My wife's 02 XK8 is due for the 23,000 mile service. At the 20k service they told her the transmission and rear differential fluids needed to be changed. Certainly, I believe they were basing the fluid change on the age of the vehicle and not the actual milage. The cooling system and brake fluids have been flushed and replaced within the last two years. Are the transmission and rear differential fluids needing to be changed due to age? If so, product recommendations would be appreciated. Also, my wife was told by the Jag Service Manager that one of these fluid changes can be tricky and time consuming. Is there an issue with replacing the fluids in this car?

Thank you for your help.

Jamie

 

The factory ZF 5HP24 service manual recommends fluid life is 10 YEARS.
Later manuals might recommend a different time and/or mileage?????

The diff uses a synthetic gear oil but there is no drain plug so it must be 'evacuated' with some sort of vacuum pump. It's a judgement call for fluid change but it can't hurt!!!

bob gauff

 

Thanks Bob. I will have both of the fluids changed this week. I appreciate the feed back received from this site.

Jamie

 

My wires 02 XK* is at the shop this morning and I have requested for the rear differential fluid to be changed due to the age of the car (02 with 23k miles). I was of the understanding that the fluid would have to be evacuated through the fill plug. Can someone tell me where the fill plug is located on this car. The shop called and said that the differential is a sealed unit and does not require a fluid change.

Please advise,

Thanks,
Jamie

 

It is a little tricky to access!

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...iff-oil-71492/
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...rential-62744/

 

There are no sealed units on the car. All the fluids can be changed and should be at some point. I suggest that the differential can wait though, this is not a high heat unit and the miles are low, it can wait. The Super 90 fluid in it is very long lived. I wouldn't do it until somehwere over 80,000 miles. The diff fill plug is very difficult to access and this probably the reason for the hesitation. If you can get the plug out, it is unlikely that a hose could be run to the actual low point to evacuate all the fluid. Remember that metal particles will be in the old fluid and stirring them up without removing them is not a big help. The tranny should be done though, just on age alone. Be very sure to flush the brake system, it is the most vulnerable at such an age, this fluid should get changed every two years regardless of age. Brake fluid attracts moisture right through the hoses!

 

Thank you for the advice. I will cancel the rear diff fluid change and will continue with the transmission change. Should the tranny be flushed or just drop the pan to change the filter.

The brake fluid has been flushed.

I have another post about the minimum spec for the front rotor thickness.

Thanks,
Jamie

 

I would never flush a transmission, particularly an older one, due to the possibility of dragging long-settled metal shavings and any other sloughed-off debris through the system and creating valve body problems that you didn't have before. I continue to believe that drain-and-fills are the safest way to go even though it is a royal pain in the derriere in these cars....

 

Thanks Jon. Drain and fill it will be for the tranny. Still trying to find a front brake rotor spec. The car is getting it's first front brake job and without a minimum spec for the rotor. I am being told they cannot turn the rotors and I will have to get new ones.

Jamie