To flush or not to flush ???

Hi Barney,My 2000 XKR has 86000 miles on the clock. I have read several posts on the forums regarding the pros and cons of flushing and replacing transmission fluid. Apparently filled for life these units are Mercedes units and are very reliable. However the car is 12 years old now and I decided that a fluid change would give me some peace of mind.
I used my local transmission specialist who used the Wynns system. Cost about £240 including changing the sensor that was leaking fluid from the unit.Result there is a definite and noticeable improvement in the way the car feels. I am very pleased and would recommend doing it. Plus I can sleep at night...who needs to have to replace a transmission! Cheers, Dave.

I recently attended the JEC XK Seminar and the Jag specialist who presented the Seminar said that they use a flushing agent at every engine oil change but only the one produced by Forte.

boztron said:

Hi Barney,My 2000 XKR has 86000 miles on the clock. I have read several posts on the forums regarding the pros and cons of flushing and replacing transmission fluid.

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Barney's talking about changing his engine oil!

I'm one of the 50% against!! My dislike of engine flushing oils is because of the amount left behind to contaminate/dilute/degrade (Take your pick!) the new oil. When drained through the sump plug, there is still an appreciable amount of oil left behind - in the oil pump, oil galleries, various nooks and crannies and the sump below the drain hole. With regular changes of good quality oil this old oil is of little consequence but I just don't like the idea of it being 'thinned out ' with flushing agent and then mixing with the new stuff. Both my Jaguar engines remain spotless internally as far as the eye and endoscope can see!!

I always used Bardhal Flush and i never got any problem in several years.
I do also teflon treatment every 50.000km and my engine is like new even if has almost 160.000km.

Sorry i was reading fast, about transmission my service (is the number one in all Italy and is in Milano) never used any flusher, the ZF trasmission needs just regular maintenance every 50.000km , if is used in good way is an almost eternal transmission, just some little parts to change sometimes.
Anyway he told me not, to dont use flush in transmission.
And i have many doubts regarding to change fluid by yourself, is better to use the machine that keeps the pressure in the circuit.

>Anyone had a any specific experience with flushing an XK8 1999, good or bad ??<

Not specifically. But engine flushing fluid is basically kerosene, which isn't renowned for high lubricity. The notion of running an engine with kerosene in the sump instead of proper lubricating oil doesn't appeal to my mechanical sensibilities one little bit.

Engine flushes might have had a place in the era of monograde dino oil with no detergents or dispersants and when decarbonization was a routine procedure, but it's difficult to see any virtue in it nowadays. And as far as I know Jaguar doesn't specifically call out engine flushing as a maintenance item. So my answer would be along the lines of "not in my engines, sunshine".

John

looks like its still 50 / 50 then !

My instincts are to flush and then run store brand oil for a 100 miles then replace with the good stuff. I would do this only once and after that it would just normal oil change. However I note that Wynns advise "not for engines above 75k" mmmmmmm !

many thanks to all responders

Barney