ZF transmission fluid change
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
ZF transmission fluid change
Saturday I changed the ZF 6 speed oil. I was prepared for the plugs to be really tough to remove after reading other people's experience. Turned out to be no problem at all.
I bought a used 17mm allen wrench at a swap meet for a $1 then used my circular saw with a metal cutting blade to chop off 2 inches which I put into one of my 1/2" drive sockets. The plugs were tight but they came right out.
I did notice that there were fine metal shavings on the bottom plug. Just enough to cover the tip of my little finger. I figured this is nothing to worry about. On reinstalling the plug, I put a small magnet on the outside (the plug is cast iron). I bought some small rare earth magnets a few years ago that are incredibly strong. I also put one on my oil pan.
[Modified by Mez, 12:28 PM 8/20/2001]
I bought a used 17mm allen wrench at a swap meet for a $1 then used my circular saw with a metal cutting blade to chop off 2 inches which I put into one of my 1/2" drive sockets. The plugs were tight but they came right out.
I did notice that there were fine metal shavings on the bottom plug. Just enough to cover the tip of my little finger. I figured this is nothing to worry about. On reinstalling the plug, I put a small magnet on the outside (the plug is cast iron). I bought some small rare earth magnets a few years ago that are incredibly strong. I also put one on my oil pan.
[Modified by Mez, 12:28 PM 8/20/2001]
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Joined: Mar 2001
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Re: ZF transmission fluid change (SLEV89)
I recommend the factory fluid that the dealer sells. Corvette Fever a couple months ago recommended 10w30 Mobil 1 motor oil but I believe that the factory transmission oil is best. It even says so right on the tag on the ZF transmission. The fluid smells somewhat like differential oil so it is different than motor oil. Cost me about $8.00 a quart at my dealer.
FrankLT4
FrankLT4
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
Re: ZF transmission fluid change (FrankLT4)
I also used the trans oil sold by GM. I also made sure the part number I bought at Chevy matched the owner's manual. I do not want to risk something going wrong with a $4,000 transmission simply because I wanted to try some other brand. Yes, it's $8 per quart, but you only have to change it every 30,000 miles so who cares.
