KCvetteowner

If you have read my other topics, I replaced my clutch with a SPEC Stage II clutch and I also changed the fluid in my 95 6-speed.

Since then, getting the shifter into 1st gear has been difficult about 25% of the time. The tranny does feel a little more notchy than before.

The fluid I bought at Superior Chevrolet (Jeff Knopp/18carfan) is part number #1052931 as recommended in the GM service manual. The bottle says Manual Transmission Fluid 5w-30 #1052931. It smells like typical engine oil not the distinctive tranny fluid I'm used to smelling. From Andy's post on fluid leaks there was quite a discussion about what fluid goes in the ZF so here's what the manual says and what it is:

The rear label reads:

"GM MANUAL TRANSMISSION FLUID is a general purpose lubricating oil for the axle and associated linkages. It has excellent coating and lubricating properties and able to withstand temperature variations."

Contains:
distillates (petroleum),
solvent-dewaxed heavy paraffinic - CAS #64742-65-0
dialkyl benzene - No CAS Number
methacrylate acid copolymer - CAS #30795-64-3
solvent-refined light napthenic - CAS #64741-97-5
diluent oil - No CAS Number
magnesium sulfonate - No CAS Number
"

So am I using the correct fluid? Seems odd there is no mention of the ZF transmission but it mentions "axle and associated linkages". The fluid I drained out appears the same, brown, no distinct odor as am used to with other manual trannsmission cars I've owned.

john25

I was just under my ZR1 today checking out my trans fluid. I looked up the recommended fluid in the factory shop manual and it shows the correct fluid to be pt # 1052931. I have a different problem with my trans. When it's cold it makes sort of a hum when you put it into gear. It only lasts a couple of minutes until it gets warmed up and then goes away. I thought maybe the guy I bought it from may have put in regular gear oil, but it was a very light fluid, light brown in color with a motor oil type of smell. I've read somewhere that regular ATF should be used in these ZF trannies. Does anyone have any info on this?

blkc6z51

KCvetteowner
That part # is right 1052931. I changed mine about 3 years ago, and no problems, And I drive every day 45 mi. Go to tech tips look up
ZF trans recommened. :cheers:


[Modified by blk90, 10:05 PM 2/22/2002]

mountainmotor

I went through this as well.
ATF cold flow is like straight 20W except without the shear additives motor oils have .ATF is a highly refined hydraulic fluid.
For what it's worth I'm using 0-30 synthetic in a ZF and 0-20 synthetic motor oil in a T5.No problems yet and actually shifts better when cold.


[Modified by mountainmotor, 7:14 AM 2/23/2002]

6spd89

I used the Gm fluid in mine!!!!!! Part # is correct,just like the
others have said.
Matt

jshope

I did the same as 6spd.89. I went to the shop manual, got the part numbers, went to the dealer and picked it up. It may cost a little more for the dealer stuff, but at least I know it it what the engineers wanted in there.

6 speed Sid

I don't believe I would use ATF in the ZF. Sid.

FrankLT4CE

You replaced with the right fluid. I used the same on mine. The fluid that came out and the new fluid smelled the same to me. It is light brown when you look thru it as it comes out of the trans. It does not smell like engine oil to me, but reminds me of differential fluid slightly (same ingredient just less of it). I think of it as smelling like pistasio (spelling wrong) nuts. I had no problem with mine after I changed it.
FrankLT4CE

SharkB4C4

I replaced the ZF6 fluid in my 96 about a year ago. Bought the GM-reccommended fluid at the Chevy dealer with that same part # (expensive!).

I remember it had a gear-lube smell to it, even though it looked, felt and flowed like motor oil. So, I went out to the garage just now take a sniff of the partial bottle that I still have left. Yup, it has a very slight, but distinctive gear lube smell.

Nathan Plemons

It's the right stuff man. Even though you might feel like it's not worth it, consider what the tranny would cost. There are only like 2 fluids recommended by ZF for this tranny, one is the GM fluid, the other is a synthetic. I think the synth is castrol that can only be picked up at a BMW dealer or something.

I have been told that Ford used a few ZF tranny's through the years and put ATF in them. In a very short time a great deal of these had bad syncro's and such. Like I said, that's just what I've been told, may or may not be true.

I certainly wouldn't run motor oil of any type in it. Remember, you COULD run motor oil in your differential, but at what cost. Different fluids in different applications have much different requirements. For example motor oil tends to foam very easily. It's not a problem in the motor because normally it isn't thrashed around. You put that into your tranny and you suddenly have a foamy bubble mix that is doing NOTHING to lubricate your tranny. Gear oils are a lot heavier and don't foam so much. Just because the GM fluid says 5w-30 on it, that doesn't mean on bit that it's anything the same as motor oil. It has a completely different additive package for a completely different application.

