ZF5 Lubricant

[DirtyWood]

Whatever you do don't try the 30wt non-detergent oil that some have claimed as an option. I tried this in a ZF many years ago and getting into first was a PITA in anything but warm weather.

 

[ttman4]

Whatever you do don't try the 30wt non-detergent oil that some have claimed as an option. I tried this in a ZF many years ago and getting into first was a PITA in anything but warm weather.

And also don't........
Actually it gets kinda funny sometimes at the big "DON'T" list that can get bigger & bigger as time goes on.

Once yrs ago I found on another forum site folks talking about & being very happy with results of overfilling their ZF 42 with by about 2 or 2 1/2 qts of ATF over full back then. Supposedly the extra volume made more oil volume to heat up ie: run cooler.
Sooooo I figured best way to do it on another truck I had was to pour ATF down thru the removed stick shifter.
I did it, took off about 6PM on one my long trips overloaded pulling trailer load of treasure.

About 50 miles into said trip I started smelling something like VERY HOT HOT OIL!!! I stop look & check truck & trailer over, then head on out down road.
About another 25 miles & up in some pretty steep pulling hills, suddenly the cab filled with smoke!!!!!
Well turned out my over full ZF with all those extra 2-3 qt of ATF that were guaranteed to run cooler had in fact overheated!! Sat there cooled down for a while.
I eased on down road few miles, then sat cooled down, then on down road till found a service station that I managed to wake up.
Bought new ATF, borrowed drain pan, drained ZF tran, refilled correctly, & took off onto rest of my happy happy trip!!!
My "DON'T" list gets bigger by the day!!!!

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Well turned out my over full ZF with all those extra 2-3 qt of ATF that were guaranteed to run cooler had in fact overheated!!

It might not have overheated. Maybe it just expanded enough to push out the top? Then again, I've been known to be wrong before.

 

[KansasIDI]

It might not have overheated. Maybe it just expanded enough to push out the top? Then again, I've been known to be wrong before.

1 quart extra doesn’t seem to push over, but with 2 or 3 quarts it very well might. These ZF5 transmissions get extremely hot, much hotter than any automatic. Therefore the extra fluid probably expanded enough to overflow. I notice less rollover noise warmed up in hot weather than cold in cold weather, with Synchromesh. That stuff isn’t much thicker than ATF, but has some properties that help with a manual, such as higher heat tolerance. You may notice that if you pull hard with a ZF5, when you go to change the ATF it will appear somewhat burnt, at least it has in the three I have done this to. This effect is not noticeable with Synchromesh, likely since it can handle the 270*+ temps of the ZF5. I have hit 300* with the ZF5 in my service truck. They get really hot.

 

[Old Goat]

Interesting.
I know the big rigs have Temp Gages for the Transmission and Differentials.
Maybe a good idea to install a Trans Cooler and small Pump to
circulate the oil?
Or pipe it into the bottom of the Radiator like the Auto Trans are
plumbed.

Dang, now I need a Temp Gauge for the T-19 and maybe the Differential......


Goat

 

[Nero]

I was also thinking that. I've seen PTO covers that are simply oil coolers before, wonder how much they are.


Edit, quick search, found these guys. Guess I need to educate myself on what size our PTO covers are. Would be interesting. I've seen these installed on a Dodge manual transmission once.

FAQ | Fast Coolers

View our most commonly askes questions. Why FastCoolers? What do they fit?

www.fastcoolers.com

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Guess I need to educate myself on what size our PTO covers are. Would be interesting.

Your link lead directly to a page that says that all PTO covers are the same size from 1932 to today. It says that Ford, Dodge, and GM all use the same size.

 

[Nero]

We've already established I don't read Maybe its time for a second coffee....

 

[IDIBRONCO]

We've already established I don't read Maybe its time for a second coffee....

Maybe it's time for you to run for Congress? I was disappointed that I didn't see a price. Maybe I didn't read close enough?

 

[Nero]

Maybe it's time for you to run for Congress? I was disappointed that I didn't see a price. Maybe I didn't read close enough?

$439 for a complete bundle of one cooler element. Not bad for calibrated aluminum.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

$439 for a complete bundle of one cooler element. Not bad for calibrated aluminum.

Actually, you're right. In theory, it should save some transmissions and that, right there, would be worth a lot more than that! I'll have to look into it now. As if I needed help spending money!

 

[KansasIDI]

Actually, you're right. In theory, it should save some transmissions and that, right there, would be worth a lot more than that! I'll have to look into it now. As if I needed help spending money!

I think @03wr250f has these, or something like them.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Either way, I think that they're a great idea if you do much towing or hauling with a standard transmission.

 

[Rocknit4x4]

I know the diesels and dirtbags guys make something similar too. Looks like they also put tapped holes in them as well so you could run a line to pump / cooler and back.

PTO Cooler

1 piece Solid billet 6061 PTO cooler Comes with hardware Silicone RTV recommended

www.dieselsanddirtbags.com