Jaguar XKR + MB w5a580 transmission....what fluid?

[pzev]

My father recently acquired an older (02) Jag XKR. Apparently it uses the sturdy Mercedes Benz W5A580. Seeing as how the car has a few miles on it, I wanted to go through it and refresh all the "lifetime" fluids.
I ran into a wall when looking for a suitable transmission fluid. I'm not paying the $20+ a quart Jaguar wants at the dealer, and Mercedes isn't much cheaper. I know this transmission is used in numerous Chrysler products, so I was wondering if a qualified ATF+4 fluid would be a suitable substitute?
Along those lines, anyone have any idea what type of diff fluid this car takes? I'm thinking a decent 75w-140 synth...but I could be wrong.


I've searched a few Jag forums, but most of those owners don't seem to be the DIY type and this type of info is limited. Even google wasn't much help

Thanks for any help!

 

[SteveSRT8]

If it's really a WA580 it likes ATF 4. I use the Valvoline full synthetic formula.

 

[Lead Shoes]

If you think that fluid is expensive, wait until you have to replace the transmission. If you are not 100% sure you can put a different ATF in there, I wouldn't risk it.

 

[hattaresguy]

Its a 722.6, the Mercedes fluid is about $10-$15 a quart which sounds expensive but you don't need to change it that often so its not to bad.

 

[SteveSRT8]

It should also be noted that Mercedes did not make the fluid. They simply had their name put on it and tripled the price.

My car has actual "made in germany" tags on both the trans and the rear end. I've been running synthetic ATF4, and running it HARD.

It should also be added that in my application SRT spec'd a 30k mile severe service interval and a 60k mile regular one. So I would recommend more frequent changes if you don't like the trans rebuilder in your area!

 

[artificialist]

Every time that transmission got installed in a Chrysler product, ATF+4 is what the manual would specify.

ATF+4 isn't too expensive or hard to find.

 

[pzev]

Apparently the new MB fluid for the 7 speed auto is also backwards compatible with their previous transmissions. Its available under a few different brand names, but Shell 134 is the cheapest and easiest to find online. So that's probably what I'll end up getting.
I can find it for roughly the same price per quart as ATF+4, and its MB approved. Can't beat that

 

[SteveSRT8]

Thank god its not 12 dollars a quart or whatever!

But I hope it's not like Dex VI vs Dex III. That one was supposed to be beackwards compatible too, and many have had issues with it.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Search for Shell distributor in your area, if there is one near by give them a call, they may have ATF-134 in stock and at good price too. My local Shell distributor sell ATF-134 for $16.50 a gallon, this will be the ATF fluid for my '00 E430 instead of MB fluid at dealer for $15/qt

 

[weebl]

I'm not familiar with these trannies at all, but one question I would ask if I were in the OP's shoes and would need to see confirmation, is, were there differences in the friction materials used in an MB application, versus a Jag application, versus a Chrysler application? Something like that will affect what fluid is suitable. Just a thought before the OP jumps on a decision before having all the information.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Since my car's trans is literally "off the shelf" AMG stock it is reasonably certain that DCX did not disassemble it and change out anything before installation. ATF4 is fine for this app.

Maybe some of our trans people can elaborate, but even when changing out the frictions and steels in a trans you don't alter the fluid spec.