"Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen" (Germany, Friedrichshafen, hereinafter - ZF) is one of the largest and most influential companies in Europe for the production of transmissions and power units for vehicles. The company has created a classification system for all types of motor vehicle transmissions. Each type has its own list of lubricants.
These lists are designated by initials and numbers from ZF TE-ML 01 to ZF TE-ML 14. The lists for each type of transmission list:
- types and quality classes of lubricants,
- viscosity grades,
- products approved for use with indication of brand and manufacturer.
European oil manufacturers are trying to get ZF approval. This classification system is becoming the main one in Europe.
Classification of transmission oils used in ZF units
| ZF LUBRICANTS LIST | PURPOSE (UNITS AND ASSEMBLIES) |
| ZF TE-ML 01 | Mechanical non-synchronized gearboxes with constant mesh gears (commercial vehicles) |
| ZF TE-ML 02 | Mechanical and automatic transmissions for trucks and buses |
| ZF TE-ML 03 | Gearboxes with torque converters for off-road mobile equipment (construction and special equipment, forklifts, etc.) |
| ZF TE-ML 04 | Marine transmissions |
| ZF TE-ML 05 | Drive axles for off-road mobile equipment |
| ZF TE-ML 06 | Transmission and hydraulic systems of tractors |
| ZF TE-ML 07 | Hydrostatic and mechanical drive transmissions, electric drive systems |
| ZF TE-ML 08 | Steering systems (without hydraulic booster) for cars, trucks, buses and off-road mobile equipment |
| ZF TE-ML 09 | Steering systems (with hydraulic booster and oil pump) of cars, trucks, buses and off-road mobile equipment |
| ZF TE-ML 10 | Transmatic type gearboxes for passenger cars and commercial vehicles |
| ZF TE-ML 11 | Manual and automatic transmissions of passenger cars |
| ZF TE-ML 12 | Drive axles of passenger cars, commercial vehicles and buses |
| ZF TE-ML 13 | ZF units in special purpose vehicles |
| ZF TE-ML 14 | Automatic transmissions for commercial vehicles |
| ZF TE-ML 15 | Brake systems of special purpose vehicles |
ZF TE-ML 01:
Purpose: mechanical non-synchronized gearboxes of commercial vehicles with engagement of all gears using toothed clutches.
When using multifunctional transmission oils, the base oil should contain no more than 2% of soluble additives (viscosity index modifier, pour point depressant, etc.) in addition to extreme pressure (EP) additives.
ZF TE-ML 02:
Purpose: Mechanical and automatic transmissions of trucks and buses: Ecolite, Ecomid, Ecosplit, Transmatic, AC TRONIC.
Approved classes ZF TE-ML 02 :
- ZF TE-ML 02A — Gear oils, API GL-4, MIL-L-2105 classes; viscosity SAE 80W / 80W-85 / 80W-90;
- ZF TE-ML 02B — gear oils that meet the requirements of the ZFN 13019 Concern standard; viscosity SAE 80W / 80W-85 / 80W-90 / 75W-80 / 75W-85 / 75W-90;
- ZF TE-ML 02C - seasonal motor oils that meet the requirements of the ZFN 13020 concern standard; viscosity SAE 30/40;
- ZF TE-ML 02D — gear oils that meet the requirements of the ZFN 13010 Concern standard (semi-synthetic or synthetic base oil); viscosity SAE 75W-80 / 75W-85 / 75W-90;
- ZF TE-ML 02F — automatic transmission fluids (ATF) that meet the requirements of the ZFN 13015 Concern standard and special requirements;
ZF TE-ML 102 “Long Drain” (project):
Purpose: like ZF TE-ML 102 , only the oil is additionally checked for an extended replacement interval of up to 300,000 km.
ZF TE-ML 03:
Purpose: hydraulic transformers (torque converter, Wandlergetriebe) of mobile work machines
ZF TE-ML 04:
Purpose: Marine transmissions.
ZF TE-ML 05:
Purpose: Drive axles of off-road mobile equipment.
Approved classes of ZF TE-ML 05:
- ZF TE-ML 05A — gear oils that meet the requirements of the ZFN 13011 Concern standard (mineral or semi-synthetic base oil); viscosity SAE 75W-90 / 75W-140 / 80W-90 / 80W-140 / 85W-90 / 85W140 / 90;
- ZF TE-ML 05B — gear oils that meet the requirements of the ZFN 13011 Concern standard (synthetic base oil); viscosity SAE 75W-90 / 75W-140;
- ZF TE-ML 05D — gear oils that meet the requirements of the ZFN 13011 Concern standard, with limited slip additives (synthetic base oil); viscosity SAE 75W-90 / 75W-140;
ZF TE-ML 06:
Purpose: Transmission and hydraulic mounted systems of tractors.
