The Diesel Stop banner

Which atf?

6K views 12 replies 6 participants last post by  Mark Kovalsky 
#1 ·
I bought a e99 with 240k on it and was told the transmission was replaced. It clearly was unless someone spent 8 hrs spraying and wiping every nook and cranny with brake clean.

2 yrs later and Im upgrading to a 6.0 cooler due to a hose fitting failure right on the cooler and its a "while im in there" situation.

I have no idea built it, but I dont see any ford warranty decal on it, nothing actually other than what looks like a serial # or model # decal.

I plan to drain and replace whatever comes out as well and am considering the internal filter. I bought a gallon of valvoline dexmerc atf but now I see there is a HUGE controversy over which ATF to use. I would ASSume that whoever rebuilt it used modern parts which would retrofit it for modern fluids.

All this being said, anyone have a recommendation on how to proceed? According to Valvoline's application guide I chose the wrong bottle and should have chose "maxlife atf"


What say ye?

Also my dipstick tube is not mounted and resting on the exhaust downpipe and loose and wobbling all over the place... how does it mount?
 
See less See more
#2 · (Edited)
I use Valvoline MaxLife ATF in the dark red jug in my 4R100. It is synthetic. I have not had issues.

Although, I would recommend Mobil-1 ATF in the power steering unit.

EDIT:
MaxLife is not Mercon V approved by Ford. The Valvoline website only states this:

Question:
“Is MaxLife ATF OK to use in applications requiring Mercon-V fluid?
Valvoline response:
‘Yes. MaxLife ATF can be used where a MERCON V* fluid is recommended.’

*Ford and MERCON V are registered trademarks of Ford Motor Company. This is not a licensed Ford product.”

https://www.valvoline.com/about-us/faq/system-fluids-faq
 
#3 ·
I use Valvoline MaxLife ATF in the dark red jug in my 4R100. It is synthetic. I have not had issues.

Although, I would recommend Mobil-1 ATF in the power steering unit.
Yeah, looks like I bought the wrong crap. Hope autozone takes it back without a receipt.
 
#6 · (Edited)
And I bet castrol's application guide says its not for our trucks just like valvolines. I hate choosing a trans fluid. However this recommendation with actual data is hard to say no to.

What type of duty does your truck commonly see?
 
#9 ·
My truck has had an easy life. Mainly commute, light trailer, Small enclosed trailer, bass boat towing. All stock 7.3. Trans temps never or rarely get above 160F, probe in pressure port. The Castrol I just kept on grabbing every time I change/flush the Trans. Worked good last time. Why change? My last change I almost felt like I was wasting my money. Was so nice and bright red when I took it out? Was hard to tell when the new fluid started to come out. I remember my first change you could plainly tell when the fresh fluid was going into the jug. Heck my magnet hardly has any fuzz on it last change. Was sad for me because this will be more than likely its last change/flush. Michigan cancer will take her away from me before the next 60K I am afraid. And the truck is getting to the point, rust, that if anything major happen. I don’t think it would be worth fixing. I would put the 3 to 4K, like cost of Trans, towards a new truck. :(
 
#10 · (Edited)
Yeah, you dont use your truck. The bass boat is like flicking a mosquito off of its fender.. it laughs at your "loads".

EDIT: $60K for a new truck in my opion is a joke. Have you ever looked at the emission systems on a 6.7? That thing is a monstrocity of tubes and hoses and accessory devices strapped onto a diesel. If I am ever in a position where I need a "new truck" to pull my 5th wheel on a frequent basis (I live in my 5th presently because I am a major f&ck up with my finances and career) I will buy a 7.3 era truck with under 100k miles that sat in someone's garage because he "meant" to pull his rv around but never got around to it for $25k. I would fly to go get it, they are all over the country right now. But I digress from my original post.

In your case I might just invest in some new body parts and a paint job.. knowing what you have is of utmost importance and you know what you have mechanically. $10k and your truck looks like new I bet with a cool custom paint job... maybe $15k. Id pay for a compression test before I did it. More than likely your cylinder walls still have the hone marks on them. And Id replace the oil cooler, radiator and all hoses. Done. $20k tops and you take it to the grave with you. Maybe ask to be buried in it. Oh you probably need new seat covers too.. $20k might cover that too if you find a reasonable upholstery shop.
 
#12 ·
For some there is only one no anxiety answer, something that has the Ford Tattoo on its spec line. Ford stopped doing those for this fluid for an old application. Mercon or Mercon V is acceptable and usable for an original Mercon application despite the lack of a blue oval. Consequently the Valvoline Synthetic Mercon V is good for the application. For most of my trucks 240k life since new I ran Mobil 1, For the last 10k, the Valvoline. No discernable difference, except price.


If Mark K writes that a Mercon V rated fluid is acceptable then that's as close to a no anxiety for the nervous choice you can get ultra expert specialist confirmation on. If he told me I had the wrong fluid in my truck I would change it tomorrow.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top