Lifeguard6 = Mercon SP?

Found this post while doing random time killing reading and it intrigues me. All discussion is welcome.

 

Interesting comment re. Pentosin by Turkeybaster in his second post ; a local (to me) transmissions company oft mentioned in the UK forum, Bristol Transmissions, reckon they sell far more kits (and do more services) using Pentosin on 6HPs than they do using Lifeguard 6.

 

Many people are using Millers ATF DM in their transmissions with no problems at all including myself.

Millers are a UK company and relatively small.

 

When I had my local shop service my XJ8 transmission I asked him about the use of the ZF fluid and he said they have another product they use for the fords over here in Australia

 

I put Millers ATF DM in my 04 4.2 SE last week at 120k (changed for Shell M1375.4 at 80k) and it's definitely smoother and quieter now. £20 for 5 litres here in the UK. I think that as Jaguar owners start to appreciate the importance of regular more important changes on ZF 5 & 6 speed boxes, you maybe don't need to use the most expensive fluid?

Paul

 

The Lincoln Navigator uses the 6HP26 transmission in the 2006-2009 model years. Ford sells the Mercon SP for this transmission at their parts counter for about $6 a quart.

I bought some as a backup when I needed to do my cooler lines (had previously changed with Lifeguard 6). I didn't need any, but aside from the red color the oil smells and feels identical to the Lifeguard. And since it's being used in the same exact transmission model, I have a hard time believing there's any major difference. I suspect it's just a coloring because in Ford parlance ATF is red, not gold.

There's some other threads on this forum where members have used the Ford ATF with no issues. If I have to do any more work on my trans, I will use it myself.

 

Well I got sucked in and after the baby went to bed I ended up reading a few hours on this issue, thanks for the link.

mhamilton, my take is that SP is very close to the lifeguard fluid, but not quite the same. Very close in specs, can be used, but probably different friction modifiers. The SP works but the lifeguard probably gets better mileage.

I did see some bmw guys with the same tranny changing the SP every 30k miles. I also found a jaguar S type 4.2 user who said he switched to it and his transmission did not take kindly to it, so he went to lifeguard.
Others who have had no issue at all.

The one that seems the same is Petosin's fluid, but it's the same price so you might as well go with the ZF lifeguard.

The Castrol transmax that some people here use also meets one of the major specs, and not the other I believe, but will work fine. It's not 'officially' certified. Sounds like several forum members have used it to good use.

I may do a quick drain and fill using the SP or castrol before I do a whole fluid/filter change. Sort of a flush if you will.

Oh, here are a few other threads I read if anyone has time to kill

which one is better for Shell M.1375.4 spec.. | ATF, Differential, Trans, Brakes, P/S | Bob Is The Oil Guy
Lifeguard6 = Mercon SP?

 

Here in the UK the 'local transmission company' (above) sells Lifeguard 6 at £15.60 a litre, whereas Pentosin ATF1 is only £9.00

 

I recently did a swap to Amsoil low viscosity ATF. Got rid of all my strange transmission behavior. And my old fluid didn't look so bad coming out at a tad over 100,000 miles