My Indy mechanic is insisting on using what he calls "Jaguar Hydraulic fluid" to flush and fill my 99 XK8 power steering. I told him the manual calls for top off with Dexron III and the Pentosin 11S (what I think he is talking about) is just for the convertible top. He says he has researched through more than one Jag dealer and the original fill is the "Jaguar hydraulic fluid"... I guess the next question is if the Pentosin 11S a problem? - it appears to be a very reputable automotive power steering fluid in addition to being used for the convertible top...

 

There is a horse with a mouth over here: http://www.jagrepair.com/images/Auto...sb_09_2003.pdf

 

Something I have always found with the jaguar Dealer, is that they always want you to use Jaguar stuff, including the pentosin, at $64 a liter. I used the Castrol Foreign car transmission fluid, that lists our specs on the back, and it sells for $19.99 for 5 liters. My transmission, that I flushed out with it, and filled with it has been working great, for over 1800 miles. On another point. Who suggested you flush out your power steering? I always liked for people to insist on me flushing out their power steering, and brakes, because I knew that I would be replacing at the very least a master cylinder, or a steering rack in 6 months to a year, because of flushing the systems completely. I usually would suggest that I removed as much fluid as I could from the reservoirs, with a turkey baster, and refill them with the proper fluid. I only charged them for the fluid, and let them keep what was left in the bottle. While brake fluid is hydroscopic,(meaning it absorbs water), it doesn't really cause any damage, until it starts getting cloudy. Changing out a whole system changes the acidity, or lack of it, and the old rubber seals deteriorate faster, when this is done. Tell him to leave your steering fluid alone, and drain the reservoir, filling it with the Dexron III yourself. I know I am going to get flack for this, but it has served me well, since I was shown this by my journeyman, while I was a VW, Porsche, Audi apprentice, back in the late 70s and early 80s.....Take care.....Mike

 

It has always been my feeling to stick with what it calls for and you can not go wrong.

Gus
www.jagrepair.com

 

Tell the indie mechanic he is living in the PAST. The power hydraulic fluid was something from the late 1980s used in the XJ40. (Castrol 5966)

When I worked at the dealer ALL we used was Mobil Premium ATF for the PAS systems that required DEXRON!!!!!!!! It had a Jaguar part number but it was Mobil ATF JLM21703. (AKA Mobil ATF 320)

Jaguar Partno_C2P10363_OIL-TRANSMISSION 1L XF / S-TYPE_David Manners Group

bob gauff

 

Pretty sure it says DEXRON right on the cap.

It certainly is mentioned in the owners "vehicle care" booklet which
is the companion to the operators manual. Both are downloadable
PDF's found in the stickies.

 

Resolved - Indy Mechanic has further researched and agrees to Dex 3. Flushing because I am replacing the rack and don't want old fluid in it. IF you google "99 XK8 Power Steering fluid" the Pentosin 11S comes up all over the place, and on Parts sites....

 

I guess if it is on the internet.....it must be true??????

When I worked at the dealer and I answered the shop phone, some guy at a repair shop would ask a question and then argue about what ALLDATA has to say about something. I told him the correct Jaguar info but sometimes people just want to argue!!!!!!!

bob gauff