IMHO these people who are running anything other than the two recommended fluids for the ZF tranny are asking for trouble. You might be able to cheat on a dime a dozen T-56, but a $6000 German transmission has some extremely tight tolerances. When was the last time you knew a German product to be complete junk? Sometimes they get WAAYY to complicated, but they ALWAYS work. Go with what the manufacturer suggests, and you'll be safe every time.


[Modified by Nathan Plemons, 7:39 AM 2/24/2002]

mountainmotor

Nathan it appears you have much to learn about modern motor oils and foaming,shear strenght ect.You might want to contemplate/learn what a great job motor oil does in a hi output/rpm motorcycle in racing conditions with engines that share lubriction with motor/transmission assembly.A much tougher environment than any street 6 speed will ever see.I did not recommend this for others to do.My statement was for what it is worth.

To keep from losing points % as if it really matters will leave it with

Bye Bye C4 forum! It's the one bad apple thing

PeteL

I wonder if the 1052931 has a newer version and I wonder if it is the same?

I have an old bottle left over from last year:

Goodwrench Manual Transaxle Fluid (1052931) SAE 5W-30, API GL3

Distillates (petroleum), solvent-dewaxed heavy paraffinic
Dialkl benzene -
Methacrylate acid copolymer-
Distillates (petroleum), solvent-refined light napthenic
Diluent oil
Magnesium sulfonate
All CAS # the same.

Smells like gear oil, but not a strong smell like diffy oil.
The dealer I buy from has quite the supply of old 1052931, bottles are all dusty. Gives me a nice discount!

Pete

JasonL

So, can I just mix this stuff in with the motor oil when I take it to be recycled? Think anyone will notice :)

lead_foot

Here is the reply I received from ZF Industries, the German company that builds the ZF transmission.

The recommendation from ZF Industries, Inc. for servicing your transmission
is to change the oil every 30,000 miles.

In regards to the recommended oil, ZF Industries, Inc. approved only two
kind of transmission fluid for the S6-40 6-speed manual transmissions.
Either the GM Oil with GM part # 1052931 or the Castrol Formula RS 10W60.

silver & red CE

I switched to this, you can get it at a BMW dealer.

Eric

Nathan Plemons

I'm not exactly sure what your problem is, but I'm getting tired of it. You tear me up for trying to provide proper information in another thread, you try and call me out here for posting legitimate concerns.

Motorcylces are not Corvettes. Hey, sewing machine oil works great on my Lionel train, maybe I should use that on my Vette.

If all you're gonna have to say is personal attacks against members of the forum, I can speak for everybody when I say please leave, we don't need that here. :nonod:

RED92LT1

If all you're gonna have to say is personal attacks against members of the forum, I can speak for everybody when I say please leave, we don't need that here. :nonod: [/QUOTE]


RIGHT ON ... BRO

Nathan, I appreciate you level of maturity and self restraint ... keep posting your information ... you're certainly welcome here.

compuvette

I don't want to get anybody upset here, but Mountianmotor has given me some really great advice. He really does know what he is talking about. Nathan, I am not saying that you don't, I just want to make that clear. But, mountain does work on some really high horse motors and makes them run just fine. We are talking about 2000HP engines here so he does know what will break and what will work with some big stress. He may not be the best at relaying info sometimes but he does have good "in the field" info. Just my 2 cents.

Nathan Plemons

I don't care what he knows, if he's gonna be **** to me for providing legitimate info, I don't need that.

I posted legitimate info about the proper fluid and mentioned my OPINION on using other fluid. I mentioned no names whatsoever and he takes it all personal. I'm not the only person to have a concern about using a fluid other than what is recommended. Did I do wrong by pointing that out?

I understand what you are saying man. He may know exactly what he's talking about, but he jumps me every time I post. The smartest person in the world who has no people skills will be of no good to anybody. We try to help people here, and help to me doesn't mean calling somebody out just because I don't like them personally. If such a person posts legitimate info I'll consider it just like anybody else's info.



[Modified by Nathan Plemons, 9:07 AM 2/25/2002]

ddn

Nathan, I have exchanged over 70 (grep "From.*Houck" imapmail | wc -l) E-mails with mountainmotor over the course of 3 months while building my 454.

He is absolutely one of the most knowledgeable people I have ever spoken to about engines, and is always willing to share that knowledge and help. I don't see anything wrong with his people skills, like I said, 70 Emails.

I also agree with him. I ride a '99 R1, one of the fastest Liter class bikes on the planet, and therefore one of the fastest bikes on the planet. It shares oil between the transmission and engine. How does that work?