OT - Ford ZF-6 speed trans

Is there not a fill plug on one side or the other?  Its only going to be filled about 1/4 ish of the way up.  Don't look near the top.  You want the fluid to be level with the fill plug.
If memory serves I think it was 1/2 square, but can't remember.  Don't see many manuals anymore, its all lady-matics.


Edited by Roddo - 30 Aug 2011 at 7:47pm

Look at the picture at:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-FORD-ZF-6-SPEED-TRANSMISSION-7-3L-DIESEL-4WD-2WD-/300594169951?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item45fccf085f

Isn't the filler plug right to the rear of the filter cover plate there on the middle left side? Looks to be small. Probably drained by pulling the filter cover since this version has an oil pump for cooling.

Gerald J.

Looks to be drivers side behind the PTO blank plate.

It also uses Mercon 5 auto trans fluid.

When reading diesel truck forums remember they are heavily populated by people who are into upgraded performance, be it on the street "sled pulling" as they say it, off roading etc. .Read them long enough without the thinking cap working on full power you will be convinced that you need $15,0000 in upgrades just so you can get to church and back without shelling out gear teeth or suspension parts, LOL. I bring this up as often a factory part is just barely good enough to do the job the factory gave it to do and the ZF trannmissions are a good example The rated torque capacities just barely allowed for its usage behind the diesels even before the Powerstroke engine. This is where the dualmass flywheels came into play.  So add a chip, some stage one or two injectors, a bit of sled pulling and stop light drag racing and alchohol assited driving suddenly a part or unit becomes not good enough. Why all this bla bla?  Given some kind of decent treatment and no power upgrades or abuse the average ZF will outlast the rest of the truck with the recomended lubricant in my experiance. I am off the sect that thinks if motor oil is better for the trans why does ZF say run ATF?  Id leave well enough alone.

Edited by Butch(OH) - 31 Aug 2011 at 7:17am

Not ALL guys on the Diesel Forums think you have to spend 15k in parts. There are lots of knowledgeable guys there, just like here. Switching to synthetic is never a bad idea....its not reinventing the wheel, just making it last longer. I've found that its the guys on these forums that fix alot of things on a budget. Ford couldn't fix the problems with the 6.0 Powerstroke but the guys on these forums did and what they figured out works well, and for the biggest headache with those trucks isnt super hard, or expensive to fix. There is good and bad with everything. Not being harsh, just standing up for alot of good guys.