Oil recommendation needed.

JohnT24

Active member
Joined
May 23, 2013
Messages
868
Reaction score
34
Location
OXFORD CT.
Still putting this thing together but I need power steering fluid

And transfer case fluid.

Actually I should probably change the ZF5 transmission fluid also.

Do these three items take the same ATF fluid?


Don't really care about brands

Just looking for the correct type
To buy.

Haven't had a chance to look it up on the inter-webs.

And I figured you guys are like really smart and stuff.
 

JohnT24

Active member
Joined
May 23, 2013
Messages
868
Reaction score
34
Location
OXFORD CT.
Hmmmmm,
So I'm reading up on this Mercon 5
OR Mercon V

And apparently it says on the bottle do not use in transfer cases.

A couple reviews on Amazon say that the correct fluid for transfer cases is now Motorcraft XL-12

Apparently the Mercon V formula has changed and while it is still good for power steering pump and transmission,

The XL – 12 is the old formula mercon v
And is suggested for transfer cases.

Can anyone confirm this
Or does anyone have any knowledge on this subject?

349e0cc683cad0e3030fe5931b5b9471.jpg
 

JohnT24

Active member
Joined
May 23, 2013
Messages
868
Reaction score
34
Location
OXFORD CT.
I found this online from Ford




Motorcraft MERCON V Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) and Power Steering Fluid

* Premium-quality dual-use fluid for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles
* Can be used in vehicles requiring MERCON V or MERCON type automatic transmission fluid
* Provides excellent performance in electronically controlled automatic transmissions
* Manufactured with high-viscosity index, premium-quality, hydroprocessed base oils and specially designed performance additives
* Provides excellent shifting characteristics at high and low ambient temperatures
* Offers excellent thermal and oxidation resistance, as well as good low-temperature fluidity
* Provides wear protection and inhibits the formation of gum, sludge, lacquer and foam
* Provides protection against rust and corrosion
* Dyed red for easy leak detection
* Suitable for use as a hydraulic oil in a wide variety of industrial applications that call for an ISO 46 or SAE 20W viscosity grade hydraulic oil
* Not for use in applications where MERCON SP, MERCON LV, Continuously Variable Chain Type Transmission Fluid, Motorcraft Premium Automatic Transmission Fluid, FNR5 Automatic Transmission Fluid or Type F Automatic Transmission Fluid is recommended

* Not for use in transfer cases
* Recommended by Ford Motor Company

* Available in cases of 12 one-quart bottles, four (4) five-quart bottles, six (6) one-gallon units and 55-gallon units
* Use of bulk fluid is environmentally proactive and bulk quantities are available at substantial savings
 

JohnT24

Active member
Joined
May 23, 2013
Messages
868
Reaction score
34
Location
OXFORD CT.
And also this about the XL-12
Transfer case fluid



Motorcraft Transfer Case Fluid

Usage

* For use in transfer cases driving front axles on all-wheel-drive (AWD) and 4x4 vehicles
* Not for use in automatic transmissions, manual transmissions, power take off units (PTU), fluid couplers or AWD vehicles equipped with a transaxle


Features

* Premium-quality fluid for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury transfer cases
* Manufactured with high-viscosity index, premium-quality, hydroprocessed base oils and specially designed performance additives
* Provides increased protection against deposit, rust, corrosion and wear
* Maintains proper viscosity at extreme temperatures
* Recommended by Ford Motor Company
* Available in cases of 12 one-quart bottles
 

JohnT24

Active member
Joined
May 23, 2013
Messages
868
Reaction score
34
Location
OXFORD CT.
You have a OBS truck that Mercron V will be fine.



Sent from my SM-A426U using Tapatalk

Not to be a ball buster but,

Ford Motor Company says do NOT use Mercon V in transfer cases

But bug man says it's OK ...

Hmm...

Ford makes no mention of what specific year transfer cases
But there probably hasn't been much change in a gear/chain transfer case over the years.

Here is a video addressing the subject

 

JohnT24

Active member
Joined
May 23, 2013
Messages
868
Reaction score
34
Location
OXFORD CT.
I have also read that XL-12
(Ford transfer case fluid)
Has been discontinued and they now recommend Mercon LV

But when you look at the spec sheet for mercon LV it says do not use in transfer cases.

This whole thing is highly confusing.

efd9f4b95ee117bf6684b5d1654a597b.jpg
 

Bugman

Active member
Joined
Aug 20, 2011
Messages
1,292
Reaction score
6
Location
Gypsum, Co
Your original owners manual stated Mercron for the manual transmission and transfer case.

Over the years they discontinued Mercron and upgraded it all the way to Mercron V.

I have use Walmart SuperTech version of Mercron for every transmission and transfer case fluid change.
 

JohnT24

Active member
Joined
May 23, 2013
Messages
868
Reaction score
34
Location
OXFORD CT.
The days of dexIII are long gone.

I used LE 7500 for my t case.

Looks like that might be a good choice for the manual transmission as well.

 
Joined
Jan 26, 2014
Messages
953
Reaction score
5
Location
FL
Looks like that might be a good choice for the manual transmission as well.

I’m actually going to run it soon in one of my trucks with a zf5. I’ve used redline mtl in My 96 with a slightly worn gearbox and it made a huge difference.

I put mtl in my 95 with a fresh rebuilt zf5 and it made no difference except for costing a ton. Next oil chance I’m gonna try the 7500
 

JohnT24

Active member
Joined
May 23, 2013
Messages
868
Reaction score
34
Location
OXFORD CT.
You have a OBS truck that Mercron V will be fine.



Sent from my SM-A426U using Tapatalk

Thanks
I think I am going with the Mercon V
In the transmission (ZF5)

And the full synthetic Valvoline for the transfer case.
 

79jasper

Active member
Joined
Feb 2, 2012
Messages
2,685
Reaction score
4
Location
skiatook, Oklahoma
Run what you want. But you have people that likely have a combined 1mil+ miles on these running x fluid.....

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk
 

lincolnlocker

Well-known member
Joined
May 25, 2011
Messages
27,852
Reaction score
143
Location
Central Michigan
Thanks
I think I am going with the Mercon V
In the transmission (ZF5)

And the full synthetic Valvoline for the transfer case.
Save your money on the full synthetic transfer case fluid.

Every single obs and supper duty that has been in my family from 95 on has had mercon 5 in the trans and tcase.... we probably have 1 million miles, if not more, combined ourselves. Thats all i had in whitey from the first year i owned her till the day i sold her. And im guessing Ryan didnt change much about her. Lol



my 12 had and now my 15 have LE 1150 trans fluid in the trans and t case and technically, its not even ford spec..

Combined, thats around 265k miles of personal experience plus we have probably millions of miles of guys running the same exact thing that is "not the correct stuff" without failure. So just because it says it dont use it doesn't mean it wont work..

Now we are switching everyone over to driven fluids.
 

JohnT24

Active member
Joined
May 23, 2013
Messages
868
Reaction score
34
Location
OXFORD CT.
Yeah I'm sure you can use whatever you want
And I'm sure people have had success with that.

Hell, I saw some guy on YouTube putting gear oil in his transmission.

Whatever.

I am just trying to get as close as I can to what mother Ford recommends.

It makes me sleep better at night I reckon.

Did I ever tell you about my great great grandfather that smoked three packs of cigarettes a day I lived to be 100?

Yeah
I didn't think so.

Anyway thanks for all the help fellas.

It's appreciated
 
Top