trans fluid!! This is crazy!!
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Atlanta Ga
trans fluid!! This is crazy!!
The only thing i could find as to what kind of trans fluid to use was 5w-30 trans oil. That doesn't make sense to me. Sounds like motor oil. I called chevy and they said i need some fancy kind of stuff thats 15 dollars a quart. They also said that i will need 5 quarts. Thats sounds kinda crazy too. Is there anything else out there i can use thats not so expensive? Oh.....The tranny is a 6spd from a 1990.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: O'Fallon Missouri
You will need just a little over 2 qts for your ZF6. You can use the GM 5w30, BMW Castrol 10w60, or Amsoil also makes an oil that will work. The Castrol can only be bought at a BMW dealership, around $9/liter.
Le Mans Master
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From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
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St. Jude Donor '12
The BMW fluid was $9.95 per Liter, Chevy fluid was $14.95 per quart. Please note some folks have had issues with the BMW fluid - I put it in my car, I'll be keeping an eye on it for a while to see if I have issues, I plan to change it once a year though.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 251
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From: SAN JOSE CALIFORNIA
Some have had issues with the BMW Castrol fluid,
but no one (ok, 99%) has had any issues with the GM fluid.
I tried the BMW fluid and it didn't "feel" right.
I switched to the GM fluid and it "feels" a lot better.
(whatever those two statements are worth huh?)
Have you read zfdoc.com ??
I'd recommend the GM fluid...
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
There is also a synthetic Pennzoil gear lube that supposedly meets the GM spec that is the superceded spec for the lube recommended for our ZF gearboxes. 
You need to buy three quarts of whatever you get. The stuff you describe ($15/qt) is undoubtedly the Castrol TWS. Yes, it's motor oil.
I paid $12/qt for it, and have heard of guys here paying $14/qt.
It works, but the GM stuff might be cheaper, easier to get, and works just as well if not better.
Larry
code5coupe
__________
I ain't easily impressed....
You need to buy three quarts of whatever you get. The stuff you describe ($15/qt) is undoubtedly the Castrol TWS. Yes, it's motor oil.
I paid $12/qt for it, and have heard of guys here paying $14/qt.
It works, but the GM stuff might be cheaper, easier to get, and works just as well if not better.
Larry
code5coupe
__________
I ain't easily impressed....
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Sounds like he's talking about the GM 5w30 oil to me. GM does not sell the Castrol, only BMW does.
I'm going to use the Pennzoil Synchromesh next time around. Many internet sources say they make the GM synchromesh oil that superceded the original GM oil spec'd for your ZF. I don't like the Castrol stuff, and other's experiences on it are mixed. I question the validity of it being recommended in the first place.
The Pennzoil is also labelled as Quaker State synchromesh, and has some other OEM labels besides GM. It is a synthetic blend 5w30.
Buy 3 quarts. Autozone had it last time I checked, and it's cheap. Lots of Honda guys are going to the GM fluid or Pennzoil in their 6-speeds which have very similar fluid specs.
I'm going to use the Pennzoil Synchromesh next time around. Many internet sources say they make the GM synchromesh oil that superceded the original GM oil spec'd for your ZF. I don't like the Castrol stuff, and other's experiences on it are mixed. I question the validity of it being recommended in the first place.
The Pennzoil is also labelled as Quaker State synchromesh, and has some other OEM labels besides GM. It is a synthetic blend 5w30.
Buy 3 quarts. Autozone had it last time I checked, and it's cheap. Lots of Honda guys are going to the GM fluid or Pennzoil in their 6-speeds which have very similar fluid specs.
Last edited by CentralCoaster; Apr 30, 2007 at 06:37 PM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Mt Laurel NJ
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
I just bought 3 pints of the GM spec trans oil for my 1990, I cost less then $9.00 per pint from Superior Chevy, they are a forum supporting member. I am at work and do not have the number, just do a search, and tell them you are a member of the forum.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Who sells this Castrol stuff again?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,257
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From: North Carolina
Hey,
I went through this a few months ago,... I must have posted 100 times asking the same question. Take a look at ZFDOC, its interesting. Bottom line: the factory fill works great and although its expensive, its not all that often it needs to be done. ZFDOC has the part number for this Syncromesh fluid. The trans is actually built by ZF a German company that put most of there transmissions into BMWs. But BMW's aren't known to be the most reliable forms of transportation anyway. A few guys have had problems with the 10W-60 BMW Fill. I haven't heard of anyone having a problem with the GM Fill.... SO you do the math. In any event, almost 90K on my ZF and 10K since the last fluid change and the trans shifts perfectly, smoothly, little chatter if any... GM Fill gets my vote.
