Has anyone changed their differential fluid as part of normal maintenance. I purchased a 2004 XKR last year and I presently have 88k on the car. I am going to have the trans fluid changed in a couple of weeks and was wondering about the differential fluid.
I live in Phoenix, AZ and the Jaguar has lived most of it’s life in OK City.
Thanks

 

On a new (to me) Jaguar, I change ALL the fluids so I pick up on anything that has been missed and have a base point for future maintenance. Is a differential fluid change:

1. recommended - not in the maintenance schedules
2. essential - probably not

Jaguar documentation makes little mention of differential fluid except recommending a change when vehicles have been tracked. Even if your XKR has been gently wafting around Oklahoma City all its life, the fluid will look horrible by 88K miles. A change also gives the opportunity to check for metallic fragments which can be an indication of trouble ahead.

Graham

 

My thoughts would depend on whether you have a convertible or coupe (not sure if all XKRs are automatically coupe?????)

If you have the coupe, it wouldn't hurt to change to the rear diff fluid. Plenty of info on other forum threads including suggested fluid weights for home DIY. At a professional garage with a lift, it should be straight forward.

I have the convertible, so I have thought about doing the rear diff fluid change but access is terrible due to the additional convertible body braces underneath. Access is so bad I checked on this forum and note that some have succeeded doing it from below by squeezing ratching home made tools between the struts, trunk wall and the diff. drain plug.

Others have gotten access to the diff drain hole by dropping the entire rear subframe so changing the diff fluid was part of another bigger task.

The most extreme example I've seen is by drilling a 2" hole through the trunk wall. See youtube link below.

If you're paying for a garage to do this job, I'll be mindful of their approach and the associated labour costs esp. if they are intending to drop the rear subframe. The other method of drilling a hole through the trunk wall, just doesn't seem sensible to me.

To date, I haven't had the bravery to try accessing the diff drain plug as that will mean lying on my back, with the car on jacks while maneuvering a racheting wrench with a home-made tool bit. Probably wait until.....2020.

I'm hoping you have the coupe, which I would say just do it.

 

I knew there was other benefits to a Coupe other than just keeping dry.

Graham

 

Yes I have a coupe and will have my Jaguar mechanic change the differential fluid. I am not a convertible person. Took me a year to find a XKR Coupe.

Thank you for your thoughts on this.

 

I understand the Coupe is quite a rarity in the US where the vast majority go for the Convertible option.

Graham

 

How much does the Dealer charge you for that? Does he have any special tools?

I'm probably just going to bite the bullet and drill the hole. As far I know, "Kitty" still has the original oil in there after 230K miles(!). It's really beginning to worry me.

 

I just checked with my independent Jaguar mechanic and a differential fluid change takes 1 hr. to 1-1/2 hrs. to complete. So based on $115/hr. that would equate to $172.50 plus fluid. I am assuming it will also take a new gasket. So $200 give or take.
I had a 1988 Toyota Cressida that I decided to have the differential fluid changed at about 175k miles. The dealer changed the fluid and the differential howled like a cat in heat. Dealer went back in and found two worn bearings. The old fluid was so dirty and thick, it kept the worn bearing in place. My Dad said in the old days you always mixed saw dust with the new differential fluid to make up for any wear.
Hope this helps.
Michael

 

I remember the old "sawdust-in-the-differential" trick from way back in the 1960s and 1970s. Sure hope that no one tries that with these XK8/XKR units. I believe that would lead to a major failure fairly quickly....

 

Removing the fill plug isn't very difficult, even with a 4.2 convertible. A piece of 1/2" square stock will fit the plug, and a wrench can then be slid in from the side to break it loose and back it out. I used a 15mm ratcheting wrench, much easier than constantly resetting a standard wrench. Having a lift makes it a lot easier.

 

I have never seen a coupe.

 

I had mine on ramps and read the manual and decided to let the dealer do it. Labor $382.50. I provided the jag fluid. Took 3 hours to really suck the fluid out and put new in.

 

Jaguar knows it’s a PITA to get to and that’s why the factory calls it “Lifetime Fluid”. To me “Lifetime” means “Replacement” and I rather spend $300 and maintain the differential than spend $2k to replace it.

 

My last fluid change I need to do is the differential on my 2000 xk8 convertible. Right now I am planning on doing the drill a hole for access solution. The reason is my first jag was a series 2 e-type. To change the transmission fluid you pulled the carpet off the transmission tunnel and Jaguar had cut a hole with a big rubber plug to give you access to the drain/fill plug. It was a good idea then and sounds like like a good idea now. I am just going to make sure I drill in the right spot. have a plug for the hole and primer and top coat paint to make it look good and no corrosion issues in the future,

 

I am not sure if drilling a hole in the trunk makes it easier to get the filler plug out. You still need the same tools. Yes, it’s probably easier to get to from the top than from underneath, but could still be a pain to get the tools onto the plug.

 

Please make a post of this, if/when you do it. I don't have a lift and this sounds a lot more palatable than crawling underneath. It would have been nice if Jaguar had provided the access hole or port.

 

The trouble with a 4.2 is there is a plate between the trunk liner and the diff., so you have two holes to drill. I drilled my 97 and that was easy, but alignment is more critical with two holes.

 

You Drop Top guys sure have to sweat. The coup was easy. Cut an access hole ( 1 1/4") in X-Member under the dif, drill and tap for 1/8" pipe plug and easy drain. RJ has the fill plug covered, the 1/2 Barstock should be only 7/8" long. The thinnest 1/2" open end wrench will help. A Harbor Freight pump to install the lube, all is done. no future problem.

 

2006 XK8 convertible with just over 119,000 miles....

Still running the factory differential fluid fill in my wife's XK8 with no noise or issues. Wayne (cjd777) and I are considering changing the fluid once the weather cools down when autumn finally arrives in our neck of the woods. He has an uncanny ability for getting into miserably tight spaces so he thinks he can get his tools on that drain/fill plug with the car up on jack stands. He suggests fresh Redline gear oil. For those of you who have already done this job, what weight of gear oil did you go with, and how much fresh gear oil was required?

As always, thanks for your input....

 

Jon, we used Castrol 90W ,GL5 Synth, but consider the 85-140W a better choice. I would replace the 90w with the mulit-vis.85-140w if doing it again. Ours has 145K. all seems well. We did a 1025 mile trip last weekend (Thur-Sun) to Dayton Oh. Fuel mileage 26-28 MPG. Miles/ gallons method. Keep on purring:-)