Hello Everyone, This if for my 2005 Jaguar S-Type. Thanks to All who responded to my questions about my RPM changing while driving. Well today I decided to tackle the transmission filter change. I ordered a new one earlier this week and bought 6 quarts of Motorcraft Mercon SP. Started this morning while it was cool outside. Jacked the car up, front end only, and placed jack stands near the floor jacks I used for safety. I first opened the side filler hole to see what poured out. I got maybe 1/3 quart out, this after lowering the car back to level. OK, then raised the car back up, and opened the drain plug. This time I got about three quarts. Total drained fluid was about 3 1/2 quarts. Everything I have read says I would see about 5+ quarts drained from the transmission. So I believe mine was definitely low on fluid.
Now to the nitty gritty. Has anyone out there ever filled according to Jaguars specifications and then drained the transmission to really see how much fluid has actually been added. This seems to be a secret to keep DIY's from changing the fluid. I believe this amount is around 5 1/2 quarts. I dont believe a few ounces of fluid low or high will make any difference. How much does transmission fluid expand when heated. Is 5 quarts going to be 6 quarts when heated, I don't think so. How about it any figures on the average amount of fluid to be installed in a filter only change and drain? This would make it a lot easier to drain the transmission and then refill.
One last thing I did the refill at the top cooling line at the cars radiator. Fed the fluid into the radiator fitting.

The whole trans will also expand. BTW, wrong forum so you may get few replies.

I've moved the thread from the general tech section to the S-Type/S-Type R for better visibility/response

Thanks, Steve.

I suspect a tiny amount won't matter but at some point (especially if low) it'll matter a lot. May as well just follow the correct procedure as the extra bit of measuring temperature is hardly anything compared to the pain of doing the rest of the task.

The two master techs I've spoken with have told me that once these ZF 6-speed transmissions lose more than two litres of fluid, the remaining fluid begins to get cooked and the transmission will eventually fail if the fluid is not refilled to the correct level. Full capacity is listed as 10 litres....

Since I haven't got an definite amount I have added another quart making it 5 total after draining the transmission and changing the filter. Remember when I drained the transmission case, I found the transmission only had about 3 and 1/2 quarts of fluid. The surging I was experiencing has stopped and now have smooth shifts. I will try this until I can check the level the correct way.

@w4tja: did you have to refill from below? I am in the middle of swapping my fluids but fear I don't have the requisite tools to finish the process. If done from below, as I suspect it must after inspecting the top side for some time, what sort of pump/injector would you all recommend using?

It was suggested recently on the forum to use a standard garden pump sprayer (with the atomizer removed). To me, this seems like a great idea and I would consider trying it.

Other suggestions include any number of hand pumps etc.

See pics. Gravity can help as well-with a funnel above and some careful routing of tubing, gravity can assist in delivering the fluid to the trans. Main drawback of this is it seems to require one to pour fluid and one to keep delivery end of tube in trans.

Hope that gives you some options.

-mag

Can the side filler tube be accessed without dropping the pan?

Mine has a filler plug, requires an 8mm allen wrench to remove, on the passenger side of the transmission. Toward the rear of the trans. And the pan itself has a drain plug in the bottom rear, center. This requires a 10mm allen wrench.

Yes, the drain plug and the fill plug(s) can be accessed without dropping the pan. Forum users have performed (partial) 'drain and fill' to refresh the fluid without dropping the pan.

The drain plug is on underside of trans and is plastic.

The fill plug is on the side of the trans and is metal. Two pics showing metal fill plug are attached. It is wise to verify that fill plug can be broken loose prior to opening drain plug.

I will confirm specs on my drain and fill plugs and post for reference.

Thanks
-mag

All I can say is holy cow. After much cursing and a couple beer breaks I hauled the thing up on a neighbor's jack. We had to get a transmission jack and drop the whole damn thing down an inch or two to properly access the fill plug. Maybe my hands are just too big.

I only managed four quarts on the refill at 40 celsius though so i'm not sure what i did wrong but i was getting some strange rpm rates earlier so i'll be repeating the process later this week and forcing more fluid in there this time. hopefully that's all it needs.......

Glad that you met with success. Am sure your car will appreciate the new fluid.

I am thinking that 4 quarts out on a drain and fill is within normal range. Good news is that the fill plug will be easier to release on the next drain and fill.

Thanks
-mag

You can't drop the tranny an inch or two??

Did you read the instructions? The transmission and car MUST be level when you do the fill procedure.

There is NO forcing of fluid!!!

You need to start all over and correctly fill the transmission. There is no other way.

No again. If you read the list you will find a properly filled transmission will require somewhwere in the 6L-7.5L of fluid. This depends on how long you let it drain. If you let it drain all night you will get close to the 7.5L amount.
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+1 on the above.

Others have managed it and even posted youtube vid.

I take the word level to mean not at an angle; with that understanding in mind, the car and transmission remained level at all times since both were on lifts. While I've seen many run-throughs and youtube videos on this procedure generally, I have yet to see a YouTube video on a 2005 S Type 3.0.

A ZF 6HP26 is a ZF 6HP26 is a ZF 6HP26 regardless of whether it is in a 2005 Jaguar S-Type 3.0, a 2006 Lincoln Navigator SUV, or a 2014 Soap Box Derby Racer....

How can it stay level when you dropped it a couple of inches using a floor jack?

That means you took the trans mount loose and the entire engine/transmission then pivots around the motor mounts. This makes the transmission at an angle. Wrong way to do it and you will not get the correct amount of fluid in the transmission this way.

The fluid fill port has very tight access but you can do it.
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I've cut a short length(3/4 inch) of allen wrench that fit the fill plug. Then used two box end of 8mm wrenches to turn it loose. This was recommended earlier in this forum.

Two box end wrenches are used to double up on the strength to turn the short stub of allen wrench shaft.

No need to move engine or transmission.

I did that too. Cut my wrench down and then got the plug loose before I did anything else.

That plug is on so tight I thought I broke something when it let go. I had to use my foot to push on the 8mm wrench. Not enough strength in my hands and arms.
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