I was wondering if my 2010 3ltr, with 43k miles on the clock needs a gear oil change. ZF say 7 years so I am guessing "yeah" BUT reading and viewing so much has me confused.

Some say flush, others say DO NOT flush, as it causes more problems. ZF say don't flush but then ZF approved partner service centres say flush.

So my car had done 43k. Should I

• Full flush
• Partial oil and filter change
• Leave well alone.

I am veering towards partial but what's others thinking.

Worth saying I haven't had the car long to have noticed much.

 

I am not a fan of flushing and it's important to understand why shops push this?
It's a very simple and profitable way to so call "service" the transmission. But your not servicing anything. It's simple to just disconnect a transmission line and start the car to replace the fluid. Now the one thing is does do better is all the fluid in the TQ and coolers can be better changed this way. But that it!
Also I find shops that do this are lazy and usually sell/use a "universal" transmission fluid which again I think is false especially with our ZF transmissions. ZF is very specific about what to use and I follow that.

Note you have the earlier 6 speed ZF and we do have a nice substitute at least in the US? Lifeguard6 is the ZF fluid and it's exactly the same as Mercon SP except the Mercon is red in color. I have heard this product is not easy to find outside the US so may not work for you?

You don't mention where your from and I am not sure if they released a 3.0L Diesel and gas engines or not? Still would use the same 6 speed ZF.

The pan MUST be dropped and the filter changed plus cleaning the magnets off. That is a service. You really want to take a look at the inside of the transmission.
With the miles you have I think you can wait?
I have a 2014 XJR with 58K on it and yes by time it is ready for a change and you won't be wrong in doing it. I will probably wait until around 70K miles or so.

As you know there is no dipstick and we have tons of posts where the shop did NOT get the fluid level correct. This is a fiddly and painful process but absolutely mandatory for the transmission to work properly.
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I would follow manufacturer instructions / procedure.
Everything showed on ZF:s own service channel:

 

Thanks. I'm in Scotland. It's a diesel.

I think I may have it serviced rather than flushed but I may wait. I haven't had it long and have never had an automatic before so, maybe wait. The guy was pushing the full flush but that'll be a no for now.

The only thing was the fact that it struggled to get out of first when I drove away from garage but that was after it sat in the heat for a week. I went manual and then back and its been fine so far.

 

Rather than a service with the symptom you had maybe just a check to see if the fluid level is correct?
It might not have been checked since it was new?
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Lot of internet mythology surrounding this process. It is perfectly fine for a healthy transmission, if a flush causes problems then the transmission was already dying, 70k miles max on any ZF transmission would be my advice - I won't cover towing because with an X351 you cannot, use only ZF fluids and parts really is the best way, pay no head to any 'filled for life' BS, the statement in the ZF video to adhere to the vehicle manufacturers guidance is not good advice where filled for life is stated - intervals have been extended to reduce maintenance costs and provide a false impression to owners. Filled for life could be deemed accurate since for many a dead transmission is a cost that will send the car to a breakers yard.

 

Exactly: To be more presice: Follow the transmission manufacturer (ZF) instructions. They state 70-90k Miles for oil change. In the end it dosent matter if you flush change or just change the approx 6 liters what come out when changing the pan, both will be enough and good for tranny. When oil ages it loses its molecyle lever structure/viscosity, basicly comes thinner and are not able to keep parts not touching each other. Also friction pads from cluch packs leave particles to the oil. By change of oil these particles are taken out from tranny. (everybody understand why particles are not good in lubrication oil)