Lubricant Resource?

[Gary Lewis]

....Also, there are a few other bits of info that I think would be helpful for people. One is the comparison of "weights" for engine oils vs gear oils, as they aren't tested in the same way and the scales overlap. Another is a description of what the various ratings are, like GL-4 or GL-5 - and GL-5 doesn't truly superseded GL-4 in all applications. And I'm sure there are other things we might want to document as well....

This risks getting into the realm of opinions, but Ford started recommending lighter lubes as time went on. Typically that wasn't because the new engines (or transfer cases, or transmissions or whatever) needed lighter lube, or that the older parts needed heavier lube, but that it gave better mileage. So if the old recommendation was 10W-40 (or 90W gear lube) and the new recommendation is 5W-20 (or ATF), what should we use now?

Maybe that's a rabbit hole that's not worth exploring...

I suppose it wouldn't hurt to show that. I looked at the '81 manual in addition to the '85 today, but I didn't spot any differences. Anyway, I'll look again tomorrow.

Also, I was hoping for some lively discussion on here about lubricants. For instance, the bit about the ZF5 lube. If I recall correctly, Jim has some thoughts about that. How 'bout the rest of you?

[ArdWrknTrk]

I suppose it wouldn't hurt to show that. I looked at the '81 manual in addition to the '85 today, but I didn't spot any differences. Anyway, I'll look again tomorrow.

Also, I was hoping for some lively discussion on here about lubricants. For instance, the bit about the ZF5 lube. If I recall correctly, Jim has some thoughts about that. How 'bout the rest of you?

I posted on FTE my fill tag from the Zf5-s42 in my truck.

It came from a '89 plow truck that couldn't even be brought to the scrap yard in one piece.

It clearly says "use type H atf"

I flushed out most of the strawberry milkshake and filled it with Royal Purple synchromax.

This last time I put Mercon V and it seems OK but not great.

Zf used to have all the shop manuals and diagnostic bulletins on line but I can't seem to find them after they updated their site a few years back.

They listed a WIDE range of acceptable fluids depending mostly on climate.

[Gary Lewis]

I posted on FTE my fill tag from the Zf5-s42 in my truck.

It came from a '89 plow truck that couldn't even be brought to the scrap yard in one piece.

It clearly says "use type H atf"

I flushed out most of the strawberry milkshake and filled it with Royal Purple synchromax.

This last time I put Mercon V and it seems OK but not great.

Zf used to have all the shop manuals and diagnostic bulletins on line but I can't seem to find them after they updated their site a few years back.

They listed a WIDE range of acceptable fluids depending mostly on climate.

Jim - As shown on the Lubricant Specification page, that's what my ZF5 says as well. But I was curious what Type H is/was and did some research, which I wrote up on the Evolving Specifications tab.

Please take a look at that as see if you agree. What I'm hoping to do is to help us understand what we should really be using in our transmissions, differentials, transfer cases, etc. In other words, we have antiquated specs on one tab, but since that stuff is no longer available what should we use? Make sense?

[Ford F834]

I've started on the page: Specifications/Lubricant Specifications.

My process was to scan the 1985 manual's pages into a PDF and then OCR it so I had actual characters rather than pictures of characters. Then I created the table and copied/pasted the text into it. Hopefully I didn't make any errors. But, this way there are actual characters on the page, and Google can find those where it can't find "C6AZ-19580-E" in a picture. That way people searching for the info can find it.

And, now to start on adding the ZF5 info as well as the NP203 info. Then to move on to writing up what you'll actually find on the shelf as many of the Ford spec's have been superseded.

1989 F-series owner manual, includes the ZF-5 and E4OD

[Gary Lewis]

1989 F-series owner manual, includes the ZF-5 and E4OD

If those were a little higher quality I could convert them to PDF and OCR them. But, I could still just write the stuff down.

And, good idea to include the quantities. I need to do that on the other stuff.

[Ford F834]

If those were a little higher quality I could convert them to PDF and OCR them. But, I could still just write the stuff down.

And, good idea to include the quantities. I need to do that on the other stuff.

Gary, I just grabbed those shots real quick to capture the ZF and E4OD that some folks may be converting to. If you want actual scans for ocr I can do that, or if the whole manual would be useful I can mail it to you. There was another page on coolant capacities but I figured the 1985 manual would be more accurate for us. Anyway, there are a few goodies in it, including the fluid type and capacity for the D60 moonbeam front axle that might not be in the 1985 book...

[Gary Lewis]

Gary, I just grabbed those shots real quick to capture the ZF and E4OD that some folks may be converting to. If you want actual scans for ocr I can do that, or if the whole manual would be useful I can mail it to you. There was another page on coolant capacities but I figured the 1985 manual would be more accurate for us. Anyway, there are a few goodies in it, including the fluid type and capacity for the D60 moonbeam front axle that might not be in the 1985 book...

I’m of three minds on how to present the information. I really want it to be definitive, not the opinions that so many other places have. So, I like having the actual page from the owner’s manual available. But, none of the Bullnose ones include the ZF. So, do we include the whole of the 89’s lubrication schedule? Or just add it to the ‘85 manual?

[ctubutis]

I’m of three minds on how to present the information. I really want it to be definitive, not the opinions that so many other places have. So, I like having the actual page from the owner’s manual available. But, none of the Bullnose ones include the ZF. So, do we include the whole of the 89’s lubrication schedule? Or just add it to the ‘85 manual?

I guess if it were me, I would include as much reasonable information from the 89 as I could, if only for contextual information.

[Gary Lewis]

I guess if it were me, I would include as much reasonable information from the 89 as I could, if only for contextual information.

Include it in what way is the question. Add it to the 1985 info? Include the whole 1989 lubricants section?

I guess what I’m thinking is to not say the table I have is directly from the 1985 manual, but to say it is compiled from several of Ford’s owner’s manuals. Then include links to download that portion of the appropriate manuals to prove it.

Does that make sense?

[Ford F834]

Include it in what way is the question. Add it to the 1985 info? Include the whole 1989 lubricants section?

I guess what I’m thinking is to not say the table I have is directly from the 1985 manual, but to say it is compiled from several of Ford’s owner’s manuals. Then include links to download that portion of the appropriate manuals to prove it.

Does that make sense?

Gary, I like your approach to documentation with scanned original pages available to back up the data. I do not think the entire 1989 manual would be of much benefit unless the scope of the website was widened to include other body styles. But I can see bullnose owners running ZF, E4OD, BW1356, or say a serpentine belt EFI engine from a 8th or 9th generation truck.

So a couple ideas on how to capture this would be to build a comprehensive table that includes the ZF etc., and for each line item include a button or link for "source". In most cases this would link straight to the applicable 1985 page, but for the ZF etc., it would link to the pertinent 1989 page.

A little more simple approach might be to present the 1985 table as it appears in the manual, with a link to the original scan. Then make a separate table as an appendix of common upgrades or "parts of interest to bullnose owners" and link just the relevant pages out of the 1989 manual.

Does the 1985 manual seem to capture all the possible transmissions, transfer cases and axles? Do we need any other manuals? I mentioned the D60 mono ocean that may or may not be in the 1985 manual, but were there more transfer case options earlier that might not be in the 1985 book? Especially regarding capacities? I will keep my eye out for more owners manuals on pre 1980 trucks...