another automatic transmission question

Johnnydidd

Johnnydidd

Well-known member
My 56 merc with automatic transmission shifts good, after driving for a while engine temp to normal, it hesitates when shifting automatic from 2nd, I had the fluid changed with Type F and filter cleaned less than 100 miles, before I had it changed it shifted fine, I noticed in the book it calls for Type A. Did I screw up?
 
The bands are adjustable on the outside of the case on those. A small adjustment may fix things.
 
Type F is the wrong fluid. You need Mercon/Dexron II fluid. It has properties that are similar to type A. I recommend draining that type F fluid immediately and don't forget to drain it out of the converter also.
 
Daves55Sedan said:
Type F is the wrong fluid. You need Mercon/Dexron II fluid. It has properties that are similar to type A. I recommend draining that type F fluid immediately and don't forget to drain it out of the converter also.
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I was under the impression that Fords used Type F fluid well thru the late 1970's?




:confused:
 
My 2¢'s worth.
Ok not really mine but the owner of the well respected trans shop that did the work.
The air cooled Ford-o-matic in my as yet undriven '55 got rebuilt recently. I don't know what brand or specific type of parts they used.

But, when I asked what fluid to put in it he said, "Mercon".
 
Funny how Type F fluid worked good when the cars were new, but now with the same transmission it's a no no. Makes absolutely no sense to me, unless your talking about replacement clutches having a different friction material ? If that's the case, Type F fluid should work fine in an original Mecomatic, or on one that was rebuilt a long time ago.

Sal
 
Problem solved, changed fluid to type A, drained the torque converter, and pan replaced with Type A (Dexron II) took 11 quarts works very well, shifts the way it should
 
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The dipstick on my '65 Galaxie specifies "Type F" fluid.

What's correct-for-today for this car?
 
Type F is correct for an original Ford built ****** in'56. Many rebuilds will require a change in fluid type due to updated rubber parts installed; ask the rebuilder what he recommends.
 
MY Mercury book on Merco-o-matic repair handbook on transmission says use Type A, it was published in 1957, all the other books I have say Type A all published in late 1956
 
Type F was the replacement for type a. Dexron II is not the same type A. The original stuff used whale oil if I'm not mistaken. Either way my mercomatic in my 53 shifts fine with type F
 
For any newly processed discs and seals and so on, they are not going backwards in technology. Anything made for the old cars is made on an assembly line next to the new car stuff using current materials. Any newer rebuild kits tell you what to use for fluid.
 
The original stuff (Type A) had a really strange smell to it. The car I have now must have had the original fluid in it when I got it. BTW, I am using type F with no problems.
 
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