auto box oil change

[WULLIE4567]

Hi Folks
Just wondered if any of you have changed the oil and filter in your XK8's yourselfs yet? I am going to collect the stuff I require to do the job including the oil, oil from ''North Wilts Lubricants''. 5ltr's £29.99 = £6 a ltr, prob got postage on top.
After reading the artical in Feb's 08 JEC mag, it seams not to bad a job, if I can get a pump to replace the fluid quickly. ANYBODY any idea where I may be able to buy such a pump. they mension a garden pump???? it would need to hold a lot of oil at once.

cheers
Wullie .

[mike020150]

If you replace the majority of the fluid before you start the engine the job should be possible using a hand pump with a modest reservoir capacity. Good luck, let us all know how you get on. Mike.

[doug424]

Hello Wullie,
Yes I've changed the gearbox oil and filter myself, and touch wood the car runs just fine.
I purchased the oil from the local Citroen garage as they sell it re-numbered and re-named, but their database calls up the correct oil type number. They also sell it in 2 litre containers at a fraction of the Jaguar price.

The job was reasonably but straight forward, but I'll offer 2 tips;
1) Make sure you have the correct size torx bit to undo the sump bolts before draining out any fluid.
2) When doing the second stage fill, make sure you put back the fill plug BEFORE switching off the engine, otherwise all the oil pours striaight back out.

To get the oil in I used a new oil suction pump, mated to a short section of clear tube and a home made 15mm copper pipe right angle bend tube.

I took various picture as I went along but have not posted them here, drop me a line if you want to see them.

Doug Barrass, Ashford, Kent.

[WULLIE4567]

Mike - Doug
Thanks for you reply Mike & doug, would be good to see pictures Doug, could you post them on this forum we could all have a we look?
Doug could you show us a good picture of your pump, and maybe where I could buy one? how much deb-re did your magnets pick up?

cheers
Wullie.

[doug424]

Hello Wullie and Mike,
I've uploaded some photos under Transmission Oil Change, I hope they're clear enough.
The tool is home made and feel free to copy it. It is made up from a standard oil suction pump with clear tube, jubilee clips and copper pipe from B&Q, it's not hard to make. The suction pump was new so as not to be potentially contaminated with any other fluid.

The transmission fluid I used is Citroen part number C973622, called GA05B oil, it cost in July last year £13.60 +VAT for a 2 litre bottle. The bottle does not carry the LT71141 part number, but if you ask nicely for a print out of the Citroen database entry, the Esso number is quoted. It would be important to satisfy yourself that this is the correct fluid before commiting yourself to buying any.

As you can see (I hope) from the photos there was little debris on the magnets, the odometer reading at the time of change was 97,000 Km.

I know the procedure is supposed to be temperature sensitive, but I used the back of my hand on the gearbox sump to gauge the temperature within. Stage 1 fill is when cold, then start the engine and fill quickly, with the help of an assistant in the car to cycle the transmission. When the sump felt hot, put the fill plug in quickly, trying not to burn your hand on the exhaust, and switch off the engine. Come back and repeat once the sump felt cool/cold.

As a necessary word of caution, this is my procedure and it worked for me. I cannot be responsible for anyone else trying this at home.

Doug Barrass, Ashford, Kent

[mike020150]

Thanks Doug, for some useful practical advice. Let's hope it works as well for others too. Mike. Ps Great photos.

[WULLIE4567]

Doug
Thanks a lot for the info and excellent pictures, . My XK's a June 2000 with 95000 miles full service history. ( with the box never been touched).
Your sump looks fairly clean not a lot of debris left behind, that's a good sign the box is in reasonable condition. I'll be getting the stuff soon to get the job done

thanks again

Wullie. .

[WULLIE4567]

Hi Doug / Mike
Just finished changing the oil and filter on my XK8, I used a pump bought from e bay one that sucks on the way out and pumps the way back in, it's about the size of a large grease gun, same as yours Doug but two way.
I also made up the same pipe as you did Doug, worked very well. The inside of the sump was very clean, magnets were just dirty no bits of metal stuck to them, oil was fairly clean as well, it took 7.5 ltrs in all to refill the box. The car has done 96500 miles.

Cheers
Wullie.

[KevRen]

Hello all!

I'm bracing myself in preparation for doing the autobox oil change on my '98 XK8. I can source the parts OK, but have a few questuions I wonder if you could help me with, please?

1. This thread refers to the article in the Feb 2008 JEC magazine. Unfortunately, I don't have a copy of this and it isn't yet online. Is there anywhere else that I can get hold of the instructions?

2. What is the actual volume of fluid required for a standard, non supercharged 98 'box!?

3. When I contacted my local Jaguar specialist for a quote on the job, they said that they would first take a sample of the fluid and from its condition determine whether to proceed, as disturbing a 'box that is worn may cause more problems than it solves. My box has done 140k with an indication in the service history that it may have had a change at 90k. What do you think is the sensible way forward?

Thank you, yet again, in advance for your help.

Kevin

[mike020150]

Hi Kevin,
1 Have you asked Bristol HQ for a copy of the mag? There might be one there you could buy.
2 The volume drained is not exact because so much liquid remains within the torque convertor and often at home patient waiting can result in a greater volume being drained than is the case in a busy commercial workshop. So, you will probably need between 4 and 6 litres of ATF.
3 There is an excellent article in this month's Xclusively Jaguar (http://www.xclusively-jaguar.co.uk/xj_n ... 01-01.html) newsletter which may help you make up your mind!

Good luck, Mike.

[KevRen]

Hello again!

Got the oil, filter etc and drained the sump. I've loosened 20 sump bolts and of course the 21st has rusted suffieciently to round off when I tried to remove it. I am fairly confident re getting the torx bolt out, but obviously don't want to re-use it, especially as I wish to make gearbox oil change a fairly regular service task. Does anybody know the spec of the bolt so that I can purchase a replacement?

Many thanks

Kevin

[Nik]

Hi Kevin ,
Probably the best source of a bolt is from a Jaguar breakers , they must have the odd suspect box that they can let you have a bolt off ? ,

Hope this helps ,

Nik

[J44EAG]

This might be helpful.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... Yw&cad=rja

This parts listing is for the ZF6HP26-28 transmission.

Page 23 refers. Sump bolt Part Number 03.020, M6x28.5 Items available from ZF or similar from a good fixings supplier.

Mike K

[KevRen]

Thanks very much for those suggestions gents

Nearly there!

Kevin

[KevRen]

Hello all!

Oil out, sump and magnets cleaned - nothing too scary found, new filter fitted. I've got the JEC magazine article instructions for filling which refer to filling the box through the combined level /filler plug, but my box has two identical plugs next to each other Do they serve the same purpose? Does it matter which I use?

Thanks in advance

Kevin