Approved classes of ZF TE-ML 06:
- ZF TE-ML 06A — motor oils (API CD/CE/CF-4/CF/CG-4/SF/SG/SH/SJ or ACEA categories A/B/E);
- ZF TE-ML 06B — “super-universal” tractor oils (STOU), meeting the requirements of the ZFN 13022 Concern standard (brake test); viscosity SAE 10W-30 / 10W-40 / 15w-30 / 15w-40 / 20w-40;
- ZF TE-ML 06C — “super-universal” tractor oils (STOU), meeting the requirements of the ZFN 13022 Concern standard (brake test); viscosity SAE 10W-30 / 10W-40 / 15W-30 / 15W-40 / 20W-40;
ZF TE-ML 07:
Purpose: hydrostatic or mechanical drives, electric drive systems: transmissions switched under load, mobile mixer drivers, transmissions of lifting mechanisms, drives of rotary mechanisms.
Approved classes of ZF TE-ML 07:
- ZF TE-ML 07A — gear oils that meet the requirements of the ZFN13016 Concern standard; viscosity SAE 80W-85 / 80W-90 / 80W-140 / 85W-90 / 85W-140 / 90; along with these oils, oils according to the API GL-5 and MIL-L-2105D or MIL-PRF-2105E specifications, viscosity SAE 80W-85 / 80W-90 / 80W-140 / 85W-90 / 85W-140 / 90 are allowed for use;
- ZF TE-ML 07B — “super-universal” tractor oils (STOU), meeting the requirements of the ZFN 13022 Concern standard; viscosity SAE 10W-30 / 10W-40 / 15W-30 / 15W-40 / 20W-40;
- ZF TE-ML 07C — motor oils that meet the requirements of the ZFN 13012 Concern standard; viscosity SAE 10W-30 / 10W-40 / 15W-30 / 15W-40;
- ZF TE-ML 07D — API CD/CE/CF/-4/CF/CG-4/SF/SG/SH/SJ or ACEA category A/B/E motor oils;
ZF TE-ML 08:
Purpose: ZF steering systems (without power steering) for passenger cars, trucks, buses and off-road vehicles.
ZF TE-ML 09:
Purpose: ZF steering systems (with hydraulic booster and oil pump) for passenger cars, trucks, buses and off-road mobile equipment.
Approved classes of ZF TE-ML 09:
- ZF TE-ML 09A — automatic transmission fluids (ATF);
- ZF TE-ML 09B — automatic transmission fluids (ATF);
ZF TE-ML 10:
Purpose: Transmatic type mechanisms for passenger cars and commercial vehicles (with a torque converter with a locking friction clutch WSK (English: torque converter lock-up clutch, German: Wandlerschltkupplung)).
ZF TE-ML 11:
Purpose: manual and automatic transmissions of passenger cars.
Approved classes of ZF TE-ML 11:
- ZF TE-ML 11A — automatic transmission fluids (ATF);
- ZF TE-ML 11B — automatic transmission fluids (ATF);
ZF TE-ML 12:
Purpose: bridges of passenger and commercial vehicles and buses.
Approved classes of ZF TE-ML 12:
- ZF TE-ML 12A — mineral or semi-synthetic gear oils that meet the requirements of the ZFN 13016 Concern standard; viscosity SAE 75W-90 / 75W-140 / 80W-90 / 80W-140 / 85W-90 / 85W-140 / 90;
- ZF TE-ML 12B - synthetic gear oils that meet the requirements of the ZFN 13016 Concern standard; viscosity SAE 75W-90 / 75W-140;
- ZF TE-ML 12C — mineral gear oils that meet the requirements of the ZFN 13016 Concern standard with limited slip additives; viscosity SAE 75W-90 / 75W-140 / 80W-90 / 80W-140 / 85W-90 / 85W-140 / 90;
- ZF TE-ML 12D — synthetic gear oils that meet the requirements of the ZFN 13016 Concern standard with limited slip additives; viscosity SAE 75W-90 / 75W140;
ZF TE-ML 13:
Purpose: ZF units in NATO special vehicles (wheeled and tracked vehicles).
ZF TE-ML 14:
Purpose: automatic transmissions of commercial vehicles (Ecomat)
Approved classes of ZF TE-ML 14:
- ZF TE-ML 14A - automatic transmission fluids (ATF) based on mineral base oil, meeting the requirements of the ZFN 13015 Concern standard;
- ZF TE-ML 14B — automatic transmission fluids (ATF) based on semi-synthetic base oil, meeting the requirements of the ZFN 13015 Concern standard;
- ZF TE-ML 14C - automatic transmission fluids (ATF) based on synthetic base oil, meeting the requirements of the ZFN 13015 Concern standard;
Recommended alternative oils from the range of oils for passenger cars:
- ZF TE-ML 14D - automatic transmission fluids (ATF) based on mineral base oil, meeting the requirements of the ZFN 13015 Concern standard;
ZF TE-ML 15:
Purpose: braking systems of NATO special vehicles.