XJ8/XK8 & XJR/XKR gearbox oil change
Discussion
In this months JEC Magazine there is an article on changing the oil on the XJ8 / XK8
In next months Magazine they will be doing the article on an oil change on the XJR / XKR
If you are not a member to get the magazine join here http://www.jaguar-enthusiasts.org.uk/register.html
In next months Magazine they will be doing the article on an oil change on the XJR / XKR
If you are not a member to get the magazine join here http://www.jaguar-enthusiasts.org.uk/register.html
Intresting point about the cost of the Esso oil though.
I bought 20 ltr of the reccomended oil from Trachem (www.oil-store.co.uk) for £41+VAT a couple of years ago - it's now gone up to nearly £100 from the same supplier.
Amsoil manufacture a fully synthetic ATF sold in the US aimed at BMW and VAG markets that they claim is a suitable substitute. Curently looking into this but wondering if the oil is changed on a regular - say 30k or so - if the Esso long life lube oil is really necessary. Perhaps you could use a normal Dexron 3 spec oil instead?
I bought 20 ltr of the reccomended oil from Trachem (www.oil-store.co.uk) for £41+VAT a couple of years ago - it's now gone up to nearly £100 from the same supplier.
Amsoil manufacture a fully synthetic ATF sold in the US aimed at BMW and VAG markets that they claim is a suitable substitute. Curently looking into this but wondering if the oil is changed on a regular - say 30k or so - if the Esso long life lube oil is really necessary. Perhaps you could use a normal Dexron 3 spec oil instead?
Jaguar steve said:
groomi said:
Ooh, might be time to rejoin the JEC. 
That'll be cheaper than a new gearbox....
Reading the JEC article, it strikes me that there is a market for some sort of electric pump that can get the oil out of the can and into the box quickly, but under control i.e. you have a swirtch in your hand to stop the pump just as the oil pours back out of the filler plug. the article stresses that topping up especially has to be done quickly before heat expansion of the oil alters the level. Just imagine your pride and joy on 4 axle stands (4 Ramps preferably - level of course) you underneath and your other half inside, engine running jiggling the 'box between "R" & "D". You are flat on back, trying to get the oil in to the correct level in less than a minute (as per the article). Hmmmmmm! Glad I have the old ZF 4 speeders!!!
Ant takers then? I'm sure that the JEC would wish to supply a suitable bit of kit for this job!!
Ant takers then? I'm sure that the JEC would wish to supply a suitable bit of kit for this job!!
groomi said:
Jaguar steve said:
groomi said:
Ooh, might be time to rejoin the JEC.
That'll be cheaper than a new gearbox....Just when you think it's finally sorted, somthing else goes wrong.
Barstards
Jaguar steve said:
groomi said:
Jaguar steve said:
groomi said:
Ooh, might be time to rejoin the JEC.
That'll be cheaper than a new gearbox....Just when you think it's finally sorted, somthing else goes wrong.
Barstards
groomi said:
Jaguar steve said:
groomi said:
Jaguar steve said:
groomi said:
Ooh, might be time to rejoin the JEC.
That'll be cheaper than a new gearbox....Just when you think it's finally sorted, somthing else goes wrong.
Barstards
plasticpig said:
It intrestinay that the XKR MB box is sealed for life according to Jaguar. Yet MB say change oil every 80000 miles. Having seen pictures of the what comes out after 80k I can see why MB recommend it.
I'd change the transmission oil at 30,000 mile intervals if possible.Anecdotally - changing oil far sooner than recommended makes an amazing difference to longevity of all components, and is so much cheaper than replacing them.
As an example US vehicles on 3000 mile engine oil change intervals seem to have their powertrains last 150,000 to 200,000 miles; whereas the same vehicles in Europe running 10,000 mile oil change intervals struggle to make it past 100,000 miles. Of course, US lubricant & labour prices are a lot cheaper, so it helps make the cost more palatable.
GavinPearson said:
plasticpig said:
It intrestinay that the XKR MB box is sealed for life according to Jaguar. Yet MB say change oil every 80000 miles. Having seen pictures of the what comes out after 80k I can see why MB recommend it.
I'd change the transmission oil at 30,000 mile intervals if possible.Anecdotally - changing oil far sooner than recommended makes an amazing difference to longevity of all components, and is so much cheaper than replacing them.
