Transmission oil please help

[Mark6]

I noticed my my reverse don't work right away but at times I think when it warms up it does, I put my transmission threw all the gears before putting in park then going to check the dip stick. Looks pretty low maybe the first dot of the stick from what it looks like, how much fluid you think I need to get it at proper level? And I'm not sure what oil is in it now so what mercon oil to use in it so I can top it off in hopes it solve my problem

[1Bad55Chevy]

Are you checking it hot?

[Mark6]

Yes like stated I shift threw all gears then checked it while car was running

[1Bad55Chevy]

The real question is where did the fluid go? Check for leaks!

What are you working on? If it's a C6 or something in the early 80s it will be type F. You don't need to run type F because Dexron/Mercon is compatible with it. You will often see it labeled in auto parts stores as dex/merc.

[Mark6]

Don't see no drip stains but the car has been sitting until I acquired it so I think it just needs to be topped off but don't want to put the wrong stuff in there

[Mark6]

It's a 82 mark vi

[Mark6]

So type H?

[1Bad55Chevy]

Type H is for Honda....

Your vehicle probably came with type F from the factory. Ford moved away from type F to Mercon sometime in the 80s. Mercon is backwards compatible with type F transmissions. Mercon and the GM fluid Dexron is basically the same thing and you will see many companies selling bottles of ATF labeled "Dex/merc". Dex 6 and Mercon V are both fully synthetic products that you do not need in your vehicle.

[TonyC]

Actually, Dexron/Mercon is not compatible with Type F; I learned that a long time ago. You mix those two in the same transmission, be prepared to buy a replacement transmission.

That said, the Mark VIs used Dexron/Mercon fluid, by far the most commonly-found formula. I want to say that the conversion from Type F to Dexron/Mercon took place in the late-'70s, meaning that even the C-6s were converted to use Dexron after that change.

Back then it was Dexron-II, as your owner's manual stresses; but the latest level of Dexron (-V, I believe) ought to be backwards-compatible with older -II formulas without requiring an expensive flushing of the transmission.

---Tony

[Mark6]

Oh damn what was I thinking, so what should I get? Dex merc lll?

[Mark6]

Or merc V?

[Mark6]

This?

[1Bad55Chevy]

This?

Thats a full synthetic oil... it would probably be fine but I don't ever mix a full synthetic with a conventional oil. Just look for ATF labeled "dex/merc"

[Mark6]

So this one a better choice?

[TonyC]

I would say so. Sources I've seen state that -III will mix just fine with -II. Besides, for all we know, the prior owner may have had -III put in the last time he had the fluid changed...which from the look of it on your first picture appears to have been relatively recently.

That will at least top it off until you can have the leak traced and sealed.

---Tony