ZF6 question
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 571
Likes: 4
From: hondo
ZF6 question
Gentlemen,
A few months back I purchased a 2001 F250 4X4 with 130,000. on the clock with manual transmission. I really enjoy driving it but in gear 1 and 2 while traveling slow, like in a parking lot or bumper to bumper traffic. I get this rattle that is very annoying and just wondering if that is normal or a sign of a problem. The rattle goes away when I pick up speed and then shift to another gear. I was told by the previous owner that a new clutch was installed. Everything seems normal clutch pedal feels good. Sometimes i have a hard time shifting to first gear, I have to go from second to first or third to first to get a smooth change to first. If not i get a little grinding, going straight to first. All other gears work fine. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks
Gilbert
A few months back I purchased a 2001 F250 4X4 with 130,000. on the clock with manual transmission. I really enjoy driving it but in gear 1 and 2 while traveling slow, like in a parking lot or bumper to bumper traffic. I get this rattle that is very annoying and just wondering if that is normal or a sign of a problem. The rattle goes away when I pick up speed and then shift to another gear. I was told by the previous owner that a new clutch was installed. Everything seems normal clutch pedal feels good. Sometimes i have a hard time shifting to first gear, I have to go from second to first or third to first to get a smooth change to first. If not i get a little grinding, going straight to first. All other gears work fine. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks
Gilbert
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,344
Likes: 5,941
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
Most likely what you are hearing is "gear rollover" and it is normally mitigated or eliminated by finding a good fluid. I had gear rollover and after trying several high end fluids settled on Redline High Temp ATF 30204. I have zero gear rollover now, but am also much better at working the ZF6.
A lot seem to like Redline MTL or Royal Purple Synchro mesh, but they did not perform as I would like. Same with Amsoil.
Also, a change in driving style will help where you either down shift to bring the RPM up or give it fuel to bring up the MPH.
A lot seem to like Redline MTL or Royal Purple Synchro mesh, but they did not perform as I would like. Same with Amsoil.
Also, a change in driving style will help where you either down shift to bring the RPM up or give it fuel to bring up the MPH.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,344
Likes: 5,941
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
There is a drain plug and a fill plug on the driver side of the transmission. Remove the fill plug before removing the drain plug to make sure the fill plug comes out. If it doesn't, you can fill from the top/shifter boot area, which some prefer to do it this way. I put 6 quarts in mine as many others do, but I think the book calls for 5.4 quarts or something like that.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,344
Likes: 5,941
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
You are very welcome Gilbert. We all have to learn sometime and I was in your shoes at one point in time. I was towing our new to us 32' travel trailer the first time I experienced gear roll over in our our new to us ZF6 truck.
My reaction was to look in both mirrors for some hard parts that may have fallen off while I was swearing.
Not sure if you know this about a ZF6 clutch, but when you are starting from a stop in in low or 1st gear, no accelerator input until the clutch pedal is all the way up. There are the rare occasions where you will need to feather the accelerator with the clutch, but that is not a common technique.
I learned this from some FTE'rs many years ago as I thought the clutch was like a gasser.
My reaction was to look in both mirrors for some hard parts that may have fallen off while I was swearing.
Not sure if you know this about a ZF6 clutch, but when you are starting from a stop in in low or 1st gear, no accelerator input until the clutch pedal is all the way up. There are the rare occasions where you will need to feather the accelerator with the clutch, but that is not a common technique.
I learned this from some FTE'rs many years ago as I thought the clutch was like a gasser.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,170
Likes: 1,331
From: Bahstun
if you cant get into first and clutch engages at near the floor when lifting your foot, the circuit might have air or old fluid with water in it not letting the slave extend fully
suck out the resivor and replace the fluid with new.
go under and colapse the slave cylinder by hand and let it extend, do this ten times and see how it is after
ZF6, drain it and fill up by side plug with drivers side lifted up on 4x4s, ramps etc so you can add in some extra to make the rollover noises lower
suck out the resivor and replace the fluid with new.
go under and colapse the slave cylinder by hand and let it extend, do this ten times and see how it is after
ZF6, drain it and fill up by side plug with drivers side lifted up on 4x4s, ramps etc so you can add in some extra to make the rollover noises lower
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 571
Likes: 4
From: hondo
You are very welcome Gilbert. We all have to learn sometime and I was in your shoes at one point in time. I was towing our new to us 32' travel trailer the first time I experienced gear roll over in our our new to us ZF6 truck.
My reaction was to look in both mirrors for some hard parts that may have fallen off while I was swearing.
Not sure if you know this about a ZF6 clutch, but when you are starting from a stop in in low or 1st gear, no accelerator input until the clutch pedal is all the way up. There are the rare occasions where you will need to feather the accelerator with the clutch, but that is not a common technique.
I learned this from some FTE'rs many years ago as I thought the clutch was like a gasser.
My reaction was to look in both mirrors for some hard parts that may have fallen off while I was swearing.
Not sure if you know this about a ZF6 clutch, but when you are starting from a stop in in low or 1st gear, no accelerator input until the clutch pedal is all the way up. There are the rare occasions where you will need to feather the accelerator with the clutch, but that is not a common technique.
I learned this from some FTE'rs many years ago as I thought the clutch was like a gasser.
Did not know that about first gear. Will try to remember that. Before this truck, I had not driven a stick in at least 25 yrs. I think its fun.
Thanks again
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 571
Likes: 4
From: hondo
if you cant get into first and clutch engages at near the floor when lifting your foot, the circuit might have air or old fluid with water in it not letting the slave extend fully
suck out the resivor and replace the fluid with new.
go under and colapse the slave cylinder by hand and let it extend, do this ten times and see how it is after
ZF6, drain it and fill up by side plug with drivers side lifted up on 4x4s, ramps etc so you can add in some extra to make the rollover noises lower
suck out the resivor and replace the fluid with new.
go under and colapse the slave cylinder by hand and let it extend, do this ten times and see how it is after
ZF6, drain it and fill up by side plug with drivers side lifted up on 4x4s, ramps etc so you can add in some extra to make the rollover noises lower
Thank you.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Fordshmord
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
May 18, 2020 03:21 PM
jernut
Clutch, Transmission, Differential, Axle & Transfer Case
8
Nov 16, 2005 08:44 AM
Rock_N_Roller
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Jul 31, 2001 01:24 AM