Hello everybody,
yes I know there is a thread about this already but there doesn't seem to be an obvious answer... I work at the auto skills center at Holloman AFB in southern New Mexico, and we are getting a new transflush machine and our jag is the guinea pig! My usual suppliers are struggling to find a suitable trans fluid ( joys of a small town!!), and yes I know that the jag fluid is what should go in it, however ain't got the funds to buy it ( going to start a running a jag on the cheap thread!!!), so what the hell can I use??????....
Thanks in advance....

 

Search on the specified transmission fluid for your transmission and you should come up with the threads that also mention the possible substitutes.

 

The approved ZF fluid is ZF Lifeguard 5. Available from The CTSC. Google them to find the site, I have dealt with them in the past. Right now they list 6 liters for $94.

 

Are you familiar with the flush and fill procedure? Like everything else Jaguar, it's very involved with several steps.

Jaguar XK8 Transmission Fluid/Pan Change - YouTube

 

great video, notice MERCON SP was used... hmmmm, anyway I am getting first run on our new trans flush machine, I will do the filter later on... anyway spoke to my AMSoil dealer and they claim there ATF is compatible with the lifeguard stuff and also my NAPA guy has mentioned the valvoline ATF works with lifeguard 5 but not 6... or there's royal purple ATF........

 

Rev. Sam's car in the video was an '03 and had a completely different transmission than yours. Your '97 has a ZF transmission with a LT 71141 spec fluid requirement. There are a number of ATF fluid brands that meet that specification at about $5 per quart, Castrol Import ATF being one. Using power flush equipment you will need 10 quarts, or more, rather than the 5 that a drain and fill use.

There is a long term controversy, occupying hundreds of posts over whether to use the $5, $14, $19 or $49 version of the LT 71141 fluid. Also lots of discussion on using power flush equipment on a high mileage first time fluid change. Your choice.

You don't say how many miles on your car and a power flush alone might be very appropriate for one with 60k but changing the filter on a high mileage car would seem to be equally important.

 

IMHO, 71141 is basically a Dexron lll equivalent. Currently I have had Valvoline Dex lll in my '98 for around 10,000 miles without issue. However I see Valvoline has dropped their specific 71141 rated oil so I'd go with the "CASTROL TRANSMAX IMPORT MULTIVEHICLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID". It is rated as a 71141 equivalent.

 

I would also trust the Castrol Multi-Import ATF. Some of the 2005 S-Type users here on the forum with the six-speed ZF transmission have been running it for nearly two years now with no issues. If I had to change the fluid in either of our six-speed ZF transmissions, I would not hesitate to go with Castrol based upon the research I've done over the past couple of years....

 

Maybe....but I'd contact Castrol and ask them specifically. Maybe even ask for a letter saying it's ok to use. A few years ago I used Castrol ATF+4 in my Chrysler van and two weeks later my tranny was gone. Very expensive experiment.

 

Here's my two cents;
I am spending a lot of effort and some money repairing the transmission in my wife's BMW X5. It is the same ZF transmission as in my Jag.
After all that work, for $15 a liter, I know I have the right fluid in Lifefguard 5, ZF sells it for heavens sake. No guessing or cross referencing, or urban legends, it's cut and dried.
I am not normally the type to insist on expensive fluids, or must have the dealer brand, but here it's an easy choice.

 

Why did you buy a Jag in the first place if you plan to be stingy on the maintenance?

 

Not everyone pays $75 Grand for their Jags. Some want a classic GT with refinement and grace -- and don't expect the previous owner(s) to have neglected critical maintenance, OR expect to pay exhorbitant prices for common parts or fluids.

If there was no secondary market for previously owned Jags original owners would get NOTHING for them in trade. Basically, a car is a car. The methods of propulsion are all about the same, but the demands for similar necessities can be ridiculous. That doesn't diminish the new owner and his love for the car.....it just beats him up.

 

There are many of us who have champagne tastes on a beer budget.
Indeed if it wasn't for the low budget enthusiast, I dare say many Jags would be scrapped.
In an ideal world we'd feed our cats nothing but the best, but reality must prevail. ZF fluids from BMW or Jag dealerships is ridiculously priced and when a suitable alternate can be found it only makes sense.

 

Castrol Multi-Import ATF meets the required Shell specs that Lifeguard 6 was originally engineered to. As far as asking Castrol for a letter stating that their Multi-Import ATF is specifically suitable for the ZF box, forget it. No fluid maker would be willing to do that other than ZF. But what Castrol will do is to point you to their documentation stating to what specs their product is engineered to. I phoned them in March 2010, spoke with their R&D folks, and that's what they did with me. "Yes, we meet the required fluid specs as published by ZF. No, we will not guarantee our fluid in your ZF transmission. Do your own research and make your own decision." Can't blame them for that response....

There are a number of folks on this forum running various fluids in their ZF transmissions. I've read posts regarding Castrol, Mobil One, Pentosin, Wolf's Head, Mercon SP, Amsoil, and others that I cannot remember. Do your research, check your specs and compatibility, and roll your dice accordingly. The good news is that if you find the right sources, the cost of Lifeguard 6 has dropped dramatically in the past year. I've read that the Land Rover dealerships sell it for $14 or $15 per litre. Still overpriced in my book, but much better than the $60 per litre that our local Jaguar dealership charged up until the price started to come down elsewhere. Even Jaguar realized that they couldn't continue to charge those ridiculous prices to customers when the sharp ones are looking for alternative sources due to much more reasonable pricing....

 

But does Castrol meet Lifeguard 5 specs? That's what the original poster needs.

 

Read #6

 

OK, but if that's true, Castrol says one fluid is ok for both the 5 and 6 speed ZF transmissions, but ZF feels it necessary to produce 2 different fluids. That would make me think twice.
But it's a personal choice.

 

Mobil 1 Synthetic.

 

After messing with Redline and getting a very hot ZF six speed in my old ZR-1 I called ZF and they told me to use the Castrol 10-60 that was being sold at BMW dealers at the time. It was much better. About $20/L I think, but you don't use much in a manual tranny.

 

Oh let's see....last week I just dropped over $500 in parts replacing shocks, bushings (OEM) and ball joints (OEM) up front... oh that doesn't sound stingy does it??????...

To the others that have posted thank you all for your guidance, I am going with the Castrol import ATF ($5 a quart, cost)... and will see what goes on from there.. thanks again