ZF Transmission Fluid (V Drive)

[NHarp1]

Anyone understand why Tige uses SAE 30 oil in the ZF 45 Transmission and V Drive (Marine Propulsion Systems) when the ZF owners manual recommends ATF?
I called the ZF Manufacture and they recommed replacing the oil with Dextron III ATF.
I called Tige and they say they use SAE 30. What's up with this?

[chpthril]

Anyone understand why Tige uses SAE 30 oil in the ZF 45 Transmission and V Drive (Marine Propulsion Systems) when the ZF owners manual recommends ATF?
I called the ZF Manufacture and they recommed replacing the oil with Dextron III ATF.
I called Tige and they say they use SAE 30. What's up with this?

Have you actually verified what fluid is in which unit? The V-drive and transmission are 2 separate units supplied by 2 different manufacturers. The recommended fluid in the V-drive is 30W non-detergent oil, and the trans takes Dexron 3 trans fluid. I've PDI'd/rigged a few 08's and they all had the proper fluids.

[NHarp1]

I am looking at the ZF 45 IV manual. It appears to have 2 chambers. The part closest to the engine is the transmission and the smaller part is the V drive. The Z1 dipstick reflects same color liquid; SAE 30 oil; nothing red about it.

[chpthril]

Well, I guess Tige has switch to a single piece unit like some of the other towboats. Looks like they switched for the 07 model year (can someone confirm this?) and I guess I just didn't notice . My 06 has the B/W Velvet trans and the Walter V-drive, as I described in my OP. Trans uses ATF, V uses 30W.

If ZF says the transmission portion of the unit uses ATF, then I dont see a reason not to switch.

[EZ-DZ]

Yeah I think Tige went to that little zf vdrive in 2006 to save $. Too bad as my Walters has been 100% reliable. I'm sick and tired of all these cheap foreign made parts on these boats. Its time for Tige to support US companys so that the jobs stay in the U.S. or it won't be long until no one will have enough money to buy a new boat !!!