Zeus pods /CMD engines / ZF transmissions

[mann0725]

Anyone pull oil samples regularly and have it tested? I am in the process of buying a new (new to me) boat. I'm looking at boats with the zeus pods and have had a surveyor pull oil (transmission fluid) samples from the ZF transmissions in two different boats. Both came back with very high copper levels in the transmission fluid. The first boat with135 hours had 710 & 520 ppm of copper in the respective transmissions. The second boat with 100 hours, came back with 310 & 420 ppm. Never saw the service records on the first boat but have seen the records on the second boat. The second boat just shows that the 25 hour service was completed on the "Zeus drives". just not sure if the Zeus pods with the ZF transmissions have been around long enough to show their true colors! Anyone have problems?

Thanks,

 

[Asureyez]

Transmissions are a closed system so not much comes in from the outside. Possible contamination from the oil drain pump, where the tranny oil was drained, then the engines, then the tranny's refilled first, that will flush in a pin tor so of old engine oil in to the tranny. Not good hygiene.

Other than that, copper is in bearings & bushings. If all other metals are in the goof zone and only copper is high, It's time t talk to ZF.

So what would I do? Absent a really good explanation from ZF, I'd walk the boat.

 

[trit21]

I got this from an oil analysis company, this is a common occurrence with oil samples from what I understand.

Q: My sample has a high copper number. Where is it coming from?

A: If only the copper is high, but no other metals such as lead, tin, or aluminum are elevated, it is mostly an oxide of copper from the oil cooler. As the oil cooler is exposed to the heat from the engine oil, it can sometimes oxidize the copper, which will show up in the analysis report. This is considered a normal condition and no corrective action is required. This process usually will taper off or stop occurring over time.

 

[fwebster]

Could be the oil coolers, but the clutch pack in ZF transmissions are an alloy containing copper. Clutches are designed to wear, so you are going to get elevated Cu readings. The real value of oil sampling is to spot trends in wear metals or contaminants. Run it by ZF, but I've never found them to be particularly helpful. Their usual answer is either No, or ask one of our dealers.

 

[carterchapman]

I had high copper readings in both my transmissions on this year's samples (first ones taken). 225 hours using Dexron VI full synthetic fluid for the last 50. I changed fluids to non-synthetic Dexron III and will sample again this fall...

 

[mann0725]

Thanks for all the info! I have talked to ZF and the are telling me that if only the copper numbers are high it is not a problem.

 

[fwebster]

Did they tell you why?

 

[mann0725]

They did not say why the copper level were that high. They did say that they have a "list" of what they would consider to be normal levels of metal in the oil samples. I have asked for a copy of that list but have not seen anything yet!

I have also now been contacted by Sea Ray and they are looking at the oil sample results and said they would be talking to ZF. We will see if we get the same answer........