I decided to do a tranny flush on my 2001 xk8 5HP24 transmission. I did this before on our 2001 Volvo.

First I drain the fluid, remove pan, replace filter, new gasket and reassemble and add fluid till it drips out. Put fill plug back in. Holding that thin gasket onto the pan and installing it is a PITA. The fluid was black, and the magnets had lots of black stuff on them.

Now to flush, I disconnect the top pipe to the radiator and connect a hose to it to collect fluid in a catch pan when I start the engine.
Oops. The top hose is not fluid coming from the tranny, it is the return to the tranny. In the parts diagram the top pipe is labeled oil cooler return. That should say transmission return line. The bottom line is labeled oil cooler output. That should say oil cooler input

Of course I now have fluid all over my driveway. Throw down the absorbent and reconnect to lower pipe. Fill tranny with fluid, and flush 3 times. Used around 14 qts, yeah ( ~$250). The color of the fluid does not lend itself to know when it is clear in the black catch pan. The best way is to stick your fingers in it and then look at the fluid on your fingers.

Fill with fluid, tun engine, add more fluid, run through gears, watch temp with IR gauge. Fill correctly.

Oops, I stopped the engine before I put the plug back in. Another spill of fluid. And I get it in my hair as I put the plug back in.

Car is on jacks and I'll go get 3 more quarts to fill correctly tonight.

Ordered what I thought were drain and fill plugs. I was correct on drain plug. Still searching for part number for fill plug.

 

I feel your frustration and sympathize with you. These ZF boxes are a royal pain to drain and fill. My biggest pet peeve with both of our Jaguars is no ZF dipstick/fill tube. "Filled for life" - what a concept! I hate it....

What ATF did you decide to use? What is your mileage?

 

The pan gasket can be simplified by tying it to the pan with thread in 6 or 8 places. Then start the rest of the bolts, remove the thread and finish.

 

The alternative is to connect a hose to a NPT threaded hose barb fitting screwed *loosely* into the top cooler fitting.

 

Using pentosin ATF-1 around $18 per quart

mileage is 79K miles

I'll look to a fitting for the top of the radiator next time.

 

if you do this, get some asbestos lined aluminum foil to wrap around the exhaust pipe so you don't burn the outside of your hand

yeow that was hot

 

and here are the parts
pan gasket JLM20204
filter JLM20216
o-ring JLM20217
drain plug JLM20205
fill plug C2C6729

 

Job well done. I'm looking into doing this soon as well, but have the AMG trans.