About To Do A Zf Oil Change.

[NZBen]

My car now has around 115,000 on the clock and abt 320rwkw. The gearbox is doing some strange things. The dreaded 'milkshake lurch' also flaring. I dropped the pipe off the cooler to have a look at oil condition.. pretty dark looking. Under a macroscope there are lots of pretty shiney bits floating around. I am in auckland and asked a couple places for a price on an oil change, prices range from $1000-$1200. Which kinda freaked me out. So have decided to try do it myself.

People I have talked to say sump pan needs replacing. But it's a metal pan so I would have thort I could get away with a gasket and filter.

I have also bought an aftermarket cooler to put on at the same time. But I'm not sure how to connect it to the gearbox. Is there a fitting I can buy that will bolt onto the side of the zf or will I have to make something up?

I was going to use Gulf Western syntrans, drop the sump off drain it and clean the pan and magnet. Fill it up, Run through all the gears, drain again. Fill again run through. Drain again. Clean pan again, Fit new gasket. Connect new cooler then fill up, run through gears and top up.

Any thoughts on my intended process? I have never done this before so suggestions would be appreciated. I'm not sure quite how to fill it or check levels, so any photos would be appreciated.

I figure if I do it myself. I will be able to do it at semi regular intervals.

[JETURBO]

If you do not do the process correctly dont even start it mate

Theres many threads on zf servicing

[Wilko16]

http://www.zf.com/brands/content/en/zf_parts/technology_in_practice_zp/oil_change_procedure_zp/how-to-change-oil.html

I just serviced mine myself, it's not hard but you need a hoist and only do it if you are confident and mechanically minded

Would you replace a clutch on a manual car yourself ?

If no, then prob best to leave an auto service to the experts

[NZBen]

Thanks for that... very useful. Dont think I'll have too much trouble.. Im a mechanical engineer and use to be an airplane mechanic. But airplanes dont tend to have slush boxes. Just in case there was anything to look out for I thought I'd get some opinions.

[Wilko16]

You will be sweet then, I flushed mine by filling it up and starting it with the oil cooler lines running to a bucket, (I say both hoses cause I can't remember which one is the outlet)

And just keep pumping fluid in until it flows out cleaner, then just put the hoses back on and follow the fill procedure...

Also search "furious performance" on eBay for the adapter fittings for your cooler lines

[NZBen]

Did it the other day, was easy as piss. Plus, gearbox has lost that lurch which is good. If anyone is thinking abt needing their zf serviced and places are quoting too much. It's a very straight forward thing to do. So dont be put off by nay sayers on here. I used GulfWestern Syntrans. Paid abt $200 aud for 20l. And just siphoned it into the fill port.

[Wilko16]

Good job mate, not a hard job if you understand what your actually doing