Who Makes Motorcraft Oil/ATF?

Does anyone know who makes Motorcraft oil, ATF, transfer case fluid, grease, etc.?

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While ConocoPhillips manufactures both Motorcraft oil and Kendall oil, it’s unclear if they also produce the automatic transmission fluid (ATF) for Motorcraft.

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The bottles likely come from China or the same supplier as many other brands and shapes, but that doesn’t affect the fluids.

Just because Kendall supplies ATF (or anything else) to Ford doesn’t mean everything it makes meets Ford’s specs, even if the bottles look similar. They can produce specific fluids for Ford, different ones for GM, others for NAPA, and another for their own label, all in the same-shaped bottle.

If you want your truck to last with minimal issues and the lowest cost-per-mile, buy Ford/MotorCraft-branded parts and fluids at the best prices you can find and ensure they’re installed as recommended.

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I’m a strong supporter of Mobil 1. While I don’t have lab results, I’ve seen cheap cars easily reach 250K miles with Mobil 1, as long as I stick to the recommended change intervals.

However, I am worried about using Mobil 1 for other fluids in my F150. For example, I’m concerned about using a Mobil 1 product for the transfer case fluid because Ford specifies using their fluid to avoid damaging the transfer case. I have heard that cleaning additives in newer ATFs like Mercon V or LV might react with some bonded materials in the transfer case, potentially causing it to fail. If anyone has information on this, I would appreciate it.

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I prefer Ford/Motorcraft parts over any aftermarket options, and I believe their fluids are just as reliable. My truck has over 250,000 miles on it using Ford/Motorcraft products.

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There are multiple refineries run by various companies, especially when it comes to different products. The suppliers of engine oils might not be the same as those for ATF, and there’s likely no overlap with grease suppliers.

Why is that?

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