Hamyscj Posted May 21, 2023 Report Share Posted May 21, 2023 New Edge owner and new user to the forum. I've had this 2015 Edge Titanium for a week and am starting to do my usual new car routine of changing all the fluids, etc. 2.0 engine, 70k on the odometer. Yesterday's task was changing the trans fluid and PTU fluid. The PTU fluid was dark with a bit of metallic goo on the drain plug. Well within my expectations. The trans fluid came out as black as dirty diesel oil. I was shocked to see this! The good news, if there is such a thing when you're trans fluid is black, was that it did not smell burnt. I've been rebuilding Chrysler transmissions since the early 90's and have smelled too many burnt transmissions. This was not that. So my question for those who are experienced with the internals of this transmission... should I be worried? What are the long term effects of this? I only had enough fluid on hand for 1 change as I was not expecting black. I plan on at least 2 more changes next week, possibly 3, until it comes out red. Quite honestly, the transmission did not shift bad at all which also surprised me given the quality of the fluid. It did have a lazy 2 to 3 shift. Time will tell if new fluid helped with that. I plan on calling the dealer that I bought it from as they did an 88 point check on the car and gave it a clean bill of health. Obviously no one cracked open the check port and actually looked at the fluid. I'm going to try and attach a photo... Thanks for being a community!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamyscj Posted May 21, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2023 Pictures aren't working... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabangsta Posted May 21, 2023 Report Share Posted May 21, 2023 Mercon LV has a very dark color package to it (unlike Mercon V which is bright red), and it is very common for it to be very dark even after as low as 30k miles. Ford had an SSM in 2009 when more vehicles started using Mercon LV that is normal and color should not be the only thing used to determine transmission health. I did my first drain on a 6F35 at 40k miles and thought I drained the crankcase instead. As you mention it doesn't smell burnt, sounds like it is normal Mercon LV fluid. To do a close to 100% drain you have to perform the drain and refill 3 times. I just did a single drain/refill at 40k, 60k, and 80k. Still well ahead of the normal scheduled maintenance for normal use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWWPerfA_ZN0W Posted May 22, 2023 Report Share Posted May 22, 2023 mercon lv does brown as it ages but certainly does not go black. definitely time to get all the old out. how many drain/fills it takes depends on how much you get out each time gen 2 capacities/specs https://www.mactgarage.com/gen-2-ford-edge-capacities-and-spec the 2.0 loves fresh engine oil and transmission fluid even more than the 3.5/3.7. a) forced induction, b) weaker transmission internals. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1004ron Posted May 22, 2023 Report Share Posted May 22, 2023 I've done the Drain/Fill twice on my 2017 Sport at around 45K miles each time and it was not black. If its black I'd be concerned that its been abused or its a sign of issues on the horizon. 70K mile oil change interval for the PTU is way overdue - I do mine at 30K miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabangsta Posted May 22, 2023 Report Share Posted May 22, 2023 This was at 40k miles in my 2015 Fusion: My 2017 Escape was the same. The Fusion suffers from the 1-2 harsh shift (mostly when cold), the Escape the transmission shifted like butter, no issues up to 97,000 when it was wrecked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamyscj Posted May 22, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2023 Good stuff y'all. Keep the answers coming. Now off to start a new topic on the power liftgate...?♂️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTW Posted January 27 Report Share Posted January 27 My trans fluid always comes out dark. These transmissions only have an internal screen for a filter. No way to change them unless you break into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillC_AZ Posted August 12 Report Share Posted August 12 I have a 2015 Edge (owned since new) - just had the trans fluid replaced at 93K miles. 500 miles later the fluid is black - not burnt. This is coming from what I believe to be a reputable third party service provider. They checked it because I reported some intermittent hesitation during acceleration. They believe the torque converter may be going bad. For now - they are replacing the trans fluid again - and suggest monitoring. Has anyone experienced anything similar, or have suggestions on how to proceed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabangsta Posted August 12 Report Share Posted August 12 (edited) Mercon LV (and ULV) are like that. At 93k miles, how was the fluid changed? A single drain and refill? 4-5 quarts of the total (9 quarts for 2.0, 11 for 2.7/3.5), or some other method? If it was just a single drain, it isn't going to come out that light cherry red of Mercon LV. It will still be dark. It takes 3 in a row drains and refills to get most of the fluid changed. When the first vehicle rolled out using Mercon LV Ford released a document that states that since it is a darker dye, it will get dark very early, and color is not a good indicator of health, unless there are solids in suspension or it smells burnt. This is the text from the SSM from 2009 when vehicles starting shipping with Mercon LV: Quote SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGES MERCON LV FLUID COLOR VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FACTORY FILLED WITH MERCON LV FLUID (PART # XT-10-QLV), MAY EXHIBIT DARK COLORED TRANS FLUID THAT MAY LOOK BURNT IN APPEARANCE. THIS IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS FLUID AND WILL NOT AFFECT TRANSMISSION FUNCTION OR DURABILITY. THE MERCON LV FLUID IS A DEEP RED COLOR, COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL MERCON V BRIGHT RED FLUID, AND THE COLOR NATURALLY DARKENS AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. IN SOME CASES, THE FLUID MAY APPEAR TO HAVE A GREEN TINT DUE TO DYE USED TO CHECK FOR LEAKS AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT. TRANS FLUID COLOR SHOULD NOT BE USED AS SOLE INDICATOR FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIRS. REFER TO THE CORRECT VEHICLE AND MODEL YEAR WORKSHOP MANUAL AND/OR MAINTENANCE GUIDE FOR DIAGNOSTICS, REPAIRS, AND/OR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. EFFECTIVE DATE: 12/08/2009 Edited August 12 by dabangsta 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillC_AZ Posted August 12 Report Share Posted August 12 Thank you, I appreciate the feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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