Transmission, Tcase, and Power Steering Fluid?

[DeadEye200321]

Hey everyone!

I’m struggling to figure out what fluids to use in my 5 speed manual transmission, bw1354 tcase, and power steering system. The owners manual calls out to use Motorcraft Mercon ATF, the only problem with that is they no longer make that fluid anymore. I’ve heard things about not using Motorcraft Mercon V ATF in the transfer case as that can cause accelerated wear but how about the trans and the power steering? Can anyone give me a definitive answer as to what fluids I should use? I do prefer to use motorcraft fluids when I can just for OEM reliability sake but yeah. Calling ford they sounded like they could care less and said basically use whatever which was not helpful so now I’m coming here to hopefully figure it out once and for all. Thank you in advance!

 

[mr_manny]

When I googled the BW1354, it looks like Ford is now recommending an XL-12 Fluid.

The 2004 Ford Ranger with a BW1354 transfer case specifically requires Motorcraft XL-12 Transfer Case Fluid. While older manuals might have specified automatic transmission fluid (MERCON ATF), Ford later recommended switching to the specialized XL-12 fluid to protect the transfer case components

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Mercon ATF became Dex/Mercon a long time ago and is still being made. Which reminds me, I should probably start thinking of buying another 5-gallon bucket of the stuff…

 

[DeadEye200321]

Mercon ATF became Dex/Mercon a long time ago and is still being made. Which reminds me, I should probably start thinking of buying another 5-gallon bucket of the stuff…

Does motorcraft make Dex/Mercon anymore or is it aftermarket?

 

[DeadEye200321]

When I googled the BW1354, it looks like Ford is now recommending an XL-12 Fluid.

The 2004 Ford Ranger with a BW1354 transfer case specifically requires Motorcraft XL-12 Transfer Case Fluid. While older manuals might have specified automatic transmission fluid (MERCON ATF), Ford later recommended switching to the specialized XL-12 fluid to protect the transfer case components

XL-12 also appears to have been discontinued what now

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Does motorcraft make Dex/Mercon anymore or is it aftermarket?

Aftermarket. It’s available in quarts, gallons, 5-gallon buckets and barrels.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Also, your transmission you need to use either Mercon V or the red bottle Valvoline. Blue bottle Valvoline is Dex/Mercon. T-case and power steering use the Dex/Mercon.

 

[DeadEye200321]

Also, your transmission you need to use either Mercon V or the red bottle Valvoline. Blue bottle Valvoline is Dex/Mercon. T-case and power steering use the Dex/Mercon.

So Mercon V won’t ruin my manual transmission? It will only ruin my tcase and power steering?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So Mercon V won’t ruin my manual transmission? It will only ruin my tcase and power steering?

Ah beans, I was thinking automatic transmission, lol. Disregard that then, lol

 

[DeadEye200321]

So use this for transmission

And this for transfer case and power steeering

 

[DeadEye200321]

Well shoot, should I just use the blue bottle for everything then? Is the fluid blue or is it still red

 

[Curious Hound]

Blue bottle

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Well shoot, should I just use the blue bottle for everything then? Is the fluid blue or is it still red

Still red, lol. Would be cool if it was blue though, lol

 

[DeadEye200321]

Got in touch with somebody from ford on fords website and this is what they told me to use, so now I get to use oem fluid and if it destroys anything of mine, I got screenshots