[Persian Whisperjet]

I have kept it on the straight and narrow all these years but I notice that the good folks at ID Parts offer the ZF kit with Pentosin Long-Life Fully Synthetic ATF 1. Anyone have any thoughts on this option, which, at $50 per five liters is about half the cost of Lifeguard.

[TLO03]

I purchased a kit from Bluaparts , came with Ravenol ATF . No complaints 15k mi.
Trans perfomed way better after the service..

[tryingtobebest]

Been using RedLine D6 for few years now, in my BUILD thread (http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1289276) i have few links where people comparing Oem stuff to others and it looks like D6 is superior fluid in every parameter but cast galf the stealership price!

[robnitro]

The ravenol, redline d6, and mercon sp are the ones with the same viscosity as lf6.
Mercon sp was oil analyzed to be identical as they use it in the Ford version of 6hp

[Torqu3]

I've talked to a reputable shop owner and he swears by liqui-moly transmission fluid

[Rx7boost]

Go use the original fluid, have your head safe

[cm335d]

I would go with only the original fluid on this one. Check out www.thectsc.com for trans. oil change kits. Their price is $258 for everything required. The guys over there are super cool and helped me once with a bmw trans. code that my independent guy couldn't figure out.

[Yozh]

Go original ZF

[Ken Oath]

Whilst other AT fluids may be suitable or have similar properties to ZF LG6 no one can inform how two different fluids will mix. As about 65-70% of fluid is only removed during an oil change and the remainder left in the torque converter then this alone would be why to use ZF LG6.

[bvanlieu]

In the early days when the fluid was uber expensive, lots of threads. Prices have gotten more reasonable, and for most of us places like thectsc offering good kits from great people, the quest to save another $50 is not as important to folks like me.

If I was going to use another fluid I would use the Mercon which likely is manufactured to the same spec, and better to mix near like fluids...ZF uses that tranny in other cars, so having a Ford branded fluid made to spec is logical.

To me the most important part is changing it at by 120 Km as recommended by ZF and using a spec fluid, not just using ZF branded fluid at say 100-120K miles some folks do by ignoring the service.

I happen to have two cars with the ZF and I use thectsc kits for DIY.

- b

[335dsleeper]

I’ve used pentosin, amsoil and ZF. 224k miles so far. I’ve towed quite a bit too! No issue with any fluid.

[klingon55]

I've been using liqui moly in my X5 trans for the past 10k miles, and in my front and rear differentials for the past 2k no complaints. I used OEM fluid for the transfercase though, they appear to be sensitive.

[Nadir Point]

Substituting fluids correctly or otherwise matter more in some cases than others, with the trans being probably the MOST important example. Compatibility with friction material in the clutches is the main issue and widely variable. Then there's any number of other specs alone or in combination that might ruin your day somewhere down the line - HTHS, basestock, etc. I wish I'd known about the Mercon before I bought a case of the liquid gold.

[robnitro]

Originally Posted by Coorslightking

Aarod used the rowe 9006 fluid. Seem to overwrite a hole bunch.

Overwrite??

[Coorslightking]

It can be used in many transmissions. And is way cheaper than the zf fluid

[Thecastle]

I dunno, since the fluid at best needs to be changed every 60K miles... Its not like cost savings is enough of a motivation to me to use an alternative fluid. I think I paid like $160 for fluid and new pan (for filter change). Which is high, my ford F-450 29 quart flush cost me $159.... But it works on sawdust.... just kidding.

I only switch to alternative fluids if there is a performance benifit or it solves a problem I'm having. But to save like $20 naw, its not worth it on an automatic transmission. Diffs are another mater.

[BB_cuda]

Originally Posted by Thecastle

I dunno, since the fluid at best needs to be changed every 60K miles... Its not like cost savings is enough of a motivation to me to use an alternative fluid. I think I paid like $160 for fluid and new pan (for filter change). Which is high, my ford F-450 29 quart flush cost me $159.... But it works on sawdust.... just kidding.

I only switch to alternative fluids if there is a performance benifit or it solves a problem I'm having. But to save like $20 naw, its not worth it on an automatic transmission. Diffs are another mater.

Used 31 quarts on my Dodge doing a pump through into 5 gallon buckets while simo adding fluid through the dip stick tube. I disconnected the transcooler line from radiator and put it in the bucket. I spent about same $160 in fluid at $5.15 a quart (NAPA cut me a deal as ATF+4 is higher than other ATF). I went to a bigger aluminum pan too. I feel this completely exchanged the fluid out of torque converter.

[Thecastle]

Sounds like quite a job!

The thing that makes me chuckle when having work done on the F-450, is how cheap it is at the ford dealer compared to work done at BMW dealers. Things are like 1/2 half the price. But no loaners....

[torqueisking]

I used the Ford fluid in my X5d transmission. That was 5 years and 50K miles ago. I've had no problems and my use includes periodically towing my cars to the track on a full size car trailer.

Ford vehicles use many of the ZF 6HP transmissions so there is no risk in using their fluid and my recollection is that the oil was half the price compared to BMW.

[335stoner]

you can put a full kit together for $175 vs the prefabbed ones using pentosin trans oil, ZF pan and ZF M-seals.

[Thecastle]

Originally Posted by torqueisking

I used the Ford fluid in my X5d transmission. That was 5 years and 50K miles ago. I've had no problems and my use includes periodically towing my cars to the track on a full size car trailer.

Ford vehicles use many of the ZF 6HP transmissions so there is no risk in using their fluid and my recollection is that the oil was half the price compared to BMW.

Good point.. Ford and a lot of other companies use the same ZF 6HP transmissions.

[Coorslightking]

I did the trans service on my 335d with new solenoids and i used rowe atf 9006. It was cheapest at the time on idparts.