I need to top off my power steering fluid. The only care book I have is for a 2001 XJ and it recommends DEXRON III, I own a 2002 XJ8 should I top it off with DEXRON III and if so what brand? Also is it okay to be referencing a 2001 XJ owners and care book for my 2002 XJ8? Thanks

 

All the X300/X308/X100 Jaguar steering systems use DEXRON.

bob gauff

 

Any good quality Dexron111 will do the job but rather than top off,
suck out as much oil as you can from the resovoir and pour a bottle of
Lucas Power Steering Revival fluid in and then top off with fresh Dexron111.
Does wonders to your P/S feel and longevity ;o)

 

Hey XJay8, just in case you are still getting notifications for this thread:

The Lucas Power steering revival fluid you refer to; is that the product in the picture below? I can't find a Lucas product called "reviver", but I really want to try your recommendation.

Thanks,

 

Hey Harvest14....you might be getting different stuff on the US site
compared tot he Oz site.
Anyways....this is the stuff I use:

Power Steering / A.T.F Additives & Fluids

Top of the page Lucas Power Steering Stop Leak

Power Steering Stop Leak

You can safely use either product....I use the Stop Leak coz it's easily available here ;o))

 

Why would you use a product with additives if the system is working correctly? The PS system wants a plain Dextron with low temp properties .. and no foaming.

Many, if not most of the conditioners have additives that will swell seals and add body to it .. both contraindicated.

 

My power steering operates very well and the fluid looks fairly fresh. There are two reasons I was considering adding a conditioning agent.

1) Very small weep leak on LH side of steering rack. Not enough to leave a stain on the ground; and over four months time the reservoir only dropped about 1 mm. In my experience however, leaks don't heal. Instead they usually get worse. But, it may be best to leave it alone. I'm on the fence.

2) I hear a "noise" sometimes when accelerating. It's not a groan exactly, it's like a fast paced "clack"? It's not particularly loud but it is definitely there. I have theorized that it's either the alternator or the power steering pump. I'm going to spray electrical cleaner into the alternator today before I leave for work, while the car is still cold. When I listen to the engine at idle I don't hear any noise, but if I put a stethoscope onto the power steering pump it is making a very loud and fast clacking noise. Even though it's not audible standing next to the car, it's very pronounced in the stethoscope. I thought maybe that noise at higher RPM might be my culprit. Of course it's possible that's what the pump it SUPPOSED to sound like! haha I thought using the conditioner might help lubricate the pump better and prevent/minimize that noise?

Does ANY of my reasoning seem sound?

 

Not in my experience.
BTW it's DEXRON...there's no 't' in it ;o)

I have used the Lucas Stop leak Conditioner over the last 85,000klm with good effect.
As the old adage says...."An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure"

As Dexron is an auto trans fluid, it breaks down with time and use and 80%
of systems are ignored until there is a problem....trans fluid will cause the
seals to harden up over time and all conditioners are not created equal ;o)

 

My spell check on the pad likes the "t"

Actually, the base fluid does not degrade ... it gets dirty and the modifiers change. The systems can also acquire small amounts of water ... but this is normally not a problem. It's not an "oil" like engine oil and does not suffer from combustion contamination.

The big changes came in the late 80's with the development of base fluids with better low temp properties -- and then the mid 90's with all the various modifiers able to last longer and work at higher temps.

P/S systems want good low temp properties and no foam -- so a straight fluid with few modifiers. Leaks can cause both air to be introduced and a fluid drop enough to cause starvation -- the pump creates a lot of heat and loss of fluid can trash them quickly. Small particles can then move to the various seals and rack controls.

My first job after grad school started my involvement with a company that developed methods to clean and reuse various hydraulic fluids for the US military -- mostly for aircraft carriers.