As an example US vehicles on 3000 mile engine oil change intervals seem to have their powertrains last 150,000 to 200,000 miles; whereas the same vehicles in Europe running 10,000 mile oil change intervals struggle to make it past 100,000 miles. Of course, US lubricant & labour prices are a lot cheaper, so it helps make the cost more palatable.
It seems to me that service requirements and intervals have been cut down so much in order to reduce the perceived cost of ownership when new that older cars with a few miles are really suffering.
Not just from major failures which cost thousands to fix but also chronic wear - rumbly diffs, rough transmissions and harsh engines that have lost the smoothness they had when new.
IMO this is a triumph of Marketing over Engineering. No way has oil and component manufacturing technology improved so much as to make gearbox and diferential changes redundant by introducing a "sealed for life" maintainence policy, and it's only once the damage is done usually through lubrication failure that most people realise it's a Very Bad Idea.
Of course this policy is a win - win for the manufacturer. Not only do they have a competitive edge in the showroom by offering a lower maintainence bill, but also get to manufacture a increase in workshop jobs and parts sales when the undermaintained and prematurely worn out car starts to fall to bits a few years on.
All very well if you're running a old banger - you just chuck it away and buy another, but if you've invested a lot of cash in a nice car, one you want to keep, take some pride in and enjoy driving then you're stuffed when it starts to cost a fortune through inadequate maintainence.
Jaguar's policy of 10k servicing, and lack of essential maintainence really is bad news.
IMO it's worth sticking to at least the older X300 service routine and changing the engine oil and filter every 5k or so. Oil is cheap..replacement parts aren't
Rant over...sorry
A very valid rant IMHO!!! My toys cover 2.5 - 3k a year each. Engine oil is changed every year using quality semi-synthetic oil. Gearbox ATF, Diff oil every 3 years, Brake fluid every 2 and the coolant (using quality long life anti-freeze) every 3 maximum. That said, I usually find that something needs doing that dictates a change earlier. For instance, a small fluid leak from the power steering pump dictated a new one along with a new HP hose (the old one was chaffing against a bracket) dictated a fluid change within the system!
Jaguar steve said:
.... Perhaps you could use a normal Dexron 3 spec oil instead?
Thats exactly what my G'box specialist recommended. The original stuff was just designed to last so much longer so they could sell it as a "sealed for life specification" - when in fact that probably really means a few years ( or at least until the warranty had expired! 
) If you think about the physics of it all, the oil will be very 'used' after 10years Mine is a 11yr old XK8 with 92k mls. Just had a G'box service done on it by BK Transmissions, Andover and as BK says, Dexron III is what ZF put in in other configurations. He says it will good for about 5 years. Having seen the state of the filter, I shall certainly be doing this as regular maintenenace from now on. The Box was as smooth as ever with Dexron III and in fact, the stationary changes into D and R were much improved.
Some Pics
OLD OIL
OIL COAGULATING(is that the right word?) IN BOTTOM OF SUMP
OLD FILTER
NEW FILTER
CLEANED SUMP WITH NEW GASKET
If you have a old 'sealed for life' G'box then I would recommend you have a service carried out.
Rgds
Simon
Just been looking into substitue oil a bit further.
Morris lubricants tech. advice is that their Liquimatic Super ATF - basically a good quality semi synthetic Dexron 3 is a suitable replacement, so if that's OK and as it's compatable with all other ATF then it suggests any Dexron 3 ATF will be OK.
No mention made 'tho about extended service life, but if you're planning to change it every 20/30k that hardly matters.
Waiting to hear what the Opie oilman says. He stocks Amsoil ATF which is another suggested replacement
Morris lubricants tech. advice is that their Liquimatic Super ATF - basically a good quality semi synthetic Dexron 3 is a suitable replacement, so if that's OK and as it's compatable with all other ATF then it suggests any Dexron 3 ATF will be OK.
No mention made 'tho about extended service life, but if you're planning to change it every 20/30k that hardly matters.
Waiting to hear what the Opie oilman says. He stocks Amsoil ATF which is another suggested replacement
black1 said:
simon have you got a contact number for bk ?
Sure, his name is Bill Knight and he seems to know his stuff. Dont let the premises put you off though, its a small unit tucked at the back of Overton Railway Station to the east of Andover. You can get to it off the Micheldever Turn-off on the A303.
Edited to add: Mods. Apologies if this breaks the advertising rules
Edited by robocop on Sunday 3rd February 12:37
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