BEST ENGINE OIL FOR 99 DAIMLER V8 Please?

[TAIPAN]

So, on Saturday my Daimler will finally go into workshop for service & MOT. This will be its first visit since i bought it 5 months ago and i have made a short list of jobs to begin with:

1) ENGINE OIL & FILTER - best oil?
2) GEARBOX OIL & FILTER
3) MOT
4) INSPECTION OF TIMING CHAIN, TENSIONERS, PULLEYS & WATER PUMP ( if top tensioner is orange plastic will need changing for metal gen 3 )
5) INVESTIGATE LEAK FROM LOWER STEERING RACK

No doubt there will be plenty added to this as the work gets underway, but grateful for recommendations regarding engine oil, and any other checks/jobs that i should have done

Many thanks !

[Andy P]

Hi T,
You should be o.k with a good quality semi synth 5w40 that's what I use and have no problems.
You don't have air filter,fuel filter or spark-plugs on your check list.
Depends how thorough you want to be but your list covers the main parts o.k.
Lists can go on for ever with things to do.
I have a service sheet for the X308(courtesy of RichardSel of the forum),if you P.M. me your email address I will gladly send you it.
How about some photo's of your pride and joy so we can all enjoy her.
Have fun.
Andy

[ptjs1]

Taipan,

IMO, you definitely want a 5w/30 as per Jaguar recommendation. Look in your handbook for the oil spec. I always ran full synthetic in my XJ8 as I believe do most owners but some feel semi-synthetic is ok. You'll get as many opinions as we have members!

Good luck

Paul

[J44EAG]

Anything supercharged is best on fully synthetic. Note supercharger oil change at each and every 60k service interval. In my own experience, diff oil should be changed at a similar interval. Leave it longer and the lubricant falls to pieces. Again, 60k oil and filter changes for the gearbox. Disbelieve at your peril.

5w30 is suitable.

I agree fully with views expressed by PTJS1.

Oil change service at early intervals is paramount. Keep the lubricant fresh and you won`t go far wrong.

Mike K.

[TAIPAN]

thank you all for your kind replies and information shared. ajp - i have pmed you regarding the service list, thanks again !
filters will be renewed during the service,athough i hadnt considered spark plugs or diff oil, what typ plugs are recommended / best for my car? i should add that it is non a supercharged Daimler V8. in terms of the engine oil i was advised to check on the castrol website, this has recommended castrol edge ow40, what are your thoughts, experiences please?

( i will upload a pic when i wok out how to do it )

[Andy P]

Hi T,
No P.M. received yet have another go.
Re engine oil 5w30 or 5w40 for the UK is fine.
Provided that the oil grade matches
ACEA A3-98
API SJ/EC
ACEA A1-98
As stated in the handbook you're good to go.
Bottom line, make sure the spec is right and you'll be ok.
Take Care.
Andy

[TAIPAN]

Hi Andy

ive tried to send the pm again to you as it was sitting in the outbox for reasons i cant quite fathom

thanks

Steve

[Andy P]

Hi T,
Still no P.M. yet.
I will send you one with my email address and then you can email me.
Here's a link to Opie Oils to give you a perspective on the vast range of oils available,
http://www.opieoils.co.uk/c-2354-lookup ... ilter=1999
I've found the more you research the more confusing the choice becomes.
Mike K and Paul know what their on about and have a lot more knowledge with Jaguar's and Daimler's than myself so their advice is not to be ignored,I shall try 5w30 myself next time and see if there is any noticeable difference .
Have Fun and enjoy your car's.
Andy

[robv12]

yep I agree with Mile and Paul, 5/30 fully synthetic only, I have seen the damage the wrong oils will cause to these engines, not nice

[davidr]

ive tried to send the pm again to you as it was sitting in the outbox for reasons i cant quite fathom

Steve - your message will stay in your outbox until Andy reads it. There is also a limit on the number of messages that can be in your inbox and outbox (50) so if Andy has exceeded that it may be why he can't see your message. If so, you'll need to go in and delete a few old ones.
Hope that helps
David

[TAIPAN]

thanks guys for your help, Andy i have emailed you and sorry i couldnt get the PM to work;( i will ask my mechanic to use Castrol Edge 5w 30 , also i will be asking him to top up the gearbox with ZX1 plus the usual transmission fluid. Do you use this within the club? it has been highly recommended in the Range Rover P38 club and i have found it a revelation, fabulous product.
please can i ask which spark plugs i should use ?

thank you Steve

[ptjs1]

Steve,

You might want to ring one of the club's paid technical advisers and get their view on ZX1 additive. These ZF gearboxes with their so-called sealed-for-life fluid and really susceptible to having the right oil. As I'm sure you know, these gearboxes don't just use ATF like a P38 and the reason why the original Esso LT71141 fluid used to be £26 per litre. Personally, I wouldn't put anything in an x308 box except the right fluid. Just my opinion.

Cheers

Paul

[TAIPAN]

Paul, thats sound advice, thank you. i have only the xoperience from my P38 to go on with this. So, is this ESSO atf the one to use? just want to get everything right for mymechanic on Saturday...also after recommendation for best spark plugs please

thank you

[ptjs1]

Steve,

Is your mechanic ok and knowledgeable about doing a fluid change on an x308? It's not like an old box with ATF. You need to be filling it and level checking using a temperature sensor. Fluid level fill and check needs to be done at a specific temperature and you need to source the correct fluid. I can't remember the plug type but if no-one comes back to you soon, I'll look it up.

Cheers

Paul

[TAIPAN]

Hi Paul

my mechanic is very good, hes done plenty with the Range Rover for me. This will be the first time the Daimler has been to him and i dont know how much experience he has with them, so all information is helpful and very welcome please. Concerning the gearbox fluid change, i had no idea that this special fluid is temperature sensitive. if i tell him and already he knows, then so be it, but id rather tell him than not

thanks Steve