I am changing the transmission fluid and pan on my 2004 xkr,and I would like to get all od the fluid out,is there any way to remove the fluid from the converter without special tools ? thanks Dan

 

Unfortunately no. The only way is to drain, refill, then circulate the new fluid so it mixes with the old stuff in the torque converter, then drain again and refill. Depending on how much cash you want to spend, you can do this more than twice, but normal procedure is to only replace the fluid in the gearbox, which also involves changing the filter.

 

There are machines which can pump out 95% of the ATF fluid via the cooler lines, but they are expensive and few and far between; only big garages can afford them. (But there are some around in the US).
I understand you can get halfway toward this yourself by a combination of running the engine and therefore the ATF pump during draining, and waiting with the drainplug off and the drip tray underneath overnight to get another litre or so out of it. A search on here should give you the full expert methodology.
The ATF fluid should have the appropriate additives for the autobox. If a ZF is fitted using the modulated torque converter clutch principle (meaning it's partial engagement during certain conditions) the ATF needs to have the anti-shudder additive, if not as with the correct spec. ATF, then by your own addition.
Using full synth. ATF fluid makes a lot of sense as it lasts twice as long as mineral. If my memory serves me correctly, Shell M1327.4 spec. (I think it was) does that for a 6HP26 autobox, as an example. You need to verify what autobox is in use in your XF. ATF was available cheaply on E-bay, again a search on here for the ATF sourcing will help.
You then should be good for another 60,000miles before you need to think about it again.
Tip: If the box has not been leaking, save every drop of old ATF fluid and measure it, (including what's trapped in the pan/filter), the number of litres that is. Then if you pump in exactly the same amount of new fluid, you are going to be pretty damned close to "right-first-time" as regards the ATF level in the box.
Leedsman.

 

thanks for the help, Dan