"Suitable for commercial transmission applications requiring Type A (Suffix A), Dexron and Type F fluids. Do not use in passenger car automatic transmissions
May be used in applications requiring API GL-4 or SAE 80W grade lubricants in all gear applications except hypoid gear designs"

If it is API GL-4, it is better for that ZF than Mercon ATF. This thread is about a MANUAL transmission. Most of the posts are debating various Mercon formulations in reference to automatics.

Jim

 

Red Line Synthetic Oil - Gear Oil for Manual Transmissions - MT-90 75W90 GL-4 Gear Oil

I sure as heck don't see where Red-Line is bragging on it being a
good substitute for ATF in manual transmissions like our ZF light
truck transmissions. Seems to me, they would if they could. ;)

Red Line Synthetic Oil - Gear Oil for Manual Transmissions - D4 ATF

Now there, Red-Line talks directly to the fact that it replaces both
Mercon and Mercon-V. But they still don't mention our ZFs tho. :/

Need to get -letters- from these oil makers stating which of their
products are good for our ZFs and/or get ZF to tell us which oils
they like.

Anybody like to volunteer for that? :)

Alvin in AZ
ps- http://www.stangnet.com/images/stori...s/06-26-01.pdf
That's PawPaw's table, only in .pdf format this time.
...so it can actually be read! ;)
Dangged FTE shrinkin-stuff anyway.
pps- I copied it and may put in it in my "file12" at some point.
ppps- file13 = trash so file12 is just one step up from that. ;)

 

Between D4 ATF and MT-90 in viscosity is MTL. That is what many BMW enthusiasts in warmer climates use in Getrag and ZF manual transmissions. That is what I used with better results than Dexron/Mercon.

Jim

 

Cool, thanks, Jim. :)

So, in your experience, the anti-wear-slick-stuff in MTL doesn't mess-
-with the synchro-ring's gripping action? :) They do mention that in
the "ad" but then the ad was written by salesmen tho. ;)

"salesmen... can't trust 'em, can't kill 'em, and our industrialized world
would come to a stand-still without 'em :/" -Alvin

-----------------------

I believe I tend to be easy on manual transmissions anyway, since
I hardly ever down shift, I tend to kick it out of gear or just hold the
clutch pedal down and coast a -lot-. It's my silly way of getting back
some of the gasoline's energy I used to make it roll, to start with.

The throw out bearing can handle a lot more than that, just picture
what the bearing (6203) at the front of the alternator has to take. ;)

With the stingy fuel habit an EFI system has at idle, my crazy-crap
ought to work extra good on my '91 Bronco 351w+ZF. LOL :)

Coasting up to stops the way I do, diminishes the need for braking,
so it tends to be easy on the brakes too. YMMV

Alvin in AZ

 

Its not the anti-wear additives that interfere with synchro "hookup", but friction modifiers. That is why Dexron/Mercon ATF is not the best choice. They are friction modified specifically for A/T clutches and bands. Even old Type F ATF is better for shift quality due to lack of friction modifiers.

 

I also have a M5OD and manual Transfer case that probably could use a fluid change. It's the factory installed units on my '92 300I6 Bronco.

What fluids should I go into Advance tomorrow and buy to change it with? I would like to maybe go synthetic with something like Mobil1 or maybe even spend the extra on Royal Purple or something since it's not a fluid that gets changed often. The Bronco only has a little over 80K on the odometer and it's been well cared for from day 1.

Thanks

 

The transfer case really doesnt care, as long as it is not too thick (SAE 90) so the small internal lube pump works. It is chain drive and has no synchros. The M5OD would benefit from a manual transmission or sychromesh fluid better than ATF, but if you are going to Advance, Redline is out of the question. I think RP makes a dedicated sychromesh fluid, as does Pennzoil. Syn in the t-case is a waste of money unless maybe you use 4-LO all the time (highly unlikely).

Jim

 

Bought 4 quarts of MTL from Amazon instead of a gallon,
because I'll have a 1/2 quart left over see? :)

I'll use that after I overhaul my ZF with new bearings and
synchro kits this time, last time just added synchro rings.

Thanks again Jim, for the help with picking out the fluid. :)

Alvin in AZ

 

I think I'm probably just going to find either the Royal Purple, Redline or Mobil 1 that says it's equivalent to Mercon fluid and use it. I'll put it in the Transmission and Transfer case. I'd like to eventually replace all my fluids /greases to synthetic. Even going with the Green grease after I research it a bit more. I think that was the one that's supposed to be waterproof. I'd like to get stuff that may be a little more expensive but will last longer adn work better than the old Dino stuff.