Hi, my 03 str is at 80k miles and I have read contradictory information about if you should change the trans fluid at 80k. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could provide some clarification on this matter. Thank you

 

80K is perhaps a bit late but yes it needs changing. Pick the mileage / age you like, but now is not too soon.

 

Thank you for the reply. I will get the fluid and filter changed.

 

Handy tip: Make sure you can get the fill-plug loose before you attempt to drop the pan. Also, read-up on the larger torx replacement bolts in the eventuality the originals don't come out so well. (For clarity - it's not the bolts that are larger, but the torx bit required to fit/unfit them)

I realize you say you will "get it done" rather than do it yourself, but if the shop is not familiar with the brand you should cover these items with them. You should also replace the wiring sleeve as it is not a case of "if" it will leak, only "when."

 

Hi guys, After attending the Breakfast club at Gaydon motor museum this month i came away with some very valuable information being a Jaguar virgin, and one of the issues talked about was transmission and auto box's , i have a 2000 "s" TYPE 3LTR V6 , and on the whole it all came to the same conclusion "if it ain't broke don't fix it " only those that had problems did the have the fluid changed, how ever have you seen the state of the fluid from a Jag that has been changed.........not pleasant . Too me it seems a bit of a grey area.

 

Different box, much cheaper fluid, but even so it needs changing. Those who claim otherwise have an odd (as in wrong) view of engineering reality.

The very fact that it comes out very unlike what went in is a giveaway!

 

No such animal as "lifetime fluid", especially ATF. I have done multiple ATF drain-and-fills in both of our Jaguars using Mercon SP. My 2005 S-Type is approaching 102,000 miles while my wife's 2006 XK8 is approaching 111,000 miles. Both ZF 6HP26 transmissions continue to perform normally as a result....

 

So after 99.000 miles it would seem a change is well in need......thanks guys.

 

Would a drain and fill be sufficient or is it necessary to drop the pan and do the filter as well. Money is tight at the moment.

 

V8 thank you for the info on the bolts and the sleeve.

 

Another vote to change the fluid. We know you can use Mercon SP which is cheap so no more expensive Lifeguard 6 fluid!

I changed my 2005 STR fluid at 85K miles. Be sure and break loose the drain plug before you buy anything. That is one tight plug and is in a tight spot.
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Can I ask when you change it did you just drain and refill or drop the pan and change the filter as well?

 

There is no separate filter. The pan contains a built-in filter. If you want to change the filter, you must install a new pan....

 

Is it advisable to change the pan/filter or will just the fluid do the job? I just got qouted $900 for the pan and filter and that's quite a bit more than I was anticipating.

 

At 80,000 miles you should change the pan also, the filter is built into the pan. People say to change the sleeve, so get one of those too. You don't want a leaky transmission with no dipstick. This is the place to get the pan and fluid in a kit Genuine ZF Parts. They also give good instructions on what to do.

The trans fluid has to be topped off when the car is running and up to temperature. I didn't want to deal with crawling under the car with the hot pipes and fluid spilling out in my face, so I had a competent local transmission shop do it. They charged $150 for the job.They checked the temperature with a laser thermometer since they didn't have Jaguar software to read the temp and it all came out fine.
The ZF 6HP26 Transmission is in quite a few cars. If it's done right, you're good for 50,000 miles, if you race the car or drive hard, cut that in half, but you shouldn't need a pan and filter. The rear end fluid should also be changed every 5,000 to 30,000 miles depending on how you drive.

 

Great info! I appreciate the link. Thank you

 

I think you mean fill-plug. AFAIK, there is no drain plug. In any case, if you drop the pan and then can't get the fill-plug undone, you're screwed.

 

all true unless you choose to convert to a steel pan as i did .
then the filter is $15 each time . no pan replacement required .
seems a bit better for the invroment as well .

 

Oops your right!
Although there is a drain plug in the plastic pan.
Sorry wrong term.
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I have a 2005 XK8 that I bought recently. Previously I had an 2000 XKR started with 75,000 miles and I agonized over the trans fluid change/flush. With the advice of a knowledgeable AAMCO man, because of the milage, he recommended changing the fluid, filter and the wiring sleeve. I did that and it worked fine. I put about 20,000 miles on it before I traded it for the 2005 I now have. The R had a different trans than the ZF in my present car. On this car I (we, my AAMCO man and I) decided that since this 2005 only has 57,000 miles, that a flush was a safe bet. We contacted Ford to get some Mercon SP and were told that they don't have it, it has been changed to LV? (I think that was what he said). Once again I was in a quandary. My AAMCO man told me that what he does when he rebuilds a trans, he uses synthetic trans fluid and recommended that that is what I should use for the flush. When doing the regular change where you add fluid to existing fluid, he recommended against "mixing" synthetic with the regular fluid in the trans. In all this I have had no shifting problems in either car and while this flush is just a few days old, I am expecting good results. If it changes you will be the first to know. :-) Tom