ZF fluid burnt smell and sparkles in old fluid...how bad is this?
11-12-2014, 04:45 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
ZF fluid burnt smell and sparkles in old fluid...how bad is this?
Hi guys, I'm on the home stretch for wrapping up a 383 install that was built by our pro Jim Barth. I'm running a black tag ZF behind it and today I am spending some time draining what was left of the old fluid. Well, there wasn't a lot in there but what little came out smelled a little burned. I did notice some metal flakes and sparkles when I angled the fluid just right.
So I plugged the drain and let it pool a little more on the plug and took it back out and found a few more very tiny flakes. I made the mistake of draining the last bit of oil into a dirty pan so it's hard to say what was metal particles already in the pan I drained it into. So now I'm going to run a bit of fresh fluid through the fill plug and see if it flushes anything out the drain into a clean pan and check for flakes.
I'm concerned as to how much metal, if any is tolerable to be visible to the eye. Trying not to over think it. The best I can relate it to is it smells like Italian salad dressing but burnt. The grocery getter manual trans oil smelled the same way minus the burnt smell. Weird I know.
So I plugged the drain and let it pool a little more on the plug and took it back out and found a few more very tiny flakes. I made the mistake of draining the last bit of oil into a dirty pan so it's hard to say what was metal particles already in the pan I drained it into. So now I'm going to run a bit of fresh fluid through the fill plug and see if it flushes anything out the drain into a clean pan and check for flakes.
I'm concerned as to how much metal, if any is tolerable to be visible to the eye. Trying not to over think it. The best I can relate it to is it smells like Italian salad dressing but burnt. The grocery getter manual trans oil smelled the same way minus the burnt smell. Weird I know.
11-12-2014, 05:01 PM
#2
Racer
I just finished breaking in my new 360 in my 85... strange how we all seem to swap ZFs into our 85s at some point...
Anyways, I noticed some very very small metallic particles in my oil as well. I've been told that the anodizing on some new parts will wear off and pool through-out the engine, but I believe it's harmless. We really don't know unless we see for ourselves, but get in touch with your engine builder and they'll probably have an explanation.
Anyways, I noticed some very very small metallic particles in my oil as well. I've been told that the anodizing on some new parts will wear off and pool through-out the engine, but I believe it's harmless. We really don't know unless we see for ourselves, but get in touch with your engine builder and they'll probably have an explanation.
11-12-2014, 05:08 PM
#3
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
I just finished breaking in my new 360 in my 85... strange how we all seem to swap ZFs into our 85s at some point...
Anyways, I noticed some very very small metallic particles in my oil as well. I've been told that the anodizing on some new parts will wear off and pool through-out the engine, but I believe it's harmless. We really don't know unless we see for ourselves, but get in touch with your engine builder and they'll probably have an explanation.
Anyways, I noticed some very very small metallic particles in my oil as well. I've been told that the anodizing on some new parts will wear off and pool through-out the engine, but I believe it's harmless. We really don't know unless we see for ourselves, but get in touch with your engine builder and they'll probably have an explanation.
11-12-2014, 06:20 PM
#4
Race Director
Metal flakes are normal in a manual tranny's fluid, just like rearend fluid. Synchro and gears will wear. Burnt is not normal. I would refill with new fluid and see how it behaves. Gotta get that Jim Barth motor started.
11-12-2014, 06:31 PM
#5
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
with 383
11-12-2014, 07:21 PM
#6
Not knowing the source of the ZF I don't know how concerned you can/should be. I'd do a 10W30 quality fill and run it in on stands and maybe a few miles on the road to get it up to operating temperature and then do a drain and fill with whatever you plan to use long term.
11-12-2014, 07:45 PM
#7
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
The old pros weighing in makes me feel better. Knew I was over thinking it. I flushed and filled with Pennzoil synchromesh, known acceptable replacement for the GM fluid. Asked around for the GM fluid at a few Chevy places...might as well have been asking for Ferrari gearbox fluid.
11-12-2014, 07:52 PM
#8
Race Director
If you (or someone) is running the $hitty castrol 10w-60 bmw engine oil in your zf6, then the sparkles are to be expected Along with bad shifts /notchy shifting / grinded gears.
After all, you wouldnt put transmission fluid in your bmw engine, so why put bmw engine oil in your zf transmission.
Jokes aside: after my bad experiece running castrol 10w-60, i too had tons of metal flakes.
I have zero flakes when i recently drained it (didnt need to, but did anyways).
Zfdoc doesnt know what the he!! he is talking about recommending bmw motor oil in zf trans.
And i dont care how many transmissions he has rebuilt.
Gm syncromesh is what works for me
After all, you wouldnt put transmission fluid in your bmw engine, so why put bmw engine oil in your zf transmission.
Jokes aside: after my bad experiece running castrol 10w-60, i too had tons of metal flakes.
I have zero flakes when i recently drained it (didnt need to, but did anyways).
Zfdoc doesnt know what the he!! he is talking about recommending bmw motor oil in zf trans.
And i dont care how many transmissions he has rebuilt.
Gm syncromesh is what works for me