XJ8 (X308) gearbox oil change?

[sparky35uk]

Hi all,

Just thinking that with 66,000 on the clock, it might be a good time to have a gearbox oil & filter change soon.

I was wondering if anyone knew of a local indy near me (Redditch) that could do this for a reasonable fee? I have done this job myself in the past, but not sure whether I should entrust it to a garage? or have another go myself!

Cheers Guys.

[P700DEE]

You need to keep the car level to re-fill and it has to be started. Can be done DIY but not easy. Do not let Main dealer do it as the price of the oil is very high.

[GavinPearson]

sparky35uk said:

Hi all,

Just thinking that with 66,000 on the clock, it might be a good time to have a gearbox oil & filter change soon.

I was wondering if anyone knew of a local indy near me (Redditch) that could do this for a reasonable fee? I have done this job myself in the past, but not sure whether I should entrust it to a garage? or have another go myself!

Cheers Guys.

It is a good idea to get the oil and filter changed and I would give the job to a garage because it is very difficult to do the job right without a ramp (sadly).

The oil is stratosperically expensive. You need to use Esso LT71141 - no substitutes are acceptable.

The good news is that BMW, VW/Audi, Jag and Land Rover dealers all bottle it themselves in their own bottles as well so you can shop around for it. I would shop for it on Ebay. I bought some for my car and it was $18 / litre from a VW dealer after the discount. I don't know what the price in the UK is but I think that was cheap.

Good luck.

[sparky35uk]

Cheers Gavin,

I have bought some Esso oil before and found NorthWilts Lubricants to be the cheapest here. I paid about £5.80/litre last year for some.
I quite agree, only to use the correct fluid, sometimes you just can't substitute for alternatives and this is one of those times!

[Zippyworld]

Hi

Speak to Guy at Opie Oils about oil supply if you need it. There is an alternative beside the Esso referred to earlier in the thread.

Google Opie Oils and they are also a PH sponsor I believe. There is a thread on here in general gassing i recall

I just got mine done by an Indy in Knutsford, which is no use, but the oil was very reasonably priced and are correct according to the Opie Oils database.

Hope this helps

[GavinPearson]

Zippyworld said:

Hi

Speak to Guy at Opie Oils about oil supply if you need it. There is an alternative beside the Esso referred to earlier in the thread.

Google Opie Oils and they are also a PH sponsor I believe. There is a thread on here in general gassing i recall

I just got mine done by an Indy in Knutsford, which is no use, but the oil was very reasonably priced and are correct according to the Opie Oils database.

Hope this helps

There are a number of oils that claim to be substitutes for Esso LT 71141.

There is however no substitute for the real thing. It can come in a BMW bottle, or a Jag Bottle, or an Audi one, or an Esso one if you can find it, but given a choice of that or a universal oil that claims compatibility I'll choose the real thing.

[G_T]

Is Esso LT 71141 the same oil used in the XKR/XJR boxes?

[a8hex]

G_T said:

Is Esso LT 71141 the same oil used in the XKR/XJR boxes?

That probably depends on which one you have. The 4.0SC engines use the MB box. The 4.2s use the 6speed ZF box.

[G_T]

a8hex said:

G_T said:

Is Esso LT 71141 the same oil used in the XKR/XJR boxes?

That probably depends on which one you have. The 4.0SC engines use the MB box. The 4.2s use the 6speed ZF box.

So the Merc box is LT 71141 then?

[sliced bread]

G_T said:

So the Merc box is LT 71141 then?

No, the Merc box uses a Shell/Merc ATF.

[G_T]

sliced bread said:

G_T said:

So the Merc box is LT 71141 then?

No, the Merc box uses a Shell/Merc ATF.

Ah right. Ta.

[a8hex]

G_T said:

a8hex said:

G_T said:

Is Esso LT 71141 the same oil used in the XKR/XJR boxes?

That probably depends on which one you have. The 4.0SC engines use the MB box. The 4.2s use the 6speed ZF box.

So the Merc box is LT 71141 then?

I'm sorry, I have no idea. But I expect that they take different fluids.
I think the suggestion was that the ZF box using the Esso oil, since that is the box that is also used by BWM and Audi.

[G_T]

No worries! It was just curiosity anyway...

[saxon]

Can anyone give me an idea how much to expect to pay for this and recommend anywhere to get it done in Surrey/West Sussex?

Thanks,

Saxon

[Jaguar steve]

I've been quoted just under £200 all in by my local independent - considering the cost of the oil and the aggravation involved in getting the level right and the awkward access he's welcome to do it at that price.

[G_T]

Jaguar steve said:

I've been quoted just under £200 all in by my local independent - considering the cost of the oil and the aggravation involved in getting the level right and the awkward access he's welcome to do it at that price.

I was quoted £60 by some chap local yesterday. I pointed out the fact the oil is normally £110 and he just said "no no it's not that expensive". I also asked if it included a new filter and he said "No no not including a filter that's extra so are the gaskets"...

Won't be trusting him then!

[sparky35uk]

G_T said:

Jaguar steve said:

I've been quoted just under £200 all in by my local independent - considering the cost of the oil and the aggravation involved in getting the level right and the awkward access he's welcome to do it at that price.

I was quoted £60 by some chap local yesterday. I pointed out the fact the oil is normally £110 and he just said "no no it's not that expensive". I also asked if it included a new filter and he said "No no not including a filter that's extra so are the gaskets"...

Won't be trusting him then!

mmmm...sounds like he doesn't know what he's doing then!

Still haven't found anyone near me, but £200 sounds good Steve! Will keep searching....

[sliced bread]

saxon said:

Can anyone give me an idea how much to expect to pay for this and recommend anywhere to get it done in Surrey/West Sussex?

Thanks,

Saxon

I had mine done by Luxton Independent Jaguars at Boxhill, Surrey at an all in cost of £163:- £80 for two hours labour, £50 for 8L Mercedes ATF (supplied by me via eBay) and £33 for filter and gasket.

[Cecil]

I paid around 200GBP at a well known east London independent, this was in Feb 08

[Bandit07]

Hi Sparky, did you find anyone in your area to do the job ? I'm In stratford on Avon and looking for same. Hoping to have a 4.2 shortly and that would be the first job I would be having done.
Cheers,
George