ZF tech support told me a couple of years ago that the ZF 6-speed transmissions were filled at the factory with what amounts to 10 litres of fluid. They are filled by weight, not by volume. I assume this is a completely robotic process, although I did not ask at the time....

 

What is the best fluid? Is the Oem Fluid at 430 a qt. ( Liter) better than the $15/ Liter Red line? Should one ad an additive? My fluid was brown coming out...I topped it with ZF fluid at $30 / Qt....The pan appears to be leaking......I will replace the pan/filter and fluid soon. HELP!

Thank you!

 

The ZF fluid should be the best The CTSC - ZF Parts is advertising it at $18.53 right now, they also do a kit with the pan and fluid.
You should also think about replacing the electrical sleeve if you are dropping the pan.

 

Most likely it will be the $13.00 electrical sleeve that is leaking. You will have to drop the pan/filter to replace.

 

THANK YOU ALL!!!!!

Electrical Sleeve!?!?!?!?!

I assume that this will be obvious to me once I drop the pan?

Is it acceptable to use Pentosin fluid? What about Red Line fluid?

On a different note:Is there an Alternate Antifreeze/coolant that is commercially available?

Once again THANK YOU!!!!!!!

 

Here's the install info for the sleeve.

Dexcool orange longlife seems to be the favourite antfreeze.

 

The sleeve is around the wires that go through the side of the trans.

 

I'm running Zerex extreme life(orange)without any prOblems.

 

when should i consider changing trans fluid?

 

You can use about any coolant you want, so long as you thoroughly flush out the old with (distilled) water, then go back with a proper 50/50 mix. I've moved the 03 S-type, Excursion, 03 F150 and my XJ all over to Zerex G-05 over the past year. But don't mix anything with the Jag Pink coolant or whatever you have, if you are just adding, find out what it is and add the same thing.
(oopsies - I just answered a year-old question!?!?)

 

I have a digital meat thermometer with a metal probe. ( $20 at Walmart ) The probe and wire can stand oven temperatures so no need to be concerned about hot exhaust pipe. Just make sure to get all the trans fluid well cleaned off before returning the gadget to the wife's kitchen

 

Unless the meat probe part is flexible, you will never get it into the fill hole to get an accurate temp measurement. I bent my first digital meat probe to the point I ended up tossing it.

 

^^ What Rick said. You need an inexpensive infrared heat gun thermometer to do the job properly....

 

It seems to me that with all of the people and discussion on this isue we should be able to determine the amount of fluid requred to ge the correct amount of fluid into the transmission. I have a 2004 Xk8 and a 2008 Stype 4.2 and have done the fluid change on both. It is a messy job not to mention deqling with hit exhaust pipe and dripping oil. I also had an Xtype and to change the fluid in that youjacked the car up 22 inches on one side and filled the transmission until the fluid ran out. It seems to me we should be able to do something similar with our cars. I want to do my XK8 again this year and am considering draining it, measure the amount that comes out and than jacking the car up on one side with the fill plug side high and pumpimg in the same amount of fluid I took out. My tranny is running fine but I would like to do my second change and I can't se why this wouldn't work.

 

One reason not to do that is that fairly often the level is lower than expected due to a small leak (which has often gone unnoticed).

Instead, filling as per the ZF spec - just works.

You can of course read the trans oil temp via the diag (OBD) socket but it's arguably easier to use an IR gun (and they're fairly cheap).

 

What if after a temp controlled fill so that we know it is at the proper level it is drained right away to make sure no leakage is involved it was drained right away. Then when the fluid has reached room temperature measure the amount. Surely that would be an amount of fluid to replace and it should be the same for everycar. I can't believe that the amount is critical within ounces.

 

Daro my friend, I believe that I was the second DIYer to venture down the path of this subject many, many so many years ago. Former forum member ccc, did a fantastic write up with detailed pictures just before myself. His write up is gospel to anyone thinking of DIYing. I did a follow up on my experience, which included temperatures of ATF before, during and after in South Carolina summer heat.

It's nice that you are attempting to reinvent the wheel with your speculation of tilting a vehicle to a certain angle, drain and fill a sealed for life ZF autobox. Please stop with this nonsense, UNLESS you can provide us with proof (website address) that will support your posts.

 

I have a change coming up to do and I intend to do it this way. I will let you know. I was a process enginneer on an auto assembly line and we had a chart for how much fluid, down to the mil. of how much went in each model. As far as if you can't find it on the web it must not be true, well I guess they can just shut this site down for adding any thing new. Also the amount to tip the car up when changing transmission fluid on an Xtype is well documented on the web.

 

I don't recall an X Type having a ZF 6HP26 autobox. Gooduck with your tilt and fill. Please let us know how you make out.

 

Why not just follow the standard, well-documented process? We know it works because those of us who have done it continue to drive around on our ZFs with no issues....

Be aware that if you decide to tilt-and-fill, accessing the fill hole will be even more difficult than it already is because it will be angled up and away from you. You will run even more risk burning your hands and arms on the hot exhaust pipe as you attempt to screw the fill plug back into place before you can shut the engine off....