dextron III"
Originally Posted By: 02Escape
Can I use mercron-v? Also, can the 2 be mixed at all?
Thanks!


with all the above being said didn't all fords auto's in 2002 come with mercon v?
also mercon v should be compatible with what ever is in the trans!

 

[02Escape]

This helps. I know that Mercron-v was not compatible for a while in the Escapes. Lots of failures on the Escape forums due to Merc-V. Now Ford says to use Merc-V in it. They must have reformulated it when they did away with straight Mercron. I just dont want any problems mixing fluids, and I want to change it. I forgot that this has a drain plug and not a pan.

 

[02Escape]

I was looking on Parts America's Website and their ATF is on sale. Can I use the MerconV that is Parts America brand, or something a little better quality like the Castrol?

Here is the link:
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_ATF-MERCON-V-Advance-Auto-Parts_8150021-P_2235_R%7CGRPTRANAMS_544089393___

 

[ET16]

I just put some AA Mercon V in my CD4E. It seems fine.

 

[02Escape]

Okay, so I just stopped by Walmart, and picked up a few gallons of DexronIII and Mercon ATF by Supertech. It says Mercon only, not for use in vehicles requiring MerconV. Is this decent transmission fluid, and should it be okay?

 

[wander2039]

It will work that's about it. I would of spent a bit more for the Mercon V.. quite a difference in how the transmission behaves between the two. I wouldn't recommend AAP Merc's it seemed to darken to quick, may of been still good but I wasn't chancing it. I have ST's Merc. V in ours now we'll see how it looks in 20k.

 

[caravanmike]

Originally Posted By: 02Escape
Okay, so I just stopped by Walmart, and picked up a few gallons of DexronIII and Mercon ATF by Supertech. It says Mercon only, not for use in vehicles requiring MerconV. Is this decent transmission fluid, and should it be okay?


i am using that same stuff in an aw4 in my cherokee. it is a different trans but the fluid works great.

what fluid did your 02 come from the factory with (mec v or mercon/dex III)?

 

[02Escape]

The 02 Escapes came with Mercon. There is a lot of controversy about this. Apparently MercV was not compatible for a long time and caused issues. Now that it has been re-engineered, it is supposedly fine. I just want it to be right, so I was going to do a flush and refill with this new stuff and see how it goes, then do regular drain/fills on it. I am nervous doing this because I dont want to kill this tranny.

 

[caravanmike]

you aren't going to kill it! if it came with straight mercon then st atf will be fine. i have been using it in my last two vehicles that called for merc/dex III (00rodeo with 4l30E and my current 99 cherokee with aw4). in both cases they shifted very smooth after the st atf was put in them. i change my atf every 10,000 miles so i can't vouch for it turning color early because i have replaced way before it gets to that point.

i know the cd4e has gone through drastic improvements by the time 2002 rolled around. what year did the cd4e start using mercon v?

the only change i might make if i were you is to do multiple drain and refills with maybe 2-3000 miles in between, just so you can introduce the new fluid slower than a flush would allow! mike

 

[02Escape]

I think they started using MerconV in 2003. This truck only has 70k on it, and I think the fluid was changed once. May have been MercV and now they are mixed. That could be the problem. If it will not do harm, I would like to just drain and pump all the old out and start over rather than to just change 4 quarts. Will this do more harm than good? Thanks for all the help.

 

[caravanmike]

Originally Posted By: 02Escape
If it will not do harm, I would like to just drain and pump all the old out and start over rather than to just change 4 quarts. Will this do more harm than good? Thanks for all the help.
it is really personal preference. i don't like the added mess of taking a cooling line loose, then having a second person around for turning the car on and off. a poor mans flush (which is what i believe you are going to do) should be fine, i would not get a machine flush, especially not with added chemicals the method you are doing by using the transmissions own pump is less of a shock to the transmission.

also don't forget your filter? i don't know if the cd4e has a media filter or a screen? if it has a media filter it will need replaced. mike

 

[wander2039]

Unless you enjoy tearing your Escape apart just pull the plug. In order in to get to the cooler lines you have to pull the covers off.. not hard but I wouldn't want to do it very often. If you do go that route I HIGHLY recommend you install a magnefine or equilavent all the cd4e's have is a screen. I installed one along with 4qts of M1 in ours about 20k ago and I've fairly confident that's why it came out looking as good as it did. As that's with trailer pulling and alot hills.

How often do you change your oil? I would recommend at every oil change just swap out 4qts for at least 20k. After 20k up the interval up to 10k. After a few of those if it looks good go up to 15k, I wouldn't push any more unless you go with Merc V.

 

[Drew2000]

Switched-over my V6 Tribute to Mercon V. No problems at all. Mercon/MerconV are fully compatable. Issue was with the earliest formulation of Mercon V, which has long been revised. Mercon V is a better fluid and meets a license-standard that many of the older "for Mercon applications" may or may not.

Biggest problem with the earlier CD4E transmissions was overheating fluid on non-trailer tow package-equipped vehicles. Later years made the external trailer-tow ATF cooler standard on all models.

FWIW, If I were to chose a plain Mercon/DexIII brand, it would be Pennzoil, as it's still made to the same specification of the previously licensed product. I use the Pennzoil Mercon V however.

 

[caravanmike]

Originally Posted By: Drew2000

FWIW, If I were to chose a plain Mercon/DexIII brand, it would be Pennzoil, as it's still made to the same specification of the previously licensed product.

how do you know this?

 

[02Escape]

So I shouldn't use the Dex\Merc that I have already? I usually change the oil every 3000 miles so I figured flush it now, and swap 4 quarts every oil change like mentioned by someone. I want to make sure the fluid is right however. I can only find AdvanceAuto MercV, or Motorcraft MercV which is like $6 a quart.