Are Dexron and Mercon the same thing?

A previous post mentioned that synthetic Dexron helped quiet down their
power steering pump, or lubegard red. This is why I was posting about
the subject.

Mike Romain wrote:
> Masospaghetti wrote:
>> wrote:
>>> Masospaghetti wrote:
>>>> My vehicle calls for Mercon ATF for the power steering as well as the
>>>> manual transmission fluid. Can I use Synthetic Dexron in these
>>>> applications, or Mercon V?
>>>>
>>>> 2000 Ford Explorer, 96,000 miles.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>> -J
>>> Usually that wouldn't be a problem, but:
>>>
>>> You might want to check with the dealer on this. There was a BIG
>>> glitch with the Mercon V spec and the old Ford Mercon transmissions
>>> that made them NOT backwards compatible. Ford was supposed to reissue
>>> the specs and formulations to the manufacturers to make sure that the
>>> new fluids remained backwards compatible, but that wasn't that long ago
>>> and it is possible that some of the stock could still be out there.
>>>
>>> Call a dealer and talk to the parts desk to make sure. There was an
>>> issue with this with the SuperDuty transmissions that caused some folks
>>> to get bitten when they assumed that the old backwards compatibility
>>> rule held. Better safe than sorry.
>>>
>> Well, I called the dealer...
>>
>> ...and they told me to use TYPE F. (wtf?)
>>
>> But I believe my owner's manual + you guys more than one service person.
>> Thanks for the replies.
>>
>> -J
>
> Why would you want to use a GM fluid in your Ford?
>
> With all the pickieness that those Fords have with even their own (type
> F) or Mercon fluid, trying to use Dexron or GM fluid seems pretty silly
> to me.
>
> My Jeep calls for Dexron in the power steering. I would disconnect the
> belt and just not use it until I got to the proper fluid before I used
> Ford fluid in it.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

"Mike Romain" > wrote in message
...
> Masospaghetti wrote:
>>
>> wrote:
>> > Masospaghetti wrote:
>> >> My vehicle calls for Mercon ATF for the power steering as well as the
>> >> manual transmission fluid. Can I use Synthetic Dexron in these
>> >> applications, or Mercon V?
>> >>
>> >> 2000 Ford Explorer, 96,000 miles.
>> >>
>> >> Thanks
>> >> -J
>> >
>> > Usually that wouldn't be a problem, but:
>> >
>> > You might want to check with the dealer on this. There was a BIG
>> > glitch with the Mercon V spec and the old Ford Mercon transmissions
>> > that made them NOT backwards compatible. Ford was supposed to reissue
>> > the specs and formulations to the manufacturers to make sure that the
>> > new fluids remained backwards compatible, but that wasn't that long ago
>> > and it is possible that some of the stock could still be out there.
>> >
>> > Call a dealer and talk to the parts desk to make sure. There was an
>> > issue with this with the SuperDuty transmissions that caused some folks
>> > to get bitten when they assumed that the old backwards compatibility
>> > rule held. Better safe than sorry.
>> >
>>
>> Well, I called the dealer...
>>
>> ...and they told me to use TYPE F. (wtf?)
>>
>> But I believe my owner's manual + you guys more than one service person.
>> Thanks for the replies.
>>
>> -J
>
> Why would you want to use a GM fluid in your Ford?
>
> With all the pickieness that those Fords have with even their own (type
> F) or Mercon fluid, trying to use Dexron or GM fluid seems pretty silly
> to me.
>
> My Jeep calls for Dexron in the power steering. I would disconnect the
> belt and just not use it until I got to the proper fluid before I used
> Ford fluid in it.

Many brands are label to meet both Mercon and Dexron specs. Read the can.

Ed

"C. E. White" wrote:
>
> "Mike Romain" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Masospaghetti wrote:
> >>
> >> wrote:
> >> > Masospaghetti wrote:
> >> >> My vehicle calls for Mercon ATF for the power steering as well as the
> >> >> manual transmission fluid. Can I use Synthetic Dexron in these
> >> >> applications, or Mercon V?
> >> >>
> >> >> 2000 Ford Explorer, 96,000 miles.
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks
> >> >> -J
> >> >
> >> > Usually that wouldn't be a problem, but:
> >> >
> >> > You might want to check with the dealer on this. There was a BIG
> >> > glitch with the Mercon V spec and the old Ford Mercon transmissions
> >> > that made them NOT backwards compatible. Ford was supposed to reissue
> >> > the specs and formulations to the manufacturers to make sure that the
> >> > new fluids remained backwards compatible, but that wasn't that long ago
> >> > and it is possible that some of the stock could still be out there.
> >> >
> >> > Call a dealer and talk to the parts desk to make sure. There was an
> >> > issue with this with the SuperDuty transmissions that caused some folks
> >> > to get bitten when they assumed that the old backwards compatibility
> >> > rule held. Better safe than sorry.
> >> >
> >>
> >> Well, I called the dealer...
> >>
> >> ...and they told me to use TYPE F. (wtf?)
> >>
> >> But I believe my owner's manual + you guys more than one service person.
> >> Thanks for the replies.
> >>
> >> -J
> >
> > Why would you want to use a GM fluid in your Ford?
> >
> > With all the pickieness that those Fords have with even their own (type
> > F) or Mercon fluid, trying to use Dexron or GM fluid seems pretty silly
> > to me.
> >
> > My Jeep calls for Dexron in the power steering. I would disconnect the
> > belt and just not use it until I got to the proper fluid before I used
> > Ford fluid in it.
>
> Many brands are label to meet both Mercon and Dexron specs. Read the can.
>
> Ed

Yup, 'compatible with', eh.

