Here is a metal trans pan for the ZF transmission. The oil is refilled through the drain plug. It also allows for the filter to be changed of course without buying a new pan. This would greatly cut down on the cost of fluid changes and allow for more frequent fluid changes.
My only concern with the metal pan would be the increased heat from the oil heating the pan up. Hopefully, we have some members who can provide some info on this.

https://www.oregonperformancetransmi...P-K79600M.html

 

Last new plastic pan weeped fluid right through the pan. I went to metal pan. I can drain then drop pan, change filter and good to go.

I got two long bolts that screw into the transmission and cut the heads off. I screw them into the trans and they act as guide pins to alighn the pan so starting the bolts is easier. Laying on your back holding the pan up with one hand and trying to start the bolts with the other is a little difficult. With guide pins its easy to align the pan and hold it firm against the trans. All the holes are now aligned.

 

Do they make a pan for 2004 - 2006 models?
I changed mine at 100k. Do not expect to change it again.

 

It is my understanding that the pans are all the same for the ZF transmissions in the jaguar XJ Trans. My 2008 XJ has 140,000 miles and has never had the transmission serviced. I took it to the jag dealer when I first got it (7 years ago) and they would not change it as they said that it was not in the manual to do so. I took it back several years later and they still told me the same thing.

The plastic pan is now leaking around the gasket - a very slow leak but significant over time. I would like to change it twice just to get all the old oil out. I believe i will go with the metal pan on the second oil change. Also I will use the Mercon SP on the first change. it is $11 per quart in my area. I will go with the liqui moly 1800 ATP on the second oil change in that it is synthetic, cheaper, and specifically approved by ZF. Mercon SP is not synthetic and it is universally known that synthetic last longer

 

it’s not

 

Xalty thanks for the response on the Liqui Moly. I am double checking if I have the correct part # as it relates to the Liqui Moly. However, I am 100% correct in saying Liqui Moly has been approved by ZF in their automatic transmissions.

The approval # from ZF is LIQUI MOLY ATF DEXRON IID ZF002052. (Lubricant class 11A Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) Please see below pdf

https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemed...e-ml-11-en.pdf

Not trying to start an oil war here.

 

lubricant Class 11A = Dexron II. for the 3HP and 4HP




ZF approves nothing but this.

LM 1800 is a good fluid, I would use it in my transmission and it may very well be better than shell m1375.4 but don’t bend the facts to feel good.

 

For the price, performance and long term cost go with the OEM ZF pan or OE Jaguar pan. Over even 60k miles the price difference doesn't make sense. If you want to do drain and fills you can do it with the OE/OEM pan using the drain plug, just leave the pan on. Some have had success with the metal pan, as noted above, but I have read others having issues with them (mainly leaking) as well as other brand aftermarket pans.

For fluid use Ford Mercon SP if you want to stay as close to ZF as possible without the expense. If you want to go cheap use Valvoline MaxLife. For my Jag I have serviced with Mercon SP, but for my three BMWs, with the same transmission, I have used MaxLife without issue.

The bottom line is one doesn't want leaks or the original fluid in there past 90k miles - both are not good, but that is known.

I will add, if one is going to drop the pan, then drop the valve body and replace the various rubber components, tubes and seals. Regardless of miles and prior service, if original, these parts are hard and on the verge of cracking.

 

Metal pans on both of mine, work fine.
But you refill the transmission from the same place

 

Don't understand how you could get the proper fill thru the drain plug?

 

Hi All: This is A Must See

I think I may have found the first official confirmation and documentation on the Forum from Ford regarding its Transmissions fluid and the specified transmission therefore. Hopefully and after peer review, we can get it added to the document archives.

https://www.motorcraft.com/content/d...rt_english.pdf

 

Post #7 above clearly states "Jaguar Fluid 8432" for the 6HPxx. Just sayin'

 

When I did my pan change and fluid change I read through loads of info on the best fluid to use. It's a proper mine field out there folks! In one thread the op had gone through the specs of various fluids to find what was ok and what wasn't. I think there were a few that claimed they were but looking at the specs they listed contradictory things. I think it came down to about 4 the original stuff, the shell stuff listed above, the ford stuff and the one I use maninol I think that's how it's spelt.

Still not sure how you fill through the drain plug, I suppose you could turn the car upsidedown!

 

The plug is an overflow plug, not a drain.
The PO serviced the transmission on mine as one of the condition of purchase. Could not find LG6 here, so used Pentosin ATF1.
Ordered eight liters of LG6 to reverse this. But tranny has worked fine. It meets JLM 20238, think that is five speed ZF.
The six speed is a beast. Seven years with wrong fluid. The daily temperature range here may help with the higher viscosity.

 

My first plastic replacement pan leaked very slowly from the seal, like yours. Replaced it with a metal pan (cork seal coated with Permatex high tack gasket sealant) 6,000 miles ago, and no leaks.

 

Bought the trans gasket from Ford, to use on mine, made of Metal & Rubber.
Not the cheap flimsy paper one, that came with the pan, so it can be reused.

Part # BL3P-7A191-AA

 

Wingrider - Can you let me know where you purchased that Ford metal & rubber gasket and the part number? I'm about to do a second fluid change on my '05 XJ8 that I previously installed a metal pan on. I've been searching for metal & rubber or Duraprene gaskets to no avail. Thanks!

 

Purchased it from the Ford dealer
KIT-KTBL3P-7A191-AB this is the gasket, with instruction sheet number from Ford

Gasket number is, BL3P-7A191-AA

 

Having done a number of ZF trans fluid changes; I am particularly impressed by the Ravenol fluids available at Blauparts. On my current XJ8, I purchased the bulk 20 liter so that I could do a;
1. drain & change pan
2. fill
3. run/drain again
4. fill
without any fear of running out of fluid. In both cases I got about 6 L out, and about 1 liter of "shop loss" each time from doing the PITA ZF mandated temperature fill level procedure. My shop loss is due to the truly annoying fact I don't have a lift, and squeezing myself under the car on jack-stands just plain s**ks.

I am really pleased with the Ravenol fluid. The procedure above and ZF6 fluid corrected the sometimes cold rough shift, and the trans was shifting as smooth as new,especially the 1-2 upshift and 2-1 downshift even when cold.

https://www.blauparts.com/ravenol-at...SABEgIe2PD_BwE
https://www.blauparts.com/ravenol-at...iABEgKZh_D_BwE

best regards

 

Oh, and regarding the aftermarket Metal pan, from your original post; Be careful. I once ordered a aluminum version touted as a "perfect, direct replacement" for the original ZF pan. Before I installed it, I inspected it and found two serious issues: 1. the oil pipe at the top of filter was several millimeters shorter then the OEM plastic one that is integral to the ZF pan. Also, I found signs of poor manufacturing and (yipes) some metal shavings in the throat of the filter pipe. Needless to say, I sent it back and purchased a genuine ZF plastic one. If you position gasket right and properly torque the bolts in the ZF recommended sequence, the plastic pan does the job very well and I've never had a leak.

Not saying metal is bad, but, perform due diligence and inspect the pan carefully and clean it really well before installation.