Just curious if anyone has any first hand experience running this juice in an '03+ ZF 6HP26 tranny.

Valvoline is recommending this as a direct replacement fluid for our cars with a 6HP26.



From Eurocarparts.com: Valvoline Maxlife Automatic Transmission Fluid 1 Ltr


From Valvoline tech support:

Good morning Robert, thank you for contacting Valvoline for your automatic transmission fluid application.

For your 2003 Jaguar XK8 application, we recommend the use of our Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc ATF product to meet the M1375.4 specifications recommended by your manufacturer. This product is 100% compatible for mixture or replacement in your vehicle and will not void any new car warranties.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us via email or by phone at 800 TEAM VAL. Thank you once again for contacting Valvoline Product Support and have a great day.

Erik
Valvoline Product Support

 

No experience but that is good information as I have that transmission in a Kia Borrago.

 

.....and when I questioned why some retailers websites state that this is not approved for the ZF 6HP26 tranny, this was what they wrote back:

"Thank you for your response.

Unfortunately, we cannot control what O'Reilly and NAPA state on their websites. Valvoline has done extensive testing against the M1375.4 specification and we are 100% positive this product will cover the automatic transmission on your 2003 Jaguar XJ8. The Valvoline MaxLife ATF is and will remain our recommendation to cover the manufacturer specifications provided by Jaguar for the 6HP26 automatic transmission.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us via email or by phone at 800 TEAM VAL. Thank you once again for contacting Valvoline Product Support and have a great day.

Erik
Valvoline Product Support"

So they are apparently standing by their claim. I am considering an alternative to ZF Lifeguard 6 as I am not convinced that the level of performance that it provides warrants the price tag (after having experienced the infamous ZF 6HP26 "Squawk" at around 30k).

 

I wish I knew, but I'm glad you posted this. After the positive experience I just had replaceing the plugs 30K before the "suggested" milage, I have little to no faith in Jaguar's recommended intervals and was just thinking of planning to change the trans fluid. Thanks.

 

Meeting the Shell M1375.4 specs is the key. Ford's Mercon SP does and I used it when we did a drain-and-fill on my 2005 S-Type in early November. No issues at all in about 2,000 miles of driving and definitely smoother shifting in the low ranges....

If Valvoline is willing to put it in writing that their product meets the specs, I would be willing to use it....

Keep us posted on what you decide to do....

 

I recently acquired a 98 XK8 and found out from Carfax it had transmission work done almost 2 years ago, at 103,000 miles. I contacted the NAPA shop and found out they did a master overhaul kit and new torgue converter. Their specs called for Valvoline MaxLife Synthetic. Car now has 120,000 miles and the transmission is going great.