Alright, I changed my ATF. Easier than I thought.

But check this out... The specs say a refill should be like 8.32 liters.

But when I drained it only 3.5ish liters came out... I know this because I drained into a clear container then filled an identical container side by side with the new stuff, so I knew I was pouring in theexact amount. I only needed 3.5 liters of the new stuff to match the level... So that is all I poured in.

Is this right? That leaves almost 6 liters in the tranny of old stuff. Is my level extremtly low or something?

I did not perform the fluid level check, but I will tomorrow. Anyways, anyone got something to say about it?

 

But I followed the JTIS manual, which specifically just says just toremove the drain plug, re-install it and refill with approximately 8.32 liters....

I'll do the fluid level check procedure today... I just hate being under there with the engine running ya know? But I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

It makes no mention of running the engine... Just raise and support the vehicle, remove plug and reinstall a new plug. No mention of anything else...

I'm willing to do it if you guys say so, but I dont want to damage my tranny.... So give me your best thoughts.

 

I did it again, and again only 3.5 quarts. In fact I did it twice more. So it seems that is the max through the actual drain plug... My level is on target too after doing the level check.

I could either keep doing this until most of the old is out, but thats a whole lot of ATF fluid.

But the lower tranny cooler hose is staring right at me... Should I pop it off, run the engine, and drain it that way? I dont want to blow anything up...

Let me know ya'll.

 

BTW, does anyone know which hose is to the cooler and which one is returning? They are identical and placed right by ecah other, one right below the other.

 

Haha, I know I've wasted a lot of time so far. And that is just with the actual work... Add in the weeks of fluid hunting on top of it... But, its a lesson learned, and 25K miles from now I'll probably do it in twenty minutes flat.

But yes, my plan is to drop the lines and run the engine just long enough for 3 quarts. Then I'll put 3 new quarts in. Run the engine again for 3 quarts and so on... When the fluid start running clean, I'll finish up.

SHould work.

But either way I'll make sure I do a writeup on the procedure... Theres a lot of small problems to run into along the way that people may appreciate knowing about...

And how not to waste 22 quarts of fluid trying to change 9.5 quarts....

 

I think that if you drain and refill justa few litres every year... you will maintain the cleaness and chemical composition needed to make the transmission last.
I suspect the transmission has an oil pan and filter that should be dropped yearly too...
BTW - I have a 5 speed so this is just my 2 cents worth.

I dont think it is critical to get every drop out. If you transmission oil is so bad that it is not clear.. then you need to adjust your driving habbits more than change the fluid.

It is an automatic Jaguar!!!... if you are burning up the transmission oil I would say that you are in the wrong car.. hahaha. wait till your hair is grayer.. then get another jag.

 

Heres a quick write-up. I'll probably have to post this somewhere else to make sure google searches find it...

This was performed on a 2003 X-type 3.0 Auto

First of all, get your fluid right. If you use even slightly wrong fluid then the tranny will have a short life onwards. Fluid is hard to find, but I discovered Valvoline's Mercon V ATF is a substitute for BMW/ESSO LT71141, which is a fluid that Jag names in its specs as useable in the Jag auto tranny. This valvoline fluid is available at checkers and maybe even walmart, around 3.50 a quart. Autozone and pepboys does not yet carry it.

Anyways,

YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR TRANSMISSION FLUID!!! I have 38K miles, and the liquid was dark dark brown, in fact, it was solid brown. Usually if you watch it drain with a light behind it you can see the light as it lightens the liquid... Not this liquid, it was dark brown and there was no hope for it. It was sort of 'coarse' to feel too, not smooth and thin like new fluid.

"SEALED FOR LIFE" my left foot! No wonder so many x-types have transmission failures.

Anyways, you have two options to take: One is safe, costly, and time consuming. The other is somewhat dangerous, cheap, and fast. You pick.

First method is drain, fill, drain fill etc etc. If you do it this way then expect to use 24 quarts during the process, when the tranny only holds between 9 and 10. This method can be great for 'touching up' the fluid every 3,000 miles if you want.

Start by locating the drain under the car. Drain it. You'll only get 3 to 3.5 quarts out this way. The colder the engine the better since more fluid will have seeped back down to the bottom of the tranny.

When its done close the plug, and pour in fluid from above. The plug should be between the battery and the throttle body/airbox area, down in there. I was able to weasle my hand down between the battery, airbox, and front of the car and pop the plastic plug off. People with big hands will need to move the battery.

I can't guarantee you have a nice plastic plug that pops right off... I read about a guy who had a 2002 and had a metal screw that had lock-tite on it.

Find a small tipped funnel and pour in what you took out, around 3-4 quarts. Check fluid level (procedure below). Run the car for a day and do it again. And again. And again.

The liquid WILL clear up, but.... You're going through quite a lot of tranny fluid. THis method is safe though, so don't be too swayed from it.

The other method is dangerous...

In this method you will first drain the 3-4 quarts the regular way, and fill it up the same way. Then you'll disconnect the lower cooling hose at the area it returns to the tranny. Put that end into a bucket. Be prepared for frustration because there is not much room around it when you first unscrew it... Have a ratchet, pliers, wrench etc available, you may need them all as you run out of space.

Run the car. Have it drain into a marked container where you can see how much is flowing out. IT DRAINS FAST. Once 3 quarts flows out then shut the car off. Pour in 3 quarts. Turn on car and 3 more quarts will flow out. Car off, pour in 3 more quarts.

Heres the catch... POURING IN THE REPLACEMENT FLUID DOES NOT AFFECT THE OVERALL LEVEL!!! I have no clue why, but even though I matched the fluids in amount it STILL RAN DRY ONCE I PUMPED 8 QUARTS OUT.

In other words... It pumped out 8 quarts of old oil, and although I was pouring in new oil during it, the new oil was somewhere else in the tranny, because the tranny ran dry and would not shift. So be quick on the car turnoff once you get it all out.

Either way, at this point you've got enough out. Success. Fill it with whatever you need to to equal what you took out.

Now check and adjust the level. Chances are you're under the right amount. There is a level check plug under the car, but I can't exactly explain where. If you're in front of the car staring at the drain bolt, then its to the right, but its located an inch or so upwards out of view. It uses an allen wrench so that will help you identify it.

Turn on the car with the drain closed and the fluid level plug closed. Get the car up to operating temp and shift the tranny around during it.

Jag specs call for using a computer to monitor temps and to do this fluid level check at a certain temp, like 104 degrees F, but I just ran it to normal operating temp.

When you reach normal temp you'll unscrew the fluid level check plug and take it out. If fluid pours out then your level is over, so let it flow out, when it starts dripping then close it up. Youre set.

If fluid does not flow out, keep filling from above until it does.

This method drains a good 8-9 quarts, in fact.. It may just plain get it all now that I think about it... But, if you want to above and beyond the call of duty, you can do the simple method after the dangerous method to see if you can clean the fluid extra step.

Once you're all done turn the car off and clean up.

So simple.

 

what does "Turn on the car" mean?
That mean get in a french maid outfit? Hold up some xxx pics?

Do you mean start the engine? HAHAHA

 

The good thing about the safe method is that its so simple and fast that you can do itevery few months or so to'refresh' 3-4 quarts.

That means every few months you get a 37% refresh of your tranny fluid and it only cost you $16 and 20 minutes.

(Of course, you need to use the exact same fluid each time if youre constantly refreshing and therefore mixing)