(preface: sorry for the double post, I also posted this in the S-Type forum a week ago, but since I haven't received any feedback, I thought I would make it a general question)

I'm looking for help with differential fluid for a 2000 S-Type 4.0

I was a having my oil changed the other day, and the technician was doing the routine maintenance check of the fluids. Everything looked fine, except the differential fluid. He quoted me roughly $80 to change it. Being the curious person I am, I decided to call the local Jaguar dealership and ask them how much they told me roughly $570. I asked them to repeat that, and they broke it down as, roughly $450 for the fluid, and the remainder for the labour.

So, my question is, do I really need to spend the roughly $110 per litre?

I've searched the forums, and the only similar thread I found involved an all wheel drive x-type.

What are my choices for this fluid? Can I get a Mr. Lube to do this for me?

Any other help would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks

 

That has to be confused with what a Transmission fluid change would cost..The diff only holds about 1.5L.

 

Well, I called the local Jaguar dealership today to double check that we were talking about the same thing; yup!

Here's the breakdown:

Differential fluid at $144.95 + tax per litre: my car takes approximately 3 litres, for a total of $434.85 + tax

Service is $145 + tax

Total from the dealership is $579.85 + tax (12%) = $649.43 Canadian

So, back to my original question - can I just have Mr. Lube do a full synthetic job for $80 and be okay?


Thanks for you help

 

Near as I can tell (from All Data) the factory fill was Shell Spirax M2C 192A which is a 75/140 synthetic gear oil. I don't if there is anything unique about it beyond that. I'm betting there are several alternatives from various suppliers without the large dealer markup. I would Google "M2C 192A" and see what happens, or even search that number on this site.

Last time I bought synthetic gear oil it was, I dunno, maybe $15-20/quart ?

Sorry I don't have any other details

Cheers
DD

 

I can offer some experience in this..I changed my Differential lubeabout a year ago..So far Everything is fine and at this point I don't for see any problem in the future..I used Royal Purple...Red-Line would also be an excellent substitute for the high dollar snake oil the Jag dealer puts in..I'd be willing to bet, that if you peel back the label on their lube oil, it would be nothing more than a good quality syntheticas the above mentioned product brands...The differential is like any other differential, in that it is nothing more than a few gears meshing and rubber seals..Nothing unique at all about it, that itneeds some special exotic lube oil...

I hope this sheds some confidence on the subject, that you can use a good quality Synthetic Gear oil and be fine.

 

I agree with Dennis, I think any of the high end synthetics will be just fine, it's a rear end, like any other.

 

I did the differential in my X-type and used Mobil 1 75W-140 full synthetic. I paid $18 a quart. Did it myself. Not that hard of a job. The hard part of it all is you also need a vacuum pump. That is a $15 part that can be bought at most auto parts places. I think it took me 30 minutes to do mine, which included the time to jack up the car. If you live in the Norfolk VA area, I would tell you to come over and we'll do it in my driveway. Very simple project.

 

2000 stype were are you in canada? that is very pricey

 

3 litres of oil in a differential? holy smokes!

 

It's a rip-off. Even at a Jaguar dealer, this should not be much more than $150 including labor and oil.
I changed the differential fluid on my S-Type for $36. Used Motorcraft 75W-140 gear oil. $18/quart at the dealer when I bought it.
The S-Type takes 1.5 L / 1.6 Qt.

Btw. M2C 192A is a Ford specification - the Motorcraft 75W-140 meets that spec and is Ford factory fill - made by ConocoPhillips. Don't know if the differential on the S-Type were shipped dry to the UK for installation - if so, then the factory fill might have been Castrol XAF-XJ 75W-140.