Farm Equipment - OT - Ford ZF-6 speed trans

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OT - Ford ZF-6 speed trans

Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
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URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=36430
Printed Date: 30 Oct 2025 at 10:50pm
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Topic: OT - Ford ZF-6 speed trans

Posted By: Eric[IL]
Subject: OT - Ford ZF-6 speed trans
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2011 at 7:19pm

Off-topic question.

Where do I add fluid to my 2000 F350 ZF-6 speed 2wd manual transmission? I can't find the fill plug anywhere. My local Ford service garage can't find it on their website and no one in their shops knows either? It does not have a dipstick. Im very puzzled... Thanks for your help

Replies:

Posted By: Roddo
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2011 at 7:46pm

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.

Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2011 at 8:03pm

The aluminum 5 speed in my '98 F-150 has hex head filler and drain bolts on the side centered on the aluminum ribs of the casting. Drain at the bottom, filler above it but not directly above it.

Gerald J.

Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2011 at 8:15pm

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.

Posted By: BennyLumpkin
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2011 at 8:59pm

If you dont see it check out http://www.powerstroke.org - http://www.powerstroke.org or google it and links for that page will show up....

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Central PA Allis Express
1934 WC254
1945 WF
1945 WC135755
1951 WD68085
1953 WD45-150217
1957 WD45D-230744D
B110

Posted By: BennyLumpkin
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2011 at 9:06pm

Looks to be drivers side behind the PTO blank plate.

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Central PA Allis Express
1934 WC254
1945 WF
1945 WC135755
1951 WD68085
1953 WD45-150217
1957 WD45D-230744D
B110

Posted By: Butch(OH)
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2011 at 9:12pm

and,, if its been a loong time since it has been out plan on it being fused to the case same as welded. Give a try first just in case but plan on it being stuck. The trick to removing them is heat before you strip out the drive socket, not after. Heat it hot but it need not red, let it cool for a couple minutes and it will back out fairly easily IF you got it hot enough.

Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2011 at 9:48pm

It also uses Mercon 5 auto trans fluid.

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"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford

Posted By: Eric[IL]
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2011 at 12:38am

Ok, I found the fill plug right where you guys pointed to - Thanks.

Tomorrow, I will heat it to hot, let it cool a few minutes, & then try backing it out.

It has red ATF in it now. Some people over on powerstroke.org's forum are talking about using full synthetic 10w30 engine oil instead of ATF for longevity. Anyone on here know differently?

Posted By: Butch(OH)
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2011 at 7:15am

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.

Posted By: Eric[IL]
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2011 at 6:31pm

Butch(OH), I have to agree with you about getting that same feeling from those truck forums as you mentioned. But, the notion of switching trans fluids has been discussed on other forums also. So, I decided to make some calls to transmission repair shops that specialize in this ZF S6-650 transmission to run it by them.

Many of them recommended that I switch to AMSoil full synthetic ATF instead of the original Ford recommendation of regular ATF oil. Here is weblink from one of them which explains the history of the ZF-6 from Ford to Chevy. I called them to discuss my options. Since I do a great deal of trailering with my truck at GVRW of 25,000 - 27,500lbs, they highly recommended that I switch to a full synthetic ATF oil for this transmission under this heavy duty requirement.

http://www.standardtransmission.com/ford_zf.html - http://www.standardtransmission.com/ford_zf.html

While doing a 35mile empty test run (truck only) today, I have already noticed a quieter transmission, smoother shifting, & decreased transmission fluid temperature. I will post later how it does under load while trailering.

Local Big R Store carried the AMSoil full synthetic ATF @ $11.05/ quart. The floor manager at the store said they can't keep it on the shelves as its selling that quickly.

Posted By: BennyLumpkin
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2011 at 6:39pm

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.

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Central PA Allis Express
1934 WC254
1945 WF
1945 WC135755
1951 WD68085
1953 WD45-150217
1957 WD45D-230744D
B110