You may not be able to remove the cooler pipes on jack stands (I haven't tried), but you can certainly inspect them for leaks and disconnect them from the transmission to replace the O-rings. Most of the 6HP26s I've serviced have been done on ramps in the front and jack stands in the rear. I've only done a couple on a lift (I actually prefer to work while laying down rather than standing and reaching up over my head). I'm hoping it's just O-rings and that no one has to actually remove the cooler lines.

 

Don, Thanks. I need a new bulb for my LED work light so until I get a chance to replace that there is no point ramping and jacking up. However, when I do I will take a good look as you suggest and post back here. Wouldn't you know it, the trace of trans fluid I had found in the aircon condensate on my parking deck has stopped? One of my big problems is that (obviously) now that I have flushed and replaced my coolant with orange oat and because the 'mechanic' who fitted my reconditioned trans has used some sort of red trans oil, which (when combined with potential red Power Steering fluid leaks) can make any traces of fluid on the deck harder to diagnose?

However, I can confirm that a dab of orange oat tastes absolutely disgusting and even more so than red-coloured trans oil!

Unfortunately, I will have to contact my 'mech' to try to discover what exactly he put in my trans before I can then top it up (if this becomes necessary), because I believe that mixing different trans oils may be worse than failing to use the correct trans oil in the first place? I don't know?
Incidentally, for what it is worth, my beautiful Jaguar is actually running like a dream!

 

The Mercon SP is supposed to be the same fluid with red dye added.
Both made by Shell i believe.
Been in both of mine for a good while.
Both had seepage from the plastic filter.
Shifts the same, but has no more leaks.

 

I'm going to trust you on that and feel no need to confirm it for myself!

 

Hello Don (or any of the other helpers I am fortunate to have)

Apologies for bothering you all over your weekend (As you probably know, Sunday is the first day of the week here)

IF I find a leak at the O-rings, what measures do you recommend to limit any further loss of trans fluid when removing the pipe from either end? I mean, I am imagining trans fluid pi%$£ing out when I disconnect the pipe from either the trans or the radiator? Am I being a typical Jaguar owner and expecting the worse?
I ask, because I actually have no idea what trans fluid I have apart from the fact that it is obviously the wrong one (red), so I am reluctant to give myself the job of replacing it when my car is actually shifting perfectly okay AT THIS TIME?
What I am saying here may shock you, but I am tempted to leave it alone until the trans light comes on?

It is 11 pm here; my 'trouble' (and strife) wife of 35 years is on a night shift delivering babies (professionally) and here I am seriously tempted to go down to my parking bay and start her up, pull her back to see if there is any trans fluid under her....and....Well.....obviously you can tell I need medical help...….

 

No bother at all, frustration is really a hard thing to deal with,for me at least.
We can all feel your pain, as well as frustration.

 

Nothing to worry about. Very little fluid will drip out when you disconnect the cooler lines from the transmission as long as the engine is not running. A little more will drain out when you disconnect the lower hose at the radiator. If you're careful to catch all or most of it in a container, you can add back a similar amount of fresh fluid after you reconnect the lower hose but before you reconnect the upper one, or via the transmission fill plug.

Since your fluid is red, let's hope it is Ford Motorcraft Mercon SP, which is identical to ZF LifeGuard 6 except for the color.

Cheers,

Don

 

Thanks Don, very reassuring.
Even if it is not Ford Motocraft Mercon SP, I will still use that (should it become necessary) as a precurser to replacing it ( again, should that become necessary)

 

It will mix fine.

 

Esray,
I had a similar leak two years ago (incidentally my car was coming from Qatar...).
I did not dare doing the job myself and my indy did it.
It was indeed a leak coming from the trans lines. I was told that the metal connections close to the radiator can fail.
Also it is quite demanding in terms of manpower to replace the lines (I was told, and charged).
Here is a pic of the lines, close to the radiator, if it can help.

 

Thanks Serge; gonna be taking a look shortly to convince myself that my leak (which has gone away at the moment) IS in fact from these trans cooling lines....