Shocking info ZF Fluids...

[Burla]

So spec sheets haven't been easy to find on zf fluids or mopar fluids, but I found one on zf 8 lifeguard which is likely the same as mopar fluid, and the stat sheet suggests it is no better then generic trans fluid. Additives aside, someone may decide to do uoa's, and in fact if anyone has any uoa's/voa's on any of these fluids please post them here. So as far as base oil goes, the real pao's of redline d6 and amsoil multi use offer that ZF transmission much better protection in the extremes of cold and hot.

If stats mean anything it suggests the specialized zf fluid is a hoax, not real traditional pao performance in the extremes. It is very weird as Europe and Germany are supposed to have rules against this, but I don't know the minutia or reasoning behind it, I just know stat sheets don't lie, but manufacturers do from time to time. This is an important thing to consider because the ZF operates at such high temps, every owner of a ZF should consider this info when choosing a fluid. We need additive numbers as well for the complete picture.

ZF Fluid

Viscosity at 100°C 5.6
Pour point -42°C

Maxlife multi-

Viscosity at 100°C 5.9
Pour Point -42c
Add a impressive VI at 163
Very decent fluid.

Redline d6-

Vis @ 100°C, CSt 6.3
Pour Point, °C -60
VI 163

Amsoil Multi

Vis @ 100, 6.3
Pour point, -65c
VI, 159

 

[Longhorn1500]

Interesting. When I get to the point of changing my Transmission fluid, I will have to consider other fluids...

 

[Gero]

They've been robbing people with their so called snake oil/unicorn tears no more!

I have a hard time fathoming how valvoline can produce atf fluid that is so widely accepted. The Honda community strongly supports maxlife for their dw1 z1 applications.

 

[seabrook]

i used valvoline max life in my (garbage) titian transmission worked great- even with my line pressure maxed the transmission was still good (you are lucky to get 100k out of a stock titan transmission) at 150k miles when i traded it in.

 

[chrisbh17]

They've been robbing people with their so called snake oil/unicorn tears no more!

I have a hard time fathoming how valvoline can produce atf fluid that is so widely accepted. The Honda community strongly supports maxlife for their dw1 z1 applications.

I'm with you.... How can maxlife possibly cover all of those specs? I personally don't trust it.

Now that lifegard stuff from zf I expected more from. Especially considering all the applications this trans is used in.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[clint440]

The product data sheet for ZF LifeGuard8 oil for the 8HP transmission states that it's fluid is a semi-synthetic and with recommended interval change of 150,000 km.

Once I read that, that convinced me to go to the Amsoil equivalent. Initially, I thought I would use OEM/ZF but I like good oil with long intervals, hence no fear to go to an oil that is not ZF or Mopar.

 

[Burla]

This looks very promising, I am reading many beemer guys running this in those zf trans for a long time. I like motorcraft you can find the stat sheet. Mercon SP for Fords zf6. It kinda chaps my ass Motorcraft serves this up at a fair price and Mopar is straight ****** us. 12 quarts is 85 bucks amazon and even cheaper here and there on the net, compare that to zf lifeguard or mopar zf fluid, and basically same stuff. Another great option for you guys with 8 speeds, definitely specialized for the Ford zf trans.

Motorcraft Mercon SP zf fluid...

cSt operating viscosity 5.7

VI 155 Good number shows high quality base oil

Pour point -45c

 

[Burla]

I mean common man, amazon mopar zf8 118 for 6

20 bucks versus 7 bucks a qrt same basically stuff, one Ford's motorcraft versus Mopar zf. And basically this is after Mopar lowered it's pricing from the outrage, it used to be nearly double this. Do better Mopar, do better please. Ebay is even worse, they still have a lot of the old pricing up, but sell Motorcraft even cheaper then amazon here and there.

 

[ScLeCo]

It's the additive package that will keep me putting ZF fluid in my transmission.
Yeah it's $10 a quart more expensive, but is $70-80 bucks every 70-100K miles really that big a deal?

 

[Burla]

Here is a zf fluid factory fill in BMW. From Boron to Barium plus magnese are those additives you are talking about. If you or anyone felt like comparing to the other mentioned fluids.

 

[Burla]

redline d6

 

[Burla]

Another ****** lifeguard 6

 

[Burla]

Amsoils multi, this guy ran 6 uoa's that is the 6 numbers after the wear metals and additives.

OIL Amsoil ATF Amsoil ATF Amsoil ATF Amsoil ATF Amsoil ATF Unknown
MILES IN USE 50,151 34,469 24,251 15,030 10,010 Unknown
MILES ON UNIT 183K 167K 157K 148K 132K 122K
SAMPLE TAKEN 4/16/15 5/29/14 11/3/13 3/18/13 1/6/12 4/25/11
MAKE UP OIL 0 0 0 0 0 0

ALUMINUM 7 6 5 5 11 18
CHROMIUM 0 0 0 0 0 0
IRON 72 68 66 55 130 186
COPPER 92 73 63 49 93 129
LEAD 18 20 20 18 52 85
TIN 4 3 2 0 2 0
MOLYBDENUM 0 1 0 0 0 0
NICKEL 0 1 0 0 1 1
MANGANESE 1 1 1 1 3 4
SILVER 0 0 0 0 0 0
TITANIUM 0 0 0 0 0 0
POTASSIUM 0 5 0 0 0 0
BORON 206 226 224 222 159 76
SILICON 10 8 7 6 6 7
SODIUM 9 8 8 8 8 6
CALCIUM 212 222 226 221 165 98
MAGNESIUM 3 4 4 3 7 8
PHOSPHORUS 504 544 560 511 394 240
ZINC 16 21 14 13 22 22
BARIUM 0 0 0 0 0 0

SUS @ 210F 47.2 48 47.4 46.5 44.6 41.8
Visc @ 100C 6.41 6.66 6.46 6.19 5.61 4.74
Flashpoint 420 430 435 435 375 380
Water % 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Insolubles % TR 0.0 0.0 TR 0.1 0.1
TAN 3.4 3.1 2.9 1.8 NA NA

 

[Burla]

maxlife

 

[Burla]

BMW zf fluid, some guys have been talking about the ZF fluid and shear, it might be the least stable of every fluid mentioned. The sad part, they don't post the viscosity index like all the other fluids. We know every other fluid has an vi over 150= good base oils.

 

[slickracer]

You do realize a $20 UOA will not show everything in a fluid, correct?

 

[Burla]

I would bet a wooden nickle that unicorn **** doesn't show up in the uoa's and that unicorn **** isn't in any of these fluids, yes I agree. ZF fluid is nothing special, it fits the profile of every transmission fluid with one notable exception, CA levels seam a little higher then most. There must be plastic pieces in the trans that the CA level protects. I know redline said that is why they don't recommend it for the ZF, but now they do, meaning I bet if you had a recent uoa redline it might have larger CA levels or that maybe their data says not needed. If not you can add a little mgmoa if you ran d6 or amsoil for ins. Those products have half the ca which should be enough, but it is very easy to fix. I don't care what someone decides to run, I just pass out the info and the decision is yours.

If it were me, I'd run redline or amsoil both look stellar. Now there is moly which shouldn't be in trans fluid but in this amount it would lead to trace amount in the sump. i cup versus 14 quarts, another option is find liquid calcium.

VOA of bg moa, two labs so that is the two numbers, one from each lab..

Iron 3 4
Chromium < 1 0
Nickel < 1 0
Aluminium 3 1
Lead < 1 0
Copper < 1 0
Tin < 1 0
Silver < 1 0
Titanium < 1 0
Silicon 13 7
Boron 4 4
Sodium 88 33
Potassium 13 0
Molybdenum 165 124
Phosphorus 1945 1327
Zinc 1982 1448
Calcium > 9999 12180
Barium < 10 0
Magnesium 67 42
Antimony < 30
Vanadium < 1
TBN (D2896) 32.58
VI 89
Flash Point 345F
VIS CS 40C 98.9
VIS CS 100C 10.7
SUS Viscosity @210F 62.5

 

[Burla]

Research tbn boosters as well, perhaps many of those have no moly.

 

[MRFREEZE57]

This looks very promising, I am reading many beemer guys running this in those zf trans for a long time. I like motorcraft you can find the stat sheet. Mercon SP for Fords zf6. It kinda chaps my ass Motorcraft serves this up at a fair price and Mopar is straight ****** us. 12 quarts is 85 bucks amazon and even cheaper here and there on the net, compare that to zf lifeguard or mopar zf fluid, and basically same stuff. Another great option for you guys with 8 speeds, definitely specialized for the Ford zf trans.

Motorcraft Mercon SP zf fluid...

cSt operating viscosity 5.7

VI 155 Good number shows high quality base oil

Pour point -45c

my 2011 Ford Fusion calls for mercon LV, last time I bought it was less than 6 bucks a quart, would not be a bit afraid to use in the ZF as other fluids like Amsoil signature series and Redline D6 which are specked for the ZF are also specked for replacement of the mercon LV.

 

[Burla]

my 2011 Ford Fusion calls for mercon LV, last time I bought it was less than 6 bucks a quart, would not be a bit afraid to use in the ZF as other fluids like Amsoil signature series and Redline D6 which are specked for the ZF are also specked for replacement of the mercon LV.

Thanks, here is a uoa to consider, looks close to spec. Many uoas on lv over bitog.