I am wondering what trans. fluid is required in a 2004 ford F-350 with a 6.0 liter diesel engine. I am being told alot of different things

 

According to my 2004 manual, Mercon ATF for the 4R100 (4speed) which is what I have and Mercon-SP ATF for the TorqShift (5speed) I'll type the warning it's long and is probably adding to your confusion, but I'm shortening it

"Ensure the correct fluid is used. Tranny fluid requirements are on the end of the dipstick. Dual Usage are not to be used in tranny that requires only MERCON fluid, but they can be used in tranny that requires MERCON V.

Do not mix MERCON, MERCON V and MERCON SP

There's more but I'm sure you get the point, I never knew it until now but check the dipstick, lol now I've gotta go check mine just to be sure it's true

 

Just checked my dipstick had a part # but that doesn't coincide with ford tranny fluid, but there is an M stamped on the top of mine which I assume is Mercon ATF, because I have the 4R100, hope this helps you

 

Thank you very much. I will check my stick also. The local Ford dealership is telling it will be between 300 - 400.00 to flush the tranny and change both filters and the big cost is the fluid. I wonder if they are putting gold in it.

 

It's alot of fluid 17 qts roughly and I don't have 2 filters, that might be reasonable considering what the dealership gets per hour now adays,

but if they are flushing why are they changing the filters? how many miles on your rig and when was the last change?

 

About 67k since last service and only the external filter was done at that time, not the one in the pan. I also believe that you can't get all the fluid out of the trans. if you just pulled the pan and drain. Leaves the fluid in the torque converter. Good - Bad?

 

I just changed mine this fall replaced the pan filter without flushing. Personally I wasn't too concerned about the torque converter, but yes it does only change about half of the fluid.

 

As of 7/1/07 mercon v is the replacement for Ford automatic transmissions that previously used mercon because the production and licensing for mercon will cease on that date. This information was taken from a Ford Customer Service Division announcment made in June of 2007. The OP's 2004 f350 with diesel engine has a 5r110 transmission which uses mercon sp fluid.

 

Both MERCON SP and MERCON LV are specified for the TorqShift in the 2004 6.0L listed above. MERCON LV is replacing MERCON SP, which will be phased out.

 

Just FYI, O'Reilley's carries Mercon SP @ about $4 a quart, as opposed to the dealer @ $8-$9 a quart. It is being phased out, as Mark K. states. I have had extremely good luck with the SP, so I have stashed away a number of cases, before it disappears.

 

Mark, doesn't the 5r110 need to be flushed using a hot flush machine, because of there being a thermastat type bypass in it? I don't know the proper name for this bypass.

 

OASIS MESSAGE :
ALL 2003-2008 F-SUPER DUTY, 2003-2005 EXCURSION, 2004-2008 E-SERIES AND
2006-2008 LCF VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A TORQSHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD
BE SERVICED WITH MERCON LV AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID IN PLACE OF MERCON SP.
THIS INCLUDES TOP OFF AS WELL AS FLUID REPLACEMENT. MIXING MERCON LV AND MERCON
SP IN THE TORQSHIFT TRANSMISSION IS ACCEPTABLE. USE MERCON LV TRANSMISSION FLUID
TO SERVICE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TORQSHIFT TRANSMISSIONS. WHEN ADDING OR
REPLACING TRANSMISSION FLUID IN A VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A TORQSHIFT
TRANSMISSION, USE MERCON LV TRANSMISSION FLUID.

 

If you are going to do a complete fluid change, also called a flush, you must use a heated flush machine. There is a thermostat in the trans that will bypass 90% of the fluid to the cooler if the trans is cooler than 170°F.

 

I just do a drain/refill every 20k or so, no need for the hot flush really when you do it more frequently.

 

Thanks for all your help guys. This givesw me much better info than what I have been getting.