I had a 04 X type that was flooded out a couple of weeks ago. That car's transmission was drained and filled with Castrol Multi Import and Lucas additive many, many times. It served me for 40K miles and the transmission never failed.

I just bought a 05 with 50K miles that is being delivered to me next week and I already bought the Redline 75W140 to have the fluid in the Transfercase and Differential changed, but I was thinking of using something different in the transmission this time. Amsoil or Redline. However, if I drain and refill 6 times (3x6 =18 to 20 quarts) I am looking at a cost of 260 dollars just in Fluid if I go with the Amsoil Signature Series vs 140 dollars for the Castrol I used in my other X type .

Any thoughts on which way to go? I am probably overthinking this, but in the grand scheme of things, 120 more for Amsoil is not a huge amount of its worth it.

I am comfortable with putting either in the car, and i know both will work in the transmission. That's not in question for me. I guess I want to get feedback on if the Amsoil is worth it.

 

No Amsoil product is worth it from a cost point of view, unless value is put on 'it makes me feel better'.

 

I use amsoil in my things i dont service much like diffs, transfere case etc. Oil i just used off the shelf. And i feel much better. You can become a amsoil dist for cheap and get it alot less

 

If what you used in the pass give you no problems and satisfied you and the cost is less, I don't think any reason to spend more money for some thing you have not know. How much longer will it last compare to the old fluid you've used?

 

I'm in my 20th year as an AMSOIL Dealer, so there's that. However I was a car guy before that so I've been used to looking for better tools, fluids, etc. AMSOIL is not as expensive as you think - provided you know about how to buy it. For individuals we have a program available called Preferred Customer. Cost is $20 per year and enables member to buy at wholesale. Top shelf Signature Series Multi-Vehicle ATF that covers the Idemitsu K17 spec is $147.80 (case of 4 one gallon jugs, 16qts) wholesale, which works out to $9.25 per quart before tax and shipping. Other products pictured: 75W-140 gear lube $13.30 for single qts; 0W-40 Euro Formula Oil $7.95 single quarts, $7.53 per qt in case of 12; Oil filter capable of 25,000/1 year life, $13.15. PM me if you'd like more information. You can also look up products for any car and use free online garage at amsoil dot com. P.S. I'm authorized to work with customers in U.S. and Canada only.

 

Swingwing's response to my query on this exact concern =

Idemitsu K17 is the spec you're looking for on the back label or company's data bulletin.

I researched the heck out of this (as my OCD self does) & Castrol IMPORT multi-vehicle ATF meets this spec, not only on their data sheets, but I spoke directly to them & gave them Make, model, year of Jag as well as JATCO 506E transmission and got a long technical assurance this was approved. So at much less cost to do the multiple drain/flush change, I felt confident using the Castrol. You can see the new post yesterday of Transmission Fluid Change w/pics I just completed.
But that's me, if a more expensive type makes you feel more comfortable meeting the same requirements of Idemitsu K17, then go for it. After all if we all had the thoughts of a car is for getting from point A to point B, we'd all drive VW Bugs and not a Cat lmfao!!

 

Signature Series fluid I used is our premium ATF with extended life. For manufacturer recommend drain we offer OE (as in Original Equipment) Multi-Vehicle ATF. Still synthetic, meets the Idemitsu K17 spec (and many others). Wholesale on case 4 x 1 gallon jugs is $102.40, or $6.40 per quart before tax and ship. I think that's very competitive price.
http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produc...T-EA?ZO=506774

 

Thanks everyone for your replies. I went ahead and ordered 24quarts of the multi Import castrol and Lucas. It worked well on my other X and it should work well here. Once I get all the old fluid out I might consider something different

 

Amsoil is deffinately worth the extra cost. The difference is in the material composition. It provides better penetration and lubricating qualities. Its been long known that if you replace all of your drivetrain fluids with Amsoil products, you will see an increase in fuel mileage. This is due to the reduction in friction. Many racing shops I know of out here who beat and abuse engines, as well as companies with large fleets rely on Amsoil. Its pretty ballsy for any oil manufacturer to claim 25k oil changes on one filter, but Amsoil stands behind their products and so do the livery companies I engage with out here. I have seen many limousines and taxis with over 250k still running strong after a life of 25k oil changes. Cant say that about many organic fossil fuel oil types which tend to break down rapidly under heat and pressure.
The only complaint I encounter with Amsoil is with owners who switch to synthetic on a vehicle with over lets say 75k miles on it. Doing that can cause you a rear main seal or oil pan leak. When I buy a vehicle with miles on it and dont know the history, I add Lucas to the synthetic to block the oil leaks from appearing. Works well, and doesnt dilute the oil. Never seen sludge buildup with Lucas as some competitors claim will happen.
On a side note, the X400 is famous for a leaking oil pan. I have always fixed mine with Lucas and not the 8 hour pan gasket procedure. Seems to work fine

 

Well, I got the car today. It has exactly 51K miles. Drove around and shifting was fine, but I did feel something "funny" when slowing down to about first and then accelerating quickly when making a turn, maybe a little jerk, not too sure. . I know these transmissions are very eccentric, but that little episode did disturb me. I tried to see if the car had a problem taking of after a stop and it did not. It seems to get confused if I slow down and then try to speed up very again very quickly. I went home and started the drain and fill process 3 times to begin. Went thru 12 quarts of Castrol transmission fluid and one bottle of Lucas at the end. I drove around the block in between. What came out of that transmission looked like black burnt car oil. Driving it afterward did seem to minimize, if not completely eleiminate that light jerking. Hopefully I don't have a time bomb in my hands .

 

delete.

 

Now that I have I have gone thru 6 gallons of Castrol multi-import on my transmission,and "flushed" it as much as possible by drain and refill I will probably want to switch to Amsoil Signature. I really do hear it improves shifting on these Jatco transmissions.

 

Please, what is the name of the Lucas additive that is mentioned several times in this post?

 

Most likely this =

 

My personal choice is this =

 

Do as Jag says- no additives anywhere at any time. Modern oils and fuels have 100% of the right additives already. More is not better.

It's not the 1950s any more.

 

Agree to disagree.

DO NOT DO as Jaguar recommends. They recommend that you never change any fluids on the transfer case; transmision or differential. Just for starters.

 

We're talking about additives, not intervals. The sealed for life concept was withdrawn years ago.