ZF5 Lubricant

[Rocknit4x4]

Hey guys
Recently got a rebuilt ZF5 installed with a new south bend clutch. Noticed some new noise in the low RPMs 1000-1200, 2&3rd gear(literally only 20 miles on it so far). After driving home thinking about it I remember someone on here saying they were using a heavier oil on their ZF5 and it quieted it way down. I checked the receipt and the shop put ATF in it per the receipt / notes. So the question is what is the recommended lubricant for the ZF5 and what is everyone running with good success?

Also, if it matters, rarely ever tow, haul something significant (over 500# maybe a few times a year). I do have the CDD stage 2 kit and the pump turned up, but I tend to shift around 2000-2300 most the time and try not to beat on it too much.

 

[Nero]

If its the gear rollover noise, that's normal for a solid mass flywheel setup. Turn the radio up a little louder.

 

[Rocknit4x4]

Ya just put a CDD stage 3 clutch and solid mass in as well, after googling gear roll over noise sounds like you hit the nail on the head

 

[IDIBOBS]

Why would any one build one of these trucks with a 5speed and turn up the pump ect ….and shift that high for no reason? When I’m not towing or hauling, or driving in the snow or mud I’m not driving this monster around. I’ve got other cars and trucks for that. Hauling/towing is what they are for. Why waste money building something you’re not going to use? 2300rps is about 800 past the torque curve. Why bother it’s just a waste of fuel. It’s just like the soccer moms that drive shinny new f350s and never do anything with them. Or a mall crawler jeep that has 100k into it and it’s never seen dirt. No one is impressed them. It just something to laugh at.

 

[Jesus Freak]

Why would any one build one of these trucks with a 5speed and turn up the pump ect ….and shift that high for no reason? When I’m not towing or hauling, or driving in the snow or mud I’m not driving this monster around. I’ve got other cars and trucks for that. Hauling/towing is what they are for. Why waste money building something you’re not going to use? 2300rps is about 800 past the torque curve. Why bother it’s just a waste of fuel. It’s just like the soccer moms that drive shinny new f350s and never do anything with them. Or a mall crawler jeep that has 100k into it and it’s never seen dirt. No one is impressed them. It just something to laugh at.

My dually is my daily driver, I run it on waste motor oil that cost absolutely nothing. I've literally not spent thousands of dollars in the last 4yrs since I discovered this wonderful revelation. Sometimes I think it would be neat to drive a smaller vehicle, but then I crank my truck up and say..,....naaaaa......I rarely go faster than 60mph. If there's ever a lawnmower or 3 wheeler or something big on side of the road or on my FedEx route that I need to get right then, how would I be able to get it if I wasn't driving a one ton dually. Seriously, it's totally legit driving your one ton everywhere.... even to dollar general for cookies. I command parking spots, there's a certain "get outta my way, dually coming through" you have with a one ton diesel. And oh, did I mention that I make my own fuel? It's genius.....

As far as gear roll over noise, it's part of the parking lot commanding experience...... rrrrrrreeeerrrrrrrrr..... RERERERRR...... REREREERRR, I love it! Whatever you do, don't put heavier oil in it, your rebuilt tranny will be quietly dieing if you do!

 

[Rocknit4x4]

Thanks for the feedback - I appreciate it

 

[IDIBRONCO]

2300rps is about 800 past the torque curve. Why bother it’s just a waste of fuel.

2300 RPM is almost to the fun part of your turbo boost range. Besides, what's the point of even having a turbo if you never use the boost?

 

[Jesus Freak]

Thanks for the feedback - I appreciate it

We live for it, keep rockin' it!

 

[KansasIDI]

2300 RPM is almost to the fun part of your turbo boost range. Besides, what's the point of even having a turbo if you never use the boost?

Yeah, I’m guessing IDIBOBS would have much disdain for the way I drive. With the Hypermax turbo on my 91, peak power and boost is 2600-2900 RPM, and there’s not much fall off above that, but plenty below. It still runs fine 1800-2200, which is a reasonable speed with no trailer, but when I’m pulling a trailer, it gets to scream. I don’t really care about fuel economy, but I don’t want to blow a bunch of smoke around.

Edited to add: what people drive, and how they drive it, is up to each and every individual, so long as it’s safe for said vehicle to be on the road, and that said individual drives said vehicle safely. None of us have to agree with their choice. Sometimes people do things just because they want to. For example, why am I pumping thousands of dollars into a 31 year old truck, when my 34 year old truck does everything I need it to? Do I really need the 4WD, automatic transmission, cruise control, and more power my 94 F350 has? No. But do I want it? Yes.

It’s all up to you, whoever reads this. What you drive is your choice.

 

[DirtyWood]

Drive whatever makes driving fun. I've worked out of my trucks for the last 20 years and can't even imagine what it's like to not need a truck every day.

 

[ttman4]

Yeah probably rollover noise.
Well I put around nearly 1Mil miles on Bessie CCLB Dually with her original ZF5 (& never rebuilt it) & I used/changed tranny oil all the time & always used ATF.....Now I use more of a synthetic ATF but that was after I converted her to 4x4 & changed tranny with a BW1356.
And it's UNREAL of the very heavy loads I pulled with her.....2000-2500 mile trips & lots of them so heavy I was in 3rd, 4th, occasionally 5th!!!
Around 800K I finally had to get rid of my original dual mass clutch/flywheel & put a solid mass clutch & flywheel. Started slipping about over double the safe slippage amount.

And like @KansasIDI said, nobody round here likes the way I drive! & I don't care!
With my 4" noisy straight pipe, 4:10 gears, 235x16 tires, speedometer that only says/goes to about 80 MPH, & me headed to town & RPMs screaming, I'm pretty sure I'm running bout
110-120 MPH...

And me & @Jesus Freak apparently fill up at same service stations cause I run WMO too! Been running it since back in '03....& it's FREE!!!

 

[Jesus Freak]

And me & @Jesus Freak apparently fill up at same service stations cause I run WMO too! Been running it since back in '03....& it's FREE!!!

.... wait a minute.....are you saying that you've done a gozillian miles on WMO? But nay-sayers affirm that you have to replace your injection pump every third fill-up! Are you saying that they're wrong?......this is revolutionary!

Edit: and @ttman4 !!!, I better not catch you out there stealing my secret sauce, unless you're going to leave me a couple of extra cases of fuel filters!

 

[Black dawg]

I wonder how well something like penzoil syncromesh would work in a zf5? I know people use it in alot of other manual transmissions that originally spec atf...

 

[IDIBRONCO]

I'm pretty sure that these call for synthetic ATF, not petro ATF.

 

[ttman4]

I'm pretty sure that these call for synthetic ATF, not petro ATF.

Well as I'm understanding......Or rather, as I'm starting to understand, maybe originally regular ATF was what was specified. In last few years synthetic ATF is in specifications more.

I know this, in my opinion OIL IS CHEAP!!!
In the big pic keeping things changed is much cheaper than buying parts & paying shop labor!

And @Jesus Freak I can't say out very loud how many of those gozillian miles I've did cause the federrallias are listening in and they chase me down & come up with a number for me to pay.... a number probably based on millage..... something like 2 mpg!!!