Going through a transmission bug is a nightmare, but knowing all the details of the Ford Taurus transmission fluid saves me bucks. If you want your car to stay in great shape and want to avoid issues like noise, slipping gears, and so on, this guide will be helpful.
It’s ideal to use Mercon series transmission fluid on your ford Taurus car, which can hold 9 to 13.5 quarts. You’ll also need to change it every 30k to 150k miles.
Below, I’ll break down all about the transmission fluid for Taurus so you can take care of it with no one’s help. Let’s Begin!
Table of Contents
The 1996 – 2019 Ford Taurus Transmission Fluid Type!
To get the right Ford transmission fluid for your Taurus, you should know its uses based on the car’s year.
So, exactly what kind of transmission fluid does a Ford Taurus use?
A Ford Taurus uses Motorcraft Mercon series transmission fluid. Based on the transmission type and car’s year, it uses different fluids to lubricate its moving gears.
To know more about it, keep on reading:
| Transmission Type | Year | Fluid Name and Spec |
| AX4S and AX4N automatic | 1996 – 1997 | Motorcraft Mercon ATF (XT-2-QDX) |
| AX4S and AX4N automatic | 1998 – 2001 | Motorcraft Mercon V ATF (XT-5-QM) |
| AX4S and 4F50N automatic | 2002 – 2005 | Motorcraft Mercon V ATF (XT-5-QM) |
| Automatic | 2006 | Motorcraft Mercon V ATF (XT-5-QM) |
| 4F50N automatic | 2007 | Motorcraft Mercon V ATF (XT-5-QM) |
| 6F50 automatic (6-speed) | 2008 | Motorcraft Mercon V ATF (XT-5-QM) |
| 6F50 automatic (6-speed) and manual | 2009 | Motorcraft Mercon V ATF (XT-5-QM) |
| 6F50 and 6F55 automatic (6-speed) | 2010 – 2012 | Motorcraft Mercon LV ATF (XT-10-QLV) |
| 6F50, 6F35, or 6F55 automatic (6-speed) | 2013 – 2014 | Motorcraft Mercon LV ATF (XT-10-QLV) |
| 6F50, 6F35, or 6F55 automatic (6-speed) | 2015 – 2019 | Motorcraft Mercon LV ATF (XT-10-QLVC / CXT-10-LV12) |
The 1996 – 2019 Ford Taurus Transmission Fluid Change Interval!
Based on how you drive, the change interval for Ford Taurus transmission fluid can vary. You see, if you often drive where you’re stopping and going a lot or in places with lots of hills, you might need to change things more often.
For that, you should know exactly how often do you change the transmission fluid in a Ford Taurus.
You should change the transmission fluid in a Ford Taurus once every 30k to 150k miles. And, it depends on how you drive on the road.
Here’s when you should change out the liquid in your car to make it easier to understand:
| Transmission Type | Year | Change Interval in Normal Condition | Change Interval in Severe Duty Condition |
| AX4S and AX4N automatic | 1996 – 1998 | 30k miles / 60k miles / 90k miles / 120k miles | 21k miles / 42k miles / 63k miles / 84k miles / 105k miles |
| AX4S and AX4N automatic or manual | 1999 – 2001 | 30k miles /60k miles / 90k miles / 120k miles /150k miles | 30k miles |
| AX4S and 4F50N automatic | 2002 – 2005 | 30k miles /60k miles / 90k miles / 120k miles /150k miles | 30k miles |
| Automatic | 2006 | 30k miles /60k miles / 90k miles / 120k miles /150k miles | 30k miles |
| 4F50N automatic | 2007 | 30k miles /60k miles / 90k miles / 120k miles /150k miles | 30k miles |
| 6F50 automatic (6-speed) | 2008 | 30k miles /60k miles / 90k miles / 120k miles /150k miles | 30k miles |
| 6F50 automatic (6-speed) and manual | 2009 | 150k miles | 30k miles for automatic fluid and 50k – 60k for manual fluid |
| 6F50 or 6F55 automatic (6-speed) and manual | 2010 – 2012 | 150k miles | 30k miles for automatic fluid and 50k – 60k for manual fluid |
| 6F50, 6F35, or 6F55 automatic (6-speed) and manual | 2013 – 2014 | 150k miles | 30k miles for automatic fluid and 50k – 60k for manual fluid |
| 6F50, 6F35, or 6F55 automatic (6-speed) | 2015 – 2019 | 150k miles | 30k miles |
The 1996 – 2019 Ford Taurus Transmission Fluid Capacity!
As a user of a Taurus car, you may want to know how much transmission fluid does a Ford Taurus take.
A Ford Taurus takes no more than 9.0 to 13.5 quarts (8.5 to 12.8 liters) of transmission fluid. Based on what type of transmission or engine it has, each year’s Taurus car has diverse fluid capacity.
