Dextron 3 Question

[robroy55]

Hello Folks,

National Transmissions is having a $19.95 Transmission fluid change offer, BUT, they are using Dextron 3 Trans fluid in their offer. What DAMAGE of any will this fluid instead of Micron 4 will it do to my 02 40K durtec??

Thanks for any suggestions Folks!!

Rob Roy

[shorod]

I can't answer your real question, but saving $20 (or whatever the difference would be) to find out probably isn't worth the risk. A transmission rebuild 5k miles later will certainly cost much more than the savings today.

This would be kind of like increasing wear and tear on your clutch and throwout bearing by engine braking/downshifting when coming to stops in an attempt to reduce wear on the much less expensive brake pads.

-Rod

[TaurusKing]

Does every 19.95 fluid change come with a recommended list of at least a few hundred dollars of urgently needed repairs???

[robroy55]

Thanks Rod and others for convincing me NOT to take the chance. I will give them a call and I am sure they will let me bring me own correct oil for the same price.
Thanks again for making me use my head !!

Take Care,
Rob Roy

[hink12341234]

Use to be a rural mailcarrier so changing ATF&filter was very common for me. I drove mostly Mopar products(Dodge Spirits) and the one thing you find out early is to use the exact fluid that it calls for. On the Spirits it said right on the dipstick to use Chrysler 7176 ATF. Some people thought they could get by with useing Dexron ll. Always was told to stay away from it and play it safe and use what the manufacture tells you to use. Newer Mopars then replaced 7176 ATF with ATF+3. Around the year 2000 they came out with ATF+4. In your case maybe the Ford Mercon ATF and the Dexron ATF can be used in either Ford or Chevy transmissions. I'm pretty sure it would say that on the quart of ATF. If you can't I would only use what your owners manual asks for. UPDATE-I found a quart of MERCON V ATF and it's a synthetic blend ATF that's approved for use in vehicles that specify Ford Mercon,Ford Mercon V and DEXRON 3 ATF. Hope this helps.

[mwt47]

It was never Dexron 3

It used to be Dexron/MerconIII

Ford has been saying to use the Mercon V on their Autos in the Taurus back to 96

Mike

[wafrederick]

It was 1998 when Ford changed to Mercon V,not 1996.I know Pennzoil makes makes Mercon V transmission fluid and is not cheap.

[mwt47]

Originally Posted by wafrederick

It was 1998 when Ford changed to Mercon V,not 1996.I know Pennzoil makes makes Mercon V transmission fluid and is not cheap.

Ford says to use it back to 96 now is what I was trying to say.

Use Mercon V on any Taurus made from 96 to present.

There wasn't even a Mercon V in 96
Mike

[mwt47]

Originally Posted by RickMN

Read this article on transmission flushes.

If we are arguing here I have no idea what it is about.

Ford has now said to use Mercon V in the Taurus transmission back to 1996.

They made it retroactive.

Thats all I know about it.

As previously stated I have no idea what your point is.

I use Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF and it Mercon V It cost 6.58 a quart at Wally World

Mike