DG
I went through this a few months ago,... I must have posted 100 times asking the same question. Take a look at ZFDOC, its interesting. Bottom line: the factory fill works great and although its expensive, its not all that often it needs to be done. ZFDOC has the part number for this Syncromesh fluid. The trans is actually built by ZF a German company that put most of there transmissions into BMWs. But BMW's aren't known to be the most reliable forms of transportation anyway. A few guys have had problems with the 10W-60 BMW Fill. I haven't heard of anyone having a problem with the GM Fill.... SO you do the math. In any event, almost 90K on my ZF and 10K since the last fluid change and the trans shifts perfectly, smoothly, little chatter if any... GM Fill gets my vote.
DG
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Yet not a single one of those BMWs ever had Castrol 10w60 motor oil spec'd for it transmission.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Texas
Just to confuse the issue, I've been running RedLine Lightweight Shockproof in mine for the last 10 years. When cold it's a tad stiffer than RedLine MTL or the GM (it's Havoline that used to make it for them btw) 5W30 motor oil, but otherwise works great.
FWIW, my car sees a couple thousand track miles/year. I change the fluid once per year
FWIW, my car sees a couple thousand track miles/year. I change the fluid once per year
Racer
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 346
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From: OKC OK
hey CC, I didn't meet an apparition while changing the tranny fliud. but I did meet Bubba. He'd almost rounded out the drain plug hex and did crossthread the fill plug threads, Bubba does good work. 
Danspeed, I didn't bother tasting it as I didn't think it would go well with the Corona I was enjoying while the trans drained.Nothing like a couple a brews to ponder what was Bubba thinking. Al
Danspeed, I didn't bother tasting it as I didn't think it would go well with the Corona I was enjoying while the trans drained.Nothing like a couple a brews to ponder what was Bubba thinking. Al
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Atlanta Ga
Perfect!! Thanks a lot guys!! Also, i need to fill it until the fluid comes to the brim of the fill plug correct??? so when its full, it should almost spill out of the fill plug? Anyone else have big trouble getting the drain plug out? Mine seems to really be lodged in there!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,286
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From: Stamping Ground KY
Perfect!! Thanks a lot guys!! Also, i need to fill it until the fluid comes to the brim of the fill plug correct??? so when its full, it should almost spill out of the fill plug? Anyone else have big trouble getting the drain plug out? Mine seems to really be lodged in there!!
Yeah, it's typical for the drain plug to be tough to get out. Be sure to get the fill plug out 1st!!! If you drain it and the fill plug strips you're in for a lot more work.
I used and impact wrench on the drain, a 3 piece 1/2 inch socket set with the honking allen head can be had at autozone.
I bought the mity-vac for pumping fluid into the fill hole, but instead just ran the hose from the vac down from the engine compartment (just aft of the dipstick). It really is 2.1 qts, I dumped about 2.5 in before I noticed it overflowing and had a very nice mess to clean up
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Atlanta Ga
Yes. Yes.
Yeah, it's typical for the drain plug to be tough to get out. Be sure to get the fill plug out 1st!!! If you drain it and the fill plug strips you're in for a lot more work.
I used and impact wrench on the drain, a 3 piece 1/2 inch socket set with the honking allen head can be had at autozone.
I bought the mity-vac for pumping fluid into the fill hole, but instead just ran the hose from the vac down from the engine compartment (just aft of the dipstick). It really is 2.1 qts, I dumped about 2.5 in before I noticed it overflowing and had a very nice mess to clean up
Yeah, it's typical for the drain plug to be tough to get out. Be sure to get the fill plug out 1st!!! If you drain it and the fill plug strips you're in for a lot more work.
I used and impact wrench on the drain, a 3 piece 1/2 inch socket set with the honking allen head can be had at autozone.
I bought the mity-vac for pumping fluid into the fill hole, but instead just ran the hose from the vac down from the engine compartment (just aft of the dipstick). It really is 2.1 qts, I dumped about 2.5 in before I noticed it overflowing and had a very nice mess to clean up
I got the fill plug out no problem, but the drain was a booger! I didn't try to put the impact on it, maybe i'll try that!!
Le Mans Master
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From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
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St. Jude Donor '12
Mine was the opposite, the fill plug was a pain the drain was a snap. THe socket set from autozone was well worth the bucks it cost.