To know it in detail, let me explain it below:
| Transmission Type | Engine Type | Year | Fluid Capacity |
| AX4S automatic | – | 1996 | 12.2 quarts (11.6 liters) |
| AX4N automatic | 3.0L V6 Vulcan | 1996 | 13.5 quarts (12.8 liters) |
| AX4N automatic | 3.0L Duratec or 3.4L SHO | 1996 | 13.4 quarts (12.7 liters) |
| AX4N automatic | – | 1997 | 13.4 – 13.5 quarts (12.7 – 12.8 liters) |
| AX4S automatic | – | 1997 | 12.2 quarts (11.6 liters) |
| AX4S automatic | V6 Vulcan | 1998 | 12.2 quarts (11.6 liters) |
| AX4N automatic | 3.0L V6 Duratec or 3.4L V8 SHO | 1998 – 1999 | 13.4 quarts (12.7 liters) |
| AX4N automatic | 3.0L V6 Duratec | 1998 – 2001 | 13.5 quarts (12.8 liters) |
| AX4N automatic | 3.0L V6 Vulcan | 1999 – 2001 | 13.5 quarts (12.8 liters) |
| AX4S automatic | 3.0L V6 Vulcan | 1999 – 2001 | 12.2 quarts (11.6 liters) |
| 4F50N automatic | 3.0L V6 Vulcan | 2002 – 2005 | 13.5 quarts (12.8 liters) |
| 4F50N automatic | 3.0L V6 Duratec | 2002 – 2005 | 13.4 quarts (12.7 liters) |
| AX4S automatic | 3.0L V6 Vulcan | 2002 – 2003 | 12.2 quarts (11.6 liters) |
| Automatic | 3.0L V6 Vulcan | 2006 | 13.5 quarts (12.8 liters) |
| 4F50N automatic | 3.0L V6 Vulcan | 2007 | 13.5 quarts (12.8 liters) |
| 6F50 automatic (6-speed) | 3.5L V6 | 2008 | 10.0 quarts (9.5 liters) |
| 6F50 automatic (6-speed) and manual | 3.5L V6 | 2009 | 10.0 quarts (9.5 liters) |
| 6F50 automatic (6-speed) | 3.5L V6 | 2010 | 9.4 quarts (8.9 liters) |
| 6F55 automatic (6-speed) | 3.5L V6 | 2010 | 10.2 quarts (9.7 liters) |
| 6F50 automatic (6-speed) | 3.5L V6 | 2011 – 2012 | 10.9 quarts (10.3 liters) |
| 6F55 automatic (6-speed) | 3.5L V6 SHO | 2011 – 2012 | 11.6 quarts (11.0 liters) |
| 6F50 automatic (6-speed) | 3.5L V6 Duratec | 2013 – 2019 | 10.9 quarts (10.3 liters) |
| 6F55 automatic (6-speed) | 3.5L V6 SHO | 2013 – 2019 | 11.6 quarts (11.0 liters) |
| 6F35 automatic (6-speed) | 2.0L or 3.5L V6 SHO | 2013 – 2018 | 9.0 quarts (8.5 liters) |
The 1996 – 2019 Ford Taurus Transmission Fluid Dipstick Location!
In Ford Taurus cars, you willfind a dipstick that looks like a yellow loop under the hood to check the transmission fluid. Here’s where you’ll find the dipstick:
| Transmission Type | Engine Type | Year | Dipstick Location |
| AX4S or AX4N automatic | 3.0L Vulcan and 3.0L Duratec | 1996 – 1998 | On the left side of the brake fluid reservoir |
| AX4S or AX4N automatic | 3.4L SHO | 1996 – 1998 | Behind the brake fluid reservoir |
| AX4S or AX4N automatic | 3.0L Vulcan, 3.0L Duratec, and 3.4L SHO | 1999 – 2001 | On the left side of the brake fluid reservoir |
| AX4S or 4F50N automatic | 3.0L Vulcan and 3.0L Duratec | 2002 – 2005 | On the left side of the brake fluid reservoir |
| Automatic or 4F50N automatic | 3.0L V6 Vulcan | 2006 – 2007 | On the left side of the brake fluid reservoir |
| 6F50 automatic (6-speed) or manual | 3.5L V6 | 2008 – 2009 | On the left side of the air filter assembly |
| 6F50 or 6F55 automatic (6-speed) | 3.5L V6 | 2010 | On the left side of the air filter assembly |
| 6F50 automatic (6-speed) | 3.5L V6 | 2011 – 2019 | On the left side of the air filter assembly |
| 6F55 automatic (6-speed) | 3.5L V6 SHO | 2011 – 2019 | Under the air filter assembly |
Note: All Ford Taurus cars that come with a 6F35 transmission don’t have a transmission dipstick in the car. Based on Ford, contact an authorized dealer to maintain it.
Step-by-step Process to Check Ford Taurus Transmission Fluid!
If you are planning to check the transmission fluid in your Taurus car, the process is pretty simple as long as you have the gears and instructions.
So, how do you check the transmission fluid on a Ford Taurus?
You can check the transmission fluid on a Ford Taurus using the dipstick. For that, just use the dipstick, clean it, and then reinsert it into the tube to read the right reading.
To break it down in detail here’s what you should do:
- Firstly, run your car 20 miles and wait for 30 minutes to get the normal operating temperature.
- Next, park your car in an even ground and hit the parking brake while you place your foot on the brake pedal.
- Afterward, idle the car while changing to all gears (starting and ending with Park). Ensure to take around 10 seconds of break in between each gear.
- Then, leave the car’s engine running and locate the dipstick under the hood. You’ll need to remove and clean it with a lint-free rag.
- After that, insert the dipstick into the tube and read the fluid level.
- Lastly, add around 0.5 pints or 0.25 quarts of fluid if it’s below the crosshatched area of the dipstick. Done!
Final Takeaways
Once you know all the info about the Ford Taurus transmission fluid, it gets easier to take good care of the car.
Remember to change the fluid on time and use the right amount of fluid based on your car’s capability. And, always use the right type of fluid on your car’s transmission before checking the level.
Hope you find this guide beneficial to know all the details and new things about the Taurus’s transmission fluid. Catch you in the next guide soon!
