auto. trans. fluid

Any best recommedations...have ~80k miles...changed trans filter and fluid two summers ago...change filter again or just fluid? Thanks for any comments.

Both. The filter is what keeps crud from getting inside the small valves in transmission.

I agree, both filter and fluid.
Lots of posts here on how to do it yourself.....it is a messy job. Most shops use an "exchange" machine....which adds new fluid back in at the same rate and amount that the old fluid comes out.
Your profile says that you have a 2000 Windstar.
The 2000 calls for Mercon V rated fluid. Do not use Mercon.

You need to change the fluid at least every 30K miles for normal usage. 21K miles for "severe" usage.

[QUOTE=wiswind]I agree, both filter and fluid.
Lots of posts here on how to do it yourself.....it is a messy job.

The Windstar is a piece of cake if you don't mind buying 15 quarts and taking an hour to do it right. You need a 5 gallon gas can and a length of hose, about 2 feet, available at any auto store.
The Windstar has a "cooler" at the base of the radiator. Unplug the exit line from the transmission and add the rubber hose. Insert the other end into the empty can. Start the car and let it idle, pumping fluid into the can. As soon as the fluid is not smoothly flowing, shut down. Add about 8 quarts to the trans to overfill the pan and start her again. The remaining used fluid in the convertor will pump out of the trans. Stop as before. Remove pan and filter. Clean pan. Replace filter. Refill with highest quality synthetic - Mercon V, though a synthetic, is junk, especially the way Fords overheat their fluid. Use something like Amsoil and you'll never be sorry. Reattach the hose, start and top off and you're done. If you add an aux cooler, all the better. Heat kills these things.
Marc/Douglasville
98 Windstar
97 SHO

After I read these, I checked and found out that I used Mercon instead of the right one (Mercon V). What should I do? Please help. I enclose my email address here, just in case someone wants to help directly. Greatly appreciate it.

If you did indeed use regular Mercon instead of Mercon V, bite the bullet and do the job over again and replace the fluid.

Without a doubt do the job again using Mercon V. It is a lot less costly than a new tranny.

As a side note I believe there is a person on this board that used Mobil Mercon in place of Mercon V and the last I heard he had no problems but I would advise against it.

THANKS for the advice! will do asap.

Your profile says that you have a 98. I don't know what year the requirement changed from Mercon to Mercon V. I know the 99s use Mercon V but check your manual and dipstick to ensure that you do in fact require Mercon V before changing it.

For some reason I thought the change year was from 98 to 99 but I could be incorrect.

You will want to check the dipstick for the transmision. The correct fluid type is indicated there. You can also verify the correct fluid by checking the build date for your '98.

The early 1998 Windstars used Mercon, and they switched to Mercon V on 9/9/97.

If the build date was BEFORE 9/9/97, you will use Mercon.

If the build date was AFTER 9/8/97, you will use Mercon V.

This is as per TSB # 1-15-7 which was released August 6, 2001.

The TSB also states NOT to use ATF that claims to meet both Mercon and Mercon V in a vehicle that calls for Mercon.

They all say Mercon-V !!!
I will do it asap, however, I have run about 7,000 miles after the change!

You will want to check the dipstick for the transmision. The correct fluid type is indicated there. You can also verify the correct fluid by checking the build date for your '98.

The early 1998 Windstars used Mercon, and they switched to Mercon V on 9/9/97.

If the build date was BEFORE 9/9/97, you will use Mercon.

If the build date was AFTER 9/8/97, you will use Mercon V.

This is as per TSB # 1-15-7 which was released August 6, 2001.

The TSB also states NOT to use ATF that claims to meet both Mercon and Mercon V in a vehicle that calls for Mercon.


Thanks for the exacts Wiswind.

Interesting last point from the TSB. I have always been suspicious of the many that claim to meet both. The only "brand" Marcon V only fluid I have seen is Motorcraft. I live in Toronto and I have seen Amsoil, Quaker State and maybe a Castrol and a "House Brand" that claim to meet Mercon, Dexron III and Mercon V. but no name brands that only meet Mercon V Specifications. Mobil claims Mercon/DextronIII only.

What Brands have you found Mercon V?

I found Castrol that has Mercon-V at Walmart ($3.12 + TAX)

I found Castrol that has Mercon-V at Walmart ($3.12 + TAX)

Is this at a Walmart in Canada? Is is Mercon V only or one that meets Mercon, Dexron and Mercon V?

Sorry, Wal-Mart in the US (AL) and it is Mercon only.

My '96 calls for Mercon.....so I cannot say that I have looked into Mercon V.
I do remember the Mobil 1 website listing a Mercon V version of Mobil 1 ATF last year.....but I think that they got ahead of the marketing people....as I have not seen it....or seen any posts of people having found it. All the Mobil 1 ATF that I have seen is Mercon only.

I also have been using Castrol, the one that meets Mercon, Dexron and Mercon V for my wife's 2000 Windstar.

I asked the shop about the Mercon V and they told me that the only reason why "you must use only Mercon V" is so that Ford gets you to use their product. They say that in Canada, the only place to get true Mercon V is the Ford Dealer.

They even went as far as to get their Castrol rep to put it in writing that it is safe to use and that if any transmission damage would occur as a result of the fluid type, they would replace/repair the transmission at no cost to me!

Food for thought,

TaiBo

Nice of the Castrol rep to give you a guarantee in writing however, at the bare minimum if your transmission malfunctioned you would have to prove that it was because of the fluid and you will not be able to do so and I doubt you would ever see any repair help.

You may be fine with Castrol that meets all three. I am of the opinion that the 2 specifications (Mercon and Mercon V) are significantly different and that meeting both with the same fluid is a tall order but that doesn't mean that it is not possible. I bought Ford Brand because it was not any costlier and I have no doubt in my mind that it is Mercon V.

An update on the use of MOBIL 1 (Mercon) in my '99 SEL.

Background: My tranny's oil pump shaft broke at approx 90 kmiles. I have since become convinced that the failure was because of the damaged power train harness ... that I subsequently discovered and repaired. Conductors feeding the shift solenoids were intermittently grounded causing violent downshifting and upshifting.

So, I believe, this particular tranny failure can not be grouped with typical internal tranny failures. It was really an electrical failure.

While the van was in the shop, I had a discussion with the shop foreman and the repairman. We all had a high regard for the Mobil 1 .... and we knew little about the then "new" Mercon V. I suggested I might want to refill my, then totally empty, tranny with the Mobil 1. They had no problem with this, and in fact said that the 12 kmile repair warranty would stay intact. I supplied the 13, or so, qts of Mobil 1.

In hindsight, I see this as foolhardy. There should have done a bit more research on Mercon V. With the choices of Mercon V available today, it would be easy for me to choose a brand such as Castrol.

But so far I've stuck with the Mobil 1, dropping the pan and replacing the 6 1/2 qts (and filter) every 20 - 30 kmiles. Each pan and magnet cleaning has indicated less and less tranny wear. The most recent fluid change, at 170 kmiles, was the cleanest yet. The magnet had nothing on it that I could detect. The pan was so clean that wiping did little. For the first time I choose not to replace the filter.

Would I recommend someone else try Mobil 1 instead of Mercon V? Never!

But I'll keep ya posted on how this proceeds. The tranny doesn't seem to be "wearing out" at all, there are no leaks, and it shifts super smoothly. (I also pull a utility trailer, ... and have added no aftermarket fluid cooler.) There, however, may be other unknown internal components that were badly stressed when the harness was causing all that slamming ... and they may yet fail.

Leaving me on the side of the road ... with my tranny full of nice clean Mobil 1.