Steel sump / Plastic sump ( trans )

**bbyer** · 14th June 2011, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by tonymet

I have fitted metal pan kit to my RRS. the kit is a BMW part so I have no thoughts that it might not do the job. Kit comes with crappy paper gasket that should be changed for a rubber one to make sure the thing seals properly. As far as I could tell the oil capacity is the same as the plastic one.

I did not expect that the gasket would be similar to those used for a water pump on a flat head six. I had anticipated the gasket would be some sort of thin flat rubber like material.

Did you notice if there was a half round groove milled into the mating surface of the transmission casting? The plastic pan uses an O ring like rubber gasket, half recessed into a groove moulded into the plastic so I wondered if a similar groove was milled into the metal of the transmission casting or if the rubber O ring gasket just squished flat on the surface?

What I was really wondering is if there was any difference in the castings between the Ford, BMW, and Land Rover models. If so, I presumed that the gasket mating surface for the metal vs plastic pans might be one place where there was something different as the pan sealing gasket designs are very different, round vs flat.

**steven64** · 15th June 2011, 06:23 AM

Hi Ivan, where did you get the gearbox oil changed and was it ZF oil.

Steven

**IvanR** · 15th June 2011, 12:09 PM

Hi Steven

I had the service done at Goulburn Valley Automatic Transmission service in Shepparton.
I dont know where he source the oil, but I can make some inquires.
He did mention that when doing warrenty work on falcons with the 6 speed ZF, Ford insisted that the oil be purchased from them which was a lot more expensive than what he could buy it for.

Update.
The pans are made by ZF and sourced through BMW in Sydney.
Steve (at GV Trans) said he would be happy to supply then.
The Oil is made by Fuchs who most likely supply ZF. He said that it is the only oil available that meets the standard.

IvanR

**winaje** · 23rd June 2014, 12:45 PM

Just spoke to Steve at Goulburn Valley Automatic Transmissions in Shepparton (03 5821 6911) (no affiliation), and was quoted $600 for a full flush with 12 litres of genuine ZF Lifeguard 6 if I already have the steel pan fitted, which includes the filter and labour. If I need the steel pan supplied and fitted it's an extra $240. He also mentioned that the steel pan has better fluid pickup than the plastic one, and has seen good results with steel pan fitment and genuine ZF Lifeguard 6 oil in curing the infamous shudders.

I'll be getting the job done next week (hopefully), and will report my impressions.

**101RRS** · 23rd June 2014, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by IvanR

The Oil is made by Fuchs who most likely supply ZF. He said that it is the only oil available that meets the standard.

IvanR

I understand that the Fuchs oil is another brand - some have tried it and said it is OK but any issue is not likely to show for some time. I would rather use the genuine Lifeguard oil to be on the safe side.

Garry

**winaje** · 23rd June 2014, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by garrycol

I understand that the Fuchs oil is another brand - some have tried it and said it is OK but any issue is not likely to show for some time. I would rather use the genuine Lifeguard oil to be on the safe side.

Garry

Steve mentioned that the Fuchs is good enough, but that the ZF Lifeguard 6 is better, especially if there is any shuddering. About $13/L difference, $25/L for the Fuchs vs $38/L for the ZF. I'm going with the ZF personally.

**101RRS** · 23rd June 2014, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by winaje

Steve mentioned the the Fuchs is good enough, but that the ZF Lifeguard 6 is better, especially if there is any shuddering. About $13/L difference, $25/L for the Fuchs vs $38/L for the ZF. I'm going with the ZF personally.

I am not prepared to risk my gearbox using a different oil.

If buying in bulk (20l drum) you can get ZF Lifeguard 6 for $27 a litre - trade price would be a bit better.

Garry

**Grappler** · 23rd June 2014, 08:08 PM

I paid $298incl GST for the genuine ZF metal pan conversion kit from a Motospec in Perth. This included the filter, gasket and screws
ZF LG6 was $31 per litre

I also got a mechatronics connector sleeve for $30

The conversion was straight forward. To avoid removing the cross member on RRS I carefully sawed the plastc filter spigot to allow the plastic pan to be rotated and removed.
The only problem was a slight leak from the gasket. I needed to retorque the screws several times, over several days to get a leak free job.

**winaje** · 23rd June 2014, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by Grappler

I paid $298incl GST for the genuine ZF metal pan conversion kit from a Motospec in Perth. This included the filter, gasket and screws
ZF LG6 was $31 per litre

I also got a mechatronics connector sleeve for $30

The conversion was straight forward. To avoid removing the cross member on RRS I carefully sawed the plastc filter spigot to allow the plastic pan to be rotated and removed.
The only problem was a slight leak from the gasket. I needed to retorque the screws several times, over several days to get a leak free job.

Thanks for the info. I decided to use the trans place as it'd be about $140 more than the parts only, and I don't have a flushing tool, or a desire to get fluid on me lol

**Grappler** · 23rd June 2014, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by bbyer

I did not expect that the gasket would be similar to those used for a water pump on a flat head six. I had anticipated the gasket would be some sort of thin flat rubber like material.

Did you notice if there was a half round groove milled into the mating surface of the transmission casting? The plastic pan uses an O ring like rubber gasket, half recessed into a groove moulded into the plastic so I wondered if a similar groove was milled into the metal of the transmission casting or if the rubber O ring gasket just squished flat on the surface?

What I was really wondering is if there was any difference in the castings between the Ford, BMW, and Land Rover models. If so, I presumed that the gasket mating surface for the metal vs plastic pans might be one place where there was something different as the pan sealing gasket designs are very different, round vs flat.

My observations from a RRS ZF 6HP26....The plastic pan has a moulded flexible gasket and fits into a grooved recess in the plastic pan. The AT valve housing is just a flat face. The moulded gasket just mates flat with it. The kit comes with a very ordinary fibre gasket. The metal pan is flat so the flat gasket will workThe torques for the shorter screws with metal conversion are slightly higher than the plastic. As I mentioned I needed to retorque overa period to get a perfect seal. Some of the screws at the front are impossible to get a torque wrench onto.
I used Permaflex aircraft sealant, but others recommend nothing to go on the gasket

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