Zf Leaking - Warranty Fix But What Oil?

[Spoony]

BFii T is going in to get a few things sorted under warranty. It's extended warranty so it's going to a workshop a mate works.

Work has been approved but as the pan will have to come off the ZF, a new pan will obviously be needed (not reusable as I understand?) and replacment oil.

I understand that all of the oil doesn't drain out of the system, in this case is it best just be replaced with the genuine oil instead of Transmax Z or something? I assume they would be similar oil 'types' so compatible, but never know how much the evil of mixing oils is just 'talk' cause it sounds bad. (realisticly it happens every change if same oil isn't used, be it diff, engine or trans)

I also stumbled on a supplier that is an agent for ZF parts/oils/etc but I can't remember what they were called. Obvoiusly it would be better to get the pan, gasket oil etc from here than Fraud?

Anyone know what they are called?

Cheers

[ebxmple]

Get your filter,pan,bolts and oil from Ford mate. If you have the plastic pan it is replaced with a steel one and seperate filter. The bolts are shorter for the new pan.

[sexual harrassment panda]

for a cheaper option try site sponsor HIRO or if he's outta stock try motorspecs. both are way cheaper than ford, sh*t even bmw can get you the parts cheaper than ford

[Spoony]

cheers guys! hiro only sells aftermarket right? (ie metal pan) Cause it's still under this warranty gaids may need to just keep genuine (ZF) for now.

Motospecs was it, couldn't remember at all haha.

[Spoony]

The 'warranty' is only covering just to fix the problem. Ie just replace the gasket and stop the leak. So this would reuse the pan and oil. Pretty crap if you ask me.

The cars got 122,000 on it, and only been Fraud serviced so wouldn't have had the tranny done. While I understand its suppose to be 'sealed' and non service item I find this hard to beleive?

The cars life is pretty much 100% highway (ie 120,000km in 3 years) with no city, which is probably very easy on the trans (locked up in 6th most of its life), so oil may not be too bad?

I've priced up getting metal pan, filter, gasket, filter, and Oil (transmax z, screw paying Fraud $60/l, and ZF oil option is 20l drum only!). Which would be $310 - $390 just in parts depending on how much oil goes back in. ?

Labour would be covered as it has to happen anyways.

I can get a full flush and service with metal pan, filter etc for $550 from trans shop (The Boxstop not far from work) using Nulon full syth oil. I figure this is a better option than just re using the pan and old oil, or getting the normal mechanic just to do an oil change, which obviously wouldn't get as much oil 'changed' over ?

Will try and hit the mechanic doing the warranty work up for some cash/kick back on the labour & seal they would have allowed for & being paid for. Any ideas how long labour would be? 1hr, 3hrs?

[Boosted_BF]

ok, servicing a ZF is far from the worlds worst job, done dozens of them now through the workshop, unless your re-filling with fraud oil, a full system flush is required, as transmax z, is a synthetic dexron III on steroids

to do a basic service, and pan change - clean oil and re-filling with ford oil - allow an hour

to do a basic service, pan change - re-fill with transmax z, and full converter flush, oil cooler flush etc - around an hour and a half to 2 hours, I have spent a touch over 2.5 hours on one previously, the old oil was that bad, this is effing expensive to do properly however as a large quantity of oil (in some cases 10L +) of new oil goes to waste flushing the old oil out

[Boosted_BF]

Also im currently talking with a US distributor to start bringing the genuine motorcraft oil over from the states (retail's at $4.91 per Litre over there!) this is all pending freight cost/availability however!

[Spoony]

WOW, so it's safe to assume that Fraud AU is buying it for no more than $5/L themselves yet selling it for $60/L? That is just rediculous, do they really hate their customers that much? WTF!

I hear what your saying on the flushing with Transmax, though from what I've read about 5L goes in/out with a normal change/service. that's $300 of Fraud oil, (@ $60/L, I rang up and got a current price). That is outrageous.

I've found a fair bit more info on the ford oil here http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1829776 and on some other links bascially the Fraud oil is like a 'thin' economy oil, with a low thermal value etc.

The other alternatives like Transmax Z are of similar oil but offer better thermal protection etc. This would explain possibly why people find the boxes shift better with these oils.

Even cycling the oil a few times one would still end up with Fraud oil mixed with whatever you put in. From what I can see they are still the same 'basic' type of oil, one with just better properties. Doing a 'standard' drop and change would obviously leave more old oil and one would expect to end up with weaker version of Transmax without the full improved properties if it was 100% clean refil.

Some more reading here

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/automatic_transmission_fluids.htm

It seems it's just a Dextron III oil but to meet ZF approval they have to have specific testing, and inturn I figure why most oil manufactures don't list theirs as 'suitable' .

[45T-XR]

Also im currently talking with a US distributor to start bringing the genuine motorcraft oil over from the states (retail's at $4.91 per Litre over there!) this is all pending freight cost/availability however!

Are you using an anti static lead when servicing the Zf trans, I remember when I was doing my time at fraud I we had to wear and anti static strap around your wrist and it clamped to the chassis, apparantly the Transmission module is quite fragile. In the same token Ive seen exhaust shops welding and stuff like that with the batter still connected and no surge protector on the battery and everything still seems to be ok

[Spoony]

oh I forgot about my own thread. As per the nulon thread, I got 5L of Nulon Full Syth and it took the whole lot. Will likely change again to refresh/dilute more next regular service.

As for the strap, I doubt my mechanic did, car drives exactly the same as before. I think shifts might be a tad smoother, and alittle bit more direct/positive when shifting in manual mod.