I am beginning to get some strange symptoms from my transmission occasionally since the car overheated last week. I think I am going to change the filter just for fun and inspect the pan at the same time. So what fluid can we use in place of the factory stuff? Is there any fluid that meets specifications? I read somewhere on here about using some type of Mobil 1 fluid. Can anyone shine more specific light on this, including where to buy it locally? Also, how many quarts do I need to do a pan drop/filter change? Thanks in advance.

 

What you'er looking for is Mobile 1 ATF, available anywhere.

Do a search, Tex, the subject has been extensively covered in several Threads. The big deal is not the ATF but the correct way of topping it off. It can be a DIY if you know what you are doing. Otherwise, you need an experienced Jag or ZF transmission mechanic.

 

There are a large number of posts on the ESSO LT 71141 ATF specification and the various manufacturers that publish that they meet that specification. Check out the 'Transmission' section of the FAQ Sticky on the XK8 forum.

Here is one of several links from that Sticky:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...ead.php?t=5303

 

I can definitely handle filling this trans almost properly I have done a few ford explorers and GM cars that you fill until it runs out of the check plug. When checking these systems its important to have the transmission at the right temperature before pulling the plug.

I see that some people also have used some Mercon V. I have a whole case of that in motorcraft at the shop and it is synthetic. Do any others use Mercon V besides dan R?

 

Hi
Here is a link to the forum thread that has 23 posts on the ATF for your ZF 5HP24 transmission:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=29776

Jim Lombardi

 

Well I am just going to get the Mobil 1 Sythetic ATF. It's $8.99 a quart at advance and they have my filter kit on order. This weekend we will see whats up! I am hoping there are no chunks of metal in the pan.

 

I have used several brands of "high mileage" ATFs. All conform to the Mercon V spec.
I believe that the ESSO stuff is Mercon V with long life additives. Not that it did the early failure transmissions much good! This seems to have been a metal fatigue issue rather than a lubricant breakdown problem. ZF now recommends changing the ATF at 60k mi intervals.
The Mobil ATF conforms to Mercon V and the ESSO specs. Best of both worlds.
Top off the fluid when the pan is bearably hot to the touch. I think it it is 50oC max. You could go fancy with an infrared thermometer.

 

I have deleted this post. See post #9. I thought post #8 was not sucessfully completed after the forum system made me login again and I was not able to find the reply post #8 that I had submitted.

 

Hi
I found this promo code for $20 off any order $75 or over.This is ongoing promotion for Advance Auto Parts online shopping. The promo code is BIG20. Here is a snapshot of the shopping cart I took about 5 minutes ago using Snagit software.
This PDF file show the shopping cart with 10 quarts of Mobil1 ATF at $8.99 (total of $89.90) less the $20 discount (new total $69.90).
advanceautoparts mobil1 atf.pdf

This is a more recent find (12/1/10). Even better Promo code CCABIN for $40 off any order totaling $100 or more. Say 12 quarts of mobil1 atf at $8.99 (total $107.88) less $40 (new total $67.88).

CCABIN can also be used to get $10 off $30 order or more and $20 off any order totaling $50 or more.

Hope this helps.
Jim Lombardi

PS: Make sure you put in a plug for the Jaguar Forums if you make any purchases at Advance Auto Parts. They are a Jaguar Forums vendor and they sponsor this website.

 

I just changed my filter and whoa that sucked. The RH cat has to come off to drop the pan without pan modifications. All 4 of the studs on the top of the cat snapped off, so I have bolts in there now. I used Mobil 1 synthetic atf along with a bottle of Prolong super lubricant. It seems to be doing fine. To save some time I put the prolong and 1 quart of ATF in the pan before bolting it up, then pumped it until it ran over. Then I started the car and ran it through the gears, turned it off and topped it off again ( I did this to save time so the car wouldnt heat up too much on me). Then I started it back up and topped it off for the final time. It took about 6 quarts plus the 8 oz bottle of prolong.

Is there any way to drain the torque converter on these cars? Thanks for all the tips.

 

While the early XKR cars with the Mercedes transmission were reported to have a converter drain plug that apparently stopped very early on. To my knowledge there was never a drain capability on the ZF XK8 transmission.

The full ZF documentation is available in the XK8/R Forum FAQ Sticky.