Using Type-F tranny fluid in place of Mercon

[Kamaaina]

Hi all. I'm a newbie to this message board with a question. My '96 XLT runs great but the tranny shifts with these long, drawn-out shifts. There's no out of control slippage and all gears engage normally. My question is can I substitute the Mercon fluid for Type-F? I know Type-F is for older Fords where the clutches / bands were designed for this and this fluid is "grabby" but I've seen GM vehicles us Type-F with shift kits with no detrimental effects. Maybe a 50/50 blend of Mercon & Type-F or maybe B&M Trick Shift fluid would help? I don't want to tear the trans apart to install a shift kit; just looking for a little improvement. I have 25,000 miles on it and installed a cooler when new and have changed the fluid/filter at 18,000 miles. Thanks all.....

 

[addkev]

What part of Hawaii are you in? I'm in Kaneohe.

First, I wouldn't mix the fluids, not on these new electronic transmissions. What I would do, do a flush and replace your fluid with synthetic fluid. I installed my B&M shift kit in my driveway, it didn't require tearing it apart at all.

Kevin

 

[Jason_25]

Not a good idea at all. Only use the OEM fluid or equivalent.

If you want to firm the shifts up, you can buy an electronic shift improver for 30 bucks.

 

[jimbo74]

i used b&m trick shift in my truck....its been in there for over a year.... still good... not burnt or anything..... but i do have an older explorer with a non computer controlled a4ld.... and i t has 110k miles on it, and still runs great....

 

[james t]

dont bother with the type F. it wont help much. i have ran B&M trick shift in just about everything ive had with an auto, and it sounds to me like thats what youre looking for. its the only tranny fluid i know of that you can feel the difference when you switch to it. also, get the little $30 B&M electronic shift kit, and run it on setting #2. this will not make the tranny shift harsh at all, it just makes it shift like it should have from the factory.

EDIT- i asked a local tranny builder about that along time ago, and basically GM trannys can run the type F with no problems, but its not a good idea to run it in a newer Ford that requires Mercon 3 or 5. in other words, if you were driving a bowtie, it would be ok. either way, just go with the trick shift.

 

[Kamaaina]

Thanks for all of the advice. When I think about it, if my trans is running good but just shifting slow I don't think that the fluid would make any difference. If it takes one second to complete a shift then fluid won't speed it up. It would probably make it chatter. I will check out that B&M shift adjuster mention above (is it the same one in JC Whitney?) I hate to mess the valve body by putting a shift kit in as I would probably screw up the whole thing. I've drop valve bodies before but not with these electronic controlled ones. And to "addkev".....I live in Aiea by Pearlridge Mall. Thanks all.........