PLRX

9-13-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLRX

Due to the fact I bought my ZF with the factory fluids and Ive only used TWS I can not compare the TWS to the Amsoil. Many members speak highly of Amsoil so I went to their website and ordered 3 quarts. Im due for an ZF oil change anyway it, the TWS there has close to 20,000 miles.

Once I get it, I'll put The Ghost on the lift, change it, go for a drive and will tell you what I think.

Today I started with The Ghost's Preventive Maintenance to include the ZF oil change from Castrol TWS to Amsoil.

Got the oil three days ago



Lift the car and ensure is leveled.



17mm allen wrench and remove the upper and lower plug.



Fill up with oil.







2.1 quarts



This is how the TWS looked like after about 17,000 miles.



Castrol TWS




Amsoil Synchromesh



The Castrol TWS is a thicker oil. Once I finished, I lowered The Ghost and as I shifted into reverse
to drive around the neighborhood I noticed the transmission goes into gear very easy and smoother
than with the TWS oil. I took off and shifted 1st, 2nd and 3rd and it was very nice. All this time I thought
it was the B&M shifter the reason it had a rough shift. Tomorrow, Im going for a test drive and will
et you guys know how it feels once it reaches operating temperature.

H P Bushrod

Cool info! Wish I had a lift in my garage!

RollaMo-LT4

Good post Pete.

I am using Amsoil in mine too, but I had to use ramps and jack stands in my driveway.
I noticed how much smoother the shifting was also, but it could be the fact it was new fluid and not just Amsoil.
I have no complaints at all with the Amsoil.

One tip to pass along for others. Make sure you can get the fill plug lose first before you take out the drain plug.

1Asterisk

The info may be out there, but I wonder what miles the ZF is supposed to go to, and what will it do on a never changed factory fill from the 90's. Obviously this will depend on how hard to play, but I'm curious what the range of numbers are. 100k seems easy. 200k or 300k?

PLRX

I remember the way it was with new TWS and it was the way it was yesterday. Few weeks ago I drove Mike's ZR1, he drove The Ghost and it was like mine it is now. If he chimes in he could tell his experience with it.

PLRX

Took the Vette for a 200 mile road trip today and the Amsoil Synchromesh performed flawlessly throughout the entire trip.

Im not telling anyone that Castrol TWS is not good oil but, I say that Amsoil allows the ZF to shift smoother and faster.

1Asterisk

So are you abandoning the other choices and sticking with Amsoil? Assuming nothing crazy happens.

RollaMo-LT4

What do you think is going to happen?
I've put over 50k miles on mine since switching to Amsoil.
Over 117k total miles on car now. Not a single issue with the transmission.

mike100

Yeah, your shifter needed a firm motion to shift-I thought it was because it is a really short shifter. Even though my trans is really smooth considering (it has the 60w TWS oil in it), I think the slightly longer shifter and the fact that the ZF-Doc blueprinted 2nd and 3rd gears might have a lot to do with it.

Don't be surprised if I show up to the next bomber run with Amsoil in it though- I have almost a whole bottle left over from before and only need to buy two.

PLRX

Klondike

Toldja! I think the AmsOil is lubeieur! I just made that word up.

93VettePilot

Add me to the list of believers. After reading your post about AMSOIL, I ordered some for my car from the Amsoil website. It was $48 shipped to my door in 2 days. I replaced the Castrol TWS 10W-60 with AMSOIL Manual Transmission Syncromesh. The shifts are definitely quicker and smoother. Wish I had done this a long time ago. Thanks for the tip guys.

GREGGPENN

I've also posted my positive experience switching back to 5W-30 from TWS.

For the past year, I've been running the AMSOIL solution. It seems to be the best, better than the OEM GM stuff. While any change did sweeten the operation for a couple of weeks, the affects of the AMSOIL are much longer lasting.

I'm not sure it's so much lubeieur as it is lubilicious!

Kubs

I have been running AMSOIL for several years in my car. I love the way the Synchromesh works in the ZF, and it withstands the abuse of track duty as well (roadcourse racing - lots of up and down shifts). I used AMSOIL in all my cars for some time and liked it so much I became a dealer for it.

PLRX

1Asterisk

That ZF doc guy is going to show up at your door and make you drink amsoil until you decide to switch back to the BMW stuff.

Donne Trav

How are you guys getting the fluid in the transmission? Thanks

Kubs

AMSOIL sells a hand pump that screws onto the bottle and makes changing fluids a breeze! I love it and can now do trans and diff fluid changes in less than half hour for both (including the time to jack up and lower the car).

http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/g2039.aspx?zo=1934716



Also, if you put the hose on the other end of the pump it can be used to extract fluids from places with no drain hole.

RollaMo-LT4

I used a similar type of pump, purchased at a local auto parts store.

mike100

about 10% ends up on the floor, my arms, and last night a squirt in my face when my 1990 plastic pump cracked and sprayed all over the place.

but anyways, changed to 5w-30 AMsoil last night and it does shift better. yes, it's a little thinner and the shifter glides a little easier, but mainly the synchros work better and it matches gear speeds great now. No more notch in 3rd when I don't push the clutch all the way.