I found out really fast that that doesn't hold for transmission fluid
for my Jeep. I used a 'compatible with' gear oil and my synchromesh
promptly failed requiring at the best a double shift and at the worst a
stop to get it into 1st.

I changed to the 'proper' fluid and bingo, my transmission started and
has continued to run perfectly.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

I have been bit by 'compatible with' fluids so now just try to use the
correct ones....

Mike

Masospaghetti wrote:
>
> A previous post mentioned that synthetic Dexron helped quiet down their
> power steering pump, or lubegard red. This is why I was posting about
> the subject.
>
> Mike Romain wrote:
> > Masospaghetti wrote:
> >> wrote:
> >>> Masospaghetti wrote:
> >>>> My vehicle calls for Mercon ATF for the power steering as well as the
> >>>> manual transmission fluid. Can I use Synthetic Dexron in these
> >>>> applications, or Mercon V?
> >>>>
> >>>> 2000 Ford Explorer, 96,000 miles.
> >>>>
> >>>> Thanks
> >>>> -J
> >>> Usually that wouldn't be a problem, but:
> >>>
> >>> You might want to check with the dealer on this. There was a BIG
> >>> glitch with the Mercon V spec and the old Ford Mercon transmissions
> >>> that made them NOT backwards compatible. Ford was supposed to reissue
> >>> the specs and formulations to the manufacturers to make sure that the
> >>> new fluids remained backwards compatible, but that wasn't that long ago
> >>> and it is possible that some of the stock could still be out there.
> >>>
> >>> Call a dealer and talk to the parts desk to make sure. There was an
> >>> issue with this with the SuperDuty transmissions that caused some folks
> >>> to get bitten when they assumed that the old backwards compatibility
> >>> rule held. Better safe than sorry.
> >>>
> >> Well, I called the dealer...
> >>
> >> ...and they told me to use TYPE F. (wtf?)
> >>
> >> But I believe my owner's manual + you guys more than one service person.
> >> Thanks for the replies.
> >>
> >> -J
> >
> > Why would you want to use a GM fluid in your Ford?
> >
> > With all the pickieness that those Fords have with even their own (type
> > F) or Mercon fluid, trying to use Dexron or GM fluid seems pretty silly
> > to me.
> >
> > My Jeep calls for Dexron in the power steering. I would disconnect the
> > belt and just not use it until I got to the proper fluid before I used
> > Ford fluid in it.
> >
> > Mike
> > 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> > 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> > Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> > Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> > (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 10:29:35 -0400, Mike Romain >
wrote:

>> Well, I called the dealer...
>>
>> ...and they told me to use TYPE F. (wtf?)
>>
>> But I believe my owner's manual + you guys more than one service person.
>> Thanks for the replies. <snip>

Type F?? HAHAHAHA! There is NO application for Type F that's been
built in the last 25 years or so. In fact, Type F is getting hard to
find on the retail level, almost as tough as the old Type A.

Call your dealer's owner and complain about this idiot.

Mike Romain wrote:
> Masospaghetti wrote:
>
wrote:
>>
>>>Masospaghetti wrote:
>>>
>>>>My vehicle calls for Mercon ATF for the power steering as well as the
>>>>manual transmission fluid. Can I use Synthetic Dexron in these
>>>>applications, or Mercon V?
>>>>
>>>>2000 Ford Explorer, 96,000 miles.
>>>>
>>>>Thanks
>>>>-J
>>>
>>>Usually that wouldn't be a problem, but:
>>>
>>>You might want to check with the dealer on this. There was a BIG
>>>glitch with the Mercon V spec and the old Ford Mercon transmissions
>>>that made them NOT backwards compatible. Ford was supposed to reissue
>>>the specs and formulations to the manufacturers to make sure that the
>>>new fluids remained backwards compatible, but that wasn't that long ago
>>>and it is possible that some of the stock could still be out there.
>>>
>>>Call a dealer and talk to the parts desk to make sure. There was an
>>>issue with this with the SuperDuty transmissions that caused some folks
>>>to get bitten when they assumed that the old backwards compatibility
>>>rule held. Better safe than sorry.
>>>
>>
>>Well, I called the dealer...
>>
>>...and they told me to use TYPE F. (wtf?)
>>
>>But I believe my owner's manual + you guys more than one service person.
>>Thanks for the replies.
>>
>>-J
>
>
> Why would you want to use a GM fluid in your Ford?

Because there's no such thing as a "GM Fluid?" Chrysler used the Type
A/Dexron family as far back as GM did, and only stopped in the early 90s.

>
> With all the pickieness that those Fords have with even their own (type
> F) or Mercon fluid, trying to use Dexron or GM fluid seems pretty silly
> to me.

The Dexron spec is THIS CLOSE >< to the Mercon spec. Its no great trick
to meet both, but Ford did have to clarify the spec. As others have
said, using a current production (not old stock) Mercon V fluid should
be fine.

And remember, the original question was for the power steering- which is
a LOT less picky than the transmission would be!

Masospaghetti wrote:
> My vehicle calls for Mercon ATF for the power steering as well as the
> manual transmission fluid. Can I use Synthetic Dexron in these
> applications, or Mercon V?
>
> 2000 Ford Explorer, 96,000 miles.
>
> Thanks
> -J

I needed some info on the Motorcraft motor oil and noticed that they
have two different ATFs listed on their site:

http://www.motorcraft.com/products.do?item=15

They have a Mercon V that they say is ONLY for where Mercon V is
indicated and a second Mercon Multi-Purpose ATF that is indicated for
use everywhere else. See if you can find the Motorcraft Mercon
Multi-Purpose and you should be home free.

Matthew