Shocking info ZF Fluids...

[Wild one]

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/revmax-8-speed-thermostat-bypass.171776/

See very long thread above about various users' attempts to lower transmission temps.

The first 26 pages you can bypass,we don't get around to posting any good pictures till if i remember right page 27,lol

 

[BlownGP]

The first 26 pages you can bypass,we don't get around to posting any good pictures till if i remember right page 27,lol

OOO.. This is a good read..
Thank you

 

[crazykid1994]

I’m still waiting on a consensus for what fluid seems to work better. I wish someone knew the clutch makeup and which oil would work best with it. It really should just be friction modifiers that effect the operation. I’m hoping redline and Amsoil both work well for these because I’d much rather use either of those instead of chopping of my arms and legs at the ram dealership for the 8 speed fluid.

 

[chrisbh17]

Someone on BITOG posted that they were able to find the origin of the ZF trans and "Mopar" transfer case fluids, and that they are both supposedly made by Shell.

Im not so sure about the ZF atf being made by Shell, but I could see the xfer case fluid (the "unicorn blood" for the 44-44)

 

[crackerjack1957]

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Guard-Fluid-Liter-S671090312/dp/B077XNQSMG


https://www.amazon.com/Life-guard-f...+change&qid=1613782879&sr=8-3&tag=googhydr-20

 

[Hemi395]

Someone on BITOG posted that they were able to find the origin of the ZF trans and "Mopar" transfer case fluids, and that they are both supposedly made by Shell.

Im not so sure about the ZF atf being made by Shell, but I could see the xfer case fluid (the "unicorn blood" for the 44-44)

The unicorn blood is probably a 50/50 mix of Shell dex3 and Shell atf4 [emoji23]

 

[Wild one]

I’m still waiting on a consensus for what fluid seems to work better. I wish someone knew the clutch makeup and which oil would work best with it. It really should just be friction modifiers that effect the operation. I’m hoping redline and Amsoil both work well for these because I’d much rather use either of those instead of chopping of my arms and legs at the ram dealership for the 8 speed fluid.

I still go back to the higher end tuners running into slip issues with the high horsepower cars,and that kind of worries me yet.I've already had to replace one 8 speed,and not i'm not overly interested in being the guinea pig to see how either Amsoil or Redline pan out with something that's putting out more torque then the trannies rated for by a fair margin.My truck puts down 572lb-ft at 3200rpm to the tires,even with a conservative correction of 20% for it being a 4X4,that puts it at roughly 685lb-ft at the crank,so it's well past the 516lb-ft crank torque the 8HP70 is rated to

 

[crazykid1994]

I still go back to the higher end tuners running into slip issues with the high horsepower cars,and that kind of worries me yet.I've already had to replace one 8 speed,and not i'm not overly interested in being the guinea pig to see how either Amsoil or Redline pan out with something that's putting out more torque then the trannies rated for by a fair margin.My truck puts down 572lb-ft at 3200rpm to the tires,so it's well past the 516lb-ft crank torque the 8HP70 is rated to

Yea I know. That’s why I’m probably going to end up with lifeguard fluid if nothing is solidified by next Christmas.

 

[Travis8352]

https://www.motul.com/us/en/products/atf-vi

Could this be another good choice for the zf8? Specs look good and 100 percent synthetic. Looks like it has zf8 approvals. Only question is pour point

 

[Burla]

https://www.motul.com/us/en/products/atf-vi

Could this be another good choice for the zf8? Specs look good and 100 percent synthetic. Looks like it has zf8 approvals. Only question is pour point

Is seams like an all in one, I wonder if it is better in zf then other applications, they also recommend it for atf4 and atf 3. I'd just say maybe at this point, seams like it was made for ZF friendly but also recommend it for atf 4 applications.

 

[Travis8352]

Is seams like an all in one, I wonder if it is better in zf then other applications, they also recommend it for atf4 and atf 3. I'd just say maybe at this point, seams like it was made for ZF friendly but also recommend it for atf 4 applications.

Ill try and dig for a uoa/voa. Pour point is my biggest concern as lifeguard 8 is onlu -42

 

[joesstripclub]

Has anyone else noticed all these alternative fluids are just dex VI fluid? Maybe ZF just omitted the red dye to make their fluid special.

 

[BlownGP]

Has anyone else noticed all these alternative fluids are just dex VI fluid? Maybe ZF just omitted the red dye to make their fluid special.

Wouldn't that be nice. I have a few gallons of Dex VI from when I had my Grand Prix. lol
It's cheap to and everywhere

 

[HEMIMANN]

Sorry to resurrect, didn't see any other ATF searched threads on ZF oils.

What ATF oils are you guys running today in your ZF tranny's?

 

[joesstripclub]

Sorry to resurrect, didn't see any other ATF searched threads on ZF oils.

What ATF oils are you guys running today in your ZF tranny's?

I haven't done the change yet in my 2500, but I had about 25k miles on Maxlife in my old 1500 without any issues. There are probably some more recent fluid discussions from other members' transmission changes, but I'm not sure that many new options have come onto the market. I do think the price of the Mopar fluid has come down some though.

 

[HEMIMANN]

I haven't done the change yet in my 2500, but I had about 25k miles on Maxlife in my old 1500 without any issues. There are probably some more recent fluid discussions from other members' transmission changes, but I'm not sure that many new options have come onto the market. I do think the price of the Mopar fluid has come down some though.

Thanks for your report. The viscosities and pour point comparisons Burla published point to the ZF Magic Mouse Milk being just another cat cracked and serverely hydrotreated API Group III 'synthetic' base oil, so the real question is about the additives.

Knowing yours shifted well is a big benefit to others. I do recall there were shifting issues with Red Line (slippage), don't remember Amsoil.

My deduction would be I'd want to run a Group IV/V synthetic ATF if I could for longer oxidation life, but maybe Group III is good enough for a <50k OCI as long as the Caulk Oil Cooler modification is in place.

 

[joesstripclub]

Thanks for your report. The viscosities and pour point comparisons Burla published point to the ZF Magic Mouse Milk being just another cat cracked and serverely hydrotreated API Group III 'synthetic' base oil, so the real question is about the additives.

Knowing yours shifted well is a big benefit to others. I do recall there were shifting issues with Red Line (slippage), don't remember Amsoil.

My deduction would be I'd want to run a Group IV/V synthetic ATF if I could for longer oxidation life, but maybe Group III is good enough for a <50k OCI as long as the Caulk Oil Cooler modification is in place.

I did start with redline and wasn't happy with the performance, so I did a couple more drain and fills with maxlife to get most of it out of there. I towed a cargo trailer and SxS all over the Rockies with it too so I definitely worked it hard.

I do see I left a comment about all the alternative oils being Dex VI fluids. I dont think I looked into that any further, but could simplify oil selection if that is the case.

 

[star_deceiver]

This is what I have in there now. I’ve done one pan drop at 104000kms. If I get around to it, I’m going to do a drain and fill this week at 138000kms.

 

[BenchTest]

Sorry to resurrect, didn't see any other ATF searched threads on ZF oils.

What ATF oils are you guys running today in your ZF tranny's?

Valvoline MaxLife. 45K on the fluid in this ZF. No issues. Ran MaxLife in several previous vehicles, no issues. I'd guess several hundred thousand miles using MaxLife without issues (between several vehicles).

 

[QwikKota]

The Mopar 68218925 fluid is still around $30 at most places. Crazy, really.