Thread: Disco 3/4 Automatic Transmission FAQ - 6 Speed

After hearing the tales of woe from some who have used alternatives to ZF lifeguard, would be useful for all if those who have used alternatives could give us all feedback on how their transmissions fare with long term use of alternative trans oils.
Have always found it hard to believe that ZF had an oil so unique that using alternatives put your trans in jeopardy, but there were always the stories about "gummed up" or "glazed over" trans plates etc which raised enough concern to keep me paying the ZF price/ransom.
My current D3 trans has just logged 300k on ZF oil without issue, but that may be driving style as much as oil.
Hearing from long term alternative trans oil users would go a long way to dispelling the myth about "only" ZF trans oil.

Originally Posted by vbrab

which raised enough concern to keep me paying the ZF price/ransom.

ZF is not the problem - it is the onsellers who are price gouging. The ZF retail charge about $28.50 a litre when bought in 20ltr drums. Onsellers such as Landrover charge upwards of $90 a litre, my local auto repairer charges $46 a litre.

Buy direct from ZF and save.

Garry

Originally Posted by vbrab

Hearing from long term alternative trans oil users would go a long way to dispelling the myth about "only" ZF trans oil.

There's a guy in South Africa who has done about 40k on Fuchs oil with no issue. You'll find him on the UK forum, name like Koos Best

I think some other ATF manufacturers may have cracked it now.
In the early days of the ZF6 other ATFs were not suitable.
Agree I would like for feedback before my next ATF change. Fuchs is looksin ok so far.

I also buy it by the drum, but even at $28 a litre that still seems a bit OTT for trans oil. be good if there was a suitable (better priced) replacement that we felt safe with in our transmissions.

Picked the car up from a South Melbourne independent mechanic workshop today as I had a voucher for a service, and as you would expect the oil change is free but then they start mentioning all the other stuff that "needs" doing. Only thing I agreed to as I knew it needed doing was the gearbox oil change with steel pan change. $800 bucks not bad and convenient as I find getting car in for service while at work a hassle.

When I pick it up find out they have used Liquid Moly ATF 1800. They say they use it in all their BMW which they do a lot of. Not really happy to spend 800 for an aftermarket oil, and not exactly a flush so there is a mix of oil in there now.

Also interesting reading on non ZF oils and also Penrites' ATF:

ZF 6HP26 Transmission Introduction - Furitech Automotive

Nulon's website states their ATF shouldn't be mixed with ZF lifeguard and recommend dry fill only...

I'm looking at buying an 07 D3 V6 Petrol with 200K km for a friend who doesn't know much about cars. We got a pre-purchase inspection, noting that the gearbox still had the original plastic sump, and got quoted $1,300 for the service. The car has no surging issues.

Spoke to Keysborough Automatics (in Melbourne), who tell me they will service it with the ZF fluid and install the Metal sump for $350.

Will confirm this if/when it gets done, but I'm surprised by the range of prices (not really).