Spuddy
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2012
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- 166
- Reaction score
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- City, State
- Fountain Hill, PA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2000 Explorer XLS OHV
Recommended (vs) Suitable
If it were me, I would (and did) use the Lucas Multi-Vehicle (#10418). Did you notice that MERCON V is first on their list of recommended applications? Evidently, this product was specifically designed to be a MERCON V fluid that also happens to be suitable for a number of other applications.
The Valvoline webpage for the Valvoline MaxLife DEX/MERC MERCON VI [~my link~] states:
"Recommended for use where DEXRON, DEXRON II, III and VI, Toyota T-IV and WS, MERCON®, MERCON® SP and LV, Allison TES 389, Nissan Matic-D, Matic-J and Matic-K, Honda Z-1 (except CVT), Mercedes NAG-1, Mitsubishi Diamond SP-II and SP-III and many others are required."
The "Product Information" sheet (.pdf)] [~my link~] further states:
Suitable for use in:
Ford MERCON®, MERCON®V, MERCON®SP and MERCON®LV applications
GM DEXRON®-II, DEXRON®-III and DEXRON®-VI applications
Nissan/Infiniti Matic D, Matic J, Matic K, and Matic S applications
Mitsubishi Diamond SP-II and SP-III applications
Hyundai/ KIA SP-II, SP-III, SP-IV and SPH-IV applications
Subaru ATF and ATF-HP applications
Toyota/Lexus Type T, T-III, T-IV and WS
Honda/Acura ATF-Z1 (except in CVTs) applications
Allison C4 and TES-389 applications
Mercedes Benz NAG1 applications
Volvo passenger car applications and STD 1273.41
Volkswagen TL52162
There is a difference between recommended and suitable. Given a choice, I would go with recommended over suitable any day.
That being said, the Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc is a Full-Synthetic product and is therefore, theoretically, superior to the Semi-Synthetic Lucas Multi-Vehicle ATF (#10418).
It does bother me very much that Valvoline themselves does not specifically list MERCON V as recommended on their main webpage for this product.
If it were me, I would (and did) use the Lucas Multi-Vehicle (#10418). Did you notice that MERCON V is first on their list of recommended applications? Evidently, this product was specifically designed to be a MERCON V fluid that also happens to be suitable for a number of other applications.
The Valvoline webpage for the Valvoline MaxLife DEX/MERC MERCON VI [~my link~] states:
"Recommended for use where DEXRON, DEXRON II, III and VI, Toyota T-IV and WS, MERCON®, MERCON® SP and LV, Allison TES 389, Nissan Matic-D, Matic-J and Matic-K, Honda Z-1 (except CVT), Mercedes NAG-1, Mitsubishi Diamond SP-II and SP-III and many others are required."
The "Product Information" sheet (.pdf)] [~my link~] further states:
Suitable for use in:
Ford MERCON®, MERCON®V, MERCON®SP and MERCON®LV applications
GM DEXRON®-II, DEXRON®-III and DEXRON®-VI applications
Nissan/Infiniti Matic D, Matic J, Matic K, and Matic S applications
Mitsubishi Diamond SP-II and SP-III applications
Hyundai/ KIA SP-II, SP-III, SP-IV and SPH-IV applications
Subaru ATF and ATF-HP applications
Toyota/Lexus Type T, T-III, T-IV and WS
Honda/Acura ATF-Z1 (except in CVTs) applications
Allison C4 and TES-389 applications
Mercedes Benz NAG1 applications
Volvo passenger car applications and STD 1273.41
Volkswagen TL52162
There is a difference between recommended and suitable. Given a choice, I would go with recommended over suitable any day.
That being said, the Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc is a Full-Synthetic product and is therefore, theoretically, superior to the Semi-Synthetic Lucas Multi-Vehicle ATF (#10418).
It does bother me very much that Valvoline themselves does not specifically list MERCON V as recommended on their main webpage for this product.