Which Transmission Fluid is best?

[19Walt93]

If you don't want to buy a suction gun you can make a substitute like I did. Take the cap off a jug of dish detergent that has a pull to open cap on it, remove the pull cap, put a short length of 3/8 hose on it and clamp in place. Screw it onto a bottle of fluid, insert the hose in the fill hole and squeeze the bottle. I wash it out between uses and have used it for gear oil, too. I have another pull cap that I use when filling power steering fluid to avoid drips. I've never seen a failure using Mercon fluid and it's cheaper than synthetics, the key is to change it regularly.

 

[4x4junkie]

^^^
That's a clever idea.
I have a cheap Sta-Lube screw-on hand pump that I've used for well over a decade, though it doesn't fit all bottle sizes so I've had to kindof jerry-rig it a few times. The clear hose on it has gotten stiff over the years too so needs to be replaced.

 

[MADMODDER]

I was hoping this would be a very short and easy thread. However, between folks with more years of experience than I've been alive (30) going back and forth on what is and isn't available, this has been far more complicated than I anticipated. I saw that that was cleared up, so it helped a bit.

All I'm looking for is what is best.

Re-reading everything, I think I figured it out.

For the Diffs, I'll get the 75w140 redline fluid I link earlier.

For the transmission, Mercon V spec such as.

D4 ATF

Our most versatile ATF, use where Dexron III®, Dexron II®, Mercon® and Mercon V® fluids are recommended, provides a GL-4 level of gear protection

www.redlineoil.com

for the transfer case. I couldn't find a redline equivalent so I'll just get what my Dealer has labeled for it. I rarely ever use 4x4 anyway so I'm not concerned with it.

And I'm good. Ya?

 

[MADMODDER]

As far as filling the various cases, I use a hand pump for my VWs.

I was going to do the same for the ranger. Obviously with a different pump as I use MT90 for my VWs.

 

[4x4junkie]

I was hoping this would be a very short and easy thread. However, between folks with more years of experience than I've been alive (30) going back and forth on what is and isn't available, this has been far more complicated than I anticipated. I saw that that was cleared up, so it helped a bit.

All I'm looking for is what is best.

Re-reading everything, I think I figured it out.

For the Diffs, I'll get the 75w140 redline fluid I link earlier.

For the transmission, Mercon V spec such as.

D4 ATF

Our most versatile ATF, use where Dexron III®, Dexron II®, Mercon® and Mercon V® fluids are recommended, provides a GL-4 level of gear protection

www.redlineoil.com

for the transfer case. I couldn't find a redline equivalent so I'll just get what my Dealer has labeled for it. I rarely ever use 4x4 anyway so I'm not concerned with it.

And I'm good. Ya?

Umm..., that is the Redline equivalent fluid right there in your link:

Our most versatile ATF, use where Dexron III®, Dexron II®, Mercon® and Mercon V® fluids are recommended, for use in automatic, manual transmissions and power steering

But if you'd rather buy dealer fluid, then certainly you're not going to hurt a thing by doing that either (well, maybe your wallet a little bit, but that's about it).

So yeah, you are good now.

 

[MADMODDER]

Umm..., that is the Redline equivalent fluid right there in your link:


But if you'd rather buy dealer fluid, then certainly you're not going to hurt a thing by doing that either (well, maybe your wallet a little bit, but that's about it).

So yeah, you are good now.

So the D4 ATF from Redline can be used for Both the Transmission AND the Transfer case?

 

[Shran]

Yes. Fill it and don't put any more thought into it. FWIW it doesn't matter if you use 4 wheel drive or not, half the guts of the t-case are always spinning - shifting into 4x4 just makes the rest spin in the same fluid.

 

[MADMODDER]

I want to apologize to everybody for the headache this has been. Lol. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and have an unhealthy need for understand why and how things work. Especially when I (not a professional) attempt tasks I am not well acquainted with.
So, for that, I'm sorry.

I suppose I'm just too use to German engineering.

Thank you everybody for the information and input from y'all's 50+ years of accumulated knowledge.

 

[Curious Hound]

No need to apologise for seeking knowledge.

 

[4x4junkie]

×2
It's also not entirely your fault... Much of the blame for this confusion can be put squarely on Ford for their monkeying around with the names.

Just remember:
"Transfer Case Fluid" = Mercon ATF.
Mercon ATF is now sold as: "Dex/Merc" ATF.

(you might also jot this down on the Fluid Specifications page inside your truck's manual for future reference)

It sounds like you're now on the right track. Good luck

 

[Shran]

Yep, no need to apologise! Nothing wrong with a healthy discussion!

 

[MADMODDER]

I'm sure y'all are sick of me and this thread (sorrynotsorry) but my Ranger does not have NPT fittings for drain or fill plugs.

It's a 15/16 hex head and 35ft/lbs